Science & Tech · Space · 4 hrs ago
Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit Mars in 1971
On Nov.
13, 1971, NASA’s Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit Mars.
Earlier flybys had shown a cratered surface, leaving some scientists to think Mars might resemble the Moon.
Mariner 9 arrived during a global dust storm, but images after the dust cleared revealed huge volcanoes, including Olympus Mons, the solar system’s tallest.
During nearly a year in orbit, the spacecraft mapped 85% of Mars and helped scientists study Valles Marineris, a canyon about 2,500 miles long.
Its observations transformed Mars from a mystery into a world to explore.
After its supply of nitrogen ran dry, NASA shut down the mission in October 1972.
Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit Mars on Nov. 13, 1971.
It arrived during a global dust storm, and later images revealed huge volcanoes and the canyon now known as Valles Marineris.
The spacecraft mapped 85% of Mars and took 7,329 photos of the planet’s surface.
It also took at least 80 photos of Mars’ two small moons, Phobos and Deimos.
NASA shut down the mission in October 1972 after the spacecraft’s supply of gaseous nitrogen ran out.
- Who
- NASA’s Mariner 9 spacecraft.
- What
- It became the first spacecraft to orbit Mars and mapped much of the planet.
- When
- Nov. 13, 1971.
- Where
- In orbit around Mars.
- Why
- To study Mars and map its surface.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit Mars.
The spacecraft’s supply of gaseous nitrogen ran dry.
NASA shut down the mission.
- Orbit milestone
- First spacecraft to orbit Mars
- Arrival date
- Nov. 13, 1971
- Planet mapped
- 85% of Mars
- Surface photos
- 7,329
- Mission shutdown
- October 1972
What people are saying
had an 11-day head start,
The canyon was named in honor of Mariner 9