Mars 7 | 3MP No.51P

Mars 7 Lander/Flyby

     Mars 7 also known as 3MP No.51P was a Soviet Mars Spacecraft launched to explore Mars. A 3MP bus spacecraft launched as a part Mars Programme, This Mission carried a Lander and a coast stage with instruments to study Mars. This spacecraft was built by Lavochkin, Mars 6 and Mars 7 were 3MP spacecrafts. Two orbiters Mars-4 and Mars-5 were launched earlier and were expected to relay data for these two Landers. However Mars 4 failed to enter orbit and Mars 5 failed after few days in Martian orbit.

INSTRUMENTS CARRIED:

• Thermometer - to measure surface temperature
• Barometer - to measure surface pressure
• Accelerometer
• Radio Altimeter -  for analyse the surface materials
• Mass Spectrometer
• Magnetometer
• Plasma Traps
• Cosmic Ray detectors
• Micro-meteoroid detectors - to study proton,electron and fluxes from the Sun

OPERATION:     

      Mars 7 was launched by a Proton-K carrier rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome at 17:00:17 UTC. Mars 7 Lander failed to separate from the flyby. However it was eventually released to begin its descent. Due to the retrorocket failure, the probe missed the atmosphere of Mars, instead of landing, flew past along with the coast stage, with a closest approach of 1,300 kilometers. The spacecrafts transistors were blamed for the failure, along with that of Mars 4.

MISSION OUTCOMES:

• The Spacecraft failed, and failed to land on Mars due to transistor problem.