The Viking missions involve the launching of two identical spacecraft in the summer of 1975. Each spacecraft consists of a Lander and an Orbiter combination. The initial deceleration of the Lander during its descent to the Martian surface will be caused by aerodynamic drag. At about 5 km above the surface, a parachute is deployed. At 2 km three retrorockets are fired. The investigations to be conducted are discussed, giving attention to studies of the Martian surface with the aid of TV cameras, water mapping with an IR spectrometer, a thermal mapping experiment, studies of the Martian atmosphere, investigations conducted with a surface sampler, the search for life, and studies of the Martian surface composition.


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    Title :

    The science of the Viking missions


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Technology today for tomorrow; Eleventh Space Congress ; 1974 ; Cocoa Beach, FL


    Publication date :

    1974-01-01


    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    The Viking missions to Mars.

    Soffen, G. A. / Young, A. T. | NTRS | 1972


    The Missions of the Viking Orbiters

    Snyder, C. W. | NTRS | 1977


    Orbital reconnaissance program for Viking class missions

    Green, R. N. / Souders, S. W. | NTRS | 1970



    Automated lunar landing missions using the Viking spacecraft

    Lawrence, G. F. / Scofield, W. T. | NTRS | 1971