Editing Mariner 6 and 7 (section)

===Science data and findings===
[[File:Mars full disk approach view from Mariner 7.jpg|thumb|Two full disc views of Mars from Mariner 7 as it approached, 1969]]
[[file:Mariner7_19.jpg|thumb|A close-up of the surface of Mars taken by Mariner 7]]
By chance, both spacecraft flew over cratered regions and missed both the [[Tharsis|giant northern volcanoes]] and the [[Valles Marineris|equatorial grand canyon]] discovered later. Their approach pictures did, however, photograph about 20 percent of the planet's surface,<ref name=Pyle2012/> showing the dark features long seen from Earth – in the past, these features had been mistaken for [[Martian canals|canals]] by some ground-based astronomers. When Mariner 7 flew over the Martian south pole on August 4, 1969, it sent back pictures of ice-filled craters and outlines of the [[Martian polar ice caps|south polar cap]].<ref name=tht-19690806/> Despite the communication defect suffered by Mariner 7 earlier, these pictures were of better quality than what had been sent by its twin, Mariner 6, a few days earlier when it flew past the Martian equator.<ref name=nyt-19690806/> In total, 201 photos were taken and transmitted back to Earth, adding more detail than the earlier mission, Mariner 4.<ref name=Pyle2012/> Both crafts also studied the [[atmosphere of Mars]].

Coming a week after [[Apollo 11]], Mariner 6 and 7's flyby of Mars received less than the normal amount of media coverage for a mission of this significance.

The [[ultraviolet]] [[spectrometer]] onboard Mariners 6 and 7 was constructed by the University of Colorado's [[Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics|Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP)]].<ref name=Pearce1971/>

The engineering model of Mariners 6 and 7 still exists, and is owned by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It is on loan to LASP, and is on display in the lab's lobby.<ref>{{Cite web |last=wire1631 |date=2023-10-11 |title=Looking back at 75: Honoring LASP’s contributions to historic missions |url=https://lasp.colorado.edu/2023/10/11/looking-back-honoring-lasps-contributions-to-historic-missions/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=CorrugatedSymphony |date=2016 |title=Mariner 6 & 7 working engineering model |url=https://imgur.com/gallery/mariner-6-7-working-engineering-model-J8Mco |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Imgur |language=en}}</ref>

Mariner 6 and 7 infrared radiometer observations helped to trigger a scientific revolution in Mars knowledge.{{r|:0|Chase1969}} The Mariner 6 and 7 infrared radiometer results showed that the [[atmosphere of Mars]] is composed mostly of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), and they were also able to detect trace amounts of [[Water on Mars|water on the surface of Mars]].<ref name=:0/>