Early Exploration Mariner 3

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Early ExplorationMariner 3 4

• these missions are being undertaken because
  Mars is of physical and geological interest and
  offers the best opportunity in our solar system
  for shedding light on the possibility of
  extraterrestrial life. (They), however, are not
  designed to provide answers to the question of
  life on Mars.

Mariner 4 Press Kit, October 29, 1964
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Early ExplorationMariner 4

• Launched November 24, 1964 closest approach
  occurred on July 14, 1965
• Took 22 pictures w/ a TV camera viewing through a
  reflecting telescope

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Early ExplorationMariner 4
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Early ExplorationMariner 4
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Early ExplorationMariner 4

• Notable observations from Mariner 4
• Images returned showed a Moon-like cratered
  terrain
• Surface atmospheric pressure of 4.1 to 7.0 mb
  (accepted values ranged from 10 100 mb)
• Daytime temperatures of -100 C (-148 F) were
  estimated
• No magnetic field was detected

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Early ExplorationMariner 4

• How did Mariner 4 advance scientific
  understanding of Mars?
• Mars looked more like the Moon
• Life far less likely
• IMPORTANT Mariner 4 only imaged 1 of the
  surface of Mars, mostly in the southern
  hemisphere
• What technological advance(s) did Mariner 4
  carry?
• The Mariner 4 spacecraft

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Early ExplorationMariner 6 7

• Study the surface and atmosphere of Mars to
  establish the basis for future experiments in the
  search for extra-terrestrial life and to develop
  technology for future Mars missions. The 1969
  flights will not determine the presence of life
  on Mars but will help establish whether or not
  the Martian environment is suitable for life.

Mariner (6 7) Press Kit, July 18, 1969
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Early ExplorationMariner 6 7

• Launched February 23 (M6) March 27, 1969 (M7)
• Close approaches occurred July 31 (M6) August 5
  (M7), 1969

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Early ExplorationMariner 6 7

• Two TV cameras medium high resolution, IR
  radiometer (surface temps, is southern cap CO2 or
  H2O?), UV spectrometer (atmospheric composition),
  IR spectrometer (surface near-surface
  composition)

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Early ExplorationMariner 6 7
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Early ExplorationMariner 6 7
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Early ExplorationMariner 6 7

• Notable observations from the Mariner 6 7
  missions report
• Temps range between -73 C (-100 F) 15 C (60
  F)
• The polar caps were crusted with frozen carbon
  dioxide
• Features with a dimension of 900 (ft.) could be
  identified.
• The so-called Martian canals were not in
  evidence.
• At a location called Nix Olympicawas a huge
  crater 300 miles in diameter.
• No indications of volcanism were found.
• Mariner 6 7 imaged 20 of the surface of Mars,
  mostly in the southern hemisphere

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Early ExplorationMariner 6 7

• How did Mariner 6 7 advance scientific
  understanding of Mars?
• Temperature range
• South polar cap composed of CO2 temp reading of
  -123C (-190F)
• NO CANALS
• What technological advance(s) did Mariner 6 7
  carry?
• Spacecraft with higher resolution cameras
  spectrometers

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CRATER BOXES!!!
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Early ExplorationMariner 8 9

• Study the surface and atmosphere of Mars in
  detail, and over a period of time, to provide a
  broad picture of the history of the planet and
  natural processes currently shaping the Martian
  environment. To accomplish this, one spacecraft
  will map 70 of the planet and the other will
  repeatedly study selected areas on Mars to
  observe changes on the surface and in the
  atmosphere.

Mariner (8 9) Press Kit, April 30, 1971
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Early ExplorationMariner 8 9

• Launched May 8 (M8) May 30, 1971 (M9)
• Mariner 8 failed 4.5 minutes after launch,
  Mariner 9 arrived at Mars on November 14, 1971

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Early ExplorationMariner 8 9

• Narrow-angle and wide angle TV cameras, IR
  radiometer (surface temps), UV spectrometer
  (composition of upper atmosphere), IR
  interferometer spectrometer (provide a picture of
  the circulation of the atmosphere composition
  of the surface)

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Early ExplorationMariner 9

• Arrived at Mars only to find a global dust storm
  blanketing the planet
• Circular features peaking through the dust

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Early ExplorationMariner 9
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Early ExplorationMariner 9

• Notable results from Mariner 9
• Global mapping (imaging) of the surface of Mars
• The first detailed views of the Martian
  volcanoes, Valles Marineris, the polar caps, and
  the satellites Phobos and Deimos
• Provided information on global dust storms, the
  planets rugged gravity field, and evidence for
  surface aeolian (wind) activity.

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Early ExplorationMariner 9

• Olympus Mons
• 27 km tall (16.8 miles), 600 km (373 miles) wide
• Shield volcano composed of basalt
• Largest (known) volcano in the solar system

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Early ExplorationMariner 9

• Valles Marineris
• 4,000 km long (2,500 miles), 200 km (124 miles)
  wide, 7 km (4 miles) deep
• Large crack resulting from uplift of Tharsis
  bulge
• Named after Mariner 9

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Early ExplorationMariner 9

• Tharsis Bulge

Credit NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
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Early ExplorationMariner 9

• How did Mariner 9 advance scientific
  understanding of Mars?
• Mars is more geologically diverse than had ever
  been presumed
• Evidence water once flowed on the surface, not in
  artificial canals, but natural river channels
• What technological advance(s) did Mariner 9
  carry?
• Spacecraft orbited Mars, first unmanned planetary
  orbiter in history