Sputnik 22 and Sputnik 24: The Mars Curse

In the early days of space probes, many did not make it to their intended targets. These are two cases where Russia attempted to send two space probes to Mars. Along their journey the systems had some malfunctions and in the end the mission failed.

On October 24th 1962 a Molniya 8K78 rocket "serial number T103-15" was launched with the space probe payload on board. As part of the Mars program, and was intended to make a fly-by of Mars, and transmit pictures of the planet back to us on Earth. Due to an issue with the rocket which launched it, it was destroyed in low Earth orbit (LEO). It was the 1st of two Mars 2MV-4 spacecraft to be launched, the other being the Mars 1 spacecraft which was launched 8 days later.

The lower stages of the rocket performed normally, placing the payload and the Blok-L upper stage into low Earth orbit (LEO). When the Blok-L ignited following a coast phase, grease leaked out of the turbo pump, which consequently seized up and disintegrated. This caused the main engine to explode, breaking the upper stage and spacecraft. 22 pieces of space debris from the spacecraft and upper stage were noted, which decayed between the date of October 29th 1962 and the date of February 26th 1963.

Known as Sputnik-24 in the United States, was a Soviet spacecraft, which was launched in 1962 as part of the Mars program, and was meant to land on the surface of Mars. Due to a issue with the rocket which launched it, it did not depart low Earth orbit (LEO), and it decayed days later. It was the only Mars 2MV-3 spacecraft to be launched.

About 260 seconds into the flight, the oxidizer pressurization controls malfunctioned, resulting in cavitation within the feed lines and turbopump. The same problem developed in the propellant feed lines thirty-two seconds later. Although the lower stages of the rocket were still able to place the upper stage and payload into a low Earth orbit, vibrations caused by either the cavitation problem, or a separate problem with the next stage, caused a fuse to become dislodged in the electrical system controlling the upper stage rocket engine. This prevented the Blok-L upper stage from igniting, leaving the spacecraft in its parking orbit. It decayed from orbit the next day. However, some space debris remained in orbit until December 27th, and the upper stage ullage motor platform remained in orbit until January 19th 1963.

We have yet to get to Mars at this point in the space race, and when we do, even stranger issues occur. And Phobos has its own interesting stories as well I am planning on covering in regards to space exploration.

Ever since the first attempts to get a probe on or even near the planet has ended in disaster over and over again. From the 1960s through the 1980s there 20 out of the 30 total missions to Mars failed and its one of its moons Phobos during those decades.

Even into the 1990s issues were still occurring on space craft with the destination of Mars.

Charts can be found on Wikipedia under "List to missions to Mars"

Above is a chart starting in 1960 through 2016 showing failures, partial success, success, and scheduled.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_missions_to_Mars

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