May 30 1971
From The Space Library
NASA successfully launched Mariner 9 (Mariner-I) from ETR at 6:23 pm EDT on Atlas-Centaur 23 booster into 398-million-km (247-million-mi) direct-ascent trajectory toward Mars. No problem had been found in Centaur guidance package when May 29 data was fully understood. Launch was second attempt to send spacecraft to orbit Mars during 1971 opportunity; Mariner 8 (Mariner-H) launch attempt May 8 had failed because of malfunction in Centaur stage of booster. Scheduled for arrival at Mars on Nov. 14, Mariner 9 would make detailed study of Martian surface and atmosphere and map 70% of surface during planned 90-day orbit of planet. Launch vehicle performance and spacecraft injection were nominal. Spacecraft separated from Centaur, deployed four solar panels at 6:40 pm, and locked sensors on sun at 7:16 pm, soon after leaving earth's shadow. About four hours into flight Canopus sensor was energized and spacecraft rolled 55° and locked onto star Achernar. Canopus acquisition was achieved at 10:26 pm and spacecraft would remain in sun-Canopus orientation for mission except during maneuvers. All spacecraft systems were operating normally. Mariner 9 weighed 1000 kg (2200 lb) at launch and carried six scientific experiments: infrared radiometer to measure surface temperature ; UV spectrometer to investigate composition and structure of atmosphere ; infrared interferometer spectrometer to measure surface and atmospheric radiation ; S-band occultation experiment to study pressure and structure of atmosphere; TV cameras to transmit low- and high-resolution photographs of surface; and experiment to investigate Martian gravity field. Orbit of spacecraft was designed to guarantee it would not hit Mars for at least 17 yrs, to avoid contamination of planet before studies on surface were made by landing spacecraft. OSSA assigned project responsibility to JPL, including mission operations and tracking and data acquisition. Launch vehicle was responsibility of LeRC, with contractor General Dynamics Corp. Convair Division. (NASA Proj Off; NASA Release 71-75)
May 30-June 6: Apollo 14 Astronauts Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Edgar D. Mitchell, and Stuart A. Roosa during visit to France attended Paris Air Show ; inspected aerospace facilities at Bretigny, Toulouse, and Salon-de-Provence, and attended reception by Mayor of Dijon. (NASA Release 71-84; MSC PIO)
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