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{{Short description|First American Robotic Lander sent to Mars}}
{{Short description|Robotic spacecraft sent to Mars}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Italic title}}
{{About|the mission to Mars|other uses|Viking One (disambiguation){{!}}Viking One}}
{{About|the mission to Mars|other uses|Viking One (disambiguation){{!}}Viking One}}
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{{Infobox spaceflight
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = ''Viking 1''
| name = ''Viking 1''
| names_list = <!--list of previous names if the spacecraft has been renamed.
Include the dates applicable if possible, and separate each name with a linebreak.
Omit if the spacecraft has only ever been known by one name.
Do not include Harvard, COSPAR/NSSDC or SATCAT/NORAD/NASA designations as alternative names-->


<!--image of the spacecraft/mission-->| image = File:Viking spacecraft.jpg
<!--image of the spacecraft/mission-->
| image = Viking spacecraft.jpg
| image_caption = ''Viking'' orbiter/lander
| image_caption = ''Viking'' orbiter
⚫
| image_size = 300px
| image_alt = <!--image alt text-->

⚫
| image_size =
| mission_type = Orbiter and lander
| mission_type = [[Mars]] Orbiter/Lander
| operator = [[NASA]]
| operator = [[NASA]]
| COSPAR_ID = {{plainlist|
| Harvard_designation = <!--spacecraft launched 1962 and earlier only (eg. 1957 Alpha 2)-->
* Orbiter: {{COSPAR|1975-075A}}
| COSPAR_ID = Orbiter: [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-075A 1975-075A]<br />Lander: [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-075C 1975-075C]
* Lander: {{COSPAR|1975-075C}}
| SATCAT = Orbiter: 8108<br />Lander: 9024
}}
| SATCAT = {{plainlist|
* Orbiter: 8108
* Lander: 9024
}}
| website = [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/viking.html Viking Project Information]
| website = [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/viking.html Viking Project Information]
| mission_duration = Orbiter: {{Age in days|1975|07|19|format=commas}}&nbsp;days&nbsp; ({{Age in sols|1975|07|19|format=commas}}&nbsp;sols) <br /> Lander: 2,306&nbsp;days&nbsp; (2,245&nbsp;sols)<br />Launch to last contact: 2,642 days
| mission_duration = Orbiter: {{Age in days|1975|07|19|1980|08|07|format=commas}}&nbsp;days&nbsp; ({{Age in sols|1975|07|19|1980|08|07|format=commas}}&nbsp;sols) <br /> Lander: 2,306&nbsp;days&nbsp; (2,245&nbsp;sols)<br />Launch to last contact: 2,642 days
| distance_travelled = <!--How far the spacecraft travelled (if known)-->
| orbits_completed = <!--number of times the spacecraft orbited the Earth - see below for spacecraft beyond Earth orbit-->
| suborbital_range = <!--downrange distance reached if spacecraft did not enter orbit-->
| suborbital_apogee = <!--altitude reached if spacecraft did not enter orbit-->


<!--Spacecraft properties-->| spacecraft = <!--Spacecraft name/serial number (eg. Space Shuttle ''Discovery'', Apollo CM-118), etc-->
<!--Spacecraft properties-->
⚫
| manufacturer = Orbiter: [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory|JPL]]<br />Lander: [[Martin Marietta]]
| spacecraft_type = <!--eg. GPS Block II, Kobalt-M, US-K, etc-->
| spacecraft_bus = <!--eg. A2100M, Star-2, etc-->
⚫
| manufacturer = Orbiter: [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory|NASA JPL]]<br />Lander: [[Martin Marietta]]
| launch_mass = 3,530 kg{{efn|"fully fueled orbiter-lander pair"<ref name="SSDC">{{NSSDC|id=1975-075C|title=Viking 1 Lander}}</ref>}}
| launch_mass = 3,530 kg{{efn|"fully fueled orbiter-lander pair"<ref name="SSDC">{{NSSDC|id=1975-075C|title=Viking 1 Lander}}</ref>}}
| BOL_mass = <!--spacecraft mass in orbit at beginning of operational life, after LEOP phase-->
| landing_mass = <!--Mass after landing (recovered spacecraft only)-->
| landing_mass = <!--Mass after landing (recovered spacecraft only)-->
| dry_mass = <!--spacecraft mass in orbit without fuel-->Orbiter: {{convert|883|kg|abbr=on}}<br />Lander: {{convert|572|kg|abbr=on}}
| dry_mass = Orbiter: {{convert|883|kg|abbr=on}}<br />Lander: {{convert|572|kg|abbr=on}}
| payload_mass = <!--Mass of cargo carried by spacecraft (eg. for Space Shuttle), or total mass of instrumentation/equipment/experiments for mission-->
| dimensions = <!--body dimensions and solar array span-->
| dimensions = <!--body dimensions and solar array span-->
| power = Orbiter: 620&nbsp;W<br />Lander: 70&nbsp;W
| power = Orbiter: 620&nbsp;W<br />Lander: 70&nbsp;W
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| launch_rocket = [[Titan IIIE]]/[[Centaur (rocket stage)|Centaur]]
| launch_rocket = [[Titan IIIE]]/[[Centaur (rocket stage)|Centaur]]
| launch_site = [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 41|LC-41]], [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station|Cape Canaveral]]
| launch_site = [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 41|LC-41]], [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station|Cape Canaveral]]
| launch_contractor = [[Martin Marietta]]
| launch_contractor = <!--organisation(s) that conducted the launch (eg. United Launch Alliance, Arianespace, etc)-->
| deployment_from = <!--place where deployed from-->
| deployment_date = <!--date deployed-->
| entered_service = <!--date on which the spacecraft entered service, if it did not do so immediately after launch-->
<!-- * - e.g. Proton-M/Briz-M not Proton-M, but Titan IV(401)A not Titan IV(401)A-Centaur-->


<!--end of mission-->| disposal_type = <!--Whether the spacecraft was deorbited, decommissioned, placed in a graveyard orbit, etc-->
<!--end of mission-->
| disposal_type = <!--Whether the spacecraft was deorbited, decommissioned, placed in a graveyard orbit, etc-->
| deactivated = <!--when craft was decommissioned-->
| destroyed = <!--when craft was destroyed (if other than by re-entry)-->
| last_contact = {{end date|1982|11|11}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/beyond_earth_detail.html|title=Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration|first=Garrett|last=Shea|date=September 20, 2018|website=NASA}}</ref>
| last_contact = {{end date|1982|11|11}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/beyond_earth_detail.html|title=Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration|first=Garrett|last=Shea|date=September 20, 2018|website=NASA}}</ref>
| recovery_by = <!--recovered by-->
| recovery_date = <!--recovery date-->
| decay_date = <!--when craft re-entered the atmosphere, not needed if it landed-->
| landing_date = <!--when the spacecraft made a controlled landing, not needed if it did not return intact-->
| landing_site = <!--where the craft landed; site/runway or coordinates-->
<!--
<!--
The following template should be used for ONE of the three above fields "end_of_mission", "decay" or "landing" if the spacecraft is no longer operational.
The following template should be used for ONE of the three above fields "end_of_mission", "decay" or "landing" if the spacecraft is no longer operational.
Line 64: Line 48:


<!--orbit parameters-->
<!--orbit parameters-->
<!--as science-related articles, SI units should be the principal units of measurement, however we usually use {{convert}} to display imperial units in parentheses after the initial values-->| orbit_reference = [[Areocentric orbit|Areocentric]]
<!--as science-related articles, SI units should be the principal units of measurement, however we usually use {{convert}} to display imperial units in parentheses after the initial values-->
| orbit_reference = [[Areocentric orbit|Areocentric]]
⚫
| orbit_eccentricity = 0.88221
| orbit_regime = <!--high, low, medium, molniya, GSO - please link (e.g. [[Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]] - please don't use acronyms-->
⚫
| orbit_periapsis = {{cvt|320|km|mi}}
| orbit_longitude = <!--geosynchronous satellites only-->
⚫
| orbit_apoapsis = {{cvt|56000|km|mi}}
| orbit_slot = <!--Designation of orbital position or slot, if not longitude (e.g plane and position of a GPS satellite)-->
⚫
| orbit_inclination = 39.3°
| orbit_semimajor = <!--semimajor axis-->
| orbit_period = 47.26 hours
⚫
| orbit_eccentricity = <!--orbital eccentricity-->
| orbit_epoch = August 7, 1980
⚫
| orbit_periapsis = <!--periapsis altitude-->
⚫
| orbit_apoapsis = <!--apoapsis altitude-->
⚫
| orbit_inclination = <!--orbital inclination-->
| orbit_period = <!--time taken to complete an orbit-->
| orbit_RAAN = <!--right ascension of the ascending node-->
| orbit_arg_periapsis = <!--argument of perigee/periapsis-->
| orbit_mean_anomaly = <!--mean anomaly at epoch, only use in conjunction with an epoch value-->
| orbit_mean_motion = <!--mean motion of the satellite, usually measured in orbits per day-->
| orbit_repeat = <!--repeat interval/revisit time-->
| orbit_velocity = <!--speed at which the spacecraft was travelling at epoch - only use for spacecraft with low orbital eccentricity-->
| orbit_epoch = <!--the date at which the orbit parameters were correct-->
| orbit_rev_number = <!--revolution number-->
| apsis = areion
| apsis = areion

| interplanetary = <!--Infobox spaceflight/IP can be called multiple times for missions with multiple targets or combined orbiter/lander missions, etc-->
| interplanetary = <!--Infobox spaceflight/IP can be called multiple times for missions with multiple targets or combined orbiter/lander missions, etc-->
{{Infobox spaceflight/IP
{{Infobox spaceflight/IP
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|component = ''Viking 1'' Orbiter
|component = ''Viking 1'' Orbiter
|arrival_date = June 19, 1976<ref name="NASA-20061218">{{cite web |last=Williams |first=David R. Dr. |title=Viking Mission to Mars |url=http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/viking.html |date=December 18, 2006 |work=[[NASA]] |access-date=February 2, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-Viking1">{{cite web |last=Nelson |first=Jon |title=Viking 1 |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/viking-1/ |work=[[NASA]] |access-date=February 2, 2014 }}</ref>
|arrival_date = June 19, 1976<ref name="NASA-20061218">{{cite web |last=Williams |first=David R. Dr. |title=Viking Mission to Mars |url=http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/viking.html |date=December 18, 2006 |work=[[NASA]] |access-date=February 2, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="NASA-Viking1">{{cite web |last=Nelson |first=Jon |title=Viking 1 |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/viking-1/ |work=[[NASA]] |access-date=February 2, 2014 }}</ref>

|departure_date = <!--Date of leaving orbit for orbiters, date of launch for landers which took off again-->
|location = <!--landing/impact site, including EOM impacts for atmospheric probes and lunar/asteroid orbiters-->
|distance = <!--closest approach distance for flybys, distance travelled on surface for rovers, omit for others-->
|sample_mass = <!--mass of samples returned (sample return missions only)-->
|surface_EVAs = <!--number of EVAs on the surface-->
|surface_EVA_time = <!--time spent on surface EVAs-->

<!--Orbit parameters, ONLY USE IF THE ABOVE ORBIT PARAMETERS SECTION DOESN'T APPLY TO THE TARGET-->
|periapsis = {{convert|320|km|abbr=on}}
|apoapsis = {{convert|56000|km|abbr=on}}
|inclination = 39.3°
|apsis = areion
}}
}}


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|type = lander
|type = lander
|object = Mars
|object = Mars
|orbits = <!--number of orbits completed at target body (if applicable and known)-->
|component = ''Viking 1'' Lander
|component = ''Viking 1'' Lander
|arrival_date = July 20, 1976<ref name="NASA-20061218"/> <br />11:53:06 [[UTC]] &nbsp;([[Timekeeping on Mars|MSD]] 36455 18:40 [[Airy Mean Time|AMT]])
|arrival_date = July 20, 1976<ref name="NASA-20061218"/> <br />11:53:06 [[UTC]] &nbsp;([[Timekeeping on Mars|MSD]] 36455 18:40 [[Airy Mean Time|AMT]])
|departure_date = <!--Date of leaving orbit for orbiters, date of launch for landers which took off again-->
|departure_date = <!--Date of leaving orbit for orbiters, date of launch for landers which took off again-->
|location = {{Coord|22.27|N|312.05|E|globe:Mars|name=Viking 1 lander}}<ref name="NASA-20061218"/>
|location = {{Coord|22.27|N|312.05|E|globe:Mars|name=Viking 1 lander}}<ref name="NASA-20061218"/>
|distance = <!--closest approach distance for flybys, distance travelled on surface for rovers, omit for others-->
}}
}}


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<!--Only use where a spacecraft/mission is part of a clear programme of sequential missions.
<!--Only use where a spacecraft/mission is part of a clear programme of sequential missions.
If in doubt, leave it out-->| programme = [[Flagship Program|Flagship]]
If in doubt, leave it out-->
| programme = '''[[Large Strategic Science Missions]]'''<br><small>''Planetary Science Division''</small>
| previous_mission = None
| previous_mission =
| next_mission = ''[[Viking 2]]''
| next_mission = [[Viking 2]]
| programme2 = '''[[Viking program]]'''


<!--mission insignia or patch-->| insignia = <!--omit the "file" prefix-->
<!--mission insignia or patch-->
| insignia = Project Viking Logo - Patch Style 1974-L-01916.jpg
| insignia_caption = <!--image caption-->
| insignia_alt = <!--image alt text-->
| insignia_size = <!--include px/em; defaults to 180px-->
}}
}}


'''''Viking 1''''' was the first of two [[spacecraft]], along with ''[[Viking 2]]'', each consisting of an orbiter and a lander, sent to [[Mars]] as part of [[NASA]]'s [[Viking program]].<ref name="NASA-20061218"/> The lander touched down on Mars on July 20, 1976, the first successful Mars lander in history. ''Viking 1'' operated on Mars for {{age in days|1976|07|20|1982|11|13|format=commas}} days (over 6{{frac|1|4}} years)<ref name="NASA-20061218"/> or {{age in sols|1976|07|20|1982|11|13|format=commas}} [[Timekeeping on Mars#Sols|Martian solar days]], the longest Mars surface mission<ref name="NASA-20061218"/> until the record was broken by the [[Opportunity (rover)|''Opportunity'']] rover on May 19, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mars.nasa.gov/mer/newsroom/pressreleases/20100519a.html|title=Mars Exploration Rover|last=mars.nasa.gov|website=mars.nasa.gov}}</ref>
'''''Viking 1''''' was the first of two [[spacecraft]], along with ''[[Viking 2]]'', each consisting of an orbiter and a lander, sent to [[Mars]] as part of [[NASA]]'s [[Viking program]].<ref name="NASA-20061218"/> The lander touched down on Mars on July 20, 1976, the first successful Mars lander in history. ''Viking 1'' operated on Mars for {{age in days|1976|07|20|1982|11|13|format=commas}} days (over 6{{frac|1|4}} years) or {{age in sols|1976|07|20|1982|11|13|format=commas}} [[Timekeeping on Mars#Sols|Martian solar days]], the longest extraterrestrial surface mission until the record was broken by the [[Opportunity (rover)|''Opportunity'']] rover on May 19, 2010.<ref name="d504">{{cite web | last=Thompson | first=Andrea | title=Record for Longest Mars Mission Ever May be Broken | website=Space.com | date=2010-04-30 | url=https://www.space.com/8318-record-longest-mars-mission-broken.html | access-date=2024-06-14}}</ref>


== Mission ==
== Mission ==
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The lander had two facsimile cameras; three analyses for metabolism, growth or photosynthesis; a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer; an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer; pressure, temperature and wind velocity sensors; a three-axis seismometer; a magnet on a sampler observed by the cameras; and various engineering sensors.<ref name="Soffen & Snyder"/>
The lander had two facsimile cameras; three analyses for metabolism, growth or photosynthesis; a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer; an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer; pressure, temperature and wind velocity sensors; a three-axis seismometer; a magnet on a sampler observed by the cameras; and various engineering sensors.<ref name="Soffen & Snyder"/>
[[File:PSP 001521 2025 RED VL-1 lander.png|thumb|Photo of the Viking 1 Mars lander taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2006]]
[[File:PSP 001521 2025 RED VL-1 lander.png|thumb|Photo of the Viking 1 Mars lander taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2006]]
The ''Viking 1'' lander was named the '''Thomas Mutch Memorial Station''' in January 1981 in honour of [[Thomas A. Mutch]], the leader of the Viking imaging team.<ref>{{cite web |title=NASA – NSSDCA – Spacecraft – Details |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-075C |website=nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov |access-date=March 5, 2021}}</ref> The lander operated for 2,245 [[Timekeeping on Mars#Sols|sol]]s (about 2,306 Earth days or 6 years) until November 11, 1982 (sol {{age in sols|1975|07|20|1982|11|11|format=commas}}), when a faulty command sent by ground control resulted in loss of contact. The command was intended to uplink new battery charging software to improve the lander's deteriorating battery capacity, but it inadvertently overwrote data used by the antenna pointing software. Attempts to contact the lander during the next four months, based on the presumed antenna position, were unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite report|author=D. J. Mudgway|publisher=[[NASA]] [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]|date=1983|title=Telecommunications and Data Acquisition Systems Support for the Viking 1975 Mission to Mars|url=http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~mars/LFEM/lfemstep/lfemstep_slides/viking_documents/Pdf/JPL_Publication_82-107.pdf|access-date=June 22, 2009}}</ref> In 2006, the ''Viking 1'' lander was imaged on the Martian surface by the ''[[Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]]''.<ref>{{cite report|publisher=[[NASA]]|date=2006|title=NASA Mars Orbiter Photographs Spirit and Vikings on the Ground|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/MRO/news/mro-20061204.html|access-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref>
The ''Viking 1'' lander was named the '''Thomas Mutch Memorial Station''' in January 1981 in honour of [[Thomas A. Mutch]], the leader of the Viking imaging team.<ref>{{cite web |title=NASA – NSSDCA – Spacecraft – Details |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-075C |website=nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov |access-date=March 5, 2021}}</ref> The lander operated for 2,245 [[Timekeeping on Mars#Sols|sol]]s (about 2,306 Earth days or 6 years) until November 11, 1982 (sol {{age in sols|1975|07|20|1982|11|11|format=commas}}), when a faulty command sent by ground control resulted in loss of contact. The command was intended to uplink new battery charging software to improve the lander's deteriorating battery capacity, but it inadvertently overwrote data used by the antenna pointing software. Attempts to contact the lander during the next four months, based on the presumed antenna position, were unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite report|author=D. J. Mudgway|publisher=[[NASA]] [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]|date=1983|title=Telecommunications and Data Acquisition Systems Support for the Viking 1975 Mission to Mars|url=http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~mars/LFEM/lfemstep/lfemstep_slides/viking_documents/Pdf/JPL_Publication_82-107.pdf|access-date=June 22, 2009}}</ref> In 2006, the ''Viking 1'' lander was imaged on the Martian surface by the ''[[Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]]''.<ref>{{cite report|publisher=[[NASA]]|date=2006|title=NASA Mars Orbiter Photographs Spirit and Vikings on the Ground|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/MRO/news/mro-20061204.html|access-date=July 20, 2011|archive-date=August 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805030058/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/MRO/news/mro-20061204.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>


== Mission results ==
== Mission results ==

Latest revision as of 07:17, 17 September 2024

This article is about the mission to Mars. For other uses, see Viking One.

Viking 1
Viking orbiter
Mission typeMars Orbiter/Lander
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID
SATCAT no.
  • Orbiter: 8108
  • Lander: 9024
WebsiteViking Project Information
Mission durationOrbiter: 1,846 days  (1797 sols)
Lander: 2,306 days  (2,245 sols)
Launch to last contact: 2,642 days
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerOrbiter: JPL
Lander: Martin Marietta
Launch mass3,530 kg[a]
Dry massOrbiter: 883 kg (1,947 lb)
Lander: 572 kg (1,261 lb)
PowerOrbiter: 620 W
Lander: 70 W
Start of mission
Launch date21:22, August 20, 1975 (UTC) (1975-08-20T21:22Z)[2][3]
RocketTitan IIIE/Centaur
Launch siteLC-41, Cape Canaveral
ContractorMartin Marietta
End of mission
Last contactNovember 11, 1982 (1982-11-11)[4]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemAreocentric
Eccentricity0.88221
Periareion altitude320 km (200 mi)
Apoareion altitude56,000 km (35,000 mi)
Inclination39.3°
Period47.26 hours
EpochAugust 7, 1980
Mars orbiter
Spacecraft componentViking 1 Orbiter
Orbital insertionJune 19, 1976[2][5]
Mars lander
Spacecraft componentViking 1 Lander
Landing dateJuly 20, 1976[2]
11:53:06 UTC  (MSD 36455 18:40 AMT)
Landing site22°16′N 312°03′E / 22.27°N 312.05°E / 22.27; 312.05 (Viking 1 lander)[2]
Large Strategic Science Missions
Planetary Science Division

Viking 1 was the first of two spacecraft, along with Viking 2, each consisting of an orbiter and a lander, sent to Mars as part of NASA's Viking program.[2] The lander touched down on Mars on July 20, 1976, the first successful Mars lander in history. Viking 1 operated on Mars for 2,307 days (over 61⁄4 years) or 2245 Martian solar days, the longest extraterrestrial surface mission until the record was broken by the Opportunity rover on May 19, 2010.[6]

Mission

[edit]

Following launch using a Titan/Centaur launch vehicle on August 20, 1975, and an 11-month cruise to Mars,[7] the orbiter began returning global images of Mars about five days before orbit insertion. The Viking 1 Orbiter was inserted into Mars orbit on June 19, 1976,[8] and trimmed to a 1,513 x 33,000 km, 24.66 h site certification orbit on June 21. Landing on Mars was planned for July 4, 1976, the United States Bicentennial, but imaging of the primary landing site showed it was too rough for a safe landing.[9] The landing was delayed until a safer site was found,[9] and took place instead on July 20,[8] the seventh anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing.[10] The lander separated from the orbiter at 08:51 UTC and landed at Chryse Planitia at 11:53:06 UTC.[11] It was the first attempt by the United States at landing on Mars.[12]

Orbiter

[edit]

The instruments of the orbiter consisted of two vidicon cameras for imaging, an infrared spectrometer for water vapor mapping, and infrared radiometers for thermal mapping.[13] The orbiter primary mission ended at the beginning of solar conjunction on November 5, 1976. The extended mission commenced on December 14, 1976, after solar conjunction.[14] Operations included close approaches to Phobos in February 1977.[15] The periapsis was reduced to 300 km on March 11, 1977.[16] Minor orbit adjustments were done occasionally over the course of the mission, primarily to change the walk rate — the rate at which the areocentric longitude changed with each orbit, and the periapsis was raised to 357 km on July 20, 1979. On August 7, 1980, Viking 1 Orbiter was running low on attitude control gas and its orbit was raised from 357 × 33,943 km to 320 × 56,000 km to prevent impact with Mars and possible contamination until the year 2019. Operations were terminated on August 17, 1980, after 1,485 orbits. A 2009 analysis concluded that, while the possibility that Viking 1 had impacted Mars could not be ruled out, it was most likely still in orbit.[17] More than 57,000 images were sent back to Earth.

Lander

[edit]
Viking aeroshell

The lander and its aeroshell separated from the orbiter on July 20 at 08:51 UTC. At the time of separation, the lander was orbiting at about 5 kilometers per second (3.1 miles per second). The aeroshell's retrorockets fired to begin the lander de-orbit maneuver. After a few hours at about 300 kilometers (190 miles) altitude, the lander was reoriented for atmospheric entry. The aeroshell with its ablative heat shield slowed the craft as it plunged through the atmosphere. During this time, entry science experiments were performed by using a retarding potential analyzer, a mass spectrometer, as well as pressure, temperature, and density sensors.[13] At 6 km (3.7 mi) altitude, traveling at about 250 meters per second (820 feet per second), the 16 m diameter lander parachutes deployed. Seven seconds later the aeroshell was jettisoned, and eight seconds after that the three lander legs were extended. In 45 seconds, the parachute had slowed the lander to 60 meters per second (200 feet per second). At 1.5 km (0.93 mi) altitude, retrorockets on the lander itself were ignited and, 40 seconds later at about 2.4 m/s (7.9 ft/s), the lander arrived on Mars with a relatively light jolt. The legs had honeycomb aluminum shock absorbers to soften the landing.[13]

Documentary clip recounting the Viking 1 landing with animation and video footage of the control centre

The landing rockets used an 18-nozzle design to spread the hydrogen and nitrogen exhaust over a large area. NASA calculated that this approach would mean that the surface would not be heated by more than one 1 °C (1.8 °F), and that it would move no more than 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) of surface material.[11] Since most of Viking's experiments focused on the surface material a more straightforward design would not have served.[18]

The Viking 1 lander touched down in western Chryse Planitia ("Golden Plain") at 22°41′49″N 312°03′00″E / 22.697°N 312.05°E / 22.697; 312.05[2][11] at a reference altitude of −2.69 kilometers (−1.67 mi) relative to a reference ellipsoid with an equatorial radius of 3,397 kilometers (2,111 mi) and a flatness of 0.0105 (22.480° N, 47.967° W planetographic) at 11:53:06 UTC (16:13 local Mars time).[18] Approximately 22 kilograms (49 lb) of propellants were left at landing.[11]

Transmission of the first surface image began 25 seconds after landing and took about four minutes (see below). During these minutes the lander activated itself. It erected a high-gain antenna pointed toward Earth for direct communication and deployed a meteorology boom mounted with sensors. In the next seven minutes the second picture of the 300° panoramic scene (displayed below) was taken.[19] On the day after the landing the first colour picture of the surface of Mars (displayed below) was taken. The seismometer failed to uncage, and a sampler arm locking pin was stuck and took five days to shake out. Otherwise, all experiments functioned normally.

The lander had two means of returning data to Earth: a relay link up to the orbiter and back, and by using a direct link to Earth. The orbiter could transmit to Earth (S-band) at 2,000 to 16,000 bit/s (depending on distance between Mars and Earth), and the lander could transmit to the orbiter at 16,000 bit/s.[20] The data capacity of the relay link was about 10 times higher than the direct link.[13]

First "clear" image ever transmitted from the surface of Mars – shows rocks near the Viking 1 Lander (20 July 1976). The haze on the left is possibly dust that had recently been kicked up by the landing rockets. Because of the "slow scan" facsimile nature of the cameras, the dust settled by mid-image.

The lander had two facsimile cameras; three analyses for metabolism, growth or photosynthesis; a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer; an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer; pressure, temperature and wind velocity sensors; a three-axis seismometer; a magnet on a sampler observed by the cameras; and various engineering sensors.[13]

Photo of the Viking 1 Mars lander taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2006

The Viking 1 lander was named the Thomas Mutch Memorial Station in January 1981 in honour of Thomas A. Mutch, the leader of the Viking imaging team.[21] The lander operated for 2,245 sols (about 2,306 Earth days or 6 years) until November 11, 1982 (sol 2600), when a faulty command sent by ground control resulted in loss of contact. The command was intended to uplink new battery charging software to improve the lander's deteriorating battery capacity, but it inadvertently overwrote data used by the antenna pointing software. Attempts to contact the lander during the next four months, based on the presumed antenna position, were unsuccessful.[22] In 2006, the Viking 1 lander was imaged on the Martian surface by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.[23]

Mission results

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Search for life

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Viking 1 carried a biology experiment whose purpose was to look for evidence of life. The Viking lander biological experiments weighed 15.5 kg (34 lbs) and consisted of three subsystems: the pyrolytic release experiment (PR), the labeled release experiment (LR), and the gas exchange experiment (GEX). In addition, independent of the biology experiments, Viking carried a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer that could measure the composition and abundance of organic compounds in the Martian soil.[24] The results were surprising and interesting: the spectrometer gave a negative result; the PR gave a negative result, the GEX gave a negative result, and the LR gave a positive result.[25] Viking scientist Patricia Straat stated in 2009, "Our [LR] experiment was a definite positive response for life, but a lot of people have claimed that it was a false positive for a variety of reasons."[26] Most scientists now believe that the data were due to inorganic chemical reactions of the soil; however, this view may be changing after the recent discovery of near-surface ice near the Viking landing zone.[27] Some scientists still believe the results were due to living reactions. No organic chemicals were found in the soil. However, dry areas of Antarctica do not have detectable organic compounds either, but they have organisms living in the rocks.[28] Mars has almost no ozone layer, unlike the Earth, so UV light sterilizes the surface and produces highly reactive chemicals such as peroxides that would oxidize any organic chemicals.[29] The Phoenix Lander discovered the chemical perchlorate in the Martian soil. Perchlorate is a strong oxidant so it may have destroyed any organic matter on the surface.[30] If it is widespread on Mars, carbon-based life would be difficult at the soil surface.

First panorama by Viking 1 lander

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First panoramic view by Viking 1 from the surface of Mars. Captured on 20 July 1976.
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  • Launch of the Viking 1 probe (20 August 1975)
    Launch of the Viking 1 probe (20 August 1975)
  • Proof test article of the Viking Mars Lander
    Proof test article of the Viking Mars Lander
  • First image by the Viking 1 lander from the surface of Mars, showing lander's footpad
    First image by the Viking 1 lander from the surface of Mars, showing lander's footpad
  • Viking 1 lander image of a Martian sunset over Chryse Planitia
    Viking 1 lander image of a Martian sunset over Chryse Planitia
  • Trenches dug by soil sampler device
    Trenches dug by soil sampler device
  • First colour image taken by the Viking 1 lander (21 July 1976)
    First colour image taken by the Viking 1 lander (21 July 1976)
  • Viking 1 lander site (11 February 1978)
    Viking 1 lander site (11 February 1978)
  • Dunes and large boulder. Pole in the centre is an instrument boom.
    Dunes and large boulder. Pole in the centre is an instrument boom.
  • Viking 1 Lander Camera 2 Sky at sunrise (Low Resolution Colour) Sol 379 07:50
    Viking 1 Lander Camera 2 Sky at sunrise (Low Resolution Colour) Sol 379 07:50

Test of general relativity

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Main article: Introduction to general relativity
High-precision test of general relativity by the Cassini space probe (artist's impression)

Gravitational time dilation is a phenomenon predicted by the theory of general relativity whereby time passes more slowly in regions of lower gravitational potential. Scientists used the lander to test this hypothesis, by sending radio signals to the lander on Mars, and instructing the lander to send back signals, in cases which sometimes included the signal passing close to the Sun. Scientists found that the observed Shapiro delays of the signals matched the predictions of general relativity.[31]

Orbiter shots

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Lander location

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Map of Mars
Interactive image map of the global topography of Mars, overlaid with the position of Martian rovers and landers. Coloring of the base map indicates relative elevations of Martian surface.
Clickable image: Clicking on the labels will open a new article.
(   Active •   Inactive •   Planned)
Bradbury Landing
Deep Space 2
Mars Polar Lander
Perseverance
Schiaparelli EDM
Spirit
Viking 1

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "fully fueled orbiter-lander pair"[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Viking 1 Lander". National Space Science Data Center.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Williams, David R. Dr. (December 18, 2006). "Viking Mission to Mars". NASA. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  3. ^ "Viking 1". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). NASA. October 19, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  4. ^ Shea, Garrett (September 20, 2018). "Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration". NASA.
  5. ^ Nelson, Jon. "Viking 1". NASA. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  6. ^ Thompson, Andrea (April 30, 2010). "Record for Longest Mars Mission Ever May be Broken". Space.com. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Loff, Sarah (August 20, 2015). "20 August 1975, Launch of Viking 1". NASA. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Angelo, Joseph A. (May 14, 2014). Encyclopedia of Space and Astronomy. Infobase Publishing. p. 641. ISBN 9781438110189.
  9. ^ a b Croswell, Ken (October 21, 2003). Magnificent Mars. Simon and Schuster. p. 23. ISBN 9780743226011.
  10. ^ Stooke, Philip J. (September 24, 2012). The International Atlas of Mars Exploration: Volume 1, 1953 to 2003: The First Five Decades. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781139560252.
  11. ^ a b c d "Viking 1 Orbiter". National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  12. ^ "Chronology of Mars Exploration". history.nasa.gov. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  13. ^ a b c d e Soffen, G.A.; Snyder, C.W. (August 1976). "The First Viking Mission to Mars". Science. New Series. 193 (4255): 759–766. Bibcode:1976Sci...193..759S. doi:10.1126/science.193.4255.759. JSTOR 1742875. PMID 17747776.
  14. ^ "Viking 1 Orbiter Mission Profile". University of Texas. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  15. ^ R.E. Diehl, M.J. Adams; Rinderle, E.a. (March 1, 1979). "Phobos Encounter Trajectory and Maneuver Design". Journal of Guidance and Control. 2 (2): 123–129. Bibcode:1979JGCD....2..123.. doi:10.2514/3.55847. ISSN 0162-3192.
  16. ^ Ulivi, Paolo; Harland, David M. (December 8, 2007). Robotic Exploration of the Solar System: Part I: The Golden Age 1957–1982. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 251. ISBN 9780387739830.
  17. ^ Jefferson, David C; Demcak, Stuart W; Esposito, Pasquale B; Kruizinga, Gerhard L (August 10–13, 2009). An Investigation of the Orbital Status of Viking-1 (PDF). AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2017.
  18. ^ a b "Viking 1 Lander Mission Profile". University of Texas. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  19. ^ Mutch, T.A.; et al. (August 1976). "The Surface of Mars: The View from the Viking 1 Lander". Science. New Series. 193 (4255): 791–801. Bibcode:1976Sci...193..791M. doi:10.1126/science.193.4255.791. JSTOR 1742881. PMID 17747782. S2CID 42661323.
  20. ^ "Viking Mission to Mars JPL" (PDF).
  21. ^ "NASA – NSSDCA – Spacecraft – Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  22. ^ D. J. Mudgway (1983). Telecommunications and Data Acquisition Systems Support for the Viking 1975 Mission to Mars (PDF) (Report). NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
  23. ^ NASA Mars Orbiter Photographs Spirit and Vikings on the Ground (Report). NASA. 2006. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  24. ^ "Life on Mars". www.msss.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014.
  25. ^ Viking Data May Hide New Evidence For Life. Barry E. DiGregorio, July 16, 2000.
  26. ^ Viking 2 Likely Came Close to Finding H2O. Archived September 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Irene Klotz, Discovery News, September 28, 2009.
  27. ^ Stuurman, C.M.; Osinski, G.R.; Holt, J.W.; Levy, J.S.; Brothers, T.C.; Kerrigan, M.; Campbell, B.A. (September 28, 2016). "SHARAD detection and characterization of subsurface water ice deposits in Utopia Planitia, Mars". Geophysical Research Letters. 43 (18): 9484–9491. Bibcode:2016GeoRL..43.9484S. doi:10.1002/2016gl070138.
  28. ^ Friedmann, E. 1982. Endolithic Microorganisms in the Antarctic Cold Desert. Science: 215. 1045–1052.
  29. ^ Hartmann, W. 2003. A Traveler's Guide to Mars. Workman Publishing. NY NY.
  30. ^ Alien Rumors Quelled as NASA Announces Phoenix Perchlorate Discovery. Archived September 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine A.J.S. Rayl, August 6, 2008.
  31. ^ Reasenberg, R. D.; Shapiro, I. I.; MacNeil, P. E.; Goldstein, R. B.; Breidenthal, J. C.; Brenkle, J. P.; et al. (December 1979). "Viking relativity experiment – Verification of signal retardation by solar gravity". Astrophysical Journal Letters. 234: L219–L221. Bibcode:1979ApJ...234L.219R. doi:10.1086/183144.
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