Soviet Mars Probe Program

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I was just thinking that Soviet Space Program is not that well known as U.S. programs, so I have decided to continue searching for any other interesting programs in the similar time period as Apollo and Luna programs. 

The Mars probe program was a series of Soviet unmanned spacecraft to explore Mars launched between between 1960 and 1973. They consisted of flyby probes, landers and orbiters as well. During Zond program, in article Soviet Lunar Program, Zond 2 was sent to Mars, but it failed. 


After many failures, Mars 2 (launched on May 19, 1971) and Mars 3  (launched on May 28, 1971) missions reached Mars. They were identical spacecraft, consisting of orbiter and lander, which means the first spacecraft reaching the surface of Mars. The orbiters played among the scientific goals as a communication link between the lander and Earth. Scientific goals consisted of making images of clouds and surfaces, monitor solar wind and interplanetary and Martian magnetic fields, determine temperature on Mars, measure properties of the Martian atmosphere and composition of the surface. Both landers had rover onboard, however never got into action.

Orbiters Mars 4 (launched on July 21, 1973) and Mars 5 (launched on July 25, 1973) were supposed to orbit Mars. They were designed to be communication links for landers Mars 6 and Mars 7.  
Due to failure Mars 4 made flyby and sent back detected Martian nightside ionosphere picture. Mars 5 made 22 orbits before loss of a pressurization and thus end of mission.

Mars 6 launched on August 5, 1973. During landing of the landing probe it was collecting data, however the connection was lost before it reached the surface. Unfortunately data were unreadable.

Mars 7 launched on August 9, 1973. Due to the system failure landing probe separated prematurely and it missed the planet by 1300 km.  

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