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Spacecraft, Mariner 10, Flight Spare

National Air and Space Museum
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Object Details

Manufacturer
Boeing Aerospace Company
Summary
Mariner 10 was the seventh successful launch in the Mariner series and the first spacecraft to use the gravitational pull of one planet (Venus) to reach another (Mercury). It was also the first probe to visit two planets. Launched on November 3, 1973, it reached Venus on February 5, 1974. Using a gravity assist from this planet, Mariner 10 first crossed the orbit of Mercury on March 29, 1974 and did so a second time on September 21, 1974. A third and last Mercury encounter took place on March 16, 1975. It measured the environments of both Venus and Mercury. It then undertook experiments in the interplanetary medium. Mariner 10 showed that Venus had at best a weak magnetic field, and the ionosphere interacted with the solar wind to form a bow shock. At Mercury, it confirmed that Mercury had no atmosphere and a cratered, dormant Moon-like surface.
This flight spare was transferred from NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory to the Museum in 1982.
Alternate Name
Mariner 10
Key Accomplishment(s)
First Spacecraft to Use Gravity Assist
Brief Description
Mariner 10 was the first spacecraft to use the gravitational pull of one planet to reach another and the first probe to visit two planets. Launched November 3, 1973, it reached Venus on February 5, 1974. Using gravity assist, it went on to fly by Mercury.
Credit Line
Transferred from NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Inventory Number
A19830006000
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Communications
Materials
Aluminum, mixed metals
Dimensions
Overall: 6 ft. tall x 6 ft. wide x 6 ft. deep (182.88 x 182.88 x 182.88cm)
Other (magnetometer boom): 20 ft. long (609.6cm)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Exhibition
Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery
National Air and Space Museum
Record ID
nasm_A19830006000
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9ed15a631-e765-48d2-8456-b21bb3ea9fc5

Related Content

  • Space Science

    Air and Space Museum
Mariner 10 Spacecraft made out of aluminum, and mixed metals.
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
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Mariner 10 Spacecraft made out of aluminum, and mixed metals.
Spacecraft made out of aluminum and mixed metals.

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