Viking 1 and 2

Michelina and KaiyaVIKING 1 AND 2

Launched on August 20, 1975Reached Mars on June 19, 1976

VIKING 1:

Study air, surface, and to search for micro-organisms in soil.

Looking for good spots for Viking 2 to land on surface.

VIKING 1 GOALS:

16m diameter landerHoneycomb aluminum shock absorbersAeroshell18 nozzle design2 facismile camerasGas chromatograph mass-spectometerX-ray fluorescence spectrometer3 axis seisometer

VIKING 1 INSTRUMENTS:

Operated for 2,306 days. (6 years)Weathered basaltic lavaAll samples heated by GCMS gave off 1% of waterBiological experiments: Pyrolytic Release, Labeled

Release and Gas Exchange experimentSimilar to Antarctica

VIKING 1 RESULTS:

Launch: Sept. 9, 1975; Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

Land: Nov. 3, 1976; Utopia Planitia, Mars Began Orbiting: Oct. 5, 1976Mission end: April 11, 1980Two part- Orbiter and Lander

VIKING 2:

Orbiter: High resolution map of the planet -> take pictures Signs of Life Help direct the lander with its landing

Lander: Signs of Life Close up examination of the surface -> take pictures

VIKING 2 GOALS:

Orbiter: Imaging System -> Camera Atmospheric water detector -> Signs of water Infrared thermal mapper -> Detect emitted and reflected

radiance of MarsLander:

Imaging System -> Camera Gas chromatograph mass spectrometer -> composition of

the surface Seismeter ->geological activity (dead planet?) X-ray fluorescence spectrometer -> composition of the

surface Biological laboratory ->signs of life or possibility of life Weather instrument package -> atmosphere Remote sampler arm -> pick up objects for closer

examination

VIKING 2 INSTRUMENTS:

Didn’t find life but found elements necessary for life Carbon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Phosphorus

High Resolution PicturesMapped the planet Soil Analysis:

Basaltic Lava based, high levels of Siliconand Iron, Magnesium, Aluminum, Sulfur, Calcium and Titanium

VIKING 2 RESULTS: