images

Mars 3 spacecraft

by

Steven Hobbs/Novapix

Reference

e-son27-00200

Date

2009-06-17

The Soviet Mars 3 lander separates from its mother craft above Mars. The timing is unfortunate as the planet is experiencing a global dust storm. Mars-3 was launched to Mars on May 28, 1971. On December 2, 1971 it's descent capsule made a soft landing on the surface of Mars. This mission was not successful, because of a dust storm on the Mars surface.