On this day in space! Nov. 13, 1971: NASA's Mariner 9 becomes 1st spacecraft to orbit Mars, revealing close looks at the Martian surface
On Nov. 13, 1971, Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit Mars. Here's why it mattered.
On November 13, 1971, the NASA spacecraft Mariner 9 made history by becoming the first human-built spacecraft to orbit Mars. Up until this point, scientists knew very little about the Red Planet, with earlier flybys suggesting Mars resembled the Moon's cratered surface. However, Mariner 9's arrival in the midst of a dust storm completely changed perceptions.
Upon reaching Mars, the spacecraft encountered a dust storm. Through the clouds, Mariner 9 revealed gigantic volcanoes - one towering volcano named Olympus Mons - standing out as the tallest in the solar system. It also uncovered an immense canyon called Valles Marineris, five times longer than the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Mariner 9's mission lasted for a year, during which it successfully mapped 85% of Mars' surface using four primary instruments: a camera system, an ultraviolet spectrometer, an infrared spectrometer, and an infrared radiometer. The spacecraft located 20 giant volcanoes, mapped the Valles Marineris canyon, and even captured images of Mars' two moons, Phobos and Deimos.
Although the mission concluded in October 1972 due to the depletion of its nitrogen thrusters, Mariner 9 remains an iconic Mars explorer. Its groundbreaking discoveries transformed Mars from a mere mystery into a detailed, explored world for future human investigation.
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