Launch Failure
Liftoff Time (GMT)
16:58:42
Monday May 10, 1971
The Proton launcher performed normally, but the Block D failed to place the probe on the planned Martian transfer trajectory.
Cosmos 419, also known as 3MS n°170 was a failed Soviet spacecraft intended to visit Mars. The spacecraft was launched on 10 May 1971, however due to an upper stage malfunction it failed to depart low Earth orbit. In 1971, Mars was at its closest to Earth since 1956 and in May of that year both the Soviet Union and the United States made new attempts to reach the Red Planet. Kosmos 419 was intended to overtake the United States probes, Mariner 8 and Mariner 9, in the aim of becoming the first Mars orbiter. As it was, Mariner 8 was lost in a launch failure two days before Kosmos 419 was launched, and Mariner 9 went on to become the first spacecraft to orbit Mars.
Heliocentric Orbit
1 Payload
4,549 kilograms
Manufacturer
KhrunichevRocket
Height: 56.14m
Payload to Orbit
LEO: 18,900 kg
GTO: 9,000 kg
Liftoff Thrust
8,840 Kilonewtons
Fairing
Diameter: 3.9m
Height: 8.9m
Stages
4
27th
Mission
2nd
Mission of 1971
577th
Mission
30th
Mission of 1971
46th
Orbital launch attempt