Mars 4

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Failed Soviet orbiter mission to Mars (1973–1974)

title: "Mars 4" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1973-in-the-soviet-union", "spacecraft-launched-in-1973", "1973-in-spaceflight", "mars-program", "derelict-satellites-in-heliocentric-orbit", "4mv", "non-earth-orbiting-satellites-of-the-soviet-union"] description: "Failed Soviet orbiter mission to Mars (1973–1974)" topic_path: "general/1973-in-the-soviet-union" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_4" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Failed Soviet orbiter mission to Mars (1973–1974) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox spaceflight"]

FieldValue
nameMars 4
imageMars 4-5.jpg
image_size300px
mission_typeMars orbiter
operatorSoviet space program
COSPAR_ID1973-047A
SATCAT6742
mission_duration
spacecraft3MS No.52S
manufacturerNPO Lavochkin
launch_mass3440 kg
launch_dateUTC
launch_rocketProton-K/D
launch_siteBaikonur 81/23
last_contact10 February 1974, 15:38 UTC
launch_contractorKhrunichev
orbit_referenceHeliocentric
orbit_periapsis1.02 AU
orbit_apoapsis1.63 AU
orbit_inclination2.2°
orbit_period556 days
apsishelion
typeflyby
notefailed orbiter
objectMars
arrival_date10 February 1974, 15:34 UTC
distance1844 km
programmeMars program
previous_missionMars 3
next_missionMars 5
::

| name = Mars 4 | image = Mars 4-5.jpg | image_size = 300px

| mission_type = Mars orbiter | operator = Soviet space program | COSPAR_ID = 1973-047A | SATCAT = 6742 | mission_duration =

| spacecraft = 3MS No.52S | manufacturer = NPO Lavochkin | launch_mass = 3440 kg

| launch_date = UTC | launch_rocket = Proton-K/D | launch_site = Baikonur 81/23 | last_contact = 10 February 1974, 15:38 UTC | launch_contractor = Khrunichev

| orbit_reference = Heliocentric | orbit_periapsis = 1.02 AU | orbit_apoapsis = 1.63 AU | orbit_inclination = 2.2° | orbit_period = 556 days | apsis = helion

|interplanetary = |type = flyby |note = failed orbiter |object = Mars |arrival_date = 10 February 1974, 15:34 UTC |distance = 1844 km

| programme = Mars program | previous_mission = Mars 3 | next_mission = Mars 5

Mars 4 (), also known as 3MS No.52S was a Soviet spacecraft intended to explore Mars. A 3MS spacecraft launched as part of the Mars programme, it was intended to enter orbit around Mars in 1974. However, computer problems prevented orbital insertion from occurring.

Spacecraft

The Mars 4 spacecraft carried an array of instruments to study Mars. In addition to cameras, it was equipped with a radio telescope, an IR radiometer, multiple photometers, polarimeters, a magnetometer, plasma traps, an electrostatic analyzer, a gamma-ray spectrometer, and a radio probe.

Built by Lavochkin, Mars 4 was the first of two 3MS spacecraft launched to Mars in 1973, being followed by Mars 5. A 3MS was also launched during the 1971 launch window as Kosmos 419. However, due to a launch failure, it failed to depart Earth orbit. In addition to the orbiters, two 3MP lander missions, Mars 6 and Mars 7, were launched during the 1973 window.

Launch

Mars 4 was launched by a Proton-K carrier rocket, a Blok D upper stage, flying from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23. The launch occurred at 19:30:59 UTC on 21 July 1973, with the first three stages placing the spacecraft and upper stage into a low Earth parking orbit before the Blok D fired to propel Mars 4 into heliocentric orbit bound for Mars.

Shortly after performing a course correction on 30 July 1973, two onboard computers failed, leaving Mars 4 unable to perform maneuvers. As a result of this, it was unable to enter orbit around Mars. Twelve photographs were taken on 10 February 1974 from 15:32 UTC to 15:38 UTC as the probe flew past Mars with a closest approach of 1844 km at 15:34 UTC.

Scientific Instruments

Mars 4 orbiter carried 15 scientific instruments on board to study Mars from orbital trajectory

References

References

  1. Krebs, Gunter. "Interplanetary Probes". Gunter's Space Page.
  2. "Mars 4". NASA.
  3. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page.
  4. "Mars M-73". Encyclopedia Astronautica.
  5. "Mars 4". US National Space Science Data Centre.
  6. Siddiqi, Asif A.. (2002). "Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000". NASA History Office.
  7. Siddiqi, Asif A. (2016). Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration 1958-2016, NASA History Program Office, http://www.nasa.gov/ebooks.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1973-in-the-soviet-unionspacecraft-launched-in-19731973-in-spaceflightmars-programderelict-satellites-in-heliocentric-orbit4mvnon-earth-orbiting-satellites-of-the-soviet-union