Zond 3
Zond 3 — a Soviet probe that flew past the Moon on 20 July 1965, about 9,200 km away, and photographed the part of the far side Luna 3 had not seen. It sent its 25 pictures from 2.2 million km away, sent them again from 31.5 million km to test its radio, and kept in contact until it was 153.5 million km from Earth, in March 1966.
Key facts
Mission & specifications
Mission
- Operator
- OKB-1 (USSR)
- Launched
- July 18, 1965
- Status
- Completed
Trajectory
- Distance from the Sun
- 0.996 AU
- Computed from the cached position
- Distance from Earth
- 6,274,736 km
- Computed from cached positions
- Distance from Venus
- 0.292 AU
- Computed from cached positions
Mission
Zond 3 had been built as Zond 2's companion for Mars, but it missed the 1964 launch window. Instead, on 18 July 1965 it was launched past the Moon, to test its systems on the way into deep space. About 33 hours after launch it swept past the Moon, about 9,200 km away, and over 68 minutes took 25 pictures of the far side, plus three in ultraviolet — covering much of the part Luna 3 had not seen in 1959. Like Luna 3 it developed its film on board and scanned it for transmission. It sent the pictures home on 29 July from 2.2 million km away, then sent them again in October from 31.5 million km, to test its radio across the distances of a Mars mission. It was the first Soviet spacecraft to correct its course using both the Sun and a star for orientation. Contact ended 153.5 million km from Earth, in March 1966.
- 1965Launch past the MoonLaunch
A Mars probe too late for Mars, sent to test its systems in deep space.
25 pictures over 68 minutes, covering the part Luna 3 had not seen.
- 1965Pictures sent homeMilestone
From 2.2 million km; sent again in October from 31.5 million km.
Images
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