Xref: utzoo sci.space:8552 sci.space.shuttle:2079 Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!rutgers!mailrus!ames!sgi!decwrl!mtwain.dec.com!klaes From: klaes@mtwain.dec.com (CUP/ML, MLO5-2/G1 8A, 223-3283) Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle Subject: The Soviet MARS 2 and 3 unmanned probes. Message-ID: <8811291638.AA00713@decwrl.dec.com> Date: 29 Nov 88 19:28:00 GMT Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation Lines: 20 In regards to an earlier posting about MARS 3 being the first human-made vehicle to land on the planet Mars, this is incorrect. Its companion probe, MARS 2, was actually first (1971), though it unfor- tunately crashed on the planet's surface without returning any useful data. MARS 3 did land successfully, but it broadcast signals for only ninety seconds before mysteriously going silent (a planetary sandstorm occuring at that time is usually blamed for the probe's demise). MARS 3 did return one partial picture of the surface, but it was of such poor quality that no details could be seen (I have never seen this picture, though I would like to out of sheer curi- ousity; does anyone know where I might be able to see it? Thanks.). Also, MARS 2 and 3 were not "spike" probes, as the earlier posting stated, but were based on the LUNA 9 and 13 lander designs, basically a sphere balanced upright by four metal "petals" which shielded the instruments during landing, then opened outward to keep the probe upright on the surface. Larry Klaes