NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Mars 2

Launch Time
Wed May 19, 1971 16:22 UTC

Rocket

Proton-K/Block D
RVSN USSR
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 8,840 kN
Payload to LEO: 18,900 kg
Payload to GTO: 9,000 kg
Stages: 4
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 56.14 m
Fairing Diameter: 3.9 m
Fairing Height: 8.9 m

Mission Details

Mars 2

The Mars 2 was an uncrewed space probe of the Mars program, a series of uncrewed Mars landers and orbiters launched by the Soviet Union beginning 19 May 1971. The Mars 2 and Mars 3 missions consisted of identical spacecraft, each with an orbiter and an attached lander. The orbiter is identical to the Venera 9 bus. The type of bus/orbiter is the 4MV. They were launched by a Proton-K heavy launch vehicle with a Blok D upper stage. The lander of Mars 2 became the first human-made object to reach the surface of Mars, although the landing system failed and the lander was lost.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 4,650.0 kg
Heliocentric Orbit

Location

Site 81/24, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Stats

1971

49th orbital launch attempt

Proton-K

28th mission
3rd mission of 1971
16th successful mission
1st consecutive successful mission