Mars 4 (Russian:Марс-4), also known as3MS No.52S was aSoviet spacecraft intended to explore Mars. A 3MS spacecraft launched as part of theMars programme, it was intended to enter orbit around Mars in 1974. However, computer problems prevented orbital insertion from occurring.[5]
 | |
| Mission type | Mars orbiter[1] |
|---|---|
| Operator | Soviet space program |
| COSPAR ID | 1973-047A |
| SATCATno. | 6742 |
| Mission duration | 203 days, 20 hours and 7 minutes |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | 3MS No.52S |
| Manufacturer | NPO Lavochkin |
| Launch mass | 3,440 kg (7,580 lb)[2] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 21 July 1973, 19:30:59 (1973-07-21UTC19:30:59Z) UTC[3] |
| Rocket | Proton-K/D |
| Launch site | Baikonur81/23 |
| Contractor | Khrunichev |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 10 February 1974, 15:38 UTC |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Heliocentric[4] |
| Perihelion altitude | 1.02 AU |
| Aphelion altitude | 1.63 AU |
| Inclination | 2.2° |
| Period | 556 days |
| Flyby ofMars(failed orbiter) | |
| Closest approach | 10 February 1974, 15:34 UTC |
| Distance | 1,844 km (1,146 mi) |
Spacecraft
editThe Mars 4 spacecraft carried an array of instruments to study Mars. In addition to cameras, it was equipped with a radio telescope, an IRradiometer, multiplephotometers,polarimeters, amagnetometer,plasma traps, anelectrostatic analyzer, agamma-ray spectrometer, and a radio probe.[6]
Built by Lavochkin, Mars 4 was the first of two 3MS spacecraft launched to Mars in 1973, being followed byMars 5. A 3MS was also launched during the 1971 launch window asKosmos 419. However, due to a launch failure, it failed to depart Earth orbit. In addition to the orbiters, two 3MP lander missions,Mars 6 andMars 7, were launched during the 1973 window.
Launch
editMars 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 alow Earthparking 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 maneuvers. 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.[7]
Scientific Instruments
editMars 4 orbiter carried 15 scientific instruments on board to study Mars from orbital trajectory[6]
- Atmospheric Radio-probing Instrument
- Radio Telescope
- Infrared Radiometer
- Spectrophotometer
- Narrow-bandPhotometer
- Narrow-band Interference-Polarization Photometer
- Imaging System
- Photometers
- TwoPolarimeters
- Ultraviolet Photometer
- ScatteredSolar Radiation Photometer
- Gamma Spectrometer
- Magnetometer
- Plasma Traps
- MultichannelElectrostatic Analyzer
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Krebs, Gunter."Interplanetary Probes".Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved12 April 2013.
- ^"Mars 4". NASA. Retrieved6 December 2018.
- ^abMcDowell, Jonathan."Launch Log".Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved12 April 2013.
- ^Mark Wade."Mars M-73". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved26 May 2024.
- ^"Mars 4". US National Space Science Data Centre. Retrieved12 April 2013.
- ^abSiddiqi, 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.Archived(PDF) from the original on 25 September 2004.
- ^Siddiqi, Asif A. (2016). Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration 1958-2016, NASA History Program Office,http://www.nasa.gov/ebooks.
