Mars Mountains

Contrary to some reports, the phototelevision cameras on Mars-3 were functional after the dust storm subsided, in December. At least four photographic surveys have been reported (December 12 and 14, February 28 and March 12). Images were returned by pulse-code modulation over the decimeter-band telemetry channel, after the centimeter-band pulse-position modulation system failed.
The decimeter transmitter suffered from intermittant failures and was used very cautiously. Only after important science data was gathered, a small number of images at LR were transmitted (using a 256-line mode). The color image of Mars (picture n. 1) is a composite from the 52 mm camera, using its program of cycling red, green and blue glass filters.