May 30

The first craft to orbit Mars is launched

On this day in 1971, Mariner 9 was launched by NASA. Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit another planet when it arrived at Mars. Mariner circled Mars for over a year, taking pictures and gathering information about the Martian surface and atmosphere. It also sent information back to Earth about Mars' two moons, Phobos and Deimos.