The First Success

• July 14, 1965 : Mariner 4 (U.S.) launched on Nov. 28, 1953, was the first to fly by Mars on July 14, 1965, and sent 21 photos back to Earth
• Two days after Mariner 4 launched, the Soviet Union tried again with Zond 2. The spacecraft passed Mars but its radio failed and it did not return any planetary data