Mars 2M No.522
Mission type | Mars orbiter |
---|---|
Mission duration | Failed to orbit |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | 2M |
Manufacturer | NPO Lavochkin |
Launch mass | 4,850 kg (10,690 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 2 April 1969, 10:33:00 | UTC
Rocket | Proton-K/D s/n 233-01 |
Launch site | Baikonur 81/24 |
Mars 2M No.522,
Launch
Mars 2M No.522 was launched at 10:33:00 UTC on 2 April 1969 atop a Proton-K 8K78K
Scientific Instruments
Scientific instruments on the spacecraft were:[7]
- Radiometer
- Ultraviolet spectrometer
- Instrument to measure water vapor levels
- Radiation detector
- Gamma spectrometer
- Hydrogen mass spectrometer
- Helium mass spectrometer
- Spectrometer
- Low-energy ion spectrometer
- Imaging system (three on board cameras)
Post-accident effect
Following the crash of the Mars 2M No.522 launch vehicle, the wind spread toxic propellant back across the launch complex, which made the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch complex unusable until rain washed the toxic residuals away. Launch personnel were trapped and unable to leave the cosmodrome as a pool of spilled nitrogen tetroxide was blocking one of the entryways out, while other entryway was blocked by the still-intact second stage of the rocket. By the time this had happened, the alignment of Earth and Mars necessary to launch spacecraft had ended, and the Soviets were unable to launch any further Mars probes until 1971. It also resulted in delays to a number of Luna spacecraft scheduled for launch in 1969.[3] The accident left a deep impression on Soviet military personnel attending the launch and helped spur the development of next-generation ballistic missiles with safer solid propellants.
See also
References
- ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- ^ a b "Mars 1969B". NASA NSSDC. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Mars M-69". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 8 September 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Mars M69 #1, #2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- OCLC 1058482743.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Proton". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- OCLC 862770494.
External links
- Cornell University's Mars Missions page
- The Soviet Mars program, Professor Chris Mihos, Case Western Reserve University