Exploration of Mars failed upon impact. Mars 4 flew by the planet at a range of 2200 km returning one swath of pictures and radio occultation data, which constituted the first detection of the nightside ionosphere on Mars. Mars 7 probe separated prematurely from the carrying vehicle due to a problem in the operation of one of the onboard systems (attitude control or retro-rockets) and missed the planet by . In 1964, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory made two attempts at reaching Mars. Mariner 3 and Mariner 4 were identical spacecraft designed to carry out the first flybys of Mars. Mariner 3 was launched
Jesus on Mars Orme reaffirms his commitment and the novel ends abruptly with a sense of the years of impending struggle against the forces of evil. Greg Costikyan reviewed "Jesus on Mars" in "Ares Magazine" #1. Costikyan commented that ""Jesus on Mars" would be brilliant if it were written by a novice; but from Farmer, one expects better things." Jesus on Mars Jesus on Mars is a 1979 science fiction novel by American writer Philip José Farmer, set on Mars and involving an alien civilization. It makes social commentary on a just society and on religious belief. An unmanned scientific probe sent to