Public index · Planetary
Mariner 2 · 42 minutes
42 min
Recorded
14 December 1962. Mariner 2 scanned Venus for 42 minutes. First successful planetary encounter.
On 14 December 1962 Mariner 2 flew 21,660 miles from Venus and scanned the planet for 42 minutes. First spacecraft to complete a planetary encounter.
Documentary plate
NASA / JPL. Magellan global mosaic of Venus. The 42 is the Mariner 2 scan, not this later map.
What it supports
A dated NASA/JPL mission duration. Radiometers scanned night side, terminator, and day side in that window.
What it does not
Not a Venus day. Not the 42 km radio extinction of Mariner 10. A scan length is not a law of the planet.
ExactnessExact
Form42 as duration
Unitminutes
Strengthhard
When1962-12-14