History of Planet Mars

Mars is the fourth closest planet from the Sun. It took its name from the Roman god of war, Mars. The planet is often dubbed as the "red planet" because it looked remotely reddish pink color. This is caused by the presence of iron (III) oxide on the surface of Mars. Mars is a rocky planet with a thin atmosphere. On the surface of Mars are craters, volcanoes, valleys, deserts, and ice sheets. Rotation period and the cycle of Mars is similar to Earth. Stood in Mars Olympus Mons, the tallest mountain in the solar system, Valles Marineris, the largest valley in the solar system. In addition, in the northern hemisphere there Borealis basin that covers 40% of the surface of Mars.

Mars environment more hostile to life than the state of Planet Venus. However, the situation is not quite ideal for humans. The air temperature is low enough and the air pressure is low, coupled with the composition of the air, mostly carbon dioxide, causing the man to use the respirator if it wants to stay there. Missions to the red planet, until the end of the 20th century, yet to find traces of life there, despite being very simple. This planet has 2 satellites, Phobos and Deimos are. The planet's orbit for 687 days around the Sun. This planet also rotates. At 25.62 hour rotation.

On Mars, there is a unique feature in the Cydonia Mensae. This feature is a hill which, when viewed from above appears as a human face. Many people regard it as a proof of the long-extinct civilization on Mars, although in the present, it has been proved that the feature is just an ordinary natural appearance.

Mars was first surrounded on 14-15 July 1965 by the Mariner 4 spacecraft. On 14 November 1971, Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft orbiting another planet. The first objects to successfully land on the surface of Mars were two Soviet spacecraft: Mars 2 on November 27 and Mars 3 on December 2, 1971, but both lost contact after landing. In 1975 NASA launched the Viking program consisted of two orbiters, and each had a landing, the second lander reached the surface in 1976. Viking 1 remained operational for six years, while the Viking 2 for three years. Viking Mars lander sends a colored image, and the orbiters mapped the surface so well that the image is still used today.

Soviet spacecraft Phobos 1 and 2 sent to Mars in 1988 to study Mars and second bolannya. Phobos 1 lost contact on the way to Mars. Phobos 2 successfully imaged Mars and Phobos, but fail when it comes to removing two pendaratnya to the surface of Phobos.

After the failure of Mars Observer orbiter in 1992, the mission of Mars Global Surveyor achieved Mars orbit in 1997. This mission has been completed successfully and the primary mapping mission in early 2001. NASA lost contact with the spacecraft in November 2006 during its third extended program. Mars Pathfinder, a robotic rover vehicle Sojourner, landed in the Ares Vallis in the summer of 1997 and sent back many images. Phoenix lander arrived on the north polar region of Mars on May 25, 2008. Robotic arm used to probe the Martian soil and the presence of water ice was confirmed on June 20. The mission was closed on 10 November 2008 after losing contact.