Description : The electronic ion engines were successfully tested shortly after launch under real space environment conditions over the period 08-18 December 1964, the first successful firing of ion engines on an interplanetary mission. One of the two solar panels failed due to a broken tug cord, so only half the anticipated power was available to the spacecraft. Controllers were able to finally get the second solar panel to open on 15 December 1964 by firing the plasma engines to shake it free, but this was too late for the crucial first mid-course maneuver. After a putative (but unconfirmed) mid-course maneuver on 17 February 1965, communications with the spacecraft were lost in early May, 1965. The spacecraft flew by Mars on 6 August 1965 at a distance of 1500 km and a relative speed of 5.62 km/s. However, some accounts hold that the communications were lost a month or so after launch and no further contact was made with the spacecraft.

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Space Event :

KOSMOS 27 (3MV-1 #1) (SATELLITE) · ZOND 1 AND 2 · MOLNIYA · PARTIAL FAILURE