Mariner 9
LocationMars orbit
Year1971
Size4 solar panels
TypeMars orbiter
About Mariner 9
The first spacecraft to orbit another planet. Arrived at Mars in November 1971 during a global dust storm. Waited for the dust to clear, then mapped most of the planet. Revealed Olympus Mons and the canyon system Valles Marineris, named after the spacecraft. Returned over 7,000 images.
Related Satellites
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Has returned more data about Mars than all other missions combined. The HiRISE camera can resolve ob...
Mars Express
The European Space Agencys Mars mission. Discovered water ice at the south pole. The MARSIS radar fo...
Tianwen-1
The first Chinese mission to Mars. Launched in July 2020 and arrived in orbit in February 2021. Land...
MAVEN
The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission. Arrived at Mars in September 2014. Studies how t...