Mars 6
| Mission type | Mars flyby/lander |
|---|---|
| Operator | Soviet space program |
| COSPAR ID | 1973-052A 1973-052E |
| SATCAT no. | 6768 7223 |
| Mission duration | 218 days, 15 hours and 25 minutes |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | 3MP No.50P |
| Manufacturer | NPO Lavochkin |
| Launch mass | 3,260 kg (7,190 lb) |
| Landing mass | 635 kg (1,400 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 5 August 1973, 17:45:48 UTC |
| Rocket | Proton-K/D |
| Launch site | Baikonur 81/23 |
| Contractor | Khrunichev |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | Lander: 12 March 1974, 09:11:05 UTC |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Heliocentric |
| Perihelion altitude | 1.01 AU |
| Aphelion altitude | 1.67 AU |
| Inclination | 2.2° |
| Period | 567 days |
| Flyby of Mars | |
| Spacecraft component | Bus |
| Closest approach | 12 March 1974, 09:05:53 UTC |
| Distance | 1,600 km (990 mi) |
| Mars impact (failed landing) | |
| Spacecraft component | Lander |
| Impact date | 12 March 1974, 09:11 UTC |
| Impact site | 23°54′S 19°25′W / 23.90°S 19.42°W |
Mars 6 (Russian: Марс-6), also known as 3MP No.50P was a Soviet spacecraft launched to explore Mars. A 3MP bus spacecraft launched as part of the Mars program, it consisted of a lander, and a coast stage with instruments to study Mars as it flew past.