In the late 20th century, we began to explore Mars. These studies were not conducted through a telescope, but the much more advanced technology of interplanetary probes. In 1964, lead by multiple prior failures, two unmanned missions to Mars, the Mariner 3 and 4, were launched. The Mariner 3, was a battery-powered spacecraft designed to make scientific measurements of, and to obtain photographs of the planet's surface and transmit these to Earth. The mission was predicted to last about 8 months. Unfortunately, as the probe was launched, its atmospheric shield had failed to eject, leaving all of the sensors and instruments covered. This also left unnecessary weight with the probe, not allowing it to achieve its target trajectory. Three weeks later, the second probe, Mariner 4 was launched on its eight-month voyage to Mars. Unlike the first mission this one was successful, completing the very first flyby of Mars in history, and changing …show more content…
The Viking 2 went through its whole process from launch to landing without a hitch. Each probe was two sections. One being the orbiter, and the other being the lander. Both pieces of the spacecrafts flew together as one piece entering the Mars orbit. Once in the atmosphere, the landers would then separate and descended to the planet's surface to conduct further tests and experiments, then sending the results back to Earth.
Numerous missions to Mars later, after missions launching satellites, furthering geographic exploration, excavating prior signs of water, probes operating longer than any other spacecraft in history, atmospheric studies, many failures, and an affluence in gathered information, we are still determined to continue to explore Mars. In the most recent mission to Mars, the Schiaparelli EDM lander was launched, and has still yet to make it to mars for another few