The Soviet Mars 1969A (2M No.521) mission was an ambitious attempt to place a heavy orbiter of nearly 5 tons into Mars orbit using the new Proton-K rocket. However, the mission failed catastrophically during launch on March 27, 1969. A failure in the third stage's turbopump rotor caused a fire and the vehicle's disintegration , with debris falling in the Altai Mountains.

Launch Failure

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NASA

Mariner 6

Mariner 6, launched in February 1969, was a resounding NASA success. During its Mars flyby, the probe returned 75 images and crucial data. Its instruments revealed an atmosphere composed mainly of CO2, measured very low surface pressures, and, most importantly, determined the south polar cap was frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice), not water ice.

Mission Complete

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SKP

Zond 2

Zond 2 (1964) was a failed Soviet Mars flyby mission. A mechanical failure during rocket separation prevented one solar panel from deploying, cutting power by half. This led to thermal problems and the loss of communication in May 1965. It flew past Mars silently, but was the first spacecraft to test plasma thrusters in space.

Orbital Failure

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NASA

Mariner 4

Mariner 4, launched by NASA on November 28, 1964, was a monumental success. It performed the first successful flyby of Mars on July 14, 1965, returning 21 historic images. These revealed a desolate, crater-filled, Moon-like landscape with a much thinner atmosphere than expected, fundamentally altering the scientific perception of the Red Planet.

Mission Complete

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NASA

Mariner 3

Mariner 3 (1964) was NASA's first Mars flyby attempt. The launch was successful, but the fiberglass fairing protecting the probe failed to jettison. Trapped inside, the spacecraft could not deploy its solar panels. Its batteries died 8 hours later, leaving it inert in a solar orbit.

Orbital Failure

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SKP

Mars 2MV-3 No.1 (Sputnik 24)

The Soviet Mars 2MV-3 No.1 (Sputnik 24) mission, launched on November 4, 1962, was an ambitious attempt at the first soft landing on Mars. Although the Molniya rocket reached Earth orbit, the Blok-L upper stage, damaged by severe vibrations during ascent, failed to ignite for trans-Mars injection. The craft remained stranded in orbit and disintegrated in the atmosphere.

Launch Failure

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