Mariner 9 -- still in orbit? Options

[Doug M.]

I've read in various places that Mariner 9 was supposed to remain in orbit until sometime in the 2020s or 2030s. However, I've never seen an authoritative quote for the exact end of its mission. (One may not exist, of course.) The wikipedia page gives a date of 2022, with a footnote, but unfortunately the link (to a NASA page) is dead.

Does anyone know anything more? Also, would it be theoretically possible to image Mariner 9 (assuming we knew where it was) using any of the other orbiters?


Doug M.

[mcaplinger]

Does anyone know anything more? Also, would it be theoretically possible to image Mariner 9 (assuming we knew where it was) using any of the other orbiters?

http://starbrite.jpl.nasa.gov/pds/viewMiss..._NAME=MARINER71

On October 27, 1972, telemetry data indicated that the spacecraft was no longer capable of holding the fixed attitude and, as the last battery power was being used, a final command was sent to stop transmitting. The slowly tumbling Mariner 9 will remain in orbit for a minimum of 50 years before it enters the atmosphere of Mars, disintegrates, and falls to the surface.

Since we don't have good tracking data from the end of mission and even if we did there are enough random factors in orbit lifetime, any prediction would be meaningless.

Since we don't know where it is, it's not really interesting to think about imaging it, though I'm sure it's "theoretically possible."