The NASA Viking missions, consisting of Viking 1 and Viking 2, marked a historic chapter in the exploration of Mars. Launched in 1975, these twin spacecraft were the first to successfully land on the Martian surface and conduct comprehensive studies of the Red Planet. Their primary goal was to search for signs of past or present life on Mars and to understand the planet's geology and atmosphere.
Each Viking spacecraft consisted of an orbiter and a lander. The landers conducted experiments on the Martian surface, including tests for organic compounds, soil chemistry, and meteorology, while the orbiters provided valuable data on Mars' atmosphere and mapped the planet's surface.
Although the Viking missions did not find conclusive evidence of life on Mars, they significantly expanded our knowledge of the planet, laying the foundation for future Mars exploration missions.
