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Viking ProjectNASA's Viking project was a two-part mission that sent spacecraft to Mars to map its surface, collect atmospheric data, and search for signs of life. Named after the Norse explorers, the identical Viking 1 and 2 spacecraft launched in 1975. Each consisted of a lander with scientific instruments and an orbiter with high-resolution cameras and communication relays to transmit data. The Viking 1 and 2 orbiters combined to orbit Mars more than 2,100 times, mapping 97% of its surface and identifying two contrasting regions—lowlands in the northern hemisphere and highlands in the southern hemisphere—known as the Martian dichotomy. The orbiters directly observed volcanoes, lava plains, and geological features like river valley networks and canyons. These features—some much larger than any seen on Earth—are created from rainfall and flooding, indicating the presence of significant surface water in Mars' past Equipped with two 360-degree cameras, environmental and meteorological sensors, a seismometer, and life-detection experiments, the landers were the first in history to transmit data from the Martian surface. The custom biological experiments conducted on Martian soil samples provided no definitive evidence of life on the Red Planet.Explore Viking Project
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View an interactive collection of historical documents from the Viking projectThis collection includes original mission bulletins, engineering and planning documents, and interview segments from more than 80 Viking team members who made the historic exploration of Mars’ surface by a lander possible. Google Arts & CultureView the first photos ever taken from the Martian surface, courtesy of NASA's Viking Project.NASA's Viking 1 landed on Mars on July 20, 1976, with Viking 2 following on September 3, 1976. The two captured 4,500 images of Mars as the first spacecraft to land and transmit data from the Red Planet successfully. HistoryKorey Stringer, of the Minnesota Vikings, died of heat-related illness in 2001In response, the NFL overhauled its heat approach and no other player has since died from heat-related illness. Even at the high school level, research suggests safety measures should include: mandating water breaks, keeping a cool tub available, and having athletes acclimate to high-temperature playing conditions for a week or longer before donning the full set of protective equipment. University of Connecticut Korey Stringer InstituteNorse Yule solstice rituals inspired many modern Christmas decorationsScandinavian Vikings celebrated Yule during the winter solstice, burning massive, decorated logs to protect their homes and ensure good harvests, while hoping for the sun's return. The festival included evergreens, mistletoe, holly, and ivy. Jereme ZimmermanSupersonic parachutes have allowed rovers to safely land on Mars' surfaceThe disk-band-gap parachute design was first developed for the Viking Project in the 1970s. Since then, it has been reinforced and uses stronger materials to handle larger payloads—including the 2020 Perseverance rover—landing it a world record. Guinness World RecordsThe Viking landers were the first spacecraft to conduct experiments on MarsNASA’s Viking 1 and 2 missions tested soils for signs of life, captured images, and studied the Martian atmosphere, revealing evidence of ancient water flow, volcanic soil, and a thin carbon dioxide atmosphere. NASA