Mariner spacecraft. Technicians prepare a Mariner- Mars 64 spacecraft of the type used in the Mariner 3 and Mariner 4 missions to Mars; the latter pro

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Mariner spacecraft. Technicians prepare a Mariner- Mars 64 spacecraft of the type used in the Mariner 3 and Mariner 4 missions to Mars; the latter produced the first close-range images of Mars. The 4 solar panels are arrayed in their flight configuration. They are each 181 centimetres (cm) long and 90 cm wide, and are attached to the side of the spacecraft which will face the Sun during its flight. Solar pressure vanes, which will act as an auxiliary attitude weather control system during Mariner's flight, are at the outboard ends of each panel. Mariner 3 & 4 were launched on 5 & 28 November 1964 respectively. Mariner 3 failed, but Mariner 4 was successful.

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Size: 2727px × 3447px
Photo credit: © NASA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 3, 4, 64, craft, exploration, mariner, mariner-mars, mars, mission, planetary, preparation, research, space, spacecraft