Mars 4

Mars 4 (Russian: Марс-4), also known as 3MS No.52S was a Soviet spacecraft intended to explore Mars. A 3MS spacecraft launched as part of the Mars programme, it was intended to enter orbit around Mars in 1974. However, computer problems prevented orbital insertion from occurring.[4]

Mars 4
A picture of Mars 4.
Mission typeMars orbiter[1]
OperatorLavochkin
COSPAR ID1973-047A
SATCAT no.6742
Mission duration9 days (launch day to day of last contact)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft3MS No.52S
ManufacturerLavochkin
Launch mass3,440 kg fully fueled[2]
Start of mission
Launch date21 July 1973, 19:30:59 (1973-07-21UTC19:30:59Z) UTC[3]
RocketProton-K/D
Launch siteBaikonur 81/23
End of mission
Last contact10 February 1974, 15:38 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemHeliocentric
Flyby of Mars (failed orbiter)
Closest approach10 February 1974, 15:34 UTC
Distance1,844 km (1,146 mi)
 

Spacecraft

The Mars 4 spacecraft carried an array of instruments to study Mars. In addition to cameras, it was equipped with a radio telescope, an IR radiometer, multiple photometers, polarimeters, a magnetometer, plasma traps, an electrostatic analyzer, a gamma-ray spectrometer, and a radio probe.[5]

Built by Lavochkin, Mars 4 was the first of two 3MS spacecraft launched to Mars in 1973, being followed by Mars 5. A 3MS was also launched during the 1971 launch window as Kosmos 419. However, due to a launch failure, it failed to depart Earth orbit. In addition to the orbiters, two 3MP lander missions, Mars 6 and Mars 7, were launched during the 1973 window.

Launch

Mars 4 was launched by a Proton-K carrier rocket, a Blok D upper stage, flying from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23.[3] The launch occurred at 19:30:59 UTC on 21 July 1973, with the first three stages placing the spacecraft and upper stage into a low Earth parking orbit before the Blok D fired to propel Mars 4 into heliocentric orbit bound for Mars.

Shortly after performing a course correction on 30 July 1973, two onboard computers failed, leaving Mars 4 unable to perform manoeuvres. As a result of this, it was unable to enter orbit around Mars. Twelve photographs were taken on 10 February 1974 from 15:32 UTC to 15:38 UTC as the probe flew past Mars with a closest approach of 1,844 kilometres (1,146 mi) at 15:34 UTC.[6]

Scientific Instruments

Mars 4 orbiter carried 15 scientific instruments on board to study Mars from orbital trajectory[5]

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See also

References
  1. Krebs, Gunter. "Interplanetary Probes". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  2. "Mars 4". NASA. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  3. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  4. "Mars 4". US National Space Science Data Centre. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  5. Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1973". Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 101–106.
  6. Siddiqi, Asif A. (2016). Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration 1958-2016, NASA History Program Office, http://www.nasa.gov/ebooks.

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