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Mars 4

{{Short description|Failed Soviet orbiter mission to Mars (1973–1974)}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = Mars 4

| image = Mars 4-5.jpg

| image_size = 300px

| mission_type = Mars orbiter{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/ip_probe.htm|title=Interplanetary Probes|work=Gunter's Space Page|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|access-date=12 April 2013}}

| operator = Soviet space program

| COSPAR_ID = 1973-047A

| SATCAT = 6742

| mission_duration = {{time interval|21 Jul 1973 19:31|10 Feb 1974 15:38|show=dhm}}

| spacecraft = 3MS No.52S

| manufacturer = NPO Lavochkin

| launch_mass = {{cvt|3440|kg|lb}}{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1973-047A|title=Mars 4|publisher=NASA|access-date=6 December 2018}}

| launch_date = {{start-date|21 July 1973, 19:30:59|timezone=yes}} UTC{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launch Log|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|work=Jonathan's Space Page|access-date=12 April 2013}}

| launch_rocket = Proton-K/D

| launch_site = Baikonur 81/23

| last_contact = 10 February 1974, 15:38 UTC

| launch_contractor = Khrunichev

| orbit_reference = Heliocentric{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/m/marsm-73.html|title=Mars M-73|author1=Mark Wade|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|access-date=26 May 2024}}

| orbit_periapsis = 1.02 AU

| orbit_apoapsis = 1.63 AU

| orbit_inclination = 2.2°

| orbit_period = 556 days

| apsis = helion

|interplanetary =

{{Infobox spaceflight/IP

|type = flyby

|note = failed orbiter

|object = Mars

|arrival_date = 10 February 1974, 15:34 UTC

|distance = {{cvt|1844|km|mi}}

}}

| programme = Mars program

| previous_mission = Mars 3

| next_mission = Mars 5

}}

Mars 4 ({{Langx|ru|Марс-4}}), also known as 3MS No.52S was a Soviet spacecraft intended to explore Mars. A 3MS spacecraft launched as part of the Mars programme, it was intended to enter orbit around Mars in 1974. However, computer problems prevented orbital insertion from occurring.{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1973-047A|title=Mars 4|publisher=US National Space Science Data Centre|access-date=12 April 2013}}

Spacecraft

The Mars 4 spacecraft carried an array of instruments to study Mars. In addition to cameras, it was equipped with a radio telescope, an IR radiometer, multiple photometers, polarimeters, a magnetometer, plasma traps, an electrostatic analyzer, a gamma-ray spectrometer, and a radio probe.{{cite book |url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1973.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040925103513/http://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1973.pdf |archive-date=2004-09-25 |url-status=live |last=Siddiqi |first=Asif A. |title=Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 |series=Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24 |year=2002 |publisher=NASA History Office |chapter=1973 |pages=101–106}}

Built by Lavochkin, Mars 4 was the first of two 3MS spacecraft launched to Mars in 1973, being followed by Mars 5. A 3MS was also launched during the 1971 launch window as Kosmos 419. However, due to a launch failure, it failed to depart Earth orbit. In addition to the orbiters, two 3MP lander missions, Mars 6 and Mars 7, were launched during the 1973 window.

Launch

Mars 4 was launched by a Proton-K carrier rocket, a Blok D upper stage, flying from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23. The launch occurred at 19:30:59 UTC on 21 July 1973, with the first three stages placing the spacecraft and upper stage into a low Earth parking orbit before the Blok D fired to propel Mars 4 into heliocentric orbit bound for Mars.

Shortly after performing a course correction on 30 July 1973, two onboard computers failed, leaving Mars 4 unable to perform maneuvers. As a result of this, it was unable to enter orbit around Mars. Twelve photographs were taken on 10 February 1974 from 15:32 UTC to 15:38 UTC as the probe flew past Mars with a closest approach of {{convert|1844|km}} at 15:34 UTC.Siddiqi, Asif A. (2016). Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration 1958-2016, NASA History Program Office, http://www.nasa.gov/ebooks.

Scientific Instruments

Mars 4 orbiter carried 15 scientific instruments on board to study Mars from orbital trajectory

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See also

References

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{{Mars programme}}

{{Orbital launches in 1973}}

{{Mars spacecraft}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

Category:1973 in the Soviet Union

Category:Spacecraft launched in 1973

Category:1973 in spaceflight

Category:Mars program

Category:Derelict satellites in heliocentric orbit

Category:4MV

Category:Non Earth orbiting satellites of the Soviet Union