Dec 5 1964
From The Space Library
MARINER IV underwent a critical course change to make it possible for the craft to take useful pictures of Mars during the fly-by in July 1965. In response to commands radioed from earth, a small rocket on the base of the spacecraft, which could add anything between an eighth of a mile an hour to 188 miles an hour to the craft's speed, was fired. Initial indications were that the correction was successful and accurate. Several days later, tracking equipment and associated computers con-firmed that the rocket firing had produced three changes in MARINER IV's flight path: (1) the Mars fly-by from 151,000 mi. in front of Mars to a closest approach of 5,400 mi. behind Mars, (2) the arrival date from July 16, 1965, to July 14; and (3) the flight path past Mars from the leading edge to the trailing edge of Mars. The maneuver was followed by sun and Canopus reacquisition. A second midcourse maneuver would not be required. The midcourse rocket used by MARINER IV was the first to be used by this country that was capable of a second firing. (NASA Release 64-310; Witkin, NYT, 12/6/64, 67; Miles, Wash. Post, 12/6/64)
“Mariner 4 On Trip to Mars” article in the Illustrated London News
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