[FPSPACE] Zond 2 - did it have a lander for Mars?

[Paolo Ulivi]

If Zond 2 was actually to test the trajectory for a lander, the 
trajectory would make sense, because, as described in Andrew Lepage's 
article 
(ftp://ftp.seds.org/pub/info/newsletters/ejasa/1991/jasa9104.txt) it 
would minimize the speed at approach.
What is strange to me is that the planned flyby distance was so close to 
the planet, 1500 km against almost 10,000 for Mariner 4. I have always 
suspected that the plan was to obtain higher resolution images for some 
late stealing of the show from Mariner, but this is just my opinion


Geert Sassen wrote:
> Thanks a lot Paolo for these additional details, I will add them to my 
> archive, the most info I have on Zond 2 is from your own book so I 
> don't have anything to add to it!
>
> Still, without wishing to cast any doubt on all sources, it remains 
> weird why this particular trajectory was selected for Zond 2, causing 
> it to arrive at Mars almost a month after Mariner 4. It has been 
> stated that Zond 3 was originally also destined for Mars, but missed 
> its launch window. Can it be that both probes were in fact so far 
> delayed that given launchmass and other constraints this slow 
> trajectory was the only remaining option?
>
> Regards,
>
> Geert.
> -- 
> Geert Sassen
> weblog: http://geertsassen.web-log.nl
>
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