The unmanned spacecraft Mariner 10 was launched on November 3, 1973. Investigations conducted during the first part of its journey included studies carried out to calibrate the instruments in the well-known environment of the earth-moon system. Images of the north polar region of the moon were obtained and observations of the comet Kohoutek were made. Mariner confirmed the presence of a Venus bowshock. Information obtained by the spacecraft about the Venus atmosphere is considered. On March 29, 1974, Mariner 10 passed across the night side of Mercury only 703 kilometers above the planetary surface. It was found that Mercury is a moon-like body, heavily cratered, and with large, flat, circular basins similar to those on the moon and Mars.
Mariner 10 mission to Venus and Mercury
International Astronautical Federation, International Astronautical Congress ; 1974 ; Amsterdam, Netherlands
1974-09-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
Mariner Venus- Mercury Flyby Mission Final Report
NTIS | 1971
|Mariner Venus/Mercury 1973 preliminary mission design
AIAA | 1970
|Mariner Venus/Mercury 1973 preliminary mission design
NTRS | 1970
|Mariner Venus-Mercury flyby mission Final report
NTRS | 1971
|The Mariner 10 mission to Venus and Mercury
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003
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