images

La sonde Mariner 8-9

by

Nasa/Novapix

Reference

e-son05-00300

Date

2006-11-26

Mariner 8-9 was the first of a pair of American spacecraft intended to explore the physical and dynamic characteristics of Mars from Martian orbit. Launch of Mariner 8 was nominal until just after separation of the Centaur upper stage, when a malfunction occurred in the stage's flightcontrol system, leading to loss of pitch control at an altitude of 148 kilometers. Mariner 9 successfully reached Mars orbit in november 1971.