2MV-4 n°1 (Mars 1)
Launch Failure
Liftoff Time (GMT)
17:55:04
Wednesday October 24, 1962
Mission Details
Launch Notes
The first three stages work properly and place the probe in a low orbit 202km x 260km x 65.1 °. The block L upper stage starts correctly, but the S1.5400 engine explodes after 16" because a leak of lubricant causes the turbopump to block. Many debris were generated by the explosion, which took place during the Cuban missile crisis. American military radars detected for a moment that it was a Soviet nuclear attack.
2MV-4 n°1 (Mars 1)
Mars 2MV-4 n°1 also known as Sputnik 22 in the West, was a Soviet spacecraft, which was launched in 1962 as part of the Mars programme, and was intended to make a flyby of Mars, and transmit images of the planet back to Earth. Due to a problem with the rocket which launched it, it was destroyed in low Earth orbit. It was the first of two Mars 2MV-4 spacecraft to be launched, the other being the Mars 1 spacecraft which was launched eight days later.
1 Payload
894 kilograms
Rocket
Manufacturer
RKK EnergiyaRocket
Height: 44.23m
Payload to Orbit
LEO: 6,000 kg
GTO: 2,200 kg
Liftoff Thrust
4,378 Kilonewtons
Fairing
Diameter: 2.58m
Height: 6.74m
Stages
4
Strap-ons
4
Launch Site
Stats
Molniya
8th
Mission
4th
Mission of 1962
RKK Energiya
47th
Mission
18th
Mission of 1962
1962
64th
Orbital launch attempt