JPL and the Space Age: The Changing Face of Mars

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory・2 minutes read

Mars has captivated humanity with speculation about Martians and invasions, but actual missions revealed surprises and challenges, culminating in the successful Mariner and Viking missions that provided valuable data on Mars' history and potential for life despite current uncertainties and budget constraints.

Insights

Mars has long captivated human imagination with stories of Martians and potential life, but the reality of the planet is more complex and intriguing than depicted in art and literature.
JPL's Mariner missions, like Mariner 4, revolutionized planetary exploration with advanced technology, revealing Mars' ancient, cratered surface and sparking excitement about potential discoveries, despite challenges faced during the missions.

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What was the first spacecraft to reach another planet?
Mariner 2 was the first spacecraft to reach another planet, Venus, in 1962.

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Summary

00:00

Mars: From Speculation to Successful Exploration

Mars has long fascinated humanity, with speculation about intelligent Martians and potential life on the planet.
The idea of Martians planning an invasion has been a popular theme in art and literature.
Mars, contrary to artistic depictions, is described as more mysterious and surprising than imagined.
The first missions to Mars were marked by a mix of surprise, dismay, and delight for those involved.
The space race between the US and the Soviet Union led to intense competition in reaching Mars.
JPL's Mariner 2 was the first spacecraft to reach another planet, Venus, in 1962.
JPL's mission to Mars faced challenges due to previous failures and competition from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Mariner 4 was specifically designed for planetary exploration, featuring advanced technology like a digital camera.
Mariner 3 failed due to solar panel issues, but Mariner 4 successfully launched to Mars after modifications.
The journey to Mars was relatively smooth for Mariner 4, with only minor trajectory adjustments needed.

16:47

Mariner 4: Close-up Mars Mission Success

The spacecraft missed its target by 5 or 6,000 miles, considered abysmal today but acceptable then.
The last hour before occultation was chaotic, with efforts to gather data and communicate with Goldstone.
Mariner 4 was being tracked by station 51 in Johannesburg, 134.217 million miles from Earth and 50,142 miles from Mars.
Concerns arose about the star tracker losing sight of Canopus, potentially leading to a failed flyby.
Engineers debated whether to send new commands to the spacecraft's primitive computer during the flyby.
A command called DC 25 initiated the first close-up pictures of Mars on July 14, 1965.
The tape recorder's malfunction could have led to images being recorded over with blackness.
Data from Mariner 4 was transmitted back slowly, with a playback rate of 8 1/3 bits per second.
The first close-up picture of Mars was processed, revealing a cratered surface dating back billions of years.
President Lyndon Johnson praised the Mariner 4 mission, highlighting the unique and unexpected findings from the close-up pictures of Mars.

34:08

NASA's Mars Mission: Spectrometer Discovery and Setback

NASA planned to send an armada of spacecraft across the solar system, considering using massive rockets for robotic missions to planets.
The next mission proposed was a Saturn 5 to Mars, with a 50,000-pound payload, including two large spacecraft with entry capsules.
Orbiters would map Mars while landers searched for life on the surface, with astronauts aiming to reach Mars in the late 1980s.
Two Mariners, six and seven, were launched to Mars, surviving their missions, unlike the Soviet Union's failed attempts.
Mariner 6 and 7 approached Mars, with engineers excitedly monitoring the spacecraft's progress.
A debate arose among scientists about where to aim instruments, like TV cameras and an infrared spectrometer, to maximize data collection.
George Pimentel's spectrometer on Mariner 6 indicated water ice at Mars' south polar cap, sparking excitement.
Mariner 7 faced an emergency, possibly due to a spectrometer malfunction, leading to a frantic effort to regain control.
Pimentel's spectrometer was commanded to cool down before final approach, with engineers anxiously awaiting results.
Pimentel's initial findings of methane and water on Mars were later retracted due to a flawed distinction between methane and CO2, leaving the question of life on Mars unresolved.

51:57

Exploring Mars: Unveiling a Dynamic Planet

Mariners 6 and 7 imaged nearly 20% of Mars, revealing the planet piece by piece.
The ice caps on Mars were found to be made of water ice, not carbon dioxide.
Sun's lethal radiation was reaching the Martian surface, discouraging hopes of finding life.
Twin Mariners missed sighting two gigantic geological features, the largest in the solar system.
The first engineering challenge in robotic exploration was to fly by a destination briefly.
JPL successfully launched an orbiter to Mars in 1971, overcoming challenges of propulsion and storage of propellants.
Mariner 9 succeeded in orbiting Mars, while the first mission failed due to a rocket malfunction.
Two Soviet probes accompanied Mariner 9, with landers equipped with cameras and rovers.
Soviet landers faced challenges during descent due to a massive dust storm on Mars.
Mars revealed itself as a geologically dynamic planet, renewing hopes of finding life and prompting plans for a landing to search for evidence of Martian life.

01:08:32

"Viking Missions: Mars Exploration and Success"

The narrator, at 28 years old, had distinctive hair and clothing, catching the attention of higher-ups at Martin Marietta Corporation.
Gentry Lee, known for his independence, joined JPL and became a key figure in Mars mission planning.
The mission aimed to explore Mars' geological and atmospheric evolution, potentially leading to the discovery of life.
Martin appointed Lee to coordinate science analysis, likened to herding smart but independent scientists.
Lee faced challenges, including explaining mission delays due to planetary alignments to a White House official.
In 1975, the Viking missions launched, with meticulous planning to choose the landing site for public relations.
Viking 1's landing faced unexpected challenges, leading to a change in plans and a delayed landing.
Viking 1 successfully landed on Mars, transmitting the first images back to Earth, revealing a smooth landing spot amidst rocks.
The success of Viking 1 highlighted the expertise and teamwork of engineers and scientists involved.
Despite the inconclusive search for life on Mars, the Viking missions provided valuable data on Mars' geological history and potential for past water presence.

01:23:05

NASA's Planetary Program Lacks Viking Follow-On

NASA's planetary program lacks a follow-on program for Viking, causing concern among some individuals. JPL shares these worries due to reduced future planetary missions and budget constraints, with the United States not planning to return to Mars for two decades. Scientists speculate that Mars' atmosphere could produce sugar through a process involving carbon dioxide, methane, and ultraviolet radiation, potentially leading to unique life forms on the planet.

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