On August 27, 1962, NASA Launched Mariner 2 for Historic Venus Flyby

Summary

On August 27, 1962, NASA launched Mariner 2, which became the world's first spacecraft to successfully visit another planet by flying past Venus. Despite initial launch complications and in-flight issues, Mariner 2 provided the first close measurements of Venus's atmosphere and temperature, marking a significant achievement for the U.S. in the Space Race.