NEWS

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

WASHINGTON,D .G.Y~os& TELS . 755-8370
755-8347

FOR RELEASE: UPON RECEIPT

R i c h a r d T. Mittauer
(Phone: -
20 2/7 5 5 36 8 0)

P
R
E GENERAL RELEASE
contents
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
PRE-ENCOUNTER PHASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
S ORBITAL OPERATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-16
S
MARS SCIENCE.
MARS FACT SHEET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

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O c t o b e r 22, 1971
 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (a2) 755-8370
EWS - WASHINGTON,D.C. 20% TEU: (202) 755-8347

FOR RELEASE: UPON RECEIPT

Richard T. M i t t a u e r
(Phone: 202/755-3680)
RELEASE NO: 71-215

MARINER 9 MARS ENCOUNTER -- NOVEMBER 1 3

Man w i l l have h i s f i r s t o p p o r t u n i t y f o r a l e n g t h y look

a t a n o t h e r p l a n e t , o t h e r t h a n e a r t h , w i t h d a i l y and s e a s o n a l
changes i n i t s atmosphere and on i t s s u r f a c e when a United
S t a t e s s p a c e c r a f t i s i n j e c t e d i n t o o r b i t around Mars on
November 13.

A f t e r a 400-million k i l o m e t e r (248-million m i l e ) journey

from launch a t Cape Kennedy on May 30, Mariner 9 w i l l f i r e
an onboard r o c k e t f o r about 15 minutes t o i n s e r t it i n t o
o r b i t around Mars. All p r e v i o u s U.S. p l a n e t a r y s p a c e c r a f t
have a t t a i n e d o n l y b r i e f views of Mars on fly-by missions.

Also aimed a t i n c r e a s i n g man's knowledge of Mars are

two Russian s p a c e c r a f t , Mars 2 and 3 , now n e a r i h g t h e p l a n e t
t o climax journeys t h a t began w i t h t h e i r launches on May 1 9
and May 28. NASA and t h e Academy of Sciences of t h e USSR
r e c e n t l y agreed t o r a p i d exchange of f i n d i n g s o f s p e c i a l
i n t e r e s t by t h e U.S. and S o v i e t probes.
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October 2 2 , 1 9 7 1
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The N a t i o n a l Aeronautics and Space Administration h a s

planned f o r Mariner a basic 90-day mission of r e t u r n i n g
s c i e n t i f i c data f r o m Martian o r b i t . M a r i n e r ' s mission i s
b e i n g managed f o r NASA by i t s J e t Propulsion Laboratory,
Pasadena, C a l i f o r n i a .

I n t h e 90-day b a s i c mission, t w o t e l e v i s i o n cameras

w i l l take m o r e than 5 , 0 0 0 p i c t u r e s of t h e Martian s u r f a c e --
mapping more than 70 p e r c e n t of t h e p l a n e t ' s s u r f a c e and
r e p e a t e d l y photographing a r e a s of i n t e r e s t .

Three other i n s t r u m e n t s , measuring i n v i s i b l e r a d i a t i o n

from Mars i n u l t r a v i o l e t and i n f r a r e d , w i l l provide a d d i t i o n a l
information on t h e p l a n e t ' s s u r f a c e -- i t s temperature,
composition, and a l t i t u d e p r o f i l e -- and on i t s atmosphere --
i t s composition, s t r u c t u r e , temperature and p r e s s u r e .

Two c t h e r s c i e n t i f i c experiments w i l l measure varia-

t i o n s i n M a r i n e r ' s radio s i g n a l t o s t u d y t h e Martian atmos-

phere and t o measure t h e p l a n e t ' s o r b i t around t h e Sun, the
o r b i t of i t s two moons and i t s g r a v i t a t i o n a l f i e l d .

I n o r b i t around Mars, Mariner a l s o w i l l be able t o provide

t h e f i r s t p i c t u r e s showing t h e s u r f a c e of Mars' two t i n y

moons, Deimos and Phobos.
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On November 13, Mariner w i l l b e aimed f o r a p r e l i m i n a r y

o r b i t around Mars with a p e r i o d o f about 1 2 and 1/2 hours, a
p e r i a p s i s ( l o w p o i n t ) of 1,350 k i l o m e t e r s ( 8 0 0 m i l e s ) and an
apoapsis (high p o i n t ) of 1 7 , 7 0 0 k i l o m e t e r s ( 1 1 , 0 0 0 m i l e s ) .
The planned r e f i n e d o r b i t f o r the bulk of t h e 90-day b a s i c
mission w i l l be an 11.98-hour o r b i t w i t h an apoapsis of
16,800 k i l o m e t e r s (10,500 m i l e s ) and a p e r i a p s i s of about
1 , 2 0 0 t o 1,280 k i l o m e t e r s (750 t o 800 m i l e s ) .

The o r b i t w i l l b e i n c l i n e d about 65 degrees t o t h e

Martian e q u a t o r so t h a t more than 80 p e r c e n t of the p l a n e t
can be mapped.

The f i n a l o r b i t w i l l be achieved s e v e r a l days a f t e r

o r b i t insertion. I t may r e q u i r e up t o t h r e e o r b i t t r i m s t o

e s t a b l i s h t h e d e s i r e d p e r i o d and p e r i a p s i s .

B o t h o r b i t i n s e r t i o n and o r b i t t r i m w i l l be performed

w i t h t h e onboard 660 kilogram (300 pound) t h r u s t r o c k e t

engine.

O r b i t i n s e r t i o n w i l l r e q u i r e approximately a 15-minute

e n g i n e burn t o s l o w t h e s p a c e c r a f t s u f f i c i e n t l y t o allow
t h e Martian g r a v i t a t i o n a l f i e l d t o p u l l t h e Mariner i n t o
orbit. O r b i t t r i m s w i l l r e q u i r e o n l y b r i e f engine f i r i n g s .
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T he approach v e l o c i t y w i l l b e approximately 18,000

k i l o m e t e r s (11,185 m i l e s p e r h o u r ) , r e l a t i v e t o Mars. Burning

of the engine w i l l reduce t h i s v e l o c i t y to about 12,500

k i l o m e t e r s (7,830 m i l e s p e r h o i r ) .

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PRE-ENCOUNTER PHASE

P r i o r t o o r b i t i n s e r t i o n Mariner w i l l t r a n s m i t t o E a r t h
t h r e e sequences of approach p i c t u r e s of Mars. This phactro-
graphy w i l l b e g i n . o n November 1 0 a t about 2 p.m., PST, w i t h
t h e f i r s t playback, of 31 p i c t u r e s , o c c u r r i n g about 2 4 hours
l a t e r on Thursday, November 11. The range f o r t h e s e p i c t u r e s
w i l l b e from 861,000 t o 571,000 k i l o m e t e r s (535,000 t o 355,000
m i l e s ) from -Mars. Twenty-five p i c t u r e s of M a r s and s i x
p i c t u r e s of the Martian moon D e i m o s w i l l b e included.

The second playback w i l l be on November 12, a t about

7:15 p.m., PST, range, 523,000 t o 257,000 k i l o m e t e r s (325,000
t o 160,000 m i l e s ) . Twenty-four p i c t u r e s o f Mars and seven
D e i m o s pictures, The t h i r d playback w i l l begin on November 1 3 ,
a t about 7 p.m., PST, following o r b i t i n s e r t i o n . Range
210,000 t o 113,000 k i l o m e t e r s ( 1 3 0 , 0 0 0 t o 7 0 , 0 0 0 m i l e s ) .

Twenty-three p i c t u r e s of M a r s and two Phobos, s i x D e i m o s

pictures.

Photography on each of t h e first two sequences w i l l b e

timed t o p r o v i d e coverage o f a complete r e v o l u t i o n of Mars
as it r e v o l v e s i n f r o n t of the approaching s p a c e c r a f t . With
t h e e x c e p t i o n of a s i n g l e , low-resolution p i c t u r e of Phobos
taken on t h e Mariner 6 and 7 missions i n 1 9 6 9 , t h e Martian
moons have been seen o r photographed, f r o m E a r t h , only as
p i n p o i n t s of l i g h t .
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Approach photography of t h e moons w i l l provide r e f i n e -

ments of the o r b i t a l p a t h s and v e l o c i t y measurements c a l c u -
l a t e d from E a r t h . T h i s data w i l l b e u t i l i z e d l a t e r t o accu-

r a t e l y a i m the TV cameras a t t h e moons f o r r e l a t i v e l y c l o s e

range photography w h i l e i n o r b i t around M a r s .

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- --
PRE-OR81T SEQ.1, FRAME I
APPROX. RANGE : 525,000 MI,

PRE-OR81T SEU. I , FRAME 31

APPROX. RANGE: 355,000 MI.
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5

_.

PRE- ORBIT SEQ. 2, FRAME 1

APFKOX.RANGE: 325,UUU 1~1111.

PRE-ORBIT SEQ.Z, FRAME 30

APROX. RANGE: 160,000 MI.
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i
PRE-ORBIT SEQ. 3 FRAME 4
APPROX. RANGE $37,000 MI.
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ORBITAL OPERATIONS

The Mars o r b i t f o r Mariner 9 w a s selected t o p l a c e

p e r i a p s i s i n the middle of t h e view p e r i o d ( a f t e r o r b i t

t r i m ) of t h e 64-meter-diameter (210-foot) antenna of the
Deep Space network a t Goldstone i n t h e C a l i f o r n i a Mojave
Desert, about 240 k i l o m e t e r s (150 m i l e s ) n o r t h e a s t of JPL.

Only the 6 4 - m e t e r antennas of the DSN can receive a t 1 6 , 2 0 0

b i t s p e r second.

Goldstone w i l l view M a r s each day from about 1 p.m.

t o 11 p.m., PST, d u r i n g one o f the t w o d a i l y s p a c e c r a f t
o r b i t s of Mars. During t h a t t i m e , Mariner 9 w i l l t r a n s m i t
two tape-loads of TV and other s c i e n c e data. The f i r s t

tape-load w i l l have been t a k e n and s t o r e d on t h e t a p e r e c o r d e r

on t h e previous o r b i t when M a r s w a s n o t i n view of Goldstone.
The second tape-load w i l l be taken and t r a n s m i t t e d d u r i n g

t h e Goldstone view p e r i o d .

Each tape-load, r e q u i r i n g three hours t o t r a n s m i t , w i l l

have about 30 TV p i c t u r e s and d a t a from:
t h e I n f r a r e d I n t e r f e r o m e t e r Spectrometer; s t u d y of the
p l a n e t ' s s u r f a c e and composition, atmospheric composi-
t i o n , temperature, p r e s s u r e and w a t e r c o n t e n t ,
I n f r a r e d Radiometer; s u r f a c e temperature measurements,
and U l t r a v i o l e t Spectrometer; atmospheric composition,
s t r u c t u r e and p r e s s u r e s .
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A l l t h e instruments a r e bore-sighted w i t h t h e TV cameras

t o allow c l o s e c o r r e l a t i o n of d a t a .

Two a d d i t i o n a l e x p e r i m e n t s do n o t r e q u i r e i n s t r u m e n t s --
o c c u l t a t i o n and c e l e s t i a l mechanics. Occultation data

i n c l u d i n g a t m o s p h e r i c p r e s s u r e i s d e r i v e d from a t m o s p h e r i c

e f f e c t s on t h e r a d i o s i g n a l a s t h e s p a c e c r a f t p a s s e s b e h i n d

Mars and t h e s i g n a l p a s s e s t h r o u g h t h e M a r t i a n atmosphere.

The c e l e s t i a l mechanics e x p e r i m e n t w i l l i n c l u d e measurements

of t h e o r b i t of t h e t w o moons, t h e M a r t i a n g r a v i t a t i o n a l

f i e l d and t h e e p h e m e r i s of Mars ( i t s p o s i t i o n a t a g i v e n t i m e

in solar orbit). The measurements a r e d e r i v e d from t r a c k i n g

data.

The f i r s t p l a y b a c k of d a t a t a k e n from o r b i t w i l l b e g i n

a t 6:57 a.m., PST, Sunday, November 1 4 . The f i r s t t e n

p i c t u r e s w i l l b e r e l a y e d t o J P L by c a b l e f r o m f h e Robledo

t r a c k i n g s t a t i o n n e a r Madrid a t 2,025 b i t s p e r s e c o n d . The

p l a y b a c k w i l l r e q u i r e s i x h o u r s , 34 m i n u t e s t o complete.

The r e m a i n d e r of t h e f i r s t o r b i t t a p e w i l l b e r e c e i v e d

a t the G o l d s t o n e s t a t i o n a t 1 6 , 2 0 0 b i t s p e r s e c o n d . These

f i r s t o r b i t a l p i c t u r e s w i l l b e a mapping s e q u e n c e . The

t r a n s m i s s i o n sequence w i l l b e g i n a t 2 : 3 7 p.m., PST, and c o n c l u d e

a t 4:55 p.m.
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The second o r b i t p i c t u r e s , a l s o t o b e p l a y e d back Sun-

day, November 1 4 , from 6 : 4 0 p.m. t o 9:55 p.m., PST, w i l l

most l i k e l y i n c l u d e more mapping frames a s w i l l a l l s e q u e n c e s

prior t o orbit t r i m . Following o r b i t t r i m , f u l l s c i e n c e w i l l

be conducted

O r b i t 3 t r a n s m i s s i o n t i m e i s 2:22 p.rn., PST, Monday,

November 1 5 , t o 5:37 p.m., PST.

O r b i t 4 p i c t u r e s w i l l b e t r a n s m i t t e d between 7:39 p.m.

and 10:54 p.m., PST, Monday, November 1 5 .

O r b i t 5 playback w i l l occur, a f t e r t h e scheduled o r b i t t r i m ,

on Tuesday, November 1 6 between 8:32 p.m. and 1 1 : 4 7 p.m., PST.

There w i l l b e no photography on O r b i t 6 due t o t h e o r b i t

t r i m , now p l a n n e d f o r 7 : O O p.m., November 1 6 .

O r b i t 7 p i c t u r e s , t o b e t r a n s m i t t e d t o E a r t h from 1 : 4 6 p.m.

t o 4:56 p.m., PST, November 1 7 , w i l l b e a r e p e a t o f t h e f i r s t o r b i t

photography -- a swath of mapping p i c t u r e s n o r t h from t h e South

Pole. The f i r s t " f u l l science" sequence will b e conducted on t h e

e i g h t h o r b i t , a l s o on November 1 7 . T h i s sequence i n c l u d e s g l o b a l ,

geodesy, p o l a r edge a t m o s p h e r i c and mapping p i c t u r e s .

Although e a c h d a y ' s o r b i t a l o p e r a t i o n s have been p l a n n e d i n

advance, a d a i l y s c i e n c e t e a m m e e t i n g w i l l be h e l d , p r i o r t o t h e

G o l d s t o n e view p e r i o d , t o c a p i t a l i z e on t h e f l e x i b i l i t y o f an

o r b i t a l f l i g h t mission.
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Analysis of photography from t h e previous o r b i t s and

computer-generated c o r r e l a t i o n w i t h t h e o t h e r s c i e n c e i n s t r u -
ments w i l l allow s c i e n t i s t s t o react t o an o p p o r t u n i t y t o
s t u d y unusual o r unexpected s u r f a c e o r atmospheric phenomena.

A t y p i c a l o r b i t provides photographic o p t i o n s f o r g l o b a l ,

geodesy, p o l a r , v a r i a b l e s u r f a c e f e a t u r e s , mapping, and atmos-

p h e r i c p i c t u r e s , u s e of v a r i o u s f i l t e r s , photography of t h e
t w o moons, real-time t r a n s m i s s i o n of s p e c t r a l d a t a f r o m t h e
s p e c t r o m e t e r s and radiometer, o c c u l t a t i o n measurements of
t h e Martian atmosphere, u l t r a v i o l e t s p e c t r o m e t e r r e c o r d i n g of
Lyman aapha emissions, n i g h t s i d e r e c o r d i n g of d a t a by t h e
s p e c t r a l i n s t r u m e n t s , and Doppler and r a n g i n g d a t a f o r t h e
c e l e s t i a l mechanics experiments.

The exact mix of d a t a t o b e taken on each o r b i t ,

although pre-scheduled, is o p t i o n a l , The a t t a c h e d c h a r t

g i v e s t h e s c h e d u l i n g f o r t h e f i r s t p o r t i o n of t h e mission.
Note t h a t " f u l l s c i e n c e " sequences b e g i n a f t e r o r b i t t r i m ,
t e n t a t i v e l y scheduled f o r Tuesday, November 1 6 .

The b a s i c 90-day mission w i l l y i e l d a map of 70 p e r c e n t of

Mars w i t h wide a n g l e camera a t a r e s o l u t i o n of one k i l o m e t e r

(3,000 f e e t ) . Narrow a n g l e p i c t u r e s , a t a r e s o l u t i o n of
1 0 0 meters (300 f e e t ) , w i l l n e s t i n s i d e t h e wide a n g l e p i c t u r e s .
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The Martian N o r t h P o l e w i l l n o t b e v i s i b l e t o t h e space-

c r a f t i n t h e 90-day p e r i o d of t h e b a s i c mission. I t w i l l be

soon a f t e r , however, and coverage of t h e Pole would b e

included i n any p l a n s f o r an extended mission.

Phobos and Deimos w i l l b e photographed and d a t a taken by

t h e s p e c t r a l i n s t r u m e n t s from o r b i t a t ranges from 5 , 0 0 0
k i l o m e t e r s t o 8 , 0 0 0 k i l o m e t e r s (3,000 t o 5 , 0 0 0 miles). Any
s u r f a c e markings should b e v i s i b l e .

The u l t r a v i o l e t s p e c t r o m e t e r w i l l provide a p r e s s u r e
map and t h u s an a l t i t u d e map of t h e s u r f a c e which can be
c o r r e l a t e d w i t h t h e photographs. The r e s o l u t i o n of t h i s i n -
strument w i l l permit p r e s s u r e mapping and a n a l y s i s of atmos-
p h e r i c c o n s t i t u e n t s i n s i d e l a r g e r craters.

Photography of t h e South p o l e w i l l stress s t u d i e s of

a number o f f e a t u r e s i n c l u d i n g r i d g e - l i k e s t r u c t u r e s seen i n
t h e Mariner ' 6 9 p i c t u r e s termed "circumpolar q u a s i - l i n e a l
features." Much of t h e p o l a r snow (carbon d i o x i d e w i t h
p o s s i b l y a trace o f w a t e r icef' seen i n t h e 1 9 6 9 Mariner
p i c t u r e s w i l l have disappeared t o r e v e a l t h e underlying
features.
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MARS SCIENCE

M a r s i s a c o n s t a n t l y changing world w i t h s e a s o n a l and

d a i l y v a r i a t i o n s t h a t have been observed with d i f f i c u l t y

from E a r t h and o n l y b r i e f l y by t h r e e previous fly-by space-

craft.

I n t h i s o r b i t i n g mission a b a t t e r y of instruments w i l l
probe t h e p l a n e t on a d a i l y b a s i s f o r t h r e e months and
possibly longer.

The s u r f a c e w i l l b e examined by photography and i n t h e

i n f r a r e d wavelengths. The atmosphere w i l l be examined i n
the u l t r a v i o l e t and i n f r a r e d and by t h e o c c u l t a t i o n e x p e r i -

men t .
From t h e t o p of t h e t h i n Martian gas envelope down t o
t h e s u r f a c e and t h e i n t e r i o r o f craters, t h e atmospheric
i n s t r u m e n t s w i l l r e c o r d d a t a t o i d e n t i f y gases, p l o t t h e
mixture o f c o n s t i t u e n t s and v a r i a t i o n s r e l a t i v e t o t i m e and
area.

The i n s t r u m e n t s w i l l view an e a r l y w i n t e r atmosphere

and s u r f a c e i n the North and e a r l y summer i n t h e South.

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The information g a t h e r e d should provide a broad p i c t u r e

of t h e f a c t o r s t h a t shape p h y s i c a l p r o c e s s e s a t work on Mars.

The q u e s t i o n s t o b e answered range from d a i l y Martian weather

p a t t e r n s t o t h e h i s t o r y of t h e formation of t h e p l a n e t and
how i t s e v a l u a t i o n compares w i t h t h a t of E a r t h .

The c u t t i n g edge of t h i s mission i s n o t only t h e oppor-

t u n i t y t o examine Mars i n d e t a i l on a d a i l y b a s i s b u t is a l s o
t h e c a r e f u l l y planned c o r r e l a t i o n of d a t a from t h e i n s t r u -
ments t o y i e l d more t h a n t h e sum t o t a l of t h e p a r t s .

For example, t h e u l t r a v i o l e t experiment and t h e two

i n f r a r e d experiments a r e b o r e - s i g h t e d w i t h t h e two TV cameras.
The u l t r a v i o l e t and i n f r a r e d s p e c t r o m e t e r s i n probing t h e
atmosphere, p r o v i d e an e l e v a t i o n p r o f i l e o f . t h e s u r f a c e
under t h e scan p a t h . This i n t u r n , can be c o r r e l a t e d w i t h
o t h e r d a t a as w a s t h e case i n t h e 1 9 6 9 Mariner f l i g h t .

A photograph can be c o r r e l a t e d w i t h temperatures on

t h e s u r f a c e and t h e p r e s s u r e and c o n s t i t u e n t s of t h e atmos-

phere above t h e area photographed. A p h y s i c a l f e a t u r e on

t h e surface can t h u s b e r e l a t e d t o o t h e r data o b t a i n e d .

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P a s t o b s e r v a t i o n s have e s t a b l i s h e d t h e presence of c l o u d s ,
h'azes, b r i g h t s p o t s and flares of l i g h t on the s u r f a c e .
Y e l l o w clouds, thought t o be d u s t , can grow l a r g e enough t o
obscure a large p o r t i o n of the f a c e of M a r s and l a s t a month
o r two. White clouds range from a haze, l a s t i n g a f e w h o u r s ,

t o huge dense c l o u d s p e r s i s t i n g f o r days o r weeks. Dark

grey clouds have been r e p o r t e d and thought t o p o s s i b l y b e

volcanic i n origin. Four w e r e r e p o r t e d i n 1950 and 1952.
Flares seen on t h e s u r f a c e have a l s o been a t t r i b u t e d t o p o s s i b l e
volcanic a c t i v i t y .

Study of t h e s e phenomenona by the combined instrument

package i s an objective of t h e mission.

Another s p e c i f i c s c i e n t i f i c objective is a s t u d y of t h e

"wave of darkening. I' Observations from E a r t h have e s t a b l i s h e d

t h a t there is an a p p a r e n t s e a s o n a l darkening of f e a t u r e s on
Mars b u t i f it p r o g r e s s e s a t a r e g u l a r rate i n a waveform i s ,
today, open t o q u e s t i o n .

T h e s p a c e c r a f t w i l l a r r i v e a t Mars a t the peak of t h e

darkening p e r i o d i n t h e Southern hemisphere. I t w i l l be

observed a t i t s maximum i n t e n s i t y and can be compared w i t h

o b s e r v a t i o n s i n the Northern hemisphere and w i t h Earth-based
telescope observation.
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The water c o n t e n t of t h e Martian atmosphere i s known

t o b e extremely l o w , s i m i l a r t o t h e d r y A n t a r c t i c . But it i s

p o s s i b l e t h a t free w a t e r w a s f r o z e n i n t h e p a s t and remains

under t h e s u r f a c e l i k e perma-frost. Heat escaping from t h e

i n t e r i o r of Mars could m e l t t h e ice and provide a w a t e r source.

I f so, such an a r e a would b e a prime t a r g e t f o r t h e Viking
Lander t h a t w i l l seek evidence of l i f e on Mars i n 1 9 7 6 .

I n t h e low p r e s s u r e of t h e Martian atmosphere, however,

w a t e r can o n l y e x i s t i n a f r o z e n o r vaporous s t a t e with
perhaps a s h o r t l i v e d i n t e r m e d i a t e s t a t e t h a t could moisten
the soil. I n t h e e v e n t of underground i c e m e l t i n g t h e r e i s ,
then a p o s k i b i l i t y of a cloud forming o v e r t h e a r e a . Photo-
graphy of such a cloud c o r r e l a t e d w i t h water vapor and
temperature measurements could i n d i c a t e an a r e a s u i t a b l e f o r
l i f e forms.

The mapping o f Mars i n t h i s mission i s a b a s i c o b j e c t i v e .

I t i s e s s e n t i a l i n t h e s t u d y of a p l a n e t t o e s t a b l i s h a t h r e e

dimensional shape of t h e p l a n e t , the f i g u r e . A persistent

discrepancy e x i s t s between o p t i c a l o b s e r v a t i o n s from E a r t h

and d a t a d e r i v e d from t h e o r b i t s of t h e two moons of Mars
and s p a c e c r a f t fly-by t r a j e c t o r i e s .

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S t u d i e s of t h e Mariner 9 d a t a may r e s o l v e t h a t q u e s t i o n

and w i l l e s t a b l i s h t h e Martian geoid, a s t a n d a r d s p h e r i c a l

r e f e r e n c e s u r f a c e f o r mapping. On E a r t h , t h e geoid c o i n c i d e s
w i t h mean sea l e v e l i n t h e oceans.

Discrepancies of f i v e t o 1 0 degrees i n l a t i t u d e and

l o n g i t u d e , 290 t o 6 1 0 k i l o m e t e r s ( 1 8 0 t o 380 m i l e s ) a t t h e
s u r f a c e , are n o t uncommon between v a r i o u s published maps of
Mars. A r e c e n t l y completed 10-year Mars Map P r o j e c t , u s i n g

a l l Earth-based v i s u a l and photographic d a t a from 1 8 7 7 t o

1958 may have reduced e r r o r s t o about one degree, o r 50

kilometers (31 m i l e s ) , i n r e g i o n s where w e l l d e f i n e d s u r f a c e
markings ( i . e . , albedo v a r i a t i o n s ) are available. One of
t h e major mapping a p p l i c a t i o n s o f the wide-angle camera
photography w i l l b e t o p r e c i s e l y l o c a t e s u r f a c e markings t o
an accuracy of approximately 1 . 6 k i l o m e t e r s (one m i l e ) .

D a t a from Mariners 6 and 7 have been used t o e s t a b l i s h

a c e n t r a l g r i d w i t h u n c e r t a i n t i e s i n t h e o r d e r of 1 0 k i l o -
meters ( 6 m i l e s ) .

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MARS FACT SHEET

Diameter 6,742 kilometers

(4,190 miles)
Inc1ination 24.9 degrees
Rotational Speed 0.26 kilometers per sec.
(0.16 miles per sec.)
Mean Distance from Sun 228,000,000 kilometers
(141,500,000 miles)
Distance from Earth
maximum 39 8,8 87,000 kilometers
(247,900,000 miles)
minimum 55,784,000 kilometers
(34,670,000 miles)
Orbital Speed (average) 77,000 kilometers per hour
(48,000 miles per hour)
Martian Year 687 days, 23 hours

Moons (discovered 1877) Phobos ' D'e'iinos

.
Est Diameter 19 kilometers
(12 miles)
10 kilometers
(6 miles)
Distance from Mars 6,100 kilometers 19,000 kilometers
(3,750 miles) (12,000 miles)
Period 7 hr. 39 min. 1 day, 6 hr., 17 min.
Orbit Inclination 0.57' lo 18'

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)AY DATE TIME (PST) EVENT REMARKS

M 11/8 8:OO A M O F N PRESS. ROOM AT JYC

M 11/8 3:16 PM** START MARS TV CALIBRATION SEQUENCE #1 5 " A " Camera pictures (wide-
5:48 PM** END MARS TV CALIBRATION SEQUENCE #1 ongle); 22 "B" Camera (narrow
angle). A l l pics played back
M 11/8 6:36 PM START PLAYBACK TV CAL. S E Q . # I
to Goldstone @ 16,200 bps.
9:17 PM END PLAYBACK TV CAL. S E Q . # 1
Tu 11/9 2 5 6 PM** TAKE MARS TV CAL. SEQ. #2 2nd series colibrotion pics;
6:lO PM** END MARS TV CAL. S E Q . #2 2 8 " A " frames.
Receive one picture each
Tu 11/9 7:06 PM START PLAYBACK MARS TV CAL. S E Q . #2 5 min., 42 sec.
10:03 PM END PLAYBACK MARS TV CAL. S E Q . #2
W 71/10 2:17 PM** TAKE FAR ENCOUNTER TV POS-1 -- 25 Mars pics thru one Martian
Th 11/11 2 5 6 PM** END POS-1 (PRE-ORB1T SCIENCE-1) day. 6 pics o f Deimos. Range
Th 11/11 3:16 PM START PLAYBACK POS-1 535,000 to 355,000 miles.
6 2 3 PM END PLAYBACK POS-1

Th 11/11 7:02 PM** TAKE POS-2- One Mars pic each hour for 24
F 11/12 6 5 4 PM** END POS-2 hours. 7 pics o f Deimos.
Range 325,000 to 160,000
F 11/12 7:16 PM START PLAYBACK POS-2 miles.
10:23 PM END PLAYBACK POS-2
F 11/12 10:30 PM** TAKE POS-3 Range 130,000 to 70,000
So 11/13 8:07 AM** END POS-3 miles. Two Phobos; 6 Deimos.

Sa 11/13 4:17 PM** ENGINE START -- ORBIT I N S E R T I O N BURN Rocket engine fires for 15 1/2
424 PM ENGINE START -- GROUND RECEIVE S I G N A L minutes at 300-pounds thrust.
4:32 PM** ENGINE CUTOFF -- MARINER 9 in ORBIT Slows s/c by 3600 mph. One-
4:39 PM ENGINE CUTOFF -- GROUND RECEIVE SIGNAL way light time i s 6m., 43s.

Sa 1 11/13 4:42 PM** Altitude 750 to 800 miles.

Sa 11/13 4:46 PM Mors between s/c ond Earth.

5 2 2 PM Occurs each orbit till 12/22.
. -
So 11/13-'?-:37 PM Fino( f&-encounter p i a for
11 :02 PM Mars mosaics; 8 moon pics.

Su 11/14. 4:41 AM** One pic each 42 seconds. Mop-

5:05 AM*' ping pass from South Pole.
Su 11/14 5:08 AM** Achieve 12.5-hr. Mars orbit.

Su 11/14 6 5 7 AM Playback first 10 pics to Spain

1:37 PM @ 2025 bps.-45-min. per -
- - -- -- - pic. - - .

Su 11/14 2:37 PM Resume 16,200bps rate to

4 5 5 PM Goldstone. One each 5 m., 42s.
_._. -a/. --. .-
Su 111
;4 5:OO PM** TART 2nd ORBIT TV
5:34 PM** First 16 pics "phose function"
5:37 PM** experiment with A & B cameras.
17-picture A & B mopping pass.
Su 11/14'-6:40 PM
9:55 PM

M 11/15 3:45 AM** START 3rd ORBIT TV

6:OO AM*" PERlAPSlS --
ORBIT #3
Ten wide-angle (A) frames for
6:08 AM** END 3rd ORBIT TV
calibration; six wide-angle pics
o f South Pole; 16 wide-angle pics
on night side.
M

M
11/15 2 2 2 PM
5:37 PM

11/15 - 5 5 1 PM**
START PLAYBACK ORBIT #3 TV
END PLAYBACK ORBIT #3 TV

START 4th ORBIT TV

I First 16 pics "phose function"
6 2 5 PM** KRlAPSlS --
ORBIT #4 experiment w i t h A & B cameras.
6 2 8 PM** END 4th ORBIT TV 17-picture A & B mapping pass.
-
M 11/15 7:39 PM START PLAYBACK ORBIT #4 TV
1 0 5 4 PM END PLAYBACK ORBIT #4 TV

Tu 11/16 4:36 AM** START 5th ORBIT TV 10 A frames far calibrotion;

6 5 1 AM** PERlAPSlS --
ORBIT #5 6 A pics o f South Pole;
7:OO AM** END 5th ORBIT T \ l 16 pics on night side.

Tu 11/16 6:46 - 7:16 PM** ENGINE BURN -- ORBIT TRIM MANEUVER N e w orbit period: 11.98 hrs.

PERlAPSlS -- ORBIT #6
Tu 11/16 -8-:32 PM START PLAYBACK ORBIT #5 TV
11:47 PM END PLAYBACK ORBIT #5 TV night side.
,
W 11/17 '6:46 AM** START 7th ORBIT TV
7 : l O AM** END 7th ORBIT T V
Mopping sequence from South
7:13 AM**
.
PERlAPSlS --
ORBIT #7
Pole (similar to Orbit #l).
A
'' 11/17 1:48 PM START PLAYBACK ORBIT 87 TV
4 5 6 PM END PLAYBACK ORBIT #7 TV
I
H 11/17 5:05 PM** START 8th ORBIT TV
7:12 PM** PERIAPSIS --
ORBIT $8 First post-trim " f u l l science"
7:12 PM** END 8th ORBIT TV sequence: global, geodesy, polor
I edge atmospheric. UVS limb and
'4 11/17 8:12 PM START PLAYBACK ORBIT #8 TV mopping pics.
1120 PM END PLAYBACK ORBIT #8 TV

**Spacecraft event times. A l l others are "Earth Receive"

times. (e.g. One-way light time at 3p.m. Nov. 8 i s
N A T I O N A L AERONAUTICS A N D SPACE ADMINISTRATION
6 min., 20 sec.; A t time of orbit insertion on N o v . 14,
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
6 min., 43 sec .)
10/27/71