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Early Spacecraft ExplorationViking
“The scientific goal of the Viking missions is to ‘increase our knowledge of the planet Mars with an emphasis on the search for extra-terrestrial life.’ The scientific questions deal with the atmosphere, the surface, the planetary body, and the question of bio-organic evolution.”
Viking Press Kit, July 1975
Early Spacecraft ExplorationViking
V1 devoted the first month to searching for landing sites for the lander; V1 lander touched down July 20, 1976 in Chryse Planitia
V2 first month devoted to searching for a landing site; V2 touched down September 3, 1976 in Utopia Planitia
Early Spacecraft ExplorationVikingV1 devoted the first month to searching for landing sites for the lander; V1
lander touched down July 20, 1976 in Chryse Planitia
V2 first month devoted to searching for a landing site; V2 touched down September 3, 1976 in Utopia Planitia
Delayed landing…
Early Spacecraft ExplorationVikingV1 devoted the first month to searching for landing sites for the lander; V1 lander touched down July 20,
1976 in Chryse Planitia
V2 first month devoted to searching for a landing site; V2 touched down September 3, 1976 in Utopia Planitia
Delayed landing…
Landing sites selected with Mariner 9 imagery, Viking orbiter cameras were higher resolution
Early Spacecraft ExplorationViking
With landers on the ground, orbiters continued science mission above and acted as data relays for landers
Early Spacecraft ExplorationViking
Viking 2 lander touched down with one pad on a boulder; tilted 8°.
Early Spacecraft ExplorationViking
Notable results from Viking orbiters:Mapped 97% of the surface; 52,000 total imagesDefinitively determined the North residual polar cap is
water-ice, not frozen carbon dioxideStirred up a little “controversy” with one particular image
Early Spacecraft ExplorationViking
Notable results from Viking landers: Biology experiments provided no clear evidence for the presence of
living organisms in soil near the landing sites Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer found no evidence of
organic material at either landing site Winds blew more slowly than anticipated (200 MPH); highest
recorded wind gust was 120 km/hr (74 mph) and average velocities were much lower
Weather in the Martian midsummer was repetitious but was variable and more interesting in other seasons
Early Spacecraft ExplorationViking
Notable results from Viking landers: Atmospheric composition: CO2: 95.32%
N: 2.7% Ar: 1.6% O: 0.13 CO: 0.7% H2O (vapor): 0.03%
Early Spacecraft ExplorationViking
Notable results from Viking landers: Atmospheric composition: CO2: 95.32%
N: 2.7% Ar: 1.6% O: 0.13 CO: 0.7% H2O (vapor): 0.03%
1963: 72% N2
25% CO2
2% Ar
< 0.5% O2
Trace amounts of H2O
Early Spacecraft ExplorationViking
How did Viking advance scientific understanding of Mars? Difficult for life to exist on the surface at present, but this does not rule out
past life More evidence for past habitability Weather patterns Though no current life, Mars is a dynamic planet
What technological advance(s) did Viking carry? LANDER!! Higher res. Cameras Weather station Biology experiments Orbiters acted as communications relay, selective landing sites
History of Mars Exploration
Viking mission operations ended in the early 1980s
Viking missions gave scientists the most complete picture of Mars to date
History of Mars Exploration
Attempts to explore Mars did not start up again until the early 1990s. Why not?
Why was it revived?
History of Mars Exploration
Attempts to explore Mars did not start up again until the early 1990s. Why not?
Why was it revived?
History of Mars Exploration
Attempts to explore Mars did not start up again until the early 1990s.
The first one failed.
The next two gave Mars a face-lift and showed a new way to explore.
Modern ExplorationGlobal Surveyor
Objectives: High resolution imaging of the surface Study the topography and gravity Study the role of water and dust on the
surface and in the atmosphere Study the weather and climate of Mars Study the composition of the surface and
atmosphere Study the existence and evolution of the
Martian magnetic field
Modern ExplorationGlobal Surveyor
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Modern ExplorationGlobal Surveyor
Notable results from Global Surveyor The northern hemisphere is probably just as cratered as the
southern hemisphere, but the craters are mostly buried. High-resolution imagery shows modifications to the surface
have taken place over the past decade. Hundreds of gullies were discovered that were formed from
liquid water (probably), possibly in recent times. The Thermal Emission Spectrometer found that just about all
of the surface of Mars is covered with volcanic rock. Magnetometer data show remnant, alternating magnetic
fields
Modern ExplorationGlobal SurveyorHow did Global Surveyor advance scientific understanding of Mars?
Smoking gun evidence that liquid water was stable on the surface for long periods of time
Mars exhibits a “global dichotomy” in terms of topography Spectral ID of the global surface composition
What technological advance(s) did Global Surveyor carry? Highest-resolution camera, for the time Laser altimeter TES; lithology, mineralogy Magnetometer; remnant magnetic field
Modern ExplorationMars Pathfinder
The primary mission objectives were to demonstrate the feasibility of low-cost landings on, and exploration of, the Martian surface (Faster, Better, Cheaper)
Scientific objectives included atmospheric entry science long-range and close-up surface imaging the general objective was to characterize the Martian environment
for further exploration
Modern ExplorationMars PathfinderLanded in Ares Vallis which was believed to be the site of an ancient floodLanding site selection made using Viking orbiter imageryFirst rover; first to use airbags
Modern ExplorationMars Pathfinder
Notable results from PathfinderMore than 16,500 images from the lander and 550
images from the roverMore than 15 chemical analyses of rocks and soil and
extensive data on winds and other weather factorsFindings from the investigations carried out by scientific
instruments on both the lander and the rover suggest that Mars was at one time in its past warm and wet, with water existing in its liquid state and a thicker atmosphere
Modern ExplorationMars Pathfinder
How did Pathfinder advance scientific understanding of Mars? Evidence on the ground for a warm, wet past
What technological advance(s) did Pathfinder carry? First rover; can be remotely operated New landing system