the world's first successful mission to another planet After a 3.5-month journey through space, Mariner 2 flew by Venus.
The mission launched just one month after Mariner 1's launch failure. Following departure from Cape Canaveral, Florida,
When an electrical problem with the Atlas-Agena rocket caused it to roll, Mariner 2 almost met the same fate.
This rendered it unable to respond to any mission control guidance commands.
The problem miraculously resolved itself, and Mariner 2 was on its way to Venus!
Mariner 5 followed up on Mariner 2's Venus study with a closer look at the planet's atmosphere five years later.
The spacecraft made several discoveries about the planet and set a new record by measuring the solar wind.