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NASA's Mars Orbiter Photogra …
Images from NASA's Mars Reco …
12/5/06
Viking-Mars Trailblazer-30th …
Participants in the Viking 1 …
6/22/06
Viking 1
Viking 1 launched aboard a T …
8/1/08
Description Viking 1 launched aboard a Tital IIIE rocket August 20, 1975 and arrived at Mars on June 19, 1976. The first month was spent in orbit around the martian planet and on July 20, 1976 Viking Lander 1 separated from the Orbiter and touched down at Chryse Planitia.
Date 8/1/08
MOLA Surface Topography with …
Title MOLA Surface Topography with Viking Texture Map
Abstract Rotating Mars with the MOLA Surface Topography with Viking Texture Map
Completed 2000-03-01
NASA Destination Tomorrow - …
NASA Destination Tomorrow Se …
6/1/03
Description NASA Destination Tomorrow Segment describing the first mission to land a spacecraft safely on the surface of another planet.
Date 6/1/03
Mars
Title Mars
Abstract The true global geography of Mars first emerged with comprehensive maps from Mariner 9 and Viking during the 1970's. This visualization tours the Red Planet using the Viking dataset, hitting such features as the Valles Marineris canyons and the Olympus Mons volcano.
Completed 1999-01-21
Mars Odyssey: Mars' Northern …
Title Mars Odyssey: Mars' Northern Hemisphere
Abstract NASA's Mars Odyssey detected water ice in the northern hemisphere. During the winter months, the icy soil is covered by a thick layer of carbon dioxide ('dry ice') frost obscuring the water ice signature.This animation is match-framed to #2779 and #2780. Its purpose is to establish a frame of reference using a true color dataset. In this case, that data is from Viking.
Completed 2003-06-25
Push in South of the Hellas …
Title Push in South of the Hellas Basin using Viking Imagery
Completed 1999-11-22
Sagan and Viking
title Sagan and Viking
description Famous for his television series "Cosmos," Dr. Carl Sagan poses with a model of the Viking lander in Death Valley, Calif. *Image Credit*: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Viking Lander 1's U.S. Flag …
PIA00565
Sol (our sun)
Camera 1
Title Viking Lander 1's U.S. Flag on Mars Surface
Original Caption Released with Image The flag of the United States with the rocky Martian surface in the background is seen in this color picture taken on the sixth day of Viking Lander 1 on Mars (July 26). The flag is on the RTG (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator) wind screen. Below the flag is the bicentennial logo and the Viking symbol which shows an ancient Viking ship. This Viking symbol was designed by Peter Purol of Baltimore, winner of the Viking logo contest open to high school science students. To the right is the Reference Test Chart used for color balancing of the color images. At the bottom is the GCMS Processor Distribution Assembly with the wind screens unfurled demonstrating that the GCMS cover was deployed properly. The scene in the background is looking almost due west on Mars. The lighter zone at the far horizon is about 3 km (nearly 2 miles) from the Lander. The darker line below this is a hill crest much closer to the Lander (about 200 m or about 650 feet). The picture was taken at local Mars Time of 7:18 A.M., hence the relatively dark sky and the far horizon illuminated by the sun just rising behind the Lander.
NASA Destination Tomorrow - …
NASA Destination Tomorrow Se …
6/1/03
Description NASA Destination Tomorrow Segment highlighting NASA's contemporary exploration of Mars.
Date 6/1/03
NASA Connect - GoE - Navigat …
NASA Connect Segment that ex …
12/1/99
Description NASA Connect Segment that explores how NASA scientists use geometry to navigate spacecraft from Earth to Mars. It also explains the goals and accomplishments of the Viking Mission.
Date 12/1/99
Viking 2's 30th!
PIA08723
Sol (our sun)
Mars Orbiter Camera
Title Viking 2's 30th!
Original Caption Released with Image 3 September 2006 Viking 2 landed 30 years ago today, on 3 September 1976. It was the second of the two Viking landings on Mars. Viking 1 touched down on 20 July 1976. Since the Viking missions of the 1970s, only 3 additional spacecraft have successfully landed and conducted their scientific investigations: Mars Pathfinder (1997), Mars Exploration Rover Spirit (2004-present), and Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity (2004-present). Two new U.S. Mars landed missions are currently in the works: Phoenix, launching in August 2007, and MSL (Mars Science Laboratory), launching in 2009. As with the 30th anniversary of the Viking 1 landing in July (see PIA08616 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA08616 ]), for the Viking 2 30th anniversary, we show here the best Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) view of the landing site. On that day 30 years ago, Viking 2 landed in Utopia Planitia, west of Mie Crater, near 48.0°N, 225.7°W. At the time, it was considered that this might be a good place to look for evidence of life in the martian regolith. This middle north latitude site is often obscured by clouds in the winter and dust hazes in the spring. The surface was observed by the lander to be dusted by thin coatings of frost during the winter months. The exact location of the Viking 2 lander was uncertain until MOC obtained the high resolution view, shown above, in 2004. These images were previously released by the MOC team on 5 May 2005, along with what was then considered to be the best candidate for the Mars Polar Lander site (see "MGS Finds Viking 2 Lander and Mars Polar Lander (Maybe)" [ http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2005/05/05/ ]). The candidate Polar Lander site was further imaged in 2005 and found not to be the lander (see PIA03044 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03044 ]). Figure 1 shows (A) a mosaic of Viking Orbiter images obtained in the 1970s at a resolution of 75 m/pixel, (B) a typical MGS MOC narrow angle camera view at about 3 meters/pixel (25x higher resolution than the Viking images), and (C, D) sections of a MOC image obtained at ~0.5 m/pixel. Figure 2 shows an extreme enlargement of the feature identified as Viking Lander 2, compared to a schematic drawing of the lander in the orientation determined during the Viking mission.
Viking 2's 30th!
PIA08723
Sol (our sun)
Mars Orbiter Camera
Title Viking 2's 30th!
Original Caption Released with Image 3 September 2006 Viking 2 landed 30 years ago today, on 3 September 1976. It was the second of the two Viking landings on Mars. Viking 1 touched down on 20 July 1976. Since the Viking missions of the 1970s, only 3 additional spacecraft have successfully landed and conducted their scientific investigations: Mars Pathfinder (1997), Mars Exploration Rover Spirit (2004-present), and Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity (2004-present). Two new U.S. Mars landed missions are currently in the works: Phoenix, launching in August 2007, and MSL (Mars Science Laboratory), launching in 2009. As with the 30th anniversary of the Viking 1 landing in July (see PIA08616 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA08616 ]), for the Viking 2 30th anniversary, we show here the best Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) view of the landing site. On that day 30 years ago, Viking 2 landed in Utopia Planitia, west of Mie Crater, near 48.0°N, 225.7°W. At the time, it was considered that this might be a good place to look for evidence of life in the martian regolith. This middle north latitude site is often obscured by clouds in the winter and dust hazes in the spring. The surface was observed by the lander to be dusted by thin coatings of frost during the winter months. The exact location of the Viking 2 lander was uncertain until MOC obtained the high resolution view, shown above, in 2004. These images were previously released by the MOC team on 5 May 2005, along with what was then considered to be the best candidate for the Mars Polar Lander site (see "MGS Finds Viking 2 Lander and Mars Polar Lander (Maybe)" [ http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2005/05/05/ ]). The candidate Polar Lander site was further imaged in 2005 and found not to be the lander (see PIA03044 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03044 ]). Figure 1 shows (A) a mosaic of Viking Orbiter images obtained in the 1970s at a resolution of 75 m/pixel, (B) a typical MGS MOC narrow angle camera view at about 3 meters/pixel (25x higher resolution than the Viking images), and (C, D) sections of a MOC image obtained at ~0.5 m/pixel. Figure 2 shows an extreme enlargement of the feature identified as Viking Lander 2, compared to a schematic drawing of the lander in the orientation determined during the Viking mission.
Viking 2's 30th!
PIA08723
Sol (our sun)
Mars Orbiter Camera
Title Viking 2's 30th!
Original Caption Released with Image 3 September 2006 Viking 2 landed 30 years ago today, on 3 September 1976. It was the second of the two Viking landings on Mars. Viking 1 touched down on 20 July 1976. Since the Viking missions of the 1970s, only 3 additional spacecraft have successfully landed and conducted their scientific investigations: Mars Pathfinder (1997), Mars Exploration Rover Spirit (2004-present), and Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity (2004-present). Two new U.S. Mars landed missions are currently in the works: Phoenix, launching in August 2007, and MSL (Mars Science Laboratory), launching in 2009. As with the 30th anniversary of the Viking 1 landing in July (see PIA08616 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA08616 ]), for the Viking 2 30th anniversary, we show here the best Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) view of the landing site. On that day 30 years ago, Viking 2 landed in Utopia Planitia, west of Mie Crater, near 48.0°N, 225.7°W. At the time, it was considered that this might be a good place to look for evidence of life in the martian regolith. This middle north latitude site is often obscured by clouds in the winter and dust hazes in the spring. The surface was observed by the lander to be dusted by thin coatings of frost during the winter months. The exact location of the Viking 2 lander was uncertain until MOC obtained the high resolution view, shown above, in 2004. These images were previously released by the MOC team on 5 May 2005, along with what was then considered to be the best candidate for the Mars Polar Lander site (see "MGS Finds Viking 2 Lander and Mars Polar Lander (Maybe)" [ http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2005/05/05/ ]). The candidate Polar Lander site was further imaged in 2005 and found not to be the lander (see PIA03044 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03044 ]). Figure 1 shows (A) a mosaic of Viking Orbiter images obtained in the 1970s at a resolution of 75 m/pixel, (B) a typical MGS MOC narrow angle camera view at about 3 meters/pixel (25x higher resolution than the Viking images), and (C, D) sections of a MOC image obtained at ~0.5 m/pixel. Figure 2 shows an extreme enlargement of the feature identified as Viking Lander 2, compared to a schematic drawing of the lander in the orientation determined during the Viking mission.
Viking Texture Zoom Down to …
Title Viking Texture Zoom Down to Gravity Map Revealing Hidden Channel
Completed 2000-06-19
Viking Texture Zoom Down (sl …
Title Viking Texture Zoom Down (slow)
Completed 2000-06-19
Viking Texture Zooming Down …
Title Viking Texture Zooming Down to Reveal a Hidden Channel (fast)
Completed 2000-06-19
Push in South of the Hellas …
Title Push in South of the Hellas Basin using Viking Imagery
Completed 1999-11-22
Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neut …
Title Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neutron Data overlayed on MGS/MOLA Topography Data (Full Globe, Viking True Color)
Abstract Mars Odyssey's Gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) instrument has detected large amounts of Hydrogen on Mars, particularly near the south pole. This is an indication that water ice exists in the upper meter of these areas of the Martian surface. The epithermal neutron data ranges from 0 to about 12 counts per second. The blue areas indicate high concentrations of Hydrogen (low epithermal neutron counts). A series of animations was generated to support a Space Science Update (SSU) on the topic. These animations were match-rendered with unsmoothed, smoothed, and Viking true-color data.
Completed 2002-05-28
Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neut …
Title Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neutron Data overlayed on MGS/MOLA Topography Data (Flyover, Viking True Color)
Abstract Mars Odyssey's Gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) instrument has detected large amounts of Hydrogen on Mars, particularly near the south pole. This is an indication that water ice exists in the upper meter of these areas of the Martian surface. The epithermal neutron data ranges from 0 to about 12 counts per second. The blue areas indicate high concentrations of Hydrogen (low epithermal neutron counts). A series of animations was generated to support a Space Science Update (SSU) on the topic. These animations were match-rendered with unsmoothed, smoothed, and Viking true-color data.
Completed 2002-05-28
Viking Checkup
title Viking Checkup
date 05.20.1971
description A technician checks the soil sampler on an earlier generation of Mars lander - Viking - in this 1971 photo. Viking 1 became the first spacecraft to land safely on Mars on July 20, 1976. The robotic arm scooped samples of the Martian soil, emptied it into a hopper on the lander, which analyzed it with three scientific instruments. NASA's Viking Lander was designed, fabricated, and tested by the Martin Marietta Corp. of Denver, Colorado, under the direction of the Viking Progect Office at Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia. The lander drew heavily on the experience gained from the Ranger, Surveyor and the Apollo Programs in the areas of radar, altimeters, facsimile, cameras, soil samplers and landing gear. *Image Credit*: NASA
Trench Left By Sampler Scoop
PIA00526
Sol (our sun)
Camera 1
Title Trench Left By Sampler Scoop
Original Caption Released with Image A shallow 12-inch-long trench was dug by Viking 2 s surface sampler scoop yesterday (September 12) on Mars. The trench is difficult to see in this photo because it is in the shadow of a rock (out of view to the right). The sampler scoop stopped operating sometime after soil was excavated from the trench and delivered to Viking 2 s biology instrument.
Viking Lander 1's U.S. Flag
title Viking Lander 1's U.S. Flag
Description The flag of the United States with the rocky Martian surface in the background is seen in this color picture taken on the sixth day of Viking Lander 1 on Mars (July 26). The flag is on the RTG (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator) wind screen. Below the flag is the bicentennial logo and the Viking symbol which shows an ancient Viking ship. This Viking symbol was designed by Peter Purol of Baltimore, winner of the Viking logo contest open to high school science students. To the right is the Reference Test Chart used for color balancing of the color images. At the bottom is the GCMS Processor Distribution Assembly with the wind screens unfurled demonstrating that the GCMS cover was deployed properly. The scene in the background is looking almost due west on Mars. The lighter zone at the far horizon is about 3 km (nearly 2 miles) from the Lander. The darker line below this is a hill crest much closer to the Lander (about 200 m or about 650 feet). The picture was taken at local Mars Time of 7:18 A.M., hence the relatively dark sky and the far horizon illuminated by the sun just rising behind the Lander.
Launch of Titan III-Centaur, …
Name of Image Launch of Titan III-Centaur, Viking 1 Lander
Date of Image 1975-08-20
Full Description The Titan III-Centaur carrying the Viking 1 Lander lifted off on August 20, 1975. The Viking Lander conducted a detailed scientific investigation of the planet Mars.
MOLA Surface Topography with …
Title MOLA Surface Topography with Viking Texture Map
Abstract Rotating Mars with the MOLA Surface Topography with Viking Texture Map
Completed 2000-03-01
Polar Orbiter: Fly Up to 4 P …
Title Polar Orbiter: Fly Up to 4 Possible Landing Sites (Yellow)
Completed 1999-08-25
Mars Rotate (True Color)
Title Mars Rotate (True Color)
Completed 1999-05-24
Polar Orbiter: Fly Up to Pri …
Title Polar Orbiter: Fly Up to Primary Landing Site with Roughness Map
Abstract dark blue = smooth, green = rough
Completed 1999-08-25
Technician Checks Soil Sampl …
Title Technician Checks Soil Sampler on Viking Lander
Full Description A technician checks the soil sampler of the Viking lander. An arm will scoop up a sample of the Martian soil, empty it into a hopper on the lander which will route the sample to each of the three scientific instruments, biology, gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer and water analysis. NASA's Viking Lander was designed, fabricated, and tested by the Martin Marietta Corp. of Denver, Colorado, under the direction of the Viking Progect Office at Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia. The Lander drew heavily on the experience gained from the Ranger, Surveyor and the Apollo Programs in the areas of radar, altimeters, facsimile, cameras, soil samplers, landing gear, etc.
Date 05/20/1971
NASA Center Headquarters
Viking 2 Image of Mars Utopi …
Title Viking 2 Image of Mars Utopian Plain
Full Description The boulder-strewn field of red rocks reaches to the horizon nearly two miles from Viking 2 on Mars' Utopian Plain. Scientists believe the colors of the Martian surface and sky in this photo represent their true colors. Fine particles of red dust have settled on spacecraft surfaces. The salmon color of the sky is caused by dust particles suspended in the atmosphere. Color calibration charts for the cameras are mounted at three locations on the spacecraft. Note the blue starfield and red stripes of the flag. The circular structure at top is the high-gain antenna, pointed toward Earth. Viking 2 landed September 3, 1976, some 4600 miles from its twin, Viking 1, which touched down on July 20.
Date 11/23/1976
NASA Center Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Viking I Spacecraft in Clean …
Title Viking I Spacecraft in Cleanroom
Full Description The planetary landing spacecraft Viking, which includes stereo cameras, a weather station, an automated stereo analysis laboratory and a biology instrument that can detect life, is under assembly at Martin Marietta Aerospace near Denver, Colorado. This Viking spacecraft will travel more than 460 million miles from Earth to a soft landing on Mars in 1976 to explore the surface and atmosphere of the red planet. Martin Marietta is prime and integration contractor for the Viking mission to NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia. The lander will be powered by two nuclear generators.
Date 05/01/1974
NASA Center Headquarters
The Meteorology Instrument o …
title The Meteorology Instrument on Viking Lander 1
Description Those Martian weather reports, received here daily from more than 200 million miles away, start right here at Viking l's meteorology instrument. Mounted atop the extended boom, the meteorology sensors face away from the spacecraft. They stand about four feet above the surface and measure atmospheric pressure, temperature, wind velocity and wind direction. The cable parallel to the boom is connected inside the spacecraft body with the electronics for operating the sensors, reading the data and preparing it for transmission to Earth. A second Mars weather station will begin operation next month when Viking 2 lands somewhere in the planet's northern latitude Viking 2 arrives at Mars and goes into orbit tomorrow (August 7).
Viking Lander 2's First Pict …
PIA00396
Sol (our sun)
Camera 1
Title Viking Lander 2's First Picture On The Surface Of Mars
Original Caption Released with Image Viking 2 s first picture on the surface of Mars was taken within minutes after the spacecraft touched down on September 3. The scene reveals a wide variety of rocks littering a surface of fine-grained deposit. Boulders in the 10 to 20-centimeter (4 to 8-inch) size range-- some vesicular (holes) and some apparently fluted by wind--are common. Many of the pebbles have tabular or platy shapes, suggesting that they may be derived from layered strata. The fluted boulder just above the Lander s footpad displays a dust-covered or scraped surface, suggesting it was overturned or altered by the foot at touchdown. Just as occurred with Viking l s first picture on July 20, brightness variations at the beginning of the picture scan (left edge) probably are due to dust settling after landing. A substantial amount of fine-grained material kicked up by the descent engines has accumulated in the concave interior of the footpad. Center of the image is about 1.4 meters (5 feet) from the camera. Field of view extends 70 from left to right and 20 from top to bottom. Viking 2 landed at a region called Utopia in the northern latitudes about 7500 kilometers (4600 miles) northeast of Viking l s landing on the Chryse plain 45 days earlier.
Afternoon on Chryse Planitia …
PIA03165
Sol (our sun)
Camera 1
Title Afternoon on Chryse Planitia - Viking Lander 1 Camera 1 Mosaic
Original Caption Released with Image During the Viking Mission, the Viking Lander Camera System acquired many high-resolution images of the scene at Chryse Planitia. Using individual camera events, which occurred on many days throughout the mission, computer mosaics have been created for the site as viewed by each of the two cameras on the spacecraft. Two sets of mosaics were produced of Chryse Planitia, one pair for camera 1 and 2 images acquired in the early morning and one pair for camera 1 and 2 images acquired in the mid-afternoon. Each complete mosaiced scene extends 342.5 degrees in azimuth, and from approximately 5 degrees above the horizon to 60 degrees below. A complete mosaic incorporated approximately 15 million picture elements (pixels). This mosaic was produced in the early morning (14:00-15:30) by the Camera 1 system on Viking Lander 1. See PIA03166 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03166 ]for the afternoon Camera 2 mosaic and PIA03163 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03163 ]and PIA03164 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03164 ]for the morning mosaics.
Morning on Chryse Planitia - …
PIA03164
Sol (our sun)
Camera 1
Title Morning on Chryse Planitia - Viking Lander 1 Camera 2 Mosaic
Original Caption Released with Image During the Viking Mission, the Viking Lander Camera System acquired many high-resolution images of the scene at Chryse Planitia. Using individual camera events, which occurred on many days throughout the mission, computer mosaics have been created for the site as viewed by each of the two cameras on the spacecraft. Two sets of mosaics were produced of Chryse Planitia, one pair for camera 1 and 2 images acquired in the early morning and one pair for camera 1 and 2 images acquired in the mid-afternoon. Each complete mosaiced scene extends 342.5 degrees in azimuth, and from approximately 5 degrees above the horizon to 60 degrees below. A complete mosaic incorporated approximately 15 million picture elements (pixels). This mosaic was produced in the early morning (7:00-8:00) by the Camera 2 system on Viking Lander 1. See PIA03163 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03163 ]for the morning Camera 1 mosaic and PIA03165 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03165 ]and PIA03166 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03166 ]for the afternoon mosaics.
Morning on Chryse Planitia - …
PIA03163
Sol (our sun)
Camera 1
Title Morning on Chryse Planitia - Viking Lander 1 Camera 1 Mosaic
Original Caption Released with Image During the Viking Mission, the Viking Lander Camera System acquired many high-resolution images of the scene at Chryse Planitia. Using individual camera events, which occurred on many days throughout the mission, computer mosaics have been created for the site as viewed by each of the two cameras on the spacecraft. Two sets of mosaics were produced of Chryse Planitia, one pair for camera 1 and 2 images acquired in the early morning and one pair for camera 1 and 2 images acquired in the mid-afternoon. Each complete mosaiced scene extends 342.5 degrees in azimuth, and from approximately 5 degrees above the horizon to 60 degrees below. A complete mosaic incorporated approximately 15 million picture elements (pixels). This mosaic was produced in the early morning (7:00-8:00) by the Camera 1 system on Viking Lander 1. See PIA03164 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03164 ]for the morning Camera 2 mosaic and PIA03165 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03165 ]and PIA03166 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03166 ]for the afternoon mosaics.
Afternoon on Chryse Planitia …
PIA03166
Sol (our sun)
Camera 1
Title Afternoon on Chryse Planitia - Viking Lander 1 Camera 2 Mosaic
Original Caption Released with Image During the Viking Mission, the Viking Lander Camera System acquired many high-resolution images of the scene at Chryse Planitia. Using individual camera events, which occurred on many days throughout the mission, computer mosaics have been created for the site as viewed by each of the two cameras on the spacecraft. Two sets of mosaics were produced of Chryse Planitia, one pair for camera 1 and 2 images acquired in the early morning and one pair for camera 1 and 2 images acquired in the mid-afternoon. Each complete mosaiced scene extends 342.5 degrees in azimuth, and from approximately 5 degrees above the horizon to 60 degrees below. A complete mosaic incorporated approximately 15 million picture elements (pixels). This mosaic was produced in the early morning (14:00-15:30) by the Camera 2 system on Viking Lander 1. See PIA03165 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03165 ]for the afternoon Camera 1 mosaic and PIA03163 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03163 ]and PIA03164 [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03164 ]for the morning mosaics.
Dust storm in the Thaumasia …
PIA02985
Sol (our sun)
Title Dust storm in the Thaumasia region of Mars
Original Caption Released with Image This Viking Orbiter 2 image shows a large dust storm over the Thaumasia region on Mars. This large disturbance soon grew into the first global dust storm observed by the Viking Orbiters. This image was taken at 9:00 local time near perihelion when heating of Mars is at a maximum. The image is at 1400 km across and north is at 1:00. (Viking Orbiter 176B02)
Viking 1 Launch
Title Viking 1 Launch
Full Description Viking 1 was launched by a Titan/Centaur rocket from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:22 p.m. EDT to begin a half-billion mile, 11-month journey through space to explore Mars. The 4-ton spacecraft went into orbit around the red planet in mid-1976.
Date 8/20/1975
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Viking Aeroshell
Title Viking Aeroshell
Full Description The Viking aeroshell which protected the lander during its entry into the Martian atmosphere.
Date 2/13/1973
NASA Center Langley Research Center
Mars North Pole flyover
Title Mars North Pole flyover
Abstract MOLA takes elevation data of Mars North Pole combined with Viking colormap.
Completed 2000-03-15
Valles Marineris Flyover (sh …
Title Valles Marineris Flyover (short version)
Abstract This view of Valles Marineris was constructed by combining the Viking color texture with MOLA altimetry data. There is no vertical exaggeration applied to the surface displacement.
Completed 2000-03-09
Olympus Mons Flyover.
Title Olympus Mons Flyover.
Abstract This view of Olympus Mons was constructed by combining the Viking color texture with MOLA altimetry data. There is no vertical exaggeration applied to the surface displacement.
Completed 2000-03-09
Valles Marineris Flyover (Lo …
Title Valles Marineris Flyover (Long Version)
Abstract This view of Valles Marineres was constructed by combining the Viking color texture with MOLA altimetry data. There is no vertical exaggeration applied to the surface displacement.
Completed 2000-03-09
Viking Phase III
PIA00531
Sol (our sun)
Camera 2
Title Viking Phase III
Original Caption Released with Image VIKING PHASE III - With the incredible success of the Viking missions on Mars, mission operations have progressed though a series of phases - each being funded as mission success dictated its potential. The Viking Primary Mission phase was concluded in November, 1976, when the reins were passed on to the second phase - the Viking Extended Mission. The Extended Mission successfully carried spacecraft operations through the desired period of time needed to provided a profile of a full Martian year, but would have fallen a little short of connecting and overlapping a full Martian year of Viking operations which scientists desired as a means of determining the degree of duplicity in the red planet's seasons - at least for the summer period. Without this continuation of spacecraft data acquisitions to and beyond the seasonal points when the spacecraft actually began their Mars observations, there would be no way of knowing whether the changing environmental values - such as temperatures and winds atmospheric dynamics and water vapor, surface thermal dynamics, etc. - would match up with those acquired as the spacecraft began investigations during the summer and fall of 1976. This same broad interest can be specifically pursued at the surface - where hundreds of rocks, soil drifts and other features have become extremely familiar during long-term analysis. This picture was acquired on the 690th Martian day of Lander 1 operations - 4009th picture sequence commanded of the two Viking Landers. As such, it became the first picture acquired as the third phase of Viking operations got under way - the Viking Continuation Mission. Between the start of the Continuation Mission in April, 1978, until spacecraft operations are concluded in November, the landers will acquire an additional 200 pictures. These will be used to monitor the two landscaped for the surface changes. All four cameras, two on Lander 1 and two on Lander 2, continue to operate perfectly. Both landers will also continue to monitor weather conditions - recording atmospheric pressure and its variations, daily temperature extremes, and wind behavior at the two lander locations.
High Resolution Image From V …
PIA00385
Sol (our sun)
Camera 2
Title High Resolution Image From Viking Lander 1
Original Caption Released with Image Viking 1 took this high-resolution picture today, its third day on Mars. Distance from the camera to the nearfield (bottom) is about 4 meters (13 feet), to the horizon, about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles). The photo shows numerous angular blocks ranging in size from a few centimeters to several meters. The surface between the blocks is composed of fine-grained material. Accumulation of some fine-grained material behind blocks indicates wind deposition of dust and sand downwind of obstacles. The large block on the horizon is about 4 meters (13 feet) wide. Distance across the horizon is about 34 meters (110 feet).
Viking Lander's Buried Footp …
PIA00390
Sol (our sun)
Camera 1
Title Viking Lander's Buried Footpad #3
Original Caption Released with Image One of Viking l's three feet, which should be visible in this view, lies buried beneath a cover of loose Martian soil. This picture, taken Sunday (August 1), is the first to show the buried footpad #3. If not buried, the edge of the foot would be seen extending across the picture about midway between top and bottom. The foot sank about five inches, and fine-grained soil slumped into the depression and over the foot. The cracked nature of the surface near the slump area and the small, steep cliff at left indicates that the material is weakly cohesive. The surface material here is very similar mechanically to lunar soil.
The Collector Head Of Viking …
PIA00395
Sol (our sun)
Camera 2
Title The Collector Head Of Viking Lander 1's Surface Sampler
Original Caption Released with Image The collector head of Viking l's surface sampler is full of Martian soil destined for the gas chromatograph mass spectrometer, the instrument which analyzes the surface material for the presence of organic molecules. The material was scooped out of the surface on August 3, but the sampler arm stopped operating while transporting it to the instrument. The Martian soil will be deposited into the instrument's processor today. The surface sampler is operating properly, but the cause of last week's problem is not yet known. This picture, taken Monday (August 9), was made for operational purposes, focusing on the collector head. Hence, the out-of-focus view of the Martian surface.
Color view of Chryse Planiti …
title Color view of Chryse Planitia by the Viking 1 Lander
date 08.30.1976
description Viking 1 Lander image of Chryse Planitia looking over the lander. The large white object at lower left and center, with the American flag on the side, is the radiothermal generator (RTG) cover. The high-gain S-band antenna is at upper right. The view, from 22 N, 50 W, is to the northwest. Chryse Planitia is a wide, low plain covered with large rocks and loose sand and dust. The image was taken on 30 August 1976, a little over a month after landing. (Viking 1 Lander, 12B069) *Image Credit*: NASA
Ice on Mars Again
Title Ice on Mars Again
Full Description This high resolution photo of the surface of Mars was taken by Viking Lander 2 at its Utopia Planitia landing site on May 18, 1979, and relayed to Earth by Orbiter 1 on June 7th. It shows a thin coating of water ice on the rocks and soil. The time of the frost appearance corresponds almost exactly with the build up of frost one Martian year (23 Earth Months) ago.
Date 05/18/1979
NASA Center Headquarters
The Meteorology Instrument o …
PIA00392
Sol (our sun)
Camera 1
Title The Meteorology Instrument on Viking Lander 1
Original Caption Released with Image Those Martian weather reports, received here daily from more than 200 million miles away, start right here at Viking l's meteorology instrument. Mounted atop the extended boom, the meteorology sensors face away from the spacecraft. They stand about four feet above the surface and measure atmospheric pressure, temperature, wind velocity and wind direction. The cable parallel to the boom is connected inside the spacecraft body with the electronics for operating the sensors, reading the data and preparing it for transmission to Earth. A second Mars weather station will begin operation next month when Viking 2 lands somewhere in the planet's northern latitude Viking 2 arrives at Mars and goes into orbit tomorrow (August 7).
First Color Image of the Vik …
PIA00568
Sol (our sun)
Camera 2
Title First Color Image of the Viking Lander 2 Site
Original Caption Released with Image The first color picture taken by Viking 2 on the Martian surface shows a rocky reddish surface much like that seen by Viking 1 more than 4000 miles away. The planned location for the collection of soil for on-board analysis is seen in the lower part of the photo. The Lander s camera #2 is looking approximately to the northeast. The right edge of the picture is due east of the spacecraft. The sun is behind the camera in the Martian afternoon. As at Chryse Planitia where Viking 1 landed in July, the sky over Utopia is pink. Colors of the rocks and soil also are almost identical at the two landing sites. Because the spacecraft is tilted about 8 to the west, the horizon appears tilted. In fact, it is nearly level.
Valles Marineris: The Grand …
Title Valles Marineris: The Grand Canyon of Mars
Explanation The largest canyon in the Solar System [ http://www.nineplanets.org/overview.html ] cuts a wide swath across the face of Mars [ http://www.nineplanets.org/mars.html ]. Named Valles Marineris [ http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Projects/VallesMarineris/ ], the grand valley extends over 3,000 kilometers long, spans as much as 600 kilometers across, and delves as much as 8 kilometers deep. By comparison, the Earth's Grand Canyon [ http://www.aqd.nps.gov/grd/parks/grca/ ] in Arizona, USA is 800 kilometers long, 30 kilometers across, and 1.8 kilometers deep. The origin of the Valles Marineris [ http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mep/science/vm.html ] remains unknown, although a leading hypothesis holds that it started as a crack [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980310.html ] billions of years ago as the planet cooled [ http://helio.estec.esa.nl/intermarsnet/redreport/node20.html ]. Recently [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap020531.html ], several geologic processes have been identified in the canyon [ http://www.windows.ucar.edu/cgi-bin/tour.cgi?link=/mars/interior/Valles_Marineris.html&sw=false&sn=4444&d=/mars/interior&edu=mid&br=graphic&back=/mars/exploring/MGS_altimeter_OMons.html&cd=false&tour=&fr=f ]. The above mosaic [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/photogallery-mars.html ] was created [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/caption/marsglobe1.txt ] from over 100 images of Mars [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/mars.html ] taken by Viking [ http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome/viking.htm ] Orbiters in the 1970s.
First Mars Surface Photo
Title First Mars Surface Photo
Full Description The image above is the first photograph ever taken from the surface of Mars. It was taken by the Viking 1 lander shortly after it touched down on Mars on July 20, 1976. Part of footpad #2 can be seen in the lower right corner, with sand and dust in the center of it, probably deposited during landing. The next day, color photographs were also taken on the Martian surface. The primary objectives of the Viking missions, which was composed of two spacecraft, were to obtain high-resolution images of the Martian surface, characterize the structure and composition of the atmosphere and surface, and search for evidence of life on Mars.
Date 07/20/1976
NASA Center Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Mars Cutaway
Title Mars Cutaway
Abstract Mars Globe showing a cutaway revealing the MOHO data.
Completed 2000-03-01
Viking Lander 2's First Pict …
title Viking Lander 2's First Picture On The Surface Of Mars
Description Viking 2 s first picture on the surface of Mars was taken within minutes after the spacecraft touched down on September 3. The scene reveals a wide variety of rocks littering a surface of fine- grained deposit. Boulders in the 10 to 20-centimeter (4 to 8-inch) size range-- some vesicular (holes) and some apparently fluted by wind--are common. Many of the pebbles have tabular or platy shapes, suggesting that they may be derived from layered strata. The fluted boulder just above the Lander s footpad displays a dust-covered or scraped surface, suggesting it was overturned or altered by the foot at touchdown. Just as occurred with Viking l's first picture on July 20, brightness variations at the beginning of the picture scan (left edge) probably are due to dust settling after landing. A substantial amount of fine- grained material kicked up by the descent engines has accumulated in the concave interior of the footpad. Center of the image is about 1.4 meters (5 feet) from the camera. Field of view extends 70 from left to right and 20 from top to bottom. Viking 2 landed at a region called Utopia in the northern latitudes about 7500 kilometers (4600 miles) northeast of Viking l s landing on the Chryse plain 45 days earlier.
Valles Marineris: The Grand …
Title Valles Marineris: The Grand Canyon of Mars
Explanation The largest canyon in the Solar System [ http://www.nineplanets.org/overview.html ] cuts a wide swath across the face of Mars [ http://www.nineplanets.org/mars.html ]. Named Valles Marineris [ http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Projects/VallesMarineris/ ], the grand valley extends over 3,000 kilometers long, spans as much as 600 kilometers across, and delves as much as 8 kilometers deep. By comparison, the Earth's Grand Canyon [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon ] in Arizona, USA is 800 kilometers long, 30 kilometers across, and 1.8 kilometers deep. The origin of the Valles Marineris [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valles_Marineris ] remains unknown, although a leading hypothesis holds that it started as a crack [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980310.html ] billions of years ago as the planet cooled [ http://helio.estec.esa.nl/intermarsnet/redreport/node20.html ]. Recently [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap020531.html ], several geologic processes have been identified in the canyon [ http://www.windows.ucar.edu/cgi-bin/tour.cgi?link=/mars/interior/Valles_Marineris.html&sw=false&sn=4444&d=/mars/interior&edu=mid&br=graphic&back=/mars/exploring/MGS_altimeter_OMons.html&cd=false&tour=&fr=f ]. The above mosaic [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/photogallery-mars.html ] was created [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/caption/marsglobe1.txt ] from over 100 images of Mars [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/mars.html ] taken by Viking [ http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome/viking.htm ] Orbiters in the 1970s.
Viking I Spacecraft in Clean …
title Viking I Spacecraft in Cleanroom
description The planetary landing spacecraft Viking, which includes stereo cameras, a weather station, an automated stereo analysis laboratory and a biology instrument that can detect life, under assembly at Martin Marietta Aerospace near Denver, Colorado. This Viking spacecraft will travel more than 460 million miles from Earth to a soft landing on Mars in 1976 to explore the surface and atmosphere of the red planet. Martin Marietta is prime and integration contractor for the Viking mission to NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia. The lander will be powered by two nuclear generators. *Image Credit*: NASA
Salmon Sky
title Salmon Sky
description The boulder-strewn field of red rocks reaches to the horizon nearly two miles from Viking 2 on Mars' Utopian Plain. Scientists believe the colors of the Martian surface and sky inthis photo represent their true colors. Fine particles of red dust have settled on spacecraft surfaces. The salmon color of the sky is caused by dust particles suspended in the atmosphere. Color calibration charts for the cameras are mounted at three locations on the spacecraft. Note the blue starfield and redstripes of the flag. The circular structure at top is the high-gain antenna, pointed toward Earth. Viking 2 landed September 3, 1976 - about 4,600 miles from its twin, Viking 1, which touched down on July 20. *Image Credit*: NASA
Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neut …
Title Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neutron Data overlayed on MGS/MOLA Topography Data (Full Globe, Viking True Color)
Abstract Mars Odyssey's Gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) instrument has detected large amounts of Hydrogen on Mars, particularly near the south pole. This is an indication that water ice exists in the upper meter of these areas of the Martian surface. The epithermal neutron data ranges from 0 to about 12 counts per second. The blue areas indicate high concentrations of Hydrogen (low epithermal neutron counts). A series of animations was generated to support a Space Science Update (SSU) on the topic. These animations were match-rendered with unsmoothed, smoothed, and Viking true-color data.
Completed 2002-05-28
Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neut …
Title Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neutron Data overlayed on MGS/MOLA Topography Data (Full Globe, Viking True Color)
Abstract Mars Odyssey's Gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) instrument has detected large amounts of Hydrogen on Mars, particularly near the south pole. This is an indication that water ice exists in the upper meter of these areas of the Martian surface. The epithermal neutron data ranges from 0 to about 12 counts per second. The blue areas indicate high concentrations of Hydrogen (low epithermal neutron counts). A series of animations was generated to support a Space Science Update (SSU) on the topic. These animations were match-rendered with unsmoothed, smoothed, and Viking true-color data.
Completed 2002-05-28
Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neut …
Title Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neutron Data overlayed on MGS/MOLA Topography Data (Full Globe, Viking True Color)
Abstract Mars Odyssey's Gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) instrument has detected large amounts of Hydrogen on Mars, particularly near the south pole. This is an indication that water ice exists in the upper meter of these areas of the Martian surface. The epithermal neutron data ranges from 0 to about 12 counts per second. The blue areas indicate high concentrations of Hydrogen (low epithermal neutron counts). A series of animations was generated to support a Space Science Update (SSU) on the topic. These animations were match-rendered with unsmoothed, smoothed, and Viking true-color data.
Completed 2002-05-28
Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neut …
Title Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neutron Data overlayed on MGS/MOLA Topography Data (Flat, Viking True Color)
Abstract Mars Odyssey's Gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) instrument has detected large amounts of Hydrogen on Mars, particularly near the south pole. This is an indication that water ice exists in the upper meter of these areas of the Martian surface. The epithermal neutron data ranges from 0 to about 12 counts per second. The blue areas indicate high concentrations of Hydrogen (low epithermal neutron counts). A series of animations was generated to support a Space Science Update (SSU) on the topic. These animations were match-rendered with unsmoothed, smoothed, and Viking true-color data.
Completed 2002-05-28
Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neut …
Title Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neutron Data overlayed on MGS/MOLA Topography Data (Flyover, Viking True Color)
Abstract Mars Odyssey's Gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) instrument has detected large amounts of Hydrogen on Mars, particularly near the south pole. This is an indication that water ice exists in the upper meter of these areas of the Martian surface. The epithermal neutron data ranges from 0 to about 12 counts per second. The blue areas indicate high concentrations of Hydrogen (low epithermal neutron counts). A series of animations was generated to support a Space Science Update (SSU) on the topic. These animations were match-rendered with unsmoothed, smoothed, and Viking true-color data.
Completed 2002-05-28
Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neut …
Title Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neutron Data overlayed on MGS/MOLA Topography Data (Flyover, Viking True Color)
Abstract Mars Odyssey's Gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) instrument has detected large amounts of Hydrogen on Mars, particularly near the south pole. This is an indication that water ice exists in the upper meter of these areas of the Martian surface. The epithermal neutron data ranges from 0 to about 12 counts per second. The blue areas indicate high concentrations of Hydrogen (low epithermal neutron counts). A series of animations was generated to support a Space Science Update (SSU) on the topic. These animations were match-rendered with unsmoothed, smoothed, and Viking true-color data.
Completed 2002-05-28
Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neut …
Title Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neutron Data overlayed on MGS/MOLA Topography Data (Flyover, Viking True Color)
Abstract Mars Odyssey's Gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) instrument has detected large amounts of Hydrogen on Mars, particularly near the south pole. This is an indication that water ice exists in the upper meter of these areas of the Martian surface. The epithermal neutron data ranges from 0 to about 12 counts per second. The blue areas indicate high concentrations of Hydrogen (low epithermal neutron counts). A series of animations was generated to support a Space Science Update (SSU) on the topic. These animations were match-rendered with unsmoothed, smoothed, and Viking true-color data.
Completed 2002-05-28
Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neut …
Title Mars Odyssey Epithermal Neutron Data overlayed on MGS/MOLA Topography Data (Flyover, Viking True Color)
Abstract Mars Odyssey's Gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) instrument has detected large amounts of Hydrogen on Mars, particularly near the south pole. This is an indication that water ice exists in the upper meter of these areas of the Martian surface. The epithermal neutron data ranges from 0 to about 12 counts per second. The blue areas indicate high concentrations of Hydrogen (low epithermal neutron counts). A series of animations was generated to support a Space Science Update (SSU) on the topic. These animations were match-rendered with unsmoothed, smoothed, and Viking true-color data.
Completed 2002-05-28
VL1 Digs A Deep Hole On Mars
PIA00529
Sol (our sun)
Camera 1
Title VL1 Digs A Deep Hole On Mars
Original Caption Released with Image VIKING LANDER DIGS A DEEP HOLE ON MARS -- This six-inch-deep, 12- inch-wide, 29-inch-long hole was dug Feb. 12 and 14 by Viking Lander 1 as the first sequence in an attempt to reach a foot beneath the surface of the red planet. The activity is in the same area where Lander 1 acquired its first soil samples last July. The trench was dug by repeatedly backhoeing in a left-right-center pattern. The backhoe teeth produced the small parallel ridges at the far end of the trench (upper left). The larger ridges running the length of the trench are material left behind during the backhoe operation. What appears to be small rocks along the ridges and in the soil at the near end of the trench are really small dirt clods. The clods and the steepness of the trench walls indicate the material is cohesive and behaves something like ordinary flour. After a later sequence, to be performed March 1 and 2, a soil sample will be taken from the bottom of the trench for inorganic soil analysis and later for biology analysis. Information about the soil taken from the bottom of the trench may help explain the weathering process on Mars and may help resolve the dilemma created by Viking findings that first suggest but then cast doubt on the possibility of life in the Martian soil. The trench shown here is a result of one of the most complex command sequences yet performed by the lander. Viking l has been operating at Chryse Planitia on Mars since it landed July 20, 1976.
Viking 2 Image of Mars Utopi …
PIA01522
Sol (our sun)
Camera 1
Title Viking 2 Image of Mars Utopian Plain
Original Caption Released with Image The boulder-strewn field of red rocks reaches to the horizon nearly two miles from Viking 2 on Mars' Utopian Plain. Scientists believe the colors of the Martian surface and sky in this photo represent their true colors. Fine particles of red dust have settled on spacecraft surfaces. The salmon color of the sky is caused by dust particles suspended in the atmosphere. Color calibration charts for the cameras are mounted at three locations on the spacecraft. Note the blue star field and red stripes of the flag. The circular structure at top is the high-gain antenna, pointed toward Earth. Viking 2 landed September 3,1976, some 4600 miles from its twin, Viking 1, which touched down on July 20.
Photomosiac of the Tharsis R …
PIA02987
Sol (our sun)
Title Photomosiac of the Tharsis Region
Original Caption Released with Image Viking 1 Orbiter color mosaic of the eastern Tharsis region on Mars. At left, from top to bottom, are the three 25 km high volcanic shields, Ascraeus Mons, Pavonis Mons, and Arsia Mons. The shield at upper right is Tharsis Tholus. The canyon system at lower right is Noctis Labyrinthus, the westernmost extension of Valles Marineris. The smooth area at bottom center is Syria Planum. The distance between the calderas of Ascraeus and Pavonis Mons is 800 km. North is up. The images used to produce this mosaic were taken during orbit 1334 on 22 February 1980. (Viking 1 Orbiter MG01N104-334S0)
Color Mosaic of Olympus Mons
PIA02982
Sol (our sun)
Title Color Mosaic of Olympus Mons
Original Caption Released with Image Color mosaic of Olympus Mons volcano on Mars from the Viking 1 Orbiter. The mosaic was created using images from orbit 735 taken 22 June 1978. Olympus Mons is about 600 km in diameter and the summit caldera is 24 km above the surrounding plains. The complex aureole terrain is visible at the top of the frame. North is up. (Viking 1 Orbiter MH20N133-735A)
The United States Flag Stand …
PIA00388
Sol (our sun)
Camera 1
Title The United States Flag Stands On The Surface Of Mars
Original Caption Released with Image The flag of the United States stands on the surface of Mars. It is mounted on the housing of Viking 1's nuclear power system. Also seen are the U.S. Bicentennial symbol and a student designed Viking emblem. The bright flat surface near the center is the seismometer container. This picture was taken on July 23 at about 2:30 p.m. Mars time. The view is west of the spacecraft and includes a series of low hills. The blocky hill in the center appears to be part of a crater rim. The dark, rocky stripes may be material ejected from the crater. The light areas are dune-like and may be accumulations of windblown sand or dust.
Polar Orbiter: Fly Up to Pri …
Title Polar Orbiter: Fly Up to Primary Landing Site with Altitude Map
Abstract white/red = high altitude (~3000 meters), blue = low altitude (~0 meters)
Completed 1999-08-25
Fly over of Mars Mesa, Toung …
Title Fly over of Mars Mesa, Tounge, Dunes, Sasquatch Crater
Abstract Fly over of Mesa, Tounge, Dunes, Sasquatch Crater Based on MOLA data for topography and Viking data for color. Exaggeration is about 300x
Completed 1998-12-02
Rotating around the Tharsis …
Title Rotating around the Tharsis Rise (True Color)
Completed 1999-05-24
Polar Orbiter: Fly Up to 4 P …
Title Polar Orbiter: Fly Up to 4 Possible Landing Sites (Primary in Green, Secondary in Yellow)
Completed 1999-08-25
Color Mosaic of Olympus Mons …
title Color Mosaic of Olympus Mons on Mars
date 06.22.1978
description Color mosaic of Olympus Mons volcano on Mars from the Viking 1 Orbiter. The mosaic was created using images from orbit 735 taken 22 June 1978. Olympus Mons is about 600 km in diameter and the summit caldera is 24 km above the surrounding plains. The complex aureole terrain is visible at the top of the frame. North is up. (Viking 1 Orbiter MH20N133-735A) *Image Credit*: NASA
Candor and Ophir Chasmata
Title Candor and Ophir Chasmata
Explanation First imaged by the Mariner [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/mars/ mariner.html ] 9 spacecraft, Valles Marineris [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap020827.html ], the grand canyon of Mars, is a system of enormous depressions called chasmata that stretch [ http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/7_20_98_marineris_rel/ ] some 4,000 kilometers along the Martian equator. Looking north over the canyon's central regions [ http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Projects/VallesMarineris/ candor_ref.html ], Candor chasma lies in the foreground of this spectacular view [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/html/object_page/ vom_nj05s070.html ] with the steep walls of Ophir chasma near the top. Surface collapse and landslides are seen to be part of the complex geologic history of these dramatic features [ http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Projects/ VallesMarineris/Anaglyph/mars_anaglyph.html ] but recent high resolution [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980319.html ] images have also revealed layered deposits [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap001205.html ] within the canyon system. This picture represents a mosaic of images recorded in 1978 from Martian orbit by the Viking [ http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4212/on-mars.html ] 1 and 2 spacecraft. The full width of the picture covers about 800 kilometers.
Viking Lander 2 (Gerald A. S …
PIA01882
Sol (our sun)
HiRISE
Title Viking Lander 2 (Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Station) Imaged from Orbit
Original Caption Released with Image Annotated Version NASA's Viking Lander 2 landed on Mars on Sept. 3, 1976, in Utopia Planitia. The lander, which has a diameter of about 3 meters (10 feet), has been precisely located in this image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Also, likely locations have been found for the heat shield and back shell. The lander location has been confirmed by overlaying the lander-derived topographic contours on the high-resolution camera's image, which provides an excellent match. Viking Lander 2 was one element of an ambitious mission to study Mars, with a four-spacecraft flotilla consisting of two orbiters and two landers. Four cutouts from this image are shown. The first is an overview showing the relative locations of the lander and candidate back shell and heat shield, and the others are enlargements of each of these components. Large boulders, dunes, and other features visible in Viking Lander 2 images can be located in the high-resolution camera's image. The polygonal pattern of the surface is typical at these latitudes and may be due to the presence of deep subsurface ice. As chance would have it, this image is blurred in some places due to the abrupt motion associated with the restart of the orbiter's high-gain antenna tracking during the very short image exposure. This is the first time after acquiring hundreds of pictures that a High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment image has been unintentionally smeared, overall performance has been excellent. A prime motivation for early viewing of the Viking sites is to calibrate imagery taken from orbit with the data previously acquired by the landers. In particular, determining what sizes of rocks can be seen from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter aids the interpretation of data now being taken to characterize sites for future landers, such as the Phoenix Mars Lander mission to be launched in 2007. Images from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment and additional information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter are available online at: http://www.nasa.gov/mro [ http://www.nasa.gov/mro ] or http://HiRISE.lpl.arizona.edu [ http://HiRISE.lpl.arizona.edu ]. For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, http://www.nasa.gov [ http://www.nasa.gov ]. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera was built by Ball Aerospace Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona.
Viking Lander 2 (Gerald A. S …
PIA01882
Sol (our sun)
HiRISE
Title Viking Lander 2 (Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Station) Imaged from Orbit
Original Caption Released with Image Annotated Version NASA's Viking Lander 2 landed on Mars on Sept. 3, 1976, in Utopia Planitia. The lander, which has a diameter of about 3 meters (10 feet), has been precisely located in this image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Also, likely locations have been found for the heat shield and back shell. The lander location has been confirmed by overlaying the lander-derived topographic contours on the high-resolution camera's image, which provides an excellent match. Viking Lander 2 was one element of an ambitious mission to study Mars, with a four-spacecraft flotilla consisting of two orbiters and two landers. Four cutouts from this image are shown. The first is an overview showing the relative locations of the lander and candidate back shell and heat shield, and the others are enlargements of each of these components. Large boulders, dunes, and other features visible in Viking Lander 2 images can be located in the high-resolution camera's image. The polygonal pattern of the surface is typical at these latitudes and may be due to the presence of deep subsurface ice. As chance would have it, this image is blurred in some places due to the abrupt motion associated with the restart of the orbiter's high-gain antenna tracking during the very short image exposure. This is the first time after acquiring hundreds of pictures that a High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment image has been unintentionally smeared, overall performance has been excellent. A prime motivation for early viewing of the Viking sites is to calibrate imagery taken from orbit with the data previously acquired by the landers. In particular, determining what sizes of rocks can be seen from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter aids the interpretation of data now being taken to characterize sites for future landers, such as the Phoenix Mars Lander mission to be launched in 2007. Images from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment and additional information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter are available online at: http://www.nasa.gov/mro [ http://www.nasa.gov/mro ] or http://HiRISE.lpl.arizona.edu [ http://HiRISE.lpl.arizona.edu ]. For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, http://www.nasa.gov [ http://www.nasa.gov ]. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera was built by Ball Aerospace Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona.
Viking Lander 2 (Gerald A. S …
PIA01882
Sol (our sun)
HiRISE
Title Viking Lander 2 (Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Station) Imaged from Orbit
Original Caption Released with Image Annotated Version NASA's Viking Lander 2 landed on Mars on Sept. 3, 1976, in Utopia Planitia. The lander, which has a diameter of about 3 meters (10 feet), has been precisely located in this image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Also, likely locations have been found for the heat shield and back shell. The lander location has been confirmed by overlaying the lander-derived topographic contours on the high-resolution camera's image, which provides an excellent match. Viking Lander 2 was one element of an ambitious mission to study Mars, with a four-spacecraft flotilla consisting of two orbiters and two landers. Four cutouts from this image are shown. The first is an overview showing the relative locations of the lander and candidate back shell and heat shield, and the others are enlargements of each of these components. Large boulders, dunes, and other features visible in Viking Lander 2 images can be located in the high-resolution camera's image. The polygonal pattern of the surface is typical at these latitudes and may be due to the presence of deep subsurface ice. As chance would have it, this image is blurred in some places due to the abrupt motion associated with the restart of the orbiter's high-gain antenna tracking during the very short image exposure. This is the first time after acquiring hundreds of pictures that a High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment image has been unintentionally smeared, overall performance has been excellent. A prime motivation for early viewing of the Viking sites is to calibrate imagery taken from orbit with the data previously acquired by the landers. In particular, determining what sizes of rocks can be seen from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter aids the interpretation of data now being taken to characterize sites for future landers, such as the Phoenix Mars Lander mission to be launched in 2007. Images from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment and additional information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter are available online at: http://www.nasa.gov/mro [ http://www.nasa.gov/mro ] or http://HiRISE.lpl.arizona.edu [ http://HiRISE.lpl.arizona.edu ]. For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, http://www.nasa.gov [ http://www.nasa.gov ]. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera was built by Ball Aerospace Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona.
Viking Lander 2 (Gerald A. S …
PIA01882
Sol (our sun)
HiRISE
Title Viking Lander 2 (Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Station) Imaged from Orbit
Original Caption Released with Image Annotated Version NASA's Viking Lander 2 landed on Mars on Sept. 3, 1976, in Utopia Planitia. The lander, which has a diameter of about 3 meters (10 feet), has been precisely located in this image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Also, likely locations have been found for the heat shield and back shell. The lander location has been confirmed by overlaying the lander-derived topographic contours on the high-resolution camera's image, which provides an excellent match. Viking Lander 2 was one element of an ambitious mission to study Mars, with a four-spacecraft flotilla consisting of two orbiters and two landers. Four cutouts from this image are shown. The first is an overview showing the relative locations of the lander and candidate back shell and heat shield, and the others are enlargements of each of these components. Large boulders, dunes, and other features visible in Viking Lander 2 images can be located in the high-resolution camera's image. The polygonal pattern of the surface is typical at these latitudes and may be due to the presence of deep subsurface ice. As chance would have it, this image is blurred in some places due to the abrupt motion associated with the restart of the orbiter's high-gain antenna tracking during the very short image exposure. This is the first time after acquiring hundreds of pictures that a High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment image has been unintentionally smeared, overall performance has been excellent. A prime motivation for early viewing of the Viking sites is to calibrate imagery taken from orbit with the data previously acquired by the landers. In particular, determining what sizes of rocks can be seen from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter aids the interpretation of data now being taken to characterize sites for future landers, such as the Phoenix Mars Lander mission to be launched in 2007. Images from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment and additional information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter are available online at: http://www.nasa.gov/mro [ http://www.nasa.gov/mro ] or http://HiRISE.lpl.arizona.edu [ http://HiRISE.lpl.arizona.edu ]. For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, http://www.nasa.gov [ http://www.nasa.gov ]. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera was built by Ball Aerospace Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona.
Viking Lander 2 (Gerald A. S …
PIA01882
Sol (our sun)
HiRISE
Title Viking Lander 2 (Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Station) Imaged from Orbit
Original Caption Released with Image Annotated Version NASA's Viking Lander 2 landed on Mars on Sept. 3, 1976, in Utopia Planitia. The lander, which has a diameter of about 3 meters (10 feet), has been precisely located in this image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Also, likely locations have been found for the heat shield and back shell. The lander location has been confirmed by overlaying the lander-derived topographic contours on the high-resolution camera's image, which provides an excellent match. Viking Lander 2 was one element of an ambitious mission to study Mars, with a four-spacecraft flotilla consisting of two orbiters and two landers. Four cutouts from this image are shown. The first is an overview showing the relative locations of the lander and candidate back shell and heat shield, and the others are enlargements of each of these components. Large boulders, dunes, and other features visible in Viking Lander 2 images can be located in the high-resolution camera's image. The polygonal pattern of the surface is typical at these latitudes and may be due to the presence of deep subsurface ice. As chance would have it, this image is blurred in some places due to the abrupt motion associated with the restart of the orbiter's high-gain antenna tracking during the very short image exposure. This is the first time after acquiring hundreds of pictures that a High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment image has been unintentionally smeared, overall performance has been excellent. A prime motivation for early viewing of the Viking sites is to calibrate imagery taken from orbit with the data previously acquired by the landers. In particular, determining what sizes of rocks can be seen from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter aids the interpretation of data now being taken to characterize sites for future landers, such as the Phoenix Mars Lander mission to be launched in 2007. Images from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment and additional information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter are available online at: http://www.nasa.gov/mro [ http://www.nasa.gov/mro ] or http://HiRISE.lpl.arizona.edu [ http://HiRISE.lpl.arizona.edu ]. For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, http://www.nasa.gov [ http://www.nasa.gov ]. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera was built by Ball Aerospace Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona.
Viking Orbiter-Lander
title Viking Orbiter-Lander
Valles Marineris
PIA00422
Sol (our sun)
Title Valles Marineris
Original Caption Released with Image A color image of Valles Marineris, the great canyon of Mars, north toward top. The scene shows the entire canyon system, over 3,000 km long and averaging 8 km deep, extending from Noctis Labyrinthus, the arcuate system of graben to the west, to the chaotic terrain to the east. This image is a composite of Viking medium-resolution images in black and white and low-resolution images in color, Mercator projection. The image extends from latitude 0 degrees to 20 degrees S. and from longitude 45 degrees to 102.5 degrees. The connected chasma or valleys of Valles Marineris may have formed from a combination of erosional collapse and structural activity. Layers of material in the eastern canyons might consist of carbonates deposited in ancient lakes. Huge ancient river channels began from Valles Marineris and from adjacent canyons and ran north. Many of the channels flowed north into Chryse Basin, which contains the site of the Viking 1 Lander and the future site of the Mars Pathfinder Lander.
First Color Image From Vikin …
PIA00563
Sol (our sun)
Camera 2
Title First Color Image From Viking Lander 1
Original Caption Released with Image This color picture of Mars was taken July 21--the day following Viking l's successful landing on the planet. The local time on Mars is approximately noon. The view is southeast from the Viking. Orange-red surface materials cover most of the surface, apparently forming a thin veneer over darker bedrock exposed in patches, as in the lower right. The reddish surface materials may be limonite (hydrated ferric oxide). Such weathering products form on Earth in the presence of water and an oxidizing atmosphere. The sky has a reddish cast, probably due to scattering and reflection from reddish sediment suspended in the lower atmosphere. The scene was scanned three times by the spacecraft's camera number 2, through a different color filter each time. To assist in balancing the colors, a second picture was taken of z test chart mounted on the rear of the spacecraft. Color data for these patches were adjusted until the patches were an appropriate color of gray. The same calibration was then used for the entire scene.
Five to Mars
Title Five to Mars
Explanation Come December 2003 - January 2004, an armada of five new invaders [ http://www.planetary.org/rrgtm/missions5.html ] from Earth should arrive on the shores of the Red Planet -- the Japanese ( ISAS [ http://www.isas.ac.jp/ ]) Nozomi [ http://www.isas.ac.jp/e/enterp/missions/nozomi/ index.html ] orbiter, the European Space Agency's Mars Express [ http://sci.esa.int/home/marsexpress/ ] orbiter carrying the Beagle 2 [ http://www.beagle2.com/index.htm ] lander, and NASA's own two Mars Exploration [ http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/ ] Rovers. While Nozomi began [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980904.html ] its interplanetary voyage in 1998, the other spacecraft are scheduled for launch windows beginning this June. Clearly, earthdwellers remain intensely curious about Mars and the tantalizing [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030221.html ] possibility of past or present martian life [ http://cmex-www.arc.nasa.gov/SiteCat/sitecat2/ stratex.htm ], with these robotic missions focussing on investigating the planet's atmosphere and the search for water [ http://www.psrd.hawaii.edu/Sept98/GusevMars.html ]. This mosaic [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/caption/ marsglobe2.txt ] of over 100 Viking 1 orbiter images of Mars [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/ photogallery-mars.html ] was recorded in 1980 and is projected to show the perspective seen from an approaching spacecraft at a distance of 2,000 kilometers. Exceptional [ http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/planets/ article_929_1.asp ] views of Mars will be possible from earthbound telescopes in August and September.
Close Up Fly Over of Mars Po …
Title Close Up Fly Over of Mars Polar Lander Landing Area in True Color
Abstract This is one of a series of visualizations showing false-colored renderings of the Martian topography measured by MOLA in the vicinity of the Mars Polar Lander landing site. Blue tones represent elevations of less than 2 kilometers, while reddish tones are greater than about 2.8 kilometers, relative to the mean equatorial height of Mars. The elevation of the landing site is about 2.4 km, midway into the polar layered terrain. The 400 meters (1/4 mile) resolution of the MOLA data gives a smoothed but vertically exaggerated view of the topography. At this scale it is impossible to ascertain the actual roughness at the lander's destination, forcing project directors to make their best guesses based on available data.
Completed 1999-11-22
Valles Marineris Flyover (lo …
Title Valles Marineris Flyover (long version)
Abstract This view of Valles Marineris was constructed by combining the Viking color texture with MOLA altimetry data. There is no vertical exaggeration applied to the surface displacement.
Completed 2000-03-09
Push in South of the Hellas …
Title Push in South of the Hellas Basin using Viking Imagery
Completed 1999-11-22
Push in South of the Hellas …
Title Push in South of the Hellas Basin using Viking Imagery
Completed 1999-11-22
Valles Marineris Flyover (Lo …
Title Valles Marineris Flyover (Long Version)
Abstract This view of Valles Marineres was constructed by combining the Viking color texture with MOLA altimetry data. There is no vertical exaggeration applied to the surface displacement.
Completed 2000-03-09
Valles Marineris Flyover (Lo …
Title Valles Marineris Flyover (Long Version)
Abstract This view of Valles Marineres was constructed by combining the Viking color texture with MOLA altimetry data. There is no vertical exaggeration applied to the surface displacement.
Completed 2000-03-09
Viking 1 Picture of the Mart …
Title Viking 1 Picture of the Martian Surface
Full Description Viking 1 obtained this color picture of the Martian surface and sky on July 24, 1976. Camera number 1 facing southeast captured part of the gray structured spacecraft in the foreground. A bright orange cable leads to one of the descent rocket engines. Orange-red surface materials cover most of the surface, apparently forming a thin veneer over dark bedrock. A zone of large dark boulders is present in the far-field. The sky has a reddish cast, which is probably due to scattering and reflection from reddish sediment suspended in the lower atmosphere. This picture had been radiometrically calibrated, using information on camera performance acquired before launch. Although the colors are very vivid the fidelity with which the bright orange cable is reproduced suggests the intense colors of the Martian surface.
Date 07/26/1976
NASA Center Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Could Hydrogen Peroxide Life …
Title Could Hydrogen Peroxide Life Survive on Mars?
Explanation Is there life on Mars? Although no unambiguous evidence for indigenous life on Mars has ever been found, a more speculative question -- "could" some life forms survive on Mars -- has taken on a new twist. Two planetary scientists recently speculated [ http://www.cosis.net/abstracts/EPSC2007/00439/EPSC2007-J-00439.pdf ] that were extremophile microbes [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060122.html ] to involve a mixture of hydrogen peroxide [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_peroxide ] (H2O2) and water (H2O), these microbes might well be able survive the thin, cold, dry atmosphere on Mars. Life [ http://www.hlasek.com/brachinus_crepitans_2053.html ] that involves hydrogen peroxide [ http://www.h2o2.com/intro/faq.html ] does exist here on Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070325.html ], they note, and such life would be better able to absorb water on Mars [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars ]. They also claim that such life [ http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00001109/ ] would be consistent with the ambiguous results coming out from the life-detecting experiments [ http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/V/VikingGCMS.html ] aboard the old Viking Landers [ http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/GAL100/viking.html ]. Although such speculation is not definitive, debating possibilities for life on Mars [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960207.html ] has again proven to be fun and a magnet for media attention. Pictured above [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00571 ], the Viking Lander 2 [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_2 ] captured an unusual image of the Martian surface [ http://www.google.com/mars/ ] in 1979 sporting a thin layer of seasonal water ice [ http://www.howstuffworks.com/ice-rink.htm ].
Mars: Just The Facts
Title Mars: Just The Facts
Explanation Mars [ http://www.challenger.org/marsl.html ], the freeze-dried planet [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/marsfact.html ], orbits 137 million miles from the Sun or at about 1.5 times the Earth-Sun distance [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960727.html ]. It has two diminutive moons [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap961222.html ], towering extinct volcanos [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950719.html ], an immense canyon system [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950720.html ], a thin atmosphere chiefly composed of carbon dioxide (CO2), a frigid average surface temperature of -63 degrees Celsius [ http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/staff/blynds/tmp.html ], and permanent frozen CO2 polar caps which contain some water ice. Mars' surface presently lacks liquid water [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970316.html ] and has a reddish color because of an abundance of oxidized iron compounds (rust). A small terrestrial planet [ http://www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/mars.html ], fourth from the Sun [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970528.html ], Mars has only about 3/8 the surface gravity of Earth. So for example, if you tip the scale at a hefty 200 pounds on Earth you'd be a 75 pound featherweight on Mars [ http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/mars/ ]. The low martian gravity will be good for NASA's Mars Pathfinder [ http://mpfwww.jpl.nasa.gov/ ] spacecraft scheduled to land on Mars [ http://bang.lanl.gov/solarsys/mars.htm ] next Friday, July 4th [ http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/imp/mission.success.html ]. Using rockets, parachutes, and airbags [ http://mars.sgi.com/mpf/realtime/edlpage.html ], Mars Pathfinder [ http://mpfwww.arc.nasa.gov/mpf/mission_ops.html ] will be the first spacecraft to touchdown on the planet since the Viking landers [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960722.html ] in 1976. Pathfinder is also scheduled to begin the first ever mobile surface exploration [ http://cmex-www.arc.nasa.gov/ ] by releasing the robot rover [ http://ranier.hq.nasa.gov/telerobotics_page/coolrobots96.html ], "Mars Sojourner" [ http://mars.sgi.com/rover/about.html ].
The Face on Mars
Title The Face on Mars
Explanation This image, showing what looks to be a human face sculpted on the martian surface, was produced using data from NASA's Viking 1 orbiter [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/viking.html ] in 1976. Described in a press release as a "face-like hill" it caused some to offer the sensational speculation that it was an artificial construct built by an intelligent civilization on Mars! As a result, this image was splashed across the covers of many grocery store tabloids at the time. A detailed analysis of multiple images of this feature reveals a natural looking martian hill whose illusory face-like appearance depends on viewing angle and angle of illumination. For more information about the picture see the NSSDC Photo Gallery of Mars. [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/PhotoGallery-Mars.html#controversy ] For a detailed discussion of the "Face on Mars" see Calvin J. Hamilton's Face on Mars page. [ http://www.c3.lanl.gov/~cjhamil/SolarSystem/face.html ]
Ejected Shroud on the Martia …
PIA00527
Sol (our sun)
Camera 2
Title Ejected Shroud on the Martian Surface
Original Caption Released with Image Shining on the Martian surface near the Viking 2 spacecraft is the aluminum shroud, or cover, which protected the collector head of the surface sampler instrument during Viking's year-long journey from Earth. On September 5, two days after Viking 2 landed, the surface sampler was rotated from its parked position atop the spacecraft and pointed downward about 40 degrees. The shroud was then ejected by a set of eight springs positioned around its base. It struck the porous rock at the bottom of the picture, bounced about 20 inches, hit the surface again and bounced another 20 inches. The scar left by the second bounce is faintly visible halfway between the shroud and the rock it struck. The shroud is 12 inches long and 4 1/2 inches in diameter. The large rock just beyond it is about 2 feet long and about a foot thick. At lower right is the support structure of one of the spacecraft s three landing legs.
Rocky Martian Plain
PIA00364
Sol (our sun)
Camera 2
Title Rocky Martian Plain
Original Caption Released with Image The rocky Martian plain surrounding Viking 2 is seen in high resolution in this 85-degree panorama sweeping from north at the left to east at right during the Martian afternoon on September 5. Large blocks litter the surface. Some are porous, sponge-like rocks like the one at the left edge (size estimate: 1 1/2 to 2 feet), others are dense and fine-grained, such as the very bright rounded block (1 to 1 1/2 feet across) toward lower right. Pebbled surface between the rocks is covered in places by small drifts of very fine material similar to drifts seen at the Viking 1 landing site some 4600 miles to the southwest. The fine-grained material is banked up behind some rocks, but wind tails seen by Viking 1 are not well-developed here. On the right horizon, flat-topped ridges or hills are illuminated by the afternoon sun. Slope of the horizon is due to the 8-degree tilt of the spacecraft.
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