jul 20, 1976 - Viking 1 Makes Contact
Description:
Viking 1 was the first American spacecraft to land on the surface of Mars. From its Martian home, Viking 1 and later its twin, Viking 2, beamed back images and weather data and conducted experiments for six years—even though the mission had been planned for only 90 days! Scientists discovered that Mars has different types of rocks, potentially from different points of origin, and that Mars has seasons and calm winds at night. For the first time, Earthlings could imagine what it might be like to crunch along the planet’s rocky soil and feel its tumultuous winds.
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Mars Exploration
This project focuses on the history of Mars exploration
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