 Mariner
9 was launched from Cape Kennedy, Fla. at 6:23 p.m. EDT, May 30, 1971.
At that time Mars was 63 million miles from Earth. On August 11, Mars
made its closest approach to Earth -- 34.9 million miles. Mariner's
trip to Mars took 167 days and covered 247 million miles in arching
trajectory to the planet. Mariner arrived at Mars on November 14,
when the planet was 75.5 million miles from Earth.
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Nasa image #:
71-H-884
Image size:
[21k jpg] |
 Mariner
9 photo -- J2. Few craters on Mars are as reminiscent of lunar craters
as the one seen in the lower right of this picture. Note the sharp
raised rim and central peak.
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Nasa image #:
72-H-788
Image size:
[41k jpg] |
 This
rimmed basin is reminiscent of lunar topography. The terrain surrounding
the rim suggests debris thrown from an impact crater. The floor of
the crater may be obscured by dust lingering in the Mars atmosphere
at low altitudes.
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Nasa image #:
72-H-803
Image size:
[37k jpg] |
 No
familiar process on Earth could have produced this web of partially
closed valleys. The Mars crust appears to have either collapsed along
a network of fractures or erosional processes have preferentially
removed material along the fractures.
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Nasa image #:
72-H-805
Image size:
[47k jpg] |
 Martian
Canyonlands, part of a 120,000 square kilometer complex in Noctis
Lacus on the northern edge of the Solis Lacus region, were photographed
by the Mariner 9 orbiting spacecraft from about 5050 miles (8150 kilometers)
during its 69th circuit of the planet. The canyons, about 6 to 12
miles (10 to 20 kilometers) wide, have smooth floors and are separated
from one another by flat surfaced plateaus of mesas.
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Nasa image #:
P12726
Image size:
[42k jpg] |
 Extraordinary
pits and hollows, never before seen on Mars, were photographed on
January 6 by the orbiting Mariner 9 spacecraft. Located about 500
miles (800 kilometers) from the Martian South Pole, these features
pose some provocative questions about the geological processes which
have shaped the landforms of the polar region. The two large closed
basins, at left, are about 10 miles (16 kilometers) across. The small
pits are one to two miles (1 1/2 to 3 kilometers) in diameter.
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Nasa image #:
P12727
Image size:
[54k jpg] |
