Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.). Mariner C Spacecraft Design Team.

The Mariner C Spacecraft Design Book describes the Mariner Mars 1964 project from the time of its inception until October 1, 1965. When launched November 28, 1964, aboard the launch vehicle Atlas-Agena-D, Mariner C became Mariner 4. Mariner 4 required nine months of successful operation to achieve mission success.

It was the first man-made probe to travel to Mars. Its primary objective was to conduct scientific observations and to transmit the results of these observations back to Earth. The planetary observations to the greatest practical extent, provided maximum information about Mars. Television, cosmic dust detectors and a reasonable complement of fields and particles experiments were carried aboard the spacecraft. In addition, a radio occultation experiment was performed to obtain data relating to the scale height and pressure of the atmosphere of Mars, a first for planetary investigation.

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