Mariner 9
Mariner 9 was a NASA spacecraft. It was the ninth spacecraft in the Mariner programme. It was sent to study and orbit the planet Mars. It was the first spacecraft to orbit another planet. Mariner 9 was launched on May 30, 1971 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Mariner 9 reached Mars on November 13, 1971, after a ~170 day flight. The spacecraft was sent to map 70 % of the surface of Mars and to study the temperature changes of the Martian atmosphere and surface. When it arrived, a dust storm hid the surface of Mars. After a few months the dust settled and Mariner 9 discovered the Valles Marineris.
 The Mariner 9 spacecraft | |
| Mission type | Mars orbiter |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA / JPL |
| COSPAR ID | 1971-051A |
| SATCAT no. | 5261 |
| Mission duration | 1 year, 4 months, 27 days |
| 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 30, 1971, 22:23:04 UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-36B |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Decommissioned |
| Deactivated | October 27, 1972 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Areocentric |
| Periareion | 1,650 kilometres (1,030 mi) |
| Apoareion | 16,860 kilometres (10,480 mi) |
| Inclination | 64.4° |
| Period | 719.47 minutes |
| Mars orbiter | |
| Orbital insertion | November 14, 1971, 00:42:00 UTC |
Mariner 9 Media
Launch of Atlas-Centaur carrying Mariner 9 Mars probe
Mariner 9 view of the Noctis Labyrinthus "labyrinth" at the western end of Valles Marineris.
A schematic of Mariner 9, showing the major components and features
