View source for Mars 1

{{Short description|Soviet space probe launched in 1962}}
{{distinguish|Mars One|Mars I}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = Mars 1
| image                 = Mars 1 NASA.jpg
| image_size            = 300px
| image_caption         =

| mission_type          = [[Mars]] flyby<ref>{{cite web|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/mars-2mv-4.htm|title=Mars 1 (2MV-4 #1,2)|work=Gunter's Space Page|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|access-date=24 May 2024}}</ref>
| operator              = [[Soviet Union]]
| COSPAR_ID             = 1962-061C
| SATCAT                = 450
| mission_duration      = 4 months 21 days

| spacecraft            = [[2MV]]-4 No.2
| manufacturer          = [[OKB-1]]
| dry_mass              = 
| launch_mass           = 893.5 kg<ref name="NSSDC">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-061A|title=Mars 1|publisher=US National Space Science Data Centre|access-date=24 May 2024}}</ref>
| landing_mass          = 
| power                 =

| launch_date           = {{start-date|1 November 1962, 16:14|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC
| launch_rocket         = [[Molniya (rocket)|Molniya]] 8K78  
| launch_site           = [[Baikonur Cosmodrome|Baikonur]] [[Gagarin's Start|1/5]]
| launch_contractor     = 
| disposal_type         = Spacecraft loss
| last_contact          = 21 March 1963

| orbit_epoch           = 
| orbit_reference       = [[Heliocentric orbit|Heliocentric]]
| orbit_periapsis       = 
| orbit_apoapsis        = 
| orbit_inclination     = 
| orbit_period          =  
| apsis                 = helion

|interplanetary         = 
 {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
   |type                = flyby
   |object              = [[Mars]]
   |component           = 
   |arrival_date        = 19 June 1963
   |distance            = {{convert|193000|km}}
 }}

| insignia              = The Soviet Union 1964 CPA 3013 stamp (Space Exploration. Mars 1 spacecraft).jpg
| insignia_caption      = Mars 1 stamp
| programme             = '''[[Mars program]]'''
| previous_mission      = [[Mars 2MV-4 No.1|Sputnik 22]]
| next_mission          = [[Mars 2MV-3 No.1|Sputnik 24]]
}}

'''Mars 1''', also known as '''1962 Beta Nu 1''', '''Mars 2MV-4''' and '''Sputnik 23''', was an automatic interplanetary station launched in the direction of [[Mars]] on November 1, 1962,<ref name='Sputnik 23'>{{cite web | url = http://jtgnew.sjrdesign.net/exploration_space_planetary_mars.html | title = "Journey Through the Galaxy" Mars Program: Mars ~ 1960-1974 | access-date = January 26, 2014 | last = Robbins | first = Stuart | date = 2008 | publisher = SJR Design}}</ref><ref name='Mihos 2006'>{{cite web|url=http://burro.astr.cwru.edu/stu/advanced/20th_soviet_mars.html |title=Mars (1960-1974): Mars 1 |access-date=January 26, 2014 |last=Mihos |first=Chris |date=January 11, 2006 |work=Department of Astronomy, Case Western Reserve University. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013211415/http://burro.astr.cwru.edu/stu/advanced/20th_soviet_mars.html |archive-date=October 13, 2013 }}</ref> the first of the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Mars probe program]], with the intent of flying by the planet at a distance of about {{convert|11000|km|mi|abbr=on}}. It was designed to image the surface and send back data on cosmic radiation, [[micrometeoroid]] impacts and Mars's magnetic field, radiation environment, atmospheric structure, and possible organic compounds.<ref name='Sputnik 23'/><ref name='Mihos 2006'/>

After leaving [[Geocentric orbit|Earth orbit]], the spacecraft and the [[Molniya (rocket)|Molniya]] booster's fourth stage separated and the solar panels were deployed. Early [[telemetry]] indicated that there was a leak in one of the gas valves in the orientation system so the spacecraft was transferred to [[gyroscopic]] stabilization. It made sixty-one radio transmissions, initially at two-day intervals and later at five days, containing a large amount of interplanetary data.<ref name="Sputnik 23" /> 

On March 21, 1963, when the spacecraft was at a distance of {{convert|106760000|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Earth on its way to Mars, communications ceased, probably due to failure of the spacecraft's antenna orientation system.<ref name="Sputnik 23" /><ref name="Mihos 2006" /> Mars 1's closest approach to Mars probably occurred on June 19, 1963 at a distance of approximately {{convert|193000|km|mi|abbr=on}}, after which the spacecraft entered an [[heliocentric orbit|orbit around the Sun]].<ref name="Mihos 2006" />

== Spacecraft design ==

Mars 1 was a modified [[Venera]]-type spacecraft in the shape of a cylinder {{convert|3.3|m|ft|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter.<ref name='Sputnik 23'/><ref name='Mihos 2006'/> The spacecraft measured {{convert|4|m|ft|abbr=on}} across with the [[Photovoltaic module|solar panel]]s and radiators deployed. The cylinder was divided into two compartments. The upper {{convert|2.7|m|ft|abbr=on}}, the orbital module, contained guidance and on-board propulsion systems. The experiment module, containing the scientific instrumentation, comprised the bottom {{convert|0.6|m|ft|abbr=on}} of the cylinder. A {{convert|1.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} parabolic high gain antenna was used for communication, along with an omnidirectional antenna and a semi-directional antenna. Power was supplied by two solar panel wings with a total area of {{convert|2.6|sqm|sqft|abbr=on}} affixed to opposite sides of the spacecraft. Power was stored in a 42 ampere-hour cadmium-nickel battery.<ref name='Mihos 2006'/>
{{external media
| float  = right
| width  = 300px
| image1 = [http://www.russianspaceweb.com/images/spcrft_plnt_mars_mrs-1_200.jpg The 8K78 launcher, carrying the Mars-1 probe, blasts off from Baikonur. Credit: RKK Energia] <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.russianspaceweb.com/images/spcrft_plnt_mars_mrs-1_200.jpg|title=Photo, Launch of Mars-1 from Baikonur|access-date=January 28, 2023|website=russianspaceweb.com}}</ref>
}}
Mars 1 was equipped with three primary radio systems operating at wavelengths of 1.6 meters, 32 centimeters, and in the centimeter range (5 and 8 centimeters).<ref name="grahn-radiosystems">{{cite web |last1=Grahn |first1=Sven |title=Radio systems of Soviet Mars and Venus probes |url=http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/radioind/MVradio/MVradio.htm |access-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616215147/http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/radioind/MVradio/MVradio.htm |archive-date=16 June 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> The 32-centimeter wavelength transmitter, situated in the orbital module,<ref name="nssdca-mars1">{{cite web |title=Mars 1 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-061A |website=NSSDCA Master Catalog |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109215750/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-061A |archive-date=9 November 2023 |url-status=live |id=1962-061A }}</ref> utilized a [[Directional antenna|high-gain antenna]], primarily transmitting on 922.76 MHz. It was supplemented by the 1.6-meter wavelength transmitter, linked with [[Omnidirectional antenna|omnidirectional antennae]] on the solar panels, which operated on 183.6 MHz for [[Telecommunications_link#Downlink|downlink]] and likely near 102 MHz for [[Telecommunications_link#Uplink|uplink]], serving both for telemetry and as a backup communication system in case of orientation system failure.<ref name="grahn-radiosystems" />

For detailed observations, the 8-centimeter wavelength transmitter in the experiment module was dedicated to transmitting television images, utilizing a signal coherent with the main 922.76 MHz link but at a higher frequency of 3691.04 MHz.<ref name="grahn-radiosystems" /> Additionally, an impulse transmitter operating in the 5-centimeter band (around 5840-5890 MHz range) was also housed in the experiment module.<ref name="nssdca-mars1" /> This system, characterized by impulse modulation, was designed to transmit image data at approximately 90 pixels/sec using pulse-position modulation, with an average power consumption of 50 watts and peak power of 25 kilowatts per pulse.<ref name="grahn-radiosystems" />

The Mars 1 station was initially programmed for automatic data transmission every two days, later adjusted to every five days post December 13. Ground commands could also trigger transmissions from the station as required.<ref name="nssdca-mars1" /> 

Temperature control was achieved using a binary gas–liquid system and hemispherical radiators mounted on the ends of the solar panels. The craft carried various scientific instruments including a [[magnetometer]] probe, television photographic equipment, a spectroreflexometer, radiation sensors (gas-discharge and scintillation counters), a spectrograph to study ozone absorption bands, and a micrometeoroid instrument.<ref name='Sputnik 23'/><ref name='Mihos 2006'/>

== Scientific results ==
* The probe recorded one micrometeorite strike every two minutes at altitudes ranging from {{convert|6000|to|40000|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Earth's surface due to the [[Taurids]] meteor shower, and also recorded similar densities at distances from {{convert|20|to|40|e6km|mi}} from Earth.<ref name="Sputnik 23" /><ref name="Mihos 2006" />
* [[Magnetic field]] intensities of 3&ndash;4 [[nanotesla]]s (nT, also known as gammas) with peaks as high as 6&ndash;9 nT were measured in interplanetary space.
* The [[solar wind]] was detected. 
* The radiation zones around Earth were detected,<ref name="mars12mv">{{cite web |url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/mars-2mv-4.htm |title=Mars 1 (2MV-4 #1, 2) |access-date=October 22, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="bookmars">{{cite book|author1=Brian Harvey|author2=Olga Zakutnyaya|title=Russian Space Probes: Scientific Discoveries and Future Missions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q6qyVkapjeoC&pg=PA266|year=2011|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4419-8150-9|page=266}}</ref> and their magnitude confirmed.<ref name="Mihos 2006" />

== Designation ==
This spacecraft is also referenced as ''Sputnik 23'' and ''Mars 2MV-4''. It was originally designated ''Sputnik 30'' in the U.S. [[Naval Space Command]] Satellite Situation Summary.

Although it was called Mars 1, there were at least three other probes prior to this, that were failures: [[Mars 2MV-4 No.1]], [[Mars 1M No.2]], and [[Mars 1M No.1]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Spaceflight|Solar System}}
* [[Exploration of Mars]]
* [[List of missions to Mars]]
* [[Marsnik program]]
* [[Space exploration]]
* [[Unmanned space mission]]s

== References ==
{{reflist}}
* [http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/mars-2mv-4.htm Mars 1 (2MV-4 #1, 2)]

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131013211415/http://burro.astr.cwru.edu/stu/advanced/20th_soviet_mars.html The Soviet Mars program], Professor Chris Mihos, Case Western Reserve University
* [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-061A], National Space Science, Data Center

{{Mars programme}}
{{Orbital launches in 1962}}
{{Mars spacecraft}}

[[Category:Mars program]]
[[Category:Derelict space probes]]
[[Category:Derelict satellites in heliocentric orbit]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1962]]
[[Category:1962 in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:2MV]]