 | |
| Mission type | Mars flyby[1] |
|---|---|
| Operator | Soviet Union |
| COSPAR ID | 1962-061C |
| SATCAT no. | 450 |
| Mission duration | 4 months 21 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | 2MV-4 No.2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 893.5 kg[2] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 1 November 1962, 16:14 UTC |
| Rocket | Molniya 8K78 |
| Launch site | Baikonur 1/5 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Spacecraft loss |
| Last contact | 21 March 1963 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Heliocentric |
| Flyby of Mars | |
| Closest approach | 19 June 1963 |
| Distance | 193,000 kilometres (120,000 mi) |
.jpg) Mars 1 stamp | |
Mars 1, also known as 1962 Beta Nu 1, Mars 2MV-4 and Sputnik 23, was an automatic interplanetary station launched in the direction of Mars on November 1, 1962,[3][4] the first of the Soviet Mars probe program, with the intent of flying by the planet at a distance of about 11,000 km (6,800 mi). It was designed to image the surface and send back data on cosmic radiation, micrometeoroid impacts and Mars' magnetic field, radiation environment, atmospheric structure, and possible organic compounds.[3][4]
After leaving Earth orbit, the spacecraft and the Molniya booster's fourth stage separated and the solar panels were deployed. Early telemetry indicated that there was a leak in one of the gas valves in the orientation system so the spacecraft was transferred to gyroscopic stabilization. It made sixty-one radio transmissions, initially at two-day intervals and later at five days, containing a large amount of interplanetary data.[3]
On March 21, 1963, when the spacecraft was at a distance of 106,760,000 km (66,340,000 mi) from Earth on its way to Mars, communications ceased, probably due to failure of the spacecraft's antenna orientation system.[3][4] Mars 1's closest approach to Mars probably occurred on June 19, 1963 at a distance of approximately 193,000 km (120,000 mi), after which the spacecraft entered an orbit around the Sun.[4]
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Mars 1 (2MV-4 #1,2)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ "Mars 1". US National Space Science Data Centre. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Robbins, Stuart (2008). ""Journey Through the Galaxy" Mars Program: Mars ~ 1960-1974". SJR Design. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Mihos, Chris (January 11, 2006). "Mars (1960-1974): Mars 1". Department of Astronomy, Case Western Reserve University. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2014.