Zond 2
Zond 2 — a Soviet Mars probe (launched 30 November 1964). A solar panel did not open until mid-December, too late for its first course correction, but on the way it made the first firing of electric thrusters on an interplanetary mission. Contact was lost before it reached Mars, which it passed on 6 August 1965 — at 1,500 km according to NSSDCA, at 650,000 km according to NASA's history Beyond Earth.
Key facts
Mission & specifications
Mission
- Operator
- OKB-1 (USSR)
- Launched
- November 30, 1964
- Status
- Lost
Trajectory
- Distance from the Sun
- 1.58 AU
- Computed from the cached position
- Distance from Earth
- 1.59 AU
- Computed from cached positions
- Distance from Mars
- 5,036,707 km
- Computed from cached positions
Mission
Zond 2 was a Soviet Mars probe of 996 kg, launched on 30 November 1964, two days after NASA's Mariner 4. According to NASA's history Beyond Earth it was meant to become the first probe to enter the atmosphere of Mars and strike its surface. After it left Earth, controllers found that one of its solar panels had not unfolded: a cord meant to pull it free had broken. The panel was opened on 15 December, too late for the first course correction. In the meantime, in December, it fired six small electric plasma thrusters to hold its orientation — the first firing of electric thrusters on an interplanetary mission. When contact was lost is disputed: NSSDCA says early May 1965, while Beyond Earth calls that highly unlikely. The records disagree on the flyby too. On 6 August 1965 Zond 2 passed Mars — at 1,500 km according to NSSDCA, at 650,000 km according to Beyond Earth — and went into orbit around the Sun.
- 1964Launch toward MarsLaunch
Two days after NASA's Mariner 4.
- 1964Electric thrusters firedMilestone
The first firing of electric thrusters on an interplanetary mission.
The sources disagree on the distance: NSSDCA 1,500 km, Beyond Earth 650,000 km.
Images
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