On This Day in Space: Mariner 2 Performs First Deep Space Maneuver in 1962

Summary

On September 4, 1962, NASA's Mariner 2 spacecraft executed the first-ever rocket maneuver in deep space, performing a mid-course correction to ensure its trajectory to Venus. This critical maneuver, involving five commands from mission control, allowed Mariner 2 to become the first spacecraft to successfully fly by another planet.