Mars 2

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

MISSION BARRIER:

     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

1. Mars 2 Mission Images (Soviet Mars Image Catalog) 
2. NASA Mars Mission Website

BOOKS ON MARS 2 AND MARS 3:

     Destination Mars, Pyle Rod (2012) ISBN 978-1-61614-589-7 [PDF]