1M No. 1 — launch
Date in UTC
Mars 1960A, also called Mars 1M No.1, was the first of two Soviet probes launched in October 1960 to attempt a flyby of Mars. It carried instruments intended to investigate interplanetary space and return observations of the planet. Its Molniya launch vehicle failed on October 10, 1960, preventing the spacecraft from reaching Earth orbit or beginning its interplanetary journey.
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_1960A. Original timeline Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_program. Related NASA reference: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/chronology.html#1960.
- Category
- Launches and Flight Tests
- Mission
- 1M No. 1
- Organization
- Strategic Rocket Forces
- Vehicle
- Molniya 8K78
- Location
- NIIP-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan
- Country
- SU
- Launch outcome
- failure
Context and qualifications
Launch code: OF. Source references: KIAM; -. Pitch control failed
Sources and attribution
- Jonathan McDowell — General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects (opens in a new tab) — Data from GCAT (J. McDowell, planet4589.org/space/gcat), CC BY 4.0. Adapted into anniversary records. (CC BY 4.0)
- Wikipedia — Mars 1960A (opens in a new tab) — Factual synthesis based on the cited Wikipedia and NASA pages; original editorial wording. (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Original Wikipedia link from NSE timeline (opens in a new tab) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
- NASA — Mars 1960A (opens in a new tab)
- NASA NSSDCA — Mars 1960A (opens in a new tab)