Mariner 6 and 7

Mariner 6

Mariner 6 and 7
Mission type	Mars flyby
Operator	NASA / JPL
COSPAR ID	1969-014A
SATCAT no.	3759
Mission duration	1 year, 9 months and 28 days
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Launch mass	381 kg[1]
Power	449 W
Start of mission
Launch date	February 25, 1969, 01:29:02 (1969-02-25UTC01:29:02Z) UTC[2]
Rocket	Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1A
Launch site	Cape Canaveral LC-36B
End of mission
Disposal	Decommissioned
Deactivated	December 23, 1970 (1970-12-24)
Flyby of Mars
Closest approach	July 31, 1969
Distance	3,431 kilometers (2,132 mi)
Mariner program ← Mariner 5 Mariner 7 →

Mariner 6 and Mariner 7 (Mariner Mars 69A and Mariner Mars 69B) were two uncrewed NASA robotic spacecraft that completed the first dual mission to Mars in 1969 as part of NASA's wider Mariner program. Mariner 6 was launched from Launch Complex 36B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station^[2] and Mariner 7 from Launch Complex 36A.^[4] The two craft flew over the equator and south polar regions, analyzing the atmosphere and the surface with remote sensors, and recording and relaying hundreds of pictures. The mission's goals were to study the surface and atmosphere of Mars during close flybys, in order to establish the basis for future investigations, particularly those relevant to the search for extraterrestrial life, and to demonstrate and develop technologies required for future Mars missions. Mariner 6 also had the objective of providing experience and data which would be useful in programming the Mariner 7 encounter five days later.