The department was founded and headed by Yan L. Ziman since 1973. ... Since 2003 the Department has been headed by Anatoly A. Forsh. The department is more than 30 years old. During these years we contucted studies of the Earth, the Moon, the Halley comet, the Mars and its moon Phobos. We also developed precision attitude control systems for the "Mir" orbital station, International space station and "Yamal" communications satellites. Optico-Physical Department (booklet) . ...
Mariner 10 . ... Mariner 10 was the seventh successful launch in the Mariner spacecraft series, and the first to use the gravitational pull of one planet ( Venus ) to reach another ( Mercury ). ... It measured 1.39 meters (4.56 feet) diagonally and 0.457 meters (1.5 feet) in depth. ... Views of Mariner 10 . ... Venus/Mercury Mission . ... Launched in November 1973, this mission provided new information about Mercury and Venus in the Mariner program's first dual-planet mission. ...