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.

[JohnVV]

the naif kernel from 1999 has the 71 & 72 dates

CODE

BRIEF -- Version 4.0.0, September 8, 2010 -- Toolkit Version N0065

Summary for: m9.bsp

Body: -9 w.r.t. MARS BARYCENTER (4)
      Start of Interval (ET)              End of Interval (ET)
      -----------------------------       -----------------------------
      1971 NOV 14 01:30:00.000            1972 MAR 29 21:00:00.000
      1972 APR 01 20:00:00.000            1972 APR 14 06:30:00.000