Failed · launch failure Flyby 1960

Korabl 4 (Mars 1M No. 1)

Korabl 4, launched by the Soviet Union in October 1960, was the first probe designed to perform a flyby of Mars. The mission failed during its ascent phase due to vibration and resonance issues in the upper stages of the launch vehicle, preventing it from reaching Earth orbit.

Agency OKB-1
Launch SOL 24 OF QUIRINO OF YEAR 3 · 01:10 MTC
Mission End SOL 24 OF QUIRINO OF YEAR 3 · 01:15 MTC

Technical Analysis of the Korabl 4 Mission (Mars 1M No. 1)

  • Mission Designation: Korabl 4 (Mars 1M No. 1, Mars 1960A, Marsnik 1)
  • Operating Agency: OKB-1 (Soviet Union)
  • Launch Date: October 10, 1960, 14:27:49 UTC
  • Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78 rocket (L1-4M series)
  • Launch Site: LC-1/5 Pad, Baikonur Cosmodrome, USSR
  • Mission End Date: October 10, 1960
  • Mission Status: Launch Failure

1. Historical Context and Detailed Objectives

The scientific vacuum that the Korabl 4 mission intended to fill encompassed the initial exploration of the interplanetary environment between Earth and Mars and the acquisition of the first data on the red planet via a flyby trajectory. The primary objectives focused on:

Scientific:

  • Investigate interplanetary space and study the Martian environment.
  • Take images of the surface from a flyby trajectory.

Engineering:

  • Test long-distance communication systems.
  • Evaluate the effects of prolonged spaceflight on onboard instruments.

2. Probe Specifications

The total mass of the Korabl 4 spacecraft (Mars 1M model) was approximately 640 kg to 650 kg, with a scientific payload mass of about 10 kg. The power system consisted of solar panels combined with onboard chemical batteries. Communications were designed for long-distance testing using directional and omnidirectional antennas, lacking surface mobility capability.

3. Payload and Scientific Instrumentation

  • Magnetometer: Designed to measure the interplanetary magnetic field and potential magnetic fields associated with Mars.
  • Ion traps (plasma-ion traps): To record the characteristics of the solar wind and plasma in the interplanetary medium.
  • Radiation detector / Cosmic ray counter: Responsible for quantifying corpuscular radiation and galactic cosmic rays.
  • Micrometeoroid detector: To evaluate the density of dust and particles on the journey to the red planet.

4. Launch Vehicle

The mission was launched by a Molniya 8K78 rocket (L1-4M series) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The propulsion system of the upper stages experienced mechanical failures and severe resonances that prevented the completion of orbital injection.

5. Timeline and Mission Phases

  • October 10, 1960, 14:27:49 UTC: Launch of the spacecraft from LC-1/5 pad at Baikonur.
  • October 10, 1960 (T+301 s): Failure due to vibrations and resonance in the upper stages that disconnected the horizon sensor and caused the loss of thrust vector control.
  • October 10, 1960 (T+324.2 s): Official end of the mission following the destruction and atmospheric reentry of the booster vehicle and payload over eastern Siberia.

6. Results and Discoveries

No scientific results or discoveries were obtained, as the mission failed to overcome Earth's atmospheric layers or reach interplanetary space due to the catastrophic failure of the launch vehicle during its ascent phase.

7. Legacy and Importance

The mission represented the first Soviet attempt to reach Mars, laying the technological foundations and operational precedents for the subsequent development of the USSR's interplanetary space program.

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