MARINER BELIEVED TO HA VE TAKEN PICTURES

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30804, 16 July 1965, Page 11

MARINER BELIEVED TO HA VE TAKEN PICTURES

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

PASADENA (California), July 15. America’s Mariner IV spacecraft apparently managed to take some pictures of Mars as it hurtled past the mystery red planet, but whether they can be sent back to earth is in doubt.

The performance of i a vital tape recorder is | the key to success or failure of the project. The New Zealand- j born director of the ■ Jet Propulsion Labora- j tory at Pasadena, Dr. | William Pickering, said: “We firmly believe we have 20 pictures on tape.’’ But scientists will not know until later today how many, if any, can be transmuted to earth. First of the planned 21 pictures of Mars is due to be relayed back through some 140 m miles of space starting at 12.41 a.m., July 16, New Zealand time Dr, Pickering added: “With-, out any pictures at all i Mariner IV is a magnificent : scientific achievement.” IN DARK Earlier, conflicting signals i from the spacecraft as it flashed past the planet less; than 7000 miles away left |

i scientists in the dark over the success or failure of the hisItoric mission. But scientists have already learned something of value from the signals flashed back through space. Information received in the past few hours has shown 'that Mars apparently only has !<• small, weak magnetic field— Jess than onetenth that of the earth. Radiation counters had also | registered no appreciable increase as Mariner drew close • to the planet.

• This indicated that there - was no dangerous radiation belt around Mars similar to > the earth’s Van Allen belt. : 21 PICTURES The scheduled 25-minute ! picture-taking period was to i have been the highlight of the s 200-million-dollar mission of ■ Mariner IV launched on s November 28. But minutes after its > camera apparently began - working according to plan. ' scientists here voiced doubts whether the tape recorders, storing pictures before their relay to earth, was functioning correctly. Twenty-one pictures were to have been taken. Signals from the windmillshaped spacecraft told conflicting stories. One set indicated the tape recorder was in order while another suggested it was not. Dr. Pickering said: “Every explanation of data received has shown that we have some pictures " THE CANALS The first picture should show the edge of the planet, giving valuable information about the Martian atmosphere. The second, taken from 7000 miles out, should show a dark, ‘

blue-green area called Trivium Charontis. This is an intersection point for the mystery-shrouded lines that towards the end of the last century touched off wild speculation about irrigation canals constructed by intelligent beings to water desert areas. That pictuie should show whether these “canali” are figments of the imagination or real—and if so what is within them.