Editing Mars 3 (section)

{{Short description|Soviet orbiter/lander mission to Mars (1971–1972)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = Mars 3

<!--image of the spacecraft/mission-->
| image                 = Mars3 iki.jpg
| image_size            = 300px

<!--Basic details-->
| mission_type          = [[Mars]] orbiter/lander
| operator              = Soviet space program
| COSPAR_ID             = {{COSPAR|1971-049A}}<br>{{COSPAR|1971-049F}}
| SATCAT                = 5252<br>5667
| mission_duration      = <small>Orbiter:</small><br>{{time interval|28 May 1971|22 Aug 1972}}<br><small>Lander:</small><br>
{{time interval|2 Dec 1971 13:52:00|2 Dec 1971 13:53:50|show=hms}}

<!--Spacecraft properties-->
| spacecraft_type       = [[4MV|4M]] No.172
| manufacturer          = [[OKB-1]]
| launch_mass           = <small>Total:</small><br>{{cvt|4650|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<br><small>Orbiter:</small><br>{{cvt|3440|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<br><small>Lander:</small><br>{{cvt|1210|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name=nssdc/>
| landing_mass          = {{cvt|358|kg|lb}}
| dry_mass              = {{cvt|2265|kg|lb}}
| dimensions            = {{cvt|4.1|xx|2.0|xx|5.9|m|ft}}

<!--Launch details-->
| launch_date           = {{start-date|28 May 1971, 15:26:30|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC
| launch_rocket         = [[Proton-K]]/[[Blok D|D]]
| launch_site           = [[Baikonur Cosmodrome|Baikonur]] [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81|81/23]]
| launch_contractor     = [[Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center|Khrunichev]]
 

<!--end of mission-->
| disposal_type         = Decommissioned
| declared              = {{end date|1972|08|22}}
| last_contact          = <small>Orbiter:</small><br>July 1972<ref name=beyond/><br><small>Lander:</small><br>2 December 1971, 13:53:50&nbsp;UTC

<!--orbit parameters-->
<!--as science-related articles, SI units should be the principal units of measurement, however we usually use {{convert}} to display imperial units in parentheses after the initial values-->
| orbit_reference       = [[Areocentric orbit|Areocentric]]<ref name=EA/>
| orbit_periapsis       = {{cvt|1528|km|mi}}
| orbit_apoapsis        = {{cvt|214500|km|mi}} 
| orbit_inclination     = 60°
| orbit_period          = 12.67 days
| apsis                 = areion

|interplanetary         = <!--Infobox spaceflight/IP can be called multiple times for missions with multiple targets or combined orbiter/lander missions, etc-->
 {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
   |type                = orbiter
   |object              = [[Mars]]
   |arrival_date        = December 2, 1971
 }}

 {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
   |type                = lander
   |object              = [[Mars]]
   |arrival_date        = December 2, 1971 13:52{{nbsp}}UTC
   |location            = {{Coord|45.0445|S|202.0193|E|globe:Mars|name=Mars 3}} 
 }}

<!--Only use where a spacecraft/mission is part of a clear programme of sequential missions. 
If in doubt, leave it out-->
| programme             = '''[[Mars program]]'''
| previous_mission      = [[Mars 2]]
| next_mission          = [[Mars 4]]

<!--mission insignia or patch-->
| insignia              = 1972 CPA 4114.jpg
| insignia_caption      = Mars 3 (lander) stamp 
}}

'''Mars 3''' was a robotic [[space probe]] of the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Mars program]], launched May 28, 1971, nine days after its twin spacecraft [[Mars 2]]. The probes were identical [[robotic spacecraft]] launched by [[Proton-K]] rockets with a [[Blok D]] upper stage, each consisting of an [[orbiter]] and an attached [[lander (spacecraft)|lander]].

After the Mars 2 lander crashed on the Martian surface, the Mars 3 lander became the first spacecraft to attain a [[soft landing]] on Mars, on December 2, 1971.  However, it failed 110 seconds after landing, having transmitted only a gray image with no details.<ref name=Perminov1/> The Mars 2 orbiter and Mars 3 orbiter continued to circle Mars and transmit images back to Earth for another eight months.