A couple of problems cropped up during the flight, including a temporary loss of attitude control and an output deterioration from one of the solar panels. The gyroscopes restored the attitude control, and the spacecraft was close enough to the sun so that when one solar panel permanently failed on Nov. 15, the remaining panel supplied sufficient power to continue the mission. Mariner 2 performed the Venus flyby on Dec. 14, approaching 30 degrees above the planet's dark side. Its closest approach occurred when it passed below the planet, traveling within 34,773 kilometers of the Venusian surface. Mariner 2 resumed its cruise after the flyby, continuing its mission until Jan. 3, 1963.
Scientists believe it is still in heliocentric orbit.
Not only were all of the mission's objectives were met, but some additional discoveries were made as well. The successful Venus flyby allowed the spacecraft to collect data on Venus' atmosphere, magnetic field, charged particle environment and mass. The data showed that Venus had a slow retrograde rotation rate, a high surface pressure, a continual cloud cover, no detectable magnetic field and an atmosphere primarily made up of carbon dioxide. The new data also helped scientists to better estimate Venus' mass and the value of the astronomical unit. Aside from studying Venus, Mariner 2 collected data on interplanetary particles, cosmic rays, cosmic dust and solar wind before and after the flyby.