Mariner 7

mar_7n19_new
mariner_6_and_7_images_plotted_on_mars_globe_color
466px-Mariner_7_launch_KSC-69P-223
Mariner-6-7_image
mariner_7_color_photo_of_mars
440_mariner9
previous arrow
next arrow
mar_7n19_new
mariner_6_and_7_images_plotted_on_mars_globe_color
466px-Mariner_7_launch_KSC-69P-223
Mariner-6-7_image
mariner_7_color_photo_of_mars
440_mariner9
previous arrow
next arrow

• Launch date:  25 February 1969

• Orbital insertion: 31 July 1969

• End of mission: 23 December 1970

• Agency: NASA

URL Oficial

The Mariner 7 spacecraft made a close flyby of Mars just five days after its twin spacecraft, Mariner 6, in 1969.

Although it had the same objective to study the suface and atmosphere of the Red Planet, Mariner 7 benefited from being the second to arrive at Mars. Scientists were able to use the spacecraft’s reprogrammable command system to instruct it to take additional pictures of the Martian south pole, which had piqued their interest during Mariner 6’s flyby. One photo even showed Mars’ irregularly shaped moon, Phobos.