 Mariner 8 is identical in design with Mariner 9 | |
| Mission type | Mars orbiter |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA/JPL |
| Mission duration | Failed to orbit |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
| Launch mass | 997.9 kilograms (2,200 lb) |
| Dry mass | 558.8 kilograms (1,232 lb) |
| Power | 500 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | May 9, 1971, 01:11:02 UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-36A |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Areocentric |
| Epoch | Planned |
Mariner-H (Mariner Mars '71), also commonly known as Mariner 8, was (along with Mariner 9) part of the Mariner Mars '71 project. It was intended to go into Mars orbit and return images and data, but a launch vehicle failure prevented Mariner 8 from achieving Earth orbit and the spacecraft reentered into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after launch.[1]