MISSION_DESCRIPTION |
Mission Overview
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The mission was designed to have two spacecraft encounter Mars
within a 5 day period, with TV images sent to Earth beginning
2-3 days before closest approach. Analysis of Mariner 6 data
was required in time to reprogram Mariner 7. Mariner 6 was
targeted for a nearly equatorial flyby, with Mariner 7 taking a
southerly route to enhance viewing of the south polar cap. All
original plans for data return volume were exceeded by
substantial margins. Refer to NASA SP-225 and other references
for more information. Mission start date given is for
authorization given to JPL to proceed with the project.
Mission Phases
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MARINER 6 MARS ENCOUNTER
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The encounter phase for Mariner 6 began with pointing of the
scan platform at Mars, so that the planet sensor could track
Mars for the narrow-angle TV camera. All science instruments
except the infrared spectrometer were activated at this time.
Picture acquisition began 2 hours later. The IR spectrometer
filter motor and cooler were started at 35 min. before
closest approach. The second Mars tracker viewed the Mars
limb at -15 min., at 05:03 GMT July 31, starting the analog
and digital tape recorders. After closest approach, data
playback continued for several days.
Spacecraft Id : MR6
Target Name : MARS
Mission Phase Start Time : 1969-07-29T05
Mission Phase Stop Time : 1969-07-31
Spacecraft Operations Type : FLYBY
MARINER 7 MARS ENCOUNTER
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The encounter phase for Mariner 7 began with pointing of the
scan platform at Mars, so that the planet sensor could track
Mars for the narrow-angle TV camera. All science instruments
except the infrared spectrometer were activated at this time.
After closest approach, data playback continued for several
days. The spacecraft returned to cruise mode for engineering
tests, communications performance test, and science operations
including star photography and scans by the UV spectrometer of
the Milky Way and an area containing comet 1969-B.
Spacecraft Id : MR6
Target Name : MARS
Mission Phase Start Time : 1969-07-29T05
Mission Phase Stop Time : 1969-07-31
Spacecraft Operations Type : FLYBY
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MISSION_OBJECTIVES_SUMMARY |
The Mariner Mars 1969 mission was undertaken to enhance
man's knowledge of the surface and atmosphere of Mars and
to provide a firm basis for an imaginative, long-range
program of Martian exploration. The two flights were
authorized after the successful 1964-65 flight of Mariner 4
and the cancellation of the Voyager Mars Landing Program.
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