Mariner 4

Mariner 4 was a NASA space probe launched on November 28, 1964, designed to conduct the first successful flyby of the planet Mars. On July 15, 1965, it passed within 9,846 kilometers of the Martian surface, capturing the first close-up images of another planet. The 21 pictures returned showed a cratered, Moon-like terrain, shattering earlier hopes of finding liquid water or advanced life on the planet. In addition to its imaging system, Mariner 4 carried instruments to measure cosmic rays, magnetic fields, and solar plasma. The mission was a monumental success in planetary exploration, providing the first scientific data about the Martian atmosphere and surface conditions from close range.