← ALL LANDERS
LANDING SITETerra Sirenum
LAT-45.00°
LON-158.00°
MARS
Dec 2, 1971
LANDING DATE
1971
20 seconds of transmission
MISSION DURATION
TOTAL
Approx -50 C
SURFACE TEMP
AT LANDING SITE
635
KG
MASS
5
INSTRUMENTS
SCIENTIFIC PAYLOAD
Mars 3 is a lander mission by NPO Lavochkin on Mars. Landed December 2, 1971. Landing site: Terra Sirenum.
ABOUT MARS 3
Mars 3 achieved the first soft landing on Mars on December 2, 1971, beating NASA to the Martian surface by nearly five years. However, the lander transmitted for only 20 seconds before falling silent — possibly due to a massive dust storm engulfing the planet, or a systems failure. It carried a small tethered rover called PROP-M that was never deployed. A partial image was received but was too noisy to reveal any surface features.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- Demonstrated soft landing on Mars was possible
- Lost contact after 20 seconds u2014 possibly due to dust storm
- Partial image received (too noisy to interpret)
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- First soft landing on Mars
- First spacecraft to transmit from Mars surface
- Carried PROP-M, the first Mars rover (never deployed)
- Parachute + retrorocket landing system
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (5)
Television cameras
Temperature/pressure sensors
Wind anemometer
Mass spectrometer
PROP-M rover (tethered)
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Mass635 kg (1,400 lbs)
PowerBattery
CommunicationsRadio transmitter via Mars 3 orbiter
Design LifeSeveral days
Landing DateDecember 2, 1971
Mission EndDecember 2, 1971
ProgramMars
SURFACE DATA
Surface TemperatureApprox -50 C
Surface Pressure~6 mbar