Modified Venera-type spacecraft designed to flyby Mars at a distance of about 11,000 km. Its closest approach with the planet was at a distance of approximately 193,000 km, probably due to a failure of its orientation system. November 1, 1962 at 16:14 UTC · Launch Successful Molniya 8K78 — Soviet Space Program, to Mars flyby 1/5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan The world's 212th orbital launch attempt, and 70th of 1962. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs. Image via The Space Devs.