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Summary
Mariner 9 (Mariner Mars ‘71 / Mariner-I) was a NASA space orbiter that helped in the exploration of Mars and was part of the Mariner program. Mariner 9 was launched toward Mars on May 30, 1971 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and reached the planet on November 13 of the same year, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit another planet – only narrowly beating Soviet Mars 2 and Mars 3, which both arrived within a month. After months of dust-storms it managed to send back clear pictures of the surface.
Cospar ID
1971-051a
Launch Date
1971-05-30 22:23:00 UTC
Carrier Rocket
Atlas-Centaur SLV-3C
Orbital Insertion Date
1971-11-13
Orbital Elements
Eccentricity 0.6014
Inclination 64.4 degrees
Apoapsis 16,860 km (10,480 mi)
Periapsis 1,650 km (1,030 mi)
Orbital Period 719.47 m
Duration
May 30, 1971 to October 27, 1972