Mariner 4 launches on an eight-month journey to Mars. The spacecraft, like its twin Mariner 3, is designed to carry out the first flyby of Mars.

A few weeks before Mariner 4's launch, Mariner 3 had also launched for the red planet. However, the shroud encasing the spacecraft atop its rocket failed to open properly, and Mariner 3 did not get to Mars.

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