Mariner 10, launched on November 3, 1973, studied Mercury and Venus. After passing Venus in February, 1974, it did an extremely close fly-by of Mercury on March 29, 1974, passing within 437 miles (703 km) of the surface. It made two more flyby passes in September, 1974 and March, 1975. The third flyby was even closer than the first one, coming within 203 miles (327 km) of Mercury.
Unfortunately, the limited solar orbit of the probe meant that each of the three passes observed the same hemisphere of Mercury illuminated by the Sun. Only about 45% of the surface was photographically mapped.
The geography of Mercury will be extensively detailed by the new MESSENGER spacecraft, which has already flown by Mercury three times since its launch in 2004, and will begin orbiting the planet on March 18, 2011.
The Soviet probe Venera 9 entered orbit on October 22, 1975, becoming the first artificial satellite of Venus. It was loaded with cameras and spectrometers which returned information about the planet's atmosphere, as well as performing radar measurements of the surface. A descent vehicle separated from the satellite and landed.
It took the first pictures of the surface. So it was a mixture of both the Probe and the descent vehicle
Successful Venus probe attempts include:
Venera 4, Venera 5, Venera 6, Pioneer Venus 2 (which passed Venus 4 times), Vega 1, and Vega 2.
(see related question)
Mariner 2 flew past Venus on December 14, 1962 becoming the world's first successful interplanetary mission.
the mariner 2 in 1962.
mariner II
mariner 2
Mariner 2
The mariner program was a series of launches by NASA in the 60's and 70's which took space probes to mercury, Venus and mars. These bought detailed pictures of the inner planets back to earth for the first time.
The Venera series probes were developed by scientists and engineers in the Soviet Union. The name comes from the Russian word for Venus, which was to be their destination.
"Mariner 2" (USA) flew by in 1962. "Venera 7" (USSR) landed in 1970. There were several others, particularly more in the "Venera" series. More recently there was the "Magellan" orbiter and now the "Venus Express" orbiter.
venera
Mariner 9
Mariner 2
Mariner
Mariner 4 was the first ship to visit Mars.
There have been many space probes to Venus. Here are a few important ones: * Mariner 10 (NASA) * The Venera series of probes (Roscosmos) * Magellan (NASA) * Venus Express (ESA) (check related link)
The mariner program was a series of launches by NASA in the 60's and 70's which took space probes to mercury, Venus and mars. These bought detailed pictures of the inner planets back to earth for the first time.
The Venera series probes were developed by scientists and engineers in the Soviet Union. The name comes from the Russian word for Venus, which was to be their destination.
There have been a series of robotic probes to every planet in the solar system, and the two Voyager probes are approaching (or perhaps have just passed, we're not yet sure) the "edge" of our solar system. But no human has ever been further away than the Moon.
Parralel
can some one please tell me when measuring voltage the probes should be connected to sequence or series?
"Mariner 2" (USA) flew by in 1962. "Venera 7" (USSR) landed in 1970. There were several others, particularly more in the "Venera" series. More recently there was the "Magellan" orbiter and now the "Venus Express" orbiter.
To take a series of photos of Mars and study the atmosphere.