Mariner 9 Enters Orbit Around Mars
Mariner 9 entered orbit around Mars on November 13, 1971.
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The Event
Mariner 9 entered orbit around Mars on November 13, 1971. It became the first spacecraft to orbit another planet.
The Wider Story
A major dust storm initially obscured much of the surface. As conditions improved, the mission mapped extensive terrain and revealed a world of volcanoes, canyons and other remarkable features.
Putting the Event in Perspective
Arrival in orbit was not a landing.
Reading the Historical Record
A visual reconstruction should show the spacecraft above the dusty planet and avoid displaying a clear, complete surface map as an immediate first-day result.
About the Historical Recreation
The accompanying visual is an illustrative reconstruction: an illustrative Mariner 9 above a dust-shrouded Mars, no landing. It is not authentic archival footage, an eyewitness record or additional evidence for the event.
Sources
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