Word: reds
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...command from its computer, Mariner 6's electronic gear poured out an endless stream of data from the red planet-information about the density and composition of its atmosphere and its varying surface temperatures. On board the ungainly, 850-lb. ship, whose four solar panels gave it the look of a stubby windmill, tiny transmitters also sent back to earth, some 60 million miles away, the best close-up portrait man has ever had of Mars. At week's end, an identical twin named Mariner 7 moved into position for similar electronic observations. Mariner 6 aimed its close...
Seeking to answer that age-old puzzle, scientists from Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Pasadena crammed Mariners 6 and 7 with vastly improved electronic gear, ranging from tape recorders to miniature computers to extraordinarily sensitive infra-red and ultraviolet measuring equipment. The total cost of the Mariners and their launch vehicles: $148 million...
Though Mariner 6 needed only one mid-course correction throughout its long journey, and Mariner 7 was almost on target, the flights were not completely trouble-free. Last week one of Mariner 6's infra-red spectrometers balked just as it was supposed to search out the gases and vapors in the Martian atmosphere. JPL technicians explained that the spectrometer, which should be cooled to below - 400° F. to operate efficiently, refused to chill at all. Mariner 7 caused even greater concern at Mission Control when it went off the air entirely for seven hours. Apparently struck...
...first pictures arrived from Mariner 6 when it was still 771,500 miles from the Martian surface. But by the time the spacecraft's cameras finished their day's work, they had recorded 33 pictures and brought earthly viewers within 453,350 miles of the red planet. None of the initial photographs were particularly startling. But Caltech's Robert B. Leighton, director of the photographic work, noted that at least one picture showed a ragged edge at the south polar cap-"possibly caused by the presence of mountains or craters...
...fire, and the ancient Syrians sought to ward off such evils with human sacrifices. The Greeks, who called it Ares, and the Romans, to whom it was Mars, both regarded it as the god of war. To this day, the martial shield and spear remain the symbol for the red planet...