New Delhi: 1st of August 1969 was the day when the world got to see the Red Planet Mars in pictures.

NASA received close-up photos of Mars on that day. These photos were sent by Mariner 6. Mariner 6 was the part of the NASA’s dual mission to Mars programme

The launch of Mariner 6 was an important step in the exploration of Mars, because of the technological innovations involved in its design and in the results of the mission.

The technological novelties included in this vehicle were a rocket for trajectory corrections and a new arrangement of equipment.

Besides the standard photography equipment, this version of the Mariner series included instruments for planetary experiments housed in seven distinct electronic compartments.

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.

The mission was designed to place the probe in a trajectory to fly over the equator and the southern hemisphere of the Red planet. Transmission of images to Earth began only when the probe reached these points.

Closest approach for Mariner 6 occurred July 31, 1969, at 05:19:07 UT at a distance of 3,431 kilometres (2,132 mi) above the Martian surface.

The low gain antenna of the probe transmitted the images of both the Martian equator and the Martian southern hemisphere back to Earth. This antenna also helped to provide mission control with constant telemetry of Mariner 6.
The close up images of Mars received on Earth on Aug 1, 1969 laid the groundwork for the Viking Project.