Russian spacecraft were given “tail numbers” during construction. Luna spacecraft were given the designation Ye followed by a number indicating the design senes and a second number indicating the serial number of the particular spacecraft under construction, 1 e. Ye-3 No.2 was the second spacecraft built in the third design series of lunar spacecraft. Sometimes a letter was attached to indicate a modification to the original design, such Ye-2A No. l. After successful translunar injection, the spacecraft were renamed “Luna”.
The designation scheme for planetary spacecraft was somewhat different. The early 1960-1961 spacecraft were simply designated 1M or IV for the first design series of Mars or Venus spacecraft. The next generation were a common design for both Mars and Venus and were designated as follows:
Example: 3MV-1 No.3
First number: Serial number of design (3rd major design series)
Second set of letters: Spacecraft targets (MV = Mars, Venus common design)
Third number: Mission modification number:
1 — Venus Entry Mission
2 – Venus Flyby Mission
3 – Mars Entry Mission
4 – Mars Flyby Mission
Fourth number: Serial number of vehicle (No.3, or third to be built)
The spacecraft were renamed after successful departure from earth orbit as “Venera” (for Venus) or “Mars” spacecraft.
A few 3MV planetary spacecraft were built for engineering test flights and were given “ІА” designations including a failed Mars test flight 3MV-1A No.2 on Nov 11, 1963, and a failed Venus test flight 3MV-1A No.4A on Feb 19, 1У64. Oddly, the Zond 3 Mars spacecraft, 3MV-4 No.3, wras not given a “1A” designation, but carried out a successful flyby test at the Moon before failing to reach Mars distance.
Three 3MV Mars spacecraft, one entry probe (3MV-3 No. l) and two flyby spacecraft (3MV-4 No.4 and No.6) that missed their launch window in 1964 were modified as Venus spacecraft and launched in 1965. Their original construction as Mars missions accounts for their anomalous tail numbers.
There is confusion in the literature over the tail numbers assigned by OKB-1 to the early Luna, Venera and Mars spacecraft before Lavochkin assumed responsibility. The most authoritative original source for Mars and Venus spacecraft is Chertok. The most authoritative secondary source for all spacecraft is Siddiqi’s Deep Space Chronicle. There remain some inconsistencies between these and other sources in the literature. We have attempted to reconcile all these sources to the extent possible through communications with both Asif Siddiqi and Timothy Vatfolomeyev, and on this basis have chosen to use the tail number designations given in Chertok.
W. T. Huntress and M. Y. Marov, Soviet Robots in the Solar System: Mission Technologies and Discoveries, Springer Praxis Hooks 1, DOl 10.1007/978-1-4419-7898-1,
.© Springer Scienee+Bustness Media, LLC 2011
 |
|
Launch date
|
T,/v
|
Mass (kg)
|
Builder
|
Spacecraft
|
Mission name
|
Mission type
|
Result
|
|
Luna
|
|
|
Soviet Lunar Missions
|
|
|
|
|
Ye-1 series (OKB-l)
|
|
Sep 23, 1958
|
Tama
|
-360
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-1 No. l
|
|
Tamar Tmpaclor
|
fb
|
|
Oct 11, 1958
|
Luna
|
~ 560
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-1 No.2
|
|
Lunar Impact or
|
fb
|
|
Dec 4, 1958
|
Luna
|
-360
|
OKB-l
|
Yc-1 N o. 3
|
|
Lunar Impact or
|
fb
|
|
Jan 2, 1959
|
Luna
|
361.3
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-1 no. 4
|
Luna 1
|
Lunar Impact or
|
ft
|
|
Jim 18. 1959
|
Luna
|
— 390
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-1 A No.5
|
|
Lunar Impact or
|
fb
|
|
Sep 12, 1959
|
Tama
|
390.2
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-1 A No.7
|
T. una 2
|
Tamar Tmpaclor
|
s
|
|
Ye-2,3 series (OKB-l)
|
|
Oct 4. 1959
|
Luna
|
278.5
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-2A No. l
|
Luna 3
|
Oircumlunar Flyby
|
s
|
|
Apr 15, 1960
|
Tama
|
9
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-3 No. l
|
|
Oirc uni lunar Flyby
|
flL
|
|
Apr 19, 1960
|
Tama
|
9
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-3 No.2
|
|
Oircumlunar Flyby
|
fb
|
|
Yc-6 Scries (OKB-l)
|
|
Jan 4, 1963
|
Molniya
|
1.420
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-6 No.2
|
[Sputnik 25J
|
Lunar Lander
|
fi
|
|
Feb 3, 1963
|
Molniya
|
1.420
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-6 No.3
|
|
Tamar Lander
|
fb
|
|
Apr 2, 1963
|
Molniya
|
1,422
|
OKB-l
|
Yc-6 No.4
|
Luna 4
|
Lunar Lander
|
fe
|
|
Mar 21, 1964
|
Molniya-M
|
-1,420
|
OKB-l
|
Yc-6 No.6
|
|
Lunar Lander
|
fu
|
|
Apr 20, 1964
|
Molniya-M
|
— 1.420
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-6 No.5
|
|
Lunar Lander
|
fu
|
|
Mar 12, 1965
|
Molniya
|
– 1.470
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-6 No.9
|
Cosmos 60
|
Lunar Lander
|
fi
|
|
Apr 10, 1965
|
Molniya
|
~ 1,470
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-6 No.8
|
|
Lunar Lander
|
fu
|
|
May 9. 1965
|
Molniya-M
|
1.476
|
OKB-l
|
Ye-6 No. 10
|
Tama 5
|
Tamar Lander
|
ft
|
|
Jun 8, 1965
|
Molniya-M
|
1,442
|
OKB-l
|
Yc-6 No.7
|
Luna 6
|
Lunar Lander
|
le
|
|
Ocl 4, 1965
|
Molniya
|
1,506
|
OKB-l
|
Yc-6 No. 11
|
Luna 7
|
Lunar Lander
|
ft
|
|
Dec 3, 1965
|
Molniya
|
1,552
|
OKB-l
|
Yc-6 No. 12
|
Luna 8
|
Lunar Lander
|
ft
|
|
|
|
Jan 31. 1966
|
Molniya-M
|
1,538
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-6M No.202/13
|
Luna 9
|
Lunar Lander
|
s
|
|
Mar 1, 1966
|
Molniya-M
|
~ 1.580
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-6S No.204
|
Cosmos 111
|
Lunar Or biter
|
fi
|
|
Mar 31. 1966
|
Molniya-M
|
1.582
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-6S No.206
|
Luna 10
|
Lunar Orbiler
|
•S
|
|
Aug 24, 1966
|
Molniya-M
|
1,640
|
NPO-L
|
Yc-6LF No.101
|
Luna 11
|
Lunar Orbiler
|
s
|
|
Ocl 22, 1966
|
Molniya-M
|
1,620
|
NPO-L
|
Yc-6LF No. 102
|
Luna 12
|
Lunar Orbiler
|
s
|
|
Dec 21. 1966
|
Molniya-M
|
1,620
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-6M No.205/14
|
Luna 13
|
Lunar Lander
|
s
|
|
May 16, 1967
|
Molniya-M
|
-1.700
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-6LS No. Ill
|
Cosmos 159
|
Lunar Or biter Test Flight
|
til
|
|
Feb 7, 1968
|
Molniya-M
|
-1.700
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-6LS No. 112
|
|
Lunar Or biter
|
til
|
|
Apr 7, 1968
|
Molniya-M
|
1.700
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-6T. S No. 113
|
Luna 14
|
Lunar Orbiler
|
•S
|
|
Yc-8 scries (NPO-L)
|
|
Feb 19. 1969
|
Proton-D
|
-5.700
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-8 No.201
|
|
Lunar Lander/Rover
|
fll
|
|
Jun 14, 1969
|
Prolon-D
|
-5.700
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-8-5 No. 402
|
|
Lunar Sample Return
|
fu
|
|
Jul 13, 1969
|
Prolon-D
|
5.667
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-8-5 No. 401
|
Luna 15
|
Lunar Sample Return
|
ft
|
|
Sop 23, 1969
|
Prolon-D
|
– 5,700
|
NPO-L
|
Yc-8-5 No.403
|
Cosmos 300
|
Lunar Sample Return
|
til
|
|
Ocl 22, 1969
|
Prolon-D
|
– 5,700
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-8-5 No.404
|
Cosmos 305
|
Lunar Sample Return
|
ill
|
|
Feb 6, 1970
|
Proton-D
|
-5,700
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-8-5 No.405
|
|
Lunar Sample Return
|
fll
|
|
Sep 12. 1970
|
Proton-D
|
5.727
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-8-5 No.406
|
Luna 16
|
Lunar Sample Return
|
s
|
|
Nov 10. 1970
|
Prolon-D
|
5.660
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-8 No.203
|
Luna 17
|
Lunar Lander/Rover
|
•S
|
|
Sep 2. 1971
|
Prolon-D
|
5.750
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-8-5 No, 407
|
Luna 18
|
Lunar Sample Return
|
ft
|
|
Sep 28, 1971
|
Prolon-D
|
5,700
|
NPO-L
|
Yc-8LS No.202
|
Luna 19
|
Lunar Orbiler
|
s
|
|
Fob 14, 1972
|
Prolon-D
|
5,750
|
NPO-L
|
Yc-8-5 No.408
|
Luna 20
|
Lunar Sample Return
|
s
|
|
Jan 8, 1973
|
Proton-D
|
5.700
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-8 No.204
|
Luna 21
|
I. u nar I. ander/ R over
|
s
|
|
May 29, 1974
|
Proton-D
|
5,700
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-8LS No.206
|
Luna 22
|
Lunar Or biter
|
s
|
|
Ocl 28, 1974
|
Prolon-D
|
5.795
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-8-5M No.410
|
Luna 23
|
Lunar Sample Return
|
ft
|
|
Ocl 16, 1975
|
Prolon-D
|
-5.800
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-8-5M No.412
|
|
Lunar Sample Return
|
fu
|
|
Aug 9. 1976
|
Prolon-D 1
|
5.795
|
NPO-L
|
Ye-8-5M No.413
|
Luna 24
|
Lunar Sample Return
|
s
|
|
Zond
|
|
|
Soviet lunar test missions
|
|
|
|
|
Sep 27, 1967
|
Prolon-D
|
-5.375
|
TsKBF. M
|
7K-T.1 No.4T.
|
|
Oirc uni 1 unar/R el urn
|
fb
|
|
Nov 22. 1967
|
Prolon-D
|
-5.375
|
TsKBF. M
|
7K-T.1 No.5L
|
|
Circimilu nar/Ret urn
|
fll
|
|
Mar 2, 1968
|
Prolon-D
|
5,375
|
TsKBEM
|
7K-L1 No.6L
|
Zond 4
|
Lunar Distance;Return
|
ft
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
Launch date
|
L/V
|
Mass (kg)
|
Builder
|
Spacecraft
|
Mission name
|
Mission type
|
Result
|
|
Apr 22, 1968
|
Proton-D
|
-5,375
|
TsKBEM
|
7K-L1 No.7L
|
|
Ci r cu m 1 u n ar / R ct u г n
|
fu
|
|
Sep 14, 1968
|
Proton-D
|
5,375
|
TsKBEM
|
7K-L1 No.9L
|
Zond 5
|
( A rcu ml u па r / Rot u rn
|
s
|
|
Nov 10, 1968
|
Proton-D
|
5,375
|
TsKBEM
|
7K-L1 No,12L
|
Zond 6
|
Circum 1 unar / Return
|
It
|
|
Jan 20, 1969
|
Prolon-D
|
-5,375
|
TsKBEM
|
7K-T.1 No. l3T,
|
|
Circum 1 un ar/R et urn
|
fu
|
|
Feb 2L 1969
|
N-l
|
6,900
|
TsKBEM
|
7K-L1S No.3S
|
|
Or biter./Return
|
ib
|
|
Jul 3, 1969
|
N-l
|
6,900
|
TsKBEM
|
7K-L1S No.5L
|
|
Or biter./Return
|
ib
|
|
Aug 7. 1969
|
Prolon-D
|
5,375
|
TsKBEM
|
7K-L1 No. ll
|
Zond 7
|
Circu mlunar/Re turn
|
s
|
|
Oct 20, 1970
|
Proton-D
|
5,375
|
TsKBEM
|
7K-L1 No.14
|
Zond 8
|
Ci reu tn 1 u nar/ Rctu rn
|
s
|
|
Nov 23, 1972
|
N-l
|
9,500
|
TsKBEM
|
7K-LOK No. fiA
|
|
Orbiler/Return
|
lb
|
|
Mars
|
|
|
Soviet Mars missions
|
|
|
|
|
1M series (OKB-l)
|
|
Oct 10, 1960
|
Molniya
|
650
|
OKB-l
|
1M No. l
|
|
Mars Flyby
|
Ги
|
|
Oct 14, 1960
|
Molniya
|
650
|
OKB-l
|
1M No.2
|
|
Mars Flyby
|
iu
|
|
2MV combination Mars-Venus series (OKB-l)
|
|
Oct 24. 1962
|
Molniya
|
-900
|
OKB-l
|
2MV-4 No.3
|
|
Mars Flyby
|
fi
|
|
Nov L 1962
|
Molniya
|
893.5
|
OKB-l
|
2MV-4 No.4
|
Mars 1
|
Mars Fly by-
|
fc
|
|
Nov 4, 1962
|
Molniya
|
1,097
|
OKB-l
|
2MV-3 No. l
|
|
Mar s Atm/SuiT Probe
|
il
|
|
3MV combination Mars-Venus series (OKB-l)
|
|
Nov 11,1963
|
Molniya
|
-800
|
OKB-l
|
3MV-1A No.2
|
Cosmos 21
|
Test Flight
|
П
|
|
Nov 30, 1964
|
Molniya
|
950
|
OKB-l
|
3MV-4 No.2
|
Zond 2
|
Mars Flyby
|
i’e
|
|
Jul 18, 1965
|
Molniya
|
960
|
OKB-l
|
3MV-4 No.3
|
Zond 3
|
Test Flight with Lunar Flyby
|
p
|
|
NPO-L Proton series
|
|
Mar 27. 1969
|
Proton-D
|
4.850
|
NPO-L
|
M-69 No.521
|
|
Mars Or biter
|
iu
|
|
Apr 2, 1969
|
Prolon-D
|
4.850
|
NPO-L
|
M-69 No.522
|
|
Mars Or biter
|
ib
|
|
May 10. 1971
|
Proton-D
|
4,549
|
NPO-L
|
M-71 No. 170
|
Cosmos 419
|
Mars Orbitcr
|
fi
|
|
May 19. 1971
|
Proton-D
|
4,650
|
NPO-L
|
M-71 No.171
|
Mars 2
|
Mars Or biter/Lander
|
P
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Launch date
|
L/V
|
Mass (ks)
|
Builder
|
Spacecraft
|
Mission name
|
Mission type
|
Result
|
|
Jan 10, 1969
|
Molniya-M
|
1,138
|
NPO-L
|
2V No.331
|
Venera 6
|
Venus Atm/Surf Probe
|
s
|
|
Aug 17, 1970
|
Molniya-M
|
1,180
|
NPO-L
|
3V No.630
|
Venera 7
|
Venus Atm/Surf Probe
|
s
|
|
Aug 22, 1970
|
Molniya-M
|
– 1,180
|
NPO-L
|
3V No.631
|
Cosmos 359
|
Venus Atm/Surf Probe
|
П
|
|
Mar 27, 1972
|
Molniya-M
|
1,184
|
NPO-L
|
3V No.670
|
Venera 8
|
Venus Atm/Surf Probe
|
s
|
|
Mar 31, 1972
|
Molniya-M
|
-1,180
|
NPO-L
|
3V No.671
|
Cosmos 482
|
Venus Atm/Surf Probe
|
fl
|
|
NPO-L Proton series
|
|
Tun 8, 1975
|
Proton-D
|
4,93 6
|
NPO-L
|
4V-1 No.660
|
Venera 9
|
Venus Orbiter/ Lander
|
s
|
|
Jun R 1975
|
Proton-D
|
5,033
|
NPO-L
|
4V-1 No.661
|
Venera 10
|
Venus Orbiter/ Lander
|
s
|
|
Sep 9, 1978
|
Proton-D 1
|
4,450
|
NPO-L
|
4V-1 No.360
|
Venera 11
|
Venus Flyby/Lander
|
s
|
|
Sep 14, 1978
|
Proton-D 1
|
4,461
|
NPO-L
|
4V-1 No.361
|
Venera 12
|
Venn s FI у by /1 /and ei*
|
s
|
|
Oct 30, 1981
|
Proton-D 1
|
4,363
|
NPO-L
|
4V-1M No.760
|
Venera 13
|
Venn s FI у by /1 /and er
|
s
|
|
Nov 4, 1981
|
Proton-D 1
|
4,363
|
NPO-L
|
4V-1M No,761
|
Venera 14
|
Ven us FI у by/Izander
|
s
|
|
Tun 2, 1983
|
Proton-D 1
|
5,250
|
NPO-L
|
4V-2 No.860
|
Venera 15
|
Venus Orbiter
|
s
|
|
Jun 1, 1983
|
Proton-D 1
|
5,300
|
NPO-L
|
4V-2 No.861
|
Venera 16
|
Venus Orbiter
|
s
|
|
Dec 15, 1984
|
Proton-D 1
|
4,924
|
NPO-L
|
5VK. No.901
|
Vega 1
|
Venus Balloon & Lander Halley Flyby
|
s
s
|
|
Dec 21, 1984
|
Proton-D 1
|
4,926
|
NPO-L
|
5VK No.902
|
Vega 2
|
Venus Balloon & Lander TTalley Flyby
|
s
s
|
|
|
1. Mass column lists mass at launch
2. Result Codes:
fh
fu
fi
ic
ft
P
booster failure upper stage failure
interplanetary trajectory injection failure failure in transit during cruise failure at the target partial success
success
|
|
|
Automated tests of lunar Soyuz spacecraft
|
Successes
|
|
Post-launch failures
|
|
Launch failures
|
|
|
Zoncl 5 C і г си ml u nar; Return
|
1968
|
Zond 4 Lunar Distan ce/Return
|
1%8
|
7K-L1 No.4L Zond Circumlunar
|
1967
|
|
Zond 7 Circiunlunar/Rcturn
|
1969
|
Zond 6 Circumlunar/Return
|
1968
|
7K-L1 No.5L Zond Circumlunar
|
1967
|
|
Zoud 8 Circumlunar/Return
|
1970
|
|
|
7K-L1 No.7L Zond Circumlunar
|
1968
|
|
|
|
|
7K-L1 No. l3L Zond Circumlunar
|
1969
|
|
|
|
|
7K-L1S No.3S Zond Or hi ter/Return
|
1969
|
|
|
|
|
7K-L1S No.5L Zond Orhiter/Return
|
1969
|
|
|
|
|
7K-LOK No.6A Soyuz Orhiter/Return
|
1972
|
Dates are for launch
|
|
 |
|
Successes
|
|
Post-launch failures
|
|
1,aundi failures
|
|
|
Pioneer 4 Flyby [parlialj
|
1959
|
Ranger 3 Hard Lander
|
1962
|
Pioneer 0 Orbiter
|
1958
|
|
Ranger 7 impact or
|
1964
|
Ranger 4 Hard Lander
|
1962
|
Pioneer 1 Orbiter
|
1958
|
|
Ranger 8 Impact or
|
1905
|
Ranger 5 Hard Lander
|
1962
|
Pioneer 2 Orbiter
|
1958
|
|
Ranger 9 Impact or
|
1905
|
Ranger 0 Impact or
|
1964
|
Pioneer 3 Flyby
|
1958
|
|
Surveyor 1 Lander
|
1966
|
Surveyor 2 Lander
|
1966
|
Atlas-Able 4 Orbiter
|
1959
|
|
Tamar Orbiter 1
|
1966
|
Surveyor 4 Lantler
|
1967
|
Atlas-Able P-З Orbiter
|
1959
|
|
Lunar Orbiter 2
|
1966
|
|
|
Atlas-Able P-30 Orbiter
|
1960
|
|
Lunar Orbiter 3
|
1967
|
|
|
Atlas-Able P-31 Orbiter
|
1960
|
|
Lunar Orbiter 4
|
1907
|
|
|
Ranger 1 Deep Space Test*
|
1961
|
|
Lunar Orbiter 5
|
1907
|
|
|
Ranger 2 Deep Space Test*
|
1961
|
|
Surveyor 3 Lander
|
1967
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surveyor 5 Lander
|
1967
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surveyor 6 Lander
|
1967
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surveyor 7 Lander
|
1968
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clementine Orbiter
|
1994
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lunar Prospector Orbiter
|
1998
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
Dales are lor launch * test launch
 |
|
Partial successes
|
|
Post-launch failures
|
|
Launch failures
|
|
|
Mars 2 Orbilcr [lander failed]
|
1971
|
Mars 1 Flyby
|
1962
|
1M No. l Flyby
|
1960
|
|
Mars 3 Orbilcr [lander failed]
|
1971
|
Zond 2 Flyby
|
1964
|
1M No.2 Flyby
|
1960
|
|
Mars 5 Orbitcr [short lived]
|
1973
|
Zond З* [success at the Мост]
|
1965
|
2MV-4 No.3 Flyby (Sputnik 22)
|
1962
|
|
Mars 6 Flyby/Lander [descent data only]
|
1973
|
Mars 4 Or biter
|
1973
|
2MV-3 No. l Probe (Sputnik 24)
|
1962
|
|
Phobos 2 Orbiter/Landers [failed at Phobos]
|
1988
|
Mars 7 Fly by/lander
|
1973
|
3MV-1A No.2 Probe* (Cosmos 21)
|
1963
|
|
|
Phobos 1 Or biter/T binders
|
1988
|
M69-1 Orbiter
|
1969
|
|
|
|
|
M69-2 Orbilcr
|
1969
|
|
|
|
|
M71-S Orbitcr
|
1971
|
|
|
|
|
Mars 96 Orbitcr/Landers
|
1996
|
|
|
|
Successes
|
|
Post-launch failures
|
|
Launch failures
|
|
|
Mariner 4 Flyby
|
1964
|
Mars Observer Orbiter
|
1992
|
Mariner 3 Flyby
|
1964
|
|
Mariner 6 Flyby
|
1969
|
Mars Climate Orbiter
|
1998
|
Mariner 8 Orbiter
|
1971
|
|
Mariner 7 Flyby
|
1969
|
Mars Polar Lander/Penetrators
|
1999
|
|
|
|
Mariner 9 Orbiler
|
1971
|
|
|
|
|
|
Viking 1 Orbi ter/T zander
|
1975
|
|
|
|
|
|
Viking 2 Orb iter/Lander
|
1975
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mars Global Surveyor Orbiler
|
1996
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mars Path tinder Lander
|
1996
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mars Odyssey Orbiter
|
2001
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spirit Rover
|
2003
|
|
|
|
|
|
Opportunity Rover
|
2003
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phoenix Lander
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
Dates are lor launch
|
|
 |
 |
|
Successes
|
|
Pnsl-launclt failures
|
|
Launch failures
|
|
|
Venera 4 Atm/Surf Probe [lost in atm]
|
1967
|
Venera 1 Impact or
|
1961
|
1VA No. l Impact or (Sputnik 7)
|
1961
|
|
Venera 5 Atm/Surf Probe [imploded]
|
1969
|
Zond 1 Atm/Surf Probe
|
1964
|
2MV-1 No.3 Atm/Surf Probe (Sputnik 19)
|
1962
|
|
Venera 6 Atm/Surf Probe [imploded]
|
1969
|
Venera 2 Flyby
|
1965
|
2MV-1 No.4 Atm/Surf Probe (Sputnik 20)
|
1962
|
|
Venera 7 Aim/Surf Probe
|
1970
|
Venera 3 Alm/Surf Probe
|
1965
|
2MV-2 No. l Flyby (Sputnik 21)
|
1962
|
|
Venera 8 Aim/Surf Probe
|
1972
|
|
|
3MV-1A No.4A Alm/Surf Probe*
|
1964
|
|
Venera 9 Orbilcr/Landcr
|
1975
|
|
|
3MV-1 No.5 Alm/Surf Probe (Cosmos 27)
|
1964
|
|
Venera 10 Orbiter/Landcr
|
1975
|
|
|
3MV-4 No.6 Flyby (Cosmos 96)
|
1965
|
|
Venera 11 Flvby/Lander [imager failed]
|
1978
|
|
|
IV N0.311 Atm/Surf Probe (Cosmos 167)
|
1967
|
|
Venera 12 Flyby/Lander [imager failed]
|
1978
|
|
|
3V No.631 Atm/Surf Probe (Cosmos 359)
|
1970
|
|
Venera 13 Flyby/Lander
|
1981
|
|
|
3V No.671 Alm/Surf Probe Cosmos 482)
|
1972
|
|
Venera 14 Flyby/Lander
|
1981
|
|
|
|
|
|
Venera 15 Orbiter
|
1983
|
|
|
|
|
|
Venera 16 Orbiter
|
1983
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vega 1 Flyby/Lander/Balloon
|
1984
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vega 2 Flyby/Lander/Balloon
|
1984
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Successes
|
Post-launch failures Launch failures
|
|
Mariner 2 Flyby Mariner 5 Flyby Mariner 10 Flybv Pioneer 12 Or biter Pioneer 13 Biis/Probes(3) Magellan Orbiter Galileo Flyby Cassini Flyby
|
1962 (None) Mariner 1 Flyby 1962
1967
1973
1978
1978
1989
1989
1997
|
[1] To measure the temperature, pressure, wind speed and direction on the surface, and to measure the chemical composition of the atmosphere around the planet
[2] To achieve soft landings at chosen sites and take pictures of the surface to study the terrain and vegetation
[3] To measure the composition, bearing strength and properties of the soil
[4] To measure the radiation levels and magnetic field at the surface
[5] To detect any traces of micro-organisms in the soil
[6] To study the upper atmosphere
[7] To compile a detailed thermal radiation map from orbit
[8] To fly past Phobos and Deimos while in Mars orbit and take pictures to define their shape, size and albedo
[9] To photograph Mars from orbit in order to understand the nature of the seas’ and canals’ and to acquire information on seasonal changes.
These were extraordinarily demanding objectives for a program that had endured six failed missions since 1960 and had yet to achieve anything at all at Mars. In one bold leap, compelled by competition with the US and enabled by the Proton-K launcher, the Soviets would attempt the first Mars orbiters and landers at a launch
