Planetary science

Mariner 9

Completed

Image: NASA · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Launched: 30 May 197122:23:04 UTC
Last contact: 27 Oct 1972
Duration: 1 year 4 months
Destinations: Mars

The first spacecraft to orbit another planet. It waited out a global dust storm and then mapped the whole of Mars, revealing its volcanoes, canyons and dry riverbeds.

Milestones

Swipe the timeline to see it all, and tap an event to open it.

1972

Spacecraft

Mariner 9

Orbiter

Completed

Orbiter that returned 7,329 images, covering the whole planet and its two moons.

Launch mass: 1,031 kg
Dry mass: 555 kg
Size: 2.3 m × 1.4 m, span 6.9 m
Power: Solar
Built by: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Last contact: 27 Oct 1972
Designator: 1971-051A

Mission details from science.nasa.gov.