alb3791791

Mariner 9 satellite

Mariner 9, the final Mars mission in NASA's Mariner series of the 1960s and early 1970s. Mariner 9 was launched successfully on May 30, 1971, and became the first artificial satellite of Mars when it arrived and went into orbit, where it functioned in Martian orbit for nearly a year. Mariner 9 completed its final transmission on Oct. 27, 1972. Upon arrival, Mariner 9 observed that a great dust storm was obscuring the whole globe of the planet. The dust cleared after a month, and the planet was very different than had been expected, with gigantic volcanoes, a grand canyon, and ancient riverbeds. Mariner 9 exceeded all primary photographic requirements by photo-mapping 100 percent of the planet's surface. The spacecraft also provided the first close-up pictures of the two small, irregular Martian moons: Phobos and Deimos.

Share
Pinterest
Twitter
Facebook
Copy link
Email

Add to another lightbox

Do you already have an account? Sign in

You do not have an account? Register

Buy this image. Select the use:

Title: Mariner 9 satellite

Caption: Mariner 9, the final Mars mission in NASA's Mariner series of the 1960s and early 1970s. Mariner 9 was launched successfully on May 30, 1971, and became the first artificial satellite of Mars when it arrived and went into orbit, where it functioned in Martian orbit for nearly a year. Mariner 9 completed its final transmission on Oct. 27, 1972. Upon arrival, Mariner 9 observed that a great dust storm was obscuring the whole globe of the planet. The dust cleared after a month, and the planet was very different than had been expected, with gigantic volcanoes, a grand canyon, and ancient riverbeds. Mariner 9 exceeded all primary photographic requirements by photo-mapping 100 percent of the planet's surface. The spacecraft also provided the first close-up pictures of the two small, irregular Martian moons: Phobos and Deimos.

Category: TECHNOLOGY • Astronomy & Space

Credit: Album / NASA/Science Source

Releases: ? Model Release: No - ? Property Release: No
Rights questions?

Image size: 3420 × 2280 px | 22.3 MB

Print size: 29.0 × 19.3 cm | 1346.5 × 897.6 in (300 dpi)

Keywords: ARTIFICIAL SATELLITE • ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES • ASTRONOMIA • ASTRONOMY & SPACE • ASTRONOMY • DEIMOS • DUST STORM • DUST STORMS • MARINER 9 • MARINER SERIES • MARS EXPLORATION • MARS MISSION • MARS • MARTIAN MOON • MARTIAN MOONS • MARTIAN • PHOBOS • SATELLITE • SATELLITES • SCIENCE • SPACE EXPLORATION • TECHNOLOGY