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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: Mariner 6 Launches from Cape Canaveral on February 25, 1969

By  //  February 25, 2023

Before the Apollo 11 mission went to the Moon in July 1969, Mariner 6 launched from Cape Canaveral on February 25 in 1969 for a flyby mission of Mars. (NASA Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Before the Apollo 11 mission went to the Moon in July 1969, Mariner 6 launched from Cape Canaveral on February 25 in 1969 for a flyby mission of Mars.

It made its closest encounter of the Red Planet on 31 July of that year (1 week after the Apollo 11 astronauts returned), taking 24 close-up photographs over the period of 17 minutes.