Mars 4
Mars 4 was a Soviet spacecraft intended to enter orbit around Mars and study the planet with imaging and remote-sensing instruments. A failed onboard component prevented the planned braking burn, so the spacecraft instead gathered data during a close flyby.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Mars-4M-73 No. 52S1973-047A
- Name
- Mars 4
- Status
- failed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- Mars 4 was a Soviet spacecraft intended to enter orbit around Mars and study the planet with imaging and remote-sensing instruments. A failed onboard component prevented the planned braking burn, so the spacecraft instead gathered data during a close flyby.
- Destination
- Mars flyby after loss of orbit-insertion capability; returned a short imaging sequence before entering heliocentric orbit
- End Date
- 1974-02-10
- Launch Site
- Outcome
- Did not enter Mars orbit after its braking engine failed to fire, but returned limited observations during a February 10, 1974 flyby.
- Programs
- Start Date
- 1973-07-21
- Vehicle Families
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 18, 2026 at 12:01:32 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 21, 2026 at 15:07:59 UTC
Other
- Affiliations
- Search Name
- Mars 4 Mars-4 M-73 No. 52S 1973-047A
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles
- -