Monday, May 28, 2018

Mars 3 launched 1971



Mars 3, an unmanned Soviet probe launched May 28, 1971, made the first soft landing on the Red Planet.  It was identical to the Mars 2 probe, which crashed onto the martian surface.

The decent module separated from the orbiter on December 2 and achieved a soft landing by aerodynamic braking, parachutes and retrorockets.  It began transmitting 90 seconds after landing, but, 20 seconds later, stopped for an unknown reason. 


No comments: