Mars exploration began in the 1960s, with many failed missions before the first successful probe, Mars 2, in 1971. NASA’s Mariner 4 provided the first close-up images, while Viking 1 and 2 landers provided surface views. The ultimate goal is to land a human on Mars, but the high failure rate of previous missions is a concern. NASA plans a manned mission after 2030.
The exploration of Mars has been a serious priority of the world’s largest space programs since the 1960s, when the Soviet Union attempted to launch the Korabl 4 and Korabl 5 space probes to the Red Planet as part of the Marsnik program. The rockets propelling these probes failed to deliver sufficient thrust, and both fell back burning up in the atmosphere after barely making it to space. This would be the first in a long line of failed and half-failed missions to Mars.
Between 1960 and 1964, the Soviets failed to get probes to Mars on seven other occasions, with the probes failing to launch or ceasing communications before reaching the planet. The first successful Mars probe was Mars 2, which arrived in orbit around the Red Planet on November 27, 1971. Its lander, which was supposed to land and take measurements, crashed into the surface of Mars at 6 km/s (13.421 mph) in case of malfunction of the descent system on the module. However, this was the first man-made object to reach the surface of Mars, and thus a milestone in the exploration of Mars.
NASA launched several probes to Mars in the 1960s, including Mariner 4, which flew past Mars on July 14, 1965, providing the first close-up images of another planet. Upon arrival in Mars orbit, another NASA probe, Mariner 9, observed a planetary dust storm, the first and only example of this phenomenon currently known. Planetary dust storms are impossible on Earth due to the oceans and the small percentage of the earth’s surface covered by desert. In contrast, Mars is 100% desert.
Exploration of the surface of Mars’ Golden Age by space probes dates back to the late 1970s, when the Viking 1 and Viking 2 landers reached Mars, providing close-ups from another planet’s surface. These probes also tested the ground for organic molecules, which they didn’t find, disappointing many who had hoped for signs of microbial life on Mars. The missions have also contributed to the exploration of Mars by including orbiters that have remained in orbit for many months, sending information about the planet to Earth.
The most anticipated aspect of Mars exploration is to land a man on Mars. However, the 50% success rate of previous space probe missions to Mars is cause for concern. If a spaceship to Mars were to experience a technical malfunction, lose its target, or fail to leave the surface on its way back, the astronauts would be stranded and likely forced to consume cyanide capsules to avoid dying of dehydration. This would forever leave space exploration a detriment. However, NASA is still tentatively planning the manned mission to Mars, which is likely to occur after 2030.
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