JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo

Mariner 4

Mariner 4

One of the great successes of the early American space program, the Mariner 4 mission journeyed to Mars -- making its closest approach on July 15, 1965 -- and took the first photos of another planet from space.

Mission Statistics

Launch Date

Nov. 28, 1964

Type

Flyby Spacecraft

Target

Mars

Status

Past

About the mission

One of the great successes of the early American space program, the Mariner 4 mission journeyed to Mars -- making its closest approach on July 15, 1965 -- and took the first photos of another planet from space.

In addition to providing key information about how to safely deliver future missions to the Martian surface, the spacecraft far outlasted its planned eight-month mission. It lasted about three years in solar orbit, continuing long-term studies of the solar wind and making coordinated measurements with the Mariner 5 spacecraft.

Instruments

  • Imaging system
  • Helium magnetometer
  • Plasma probe
  • Cosmic-ray telescope
  • Cosmic ray detector
  • Cosmic dust detector

Mission Highlights

July 15, 1965

Mariner 4 makes its closest approach to Mars, simultaneously making history by taking the first photos of another planet from space.
Mars

More about Mars

News .

Autonomous Systems Help NASA’s Perseverance Do More Science on Mars

News .

NASA Releases Independent Review’s Mars Sample Return Report

News .

NASA’s Curiosity Reaches Mars Ridge Where Water Left Debris Pileup

Image .

Curiosity's Path to Gediz Vallis Ridge and Beyond

Image .

Curiosity Views Gediz Vallis Ridge

Image .

Rendering Depicts Curiosity at Gediz Vallis Ridge

News .

NASA’s Oxygen-Generating Experiment MOXIE Completes Mars Mission

Image .

The Sound of MOXIE at Work on Mars

Image .

Perseverance Rover Looks West

News .

NASA, Partners Study Ancient Life in Australia to Inform Mars Search

Fact Sheet
Mariner 4 Information on Solar System Exploration
Mariner 4 Information on National Space Science Data Center

Explore Other Missions

MarCO

InSight

Mariner 3

Opportunity Rover

Mars Climate Orbiter

Mariner 6

Perseverance Rover

Mariner 8 (Mariner H)

Mariner 9 (Mariner I)

Mariner 7

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors
Careers
Internships
The JPL Story
JPL Achievements
Documentary Series
Annual Reports
JPL Plan: 2023-2026
Missions
Current
Past
Future
All
News
All
Earth
Solar System
Stars and Galaxies
Subscribe to JPL News
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Apps
Visions of the Future
Slice of History
Robotics at JPL
Events
Lecture Series
Team Competitions
Speakers Bureau
Calendar
Visit
Public Tours
Virtual Tour
Directions and Maps
Topics
JPL Life
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Exoplanets
Stars and Galaxies
Robotics
More
Asteroid Watch
NASA's Eyes Visualizations
Universe - Internal Newsletter
Social Media
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Managers: Veronica McGregor, Randal Jackson
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Naomi Hartono
CL#: 21-0018