Cosmos 419

Russia

Spacecraft n°:

Russian satellite n°:

Launch data:

Designation	05221 / 71042A
Launch date	10 May 1971
Launch site	B, LC-81/23
Launch vehicle	Proton-K/Blok-D (8K82K/11S824)
Mission
Satellite type	3M #170
Earth orbit:
Perigee / Apogee	134 x 187 km
Inclination	51.5°
Period	min

FAILURE: No Block D ignition due wrong timer setting.

Spacecraft data:

Prime contractor	Lavochkin
Platform
Mass at launch	4650 kg
Dry Mass	kg
Basic shape
Dimension (m)
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power

Decay:

Descent date:	12 May 1971
Lifetime:	2 days

Mission details:

Mars probe intended to enter Martian orbit and comprehensively photograph Mars. Rocket block failed to reignite in Earth Orbit. It is widely believed this spacecraft was launched with the primary purpose of overtaking Mariner 8, which had been launched (unsuccessfully, as it turned out) two days earlier, and becoming the first Mars orbiter. The Proton booster successfully put the spacecraft into low (174 km x 159 km) Earth parking orbit with an inclination of 51.4 degrees, but the Block D stage 4 failed to function due to a bad ignition timer setting (the timer, which was supposed to start ignition 1.5 hours after orbit was erroneously set for 1.5 years.) The orbit decayed and the spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere 2 days later on 12 May 1971. The mission was designated Cosmos 419.

Ref.: #1, #7(JR452), #8 - update: 04.11.10