With so much attention focused on Mars these days it is worth looking back at the first two landers to successfully make it to the ground and carry out an extensive scientific program. This happened way back in the Bicentennial year of 1976 when the Viking 1 and 2 orbiters successfully navigated their way to the Red Planet before releasing their precious cargo of atomic-powered landers to descend to the surface where the two landers photographed their surroundings while digging […]

Categories: Space Age Bulletins • Tags: Mars, National Air & Space Museum, Red Planet, Viking Lander, Viking Orbiter, Washington DC