DESCRIPTION:
Mars 2 Orbiter along with Mars 2 Lander together called Mars 2 Mission. It was unmanned mission sent to Mars by Soviet Russia in Early 1971. Mars 2 and Mars 3 missions were similar to each other, both consisting of Orbiter and a Lander. The got their design from a spacecraft called Venera9. This probe almost reached Mars but it was deployed.
ORBITER:
The spacecraft's engine burned to place it into Martian Orbit for about 18 hours, engines were started after 30 minutes near periapsis.
OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of Mars 2 Mission were
- To image Martian Surface and Clouds [Mars 2 Images]
- To determine the surface temperature of Mars
- To study Topography, composition and physical properties of surface
- To measure properties and composition of Atmosphere
- To monitor Solar Wind and Interplanetary Magnetic fields
- To Act as communication relay between earth and the lander
Mars 2 mission was particularly affected by large dust storm. Due to this dust storm, atmosphere of Mars became thick, this observation were noticed by Mariner 9 Spacecraft which successfully orbited mars in 14 November of 1971. Both Mars 2 and Mars 3 were unable to program their computer due to the dust storm which dispatched their lander immediately. Landers were affected by dust storm and resulted in mission failure.
OUTCOMES:
- Mars 2 was successful sending data from December 1971 to March 1972
- Both the orbiters combined and sent 6o images, which revealed the presence of 22km high mountain, oxygen and hydrogen in upper atmosphere.
- It found Surface temperature of -110 to 13 deg C, Pressure 6 millibar.
- It discovered the giant dust storm prevails to an altitude of 7 to 8 km.
- It gave more information on Martian gravity and Magnetic fields
FURTHER REFERENCE
- Mars 2 Mission Images (Soviet Mars Image Catalog)
- NASA Mars Mission Website
BOOKS ON MARS 2 AND MARS 3:
Destination Mars, Pyle Rod (2012) ISBN 978-1-61614-589-7 [PDF]
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