Red Planet Day

Every year on November 28, we celebrate Red Planet Day. Mars is also known as the Red Planet because its surface has a lot of iron minerals, which makes it appear red.

The Red Planet Day marks the launch of the Spacecraft Mariner 4 by NASA in 1964. This was the first spacecraft to reach Mars.  

Launched on November 28, 1964, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Mariner 4 was solar-powered. It reached Mars after about eight months of travelling. Its job was to study Mars by collecting information and sending it back to Earth. It also aimed to capture images of the planet.

The images taken by Mariner 4 helped scientists confirm that Mars’ surface is similar to the moon’s, with lots of craters. It also measured daytime temperatures on Mars at -148 degrees Fahrenheit (-100 degrees Celsius).

NASA stayed in touch with Mariner 4 until October 1, 1965. Two years later, in October 1967, it was reactivated to assist with the Mariner 5 mission. Contact was maintained until December 31, 1967, three years after its launch.