Viking 1 Collection

Mars from Viking 1 orbiter, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. Creator: NASA
Mars from Viking 1 orbiter, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. The Viking 1 spacecraft, part of NASAs Viking programme, was the first spacecraft to land successfully on Mars and perform its mission

Big Joe, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. Creator: NASA
Big Joe, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. Big Joe, a dark rock on the planet surface, about 2 metres (6.6 feet) long, seen here about 8 meters (26 feet) from the Viking 1 Lander spacecraft

Viking spacecraft, 1970s. Creator: NASA
Viking spacecraft, 1970s. NASAs Viking program consisted of a pair of American space probes sent to Mars, Viking 1 and Viking 2

Lander and surface of Mars, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. Creator: NASA
Lander and surface of Mars, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. The Viking 1 spacecraft, part of NASAs Viking programme, was the first spacecraft to land successfully on Mars and perform its mission

Sample scoop and arm, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. Creator: NASA
Sample scoop and arm, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. The Viking 1 spacecraft, part of NASAs Viking programme, was the first spacecraft to land successfully on Mars and perform its mission

First colour photograph of the Martian planet surface, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. The Viking 1 spacecraft, part of NASAs Viking programme

Martian sunset, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. Creator: NASA
Martian sunset, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. Mars skyline at sunset, pictured from the Viking lander. The Viking 1 spacecraft, part of NASAs Viking programme

Trench excavated by surface sampler, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. Creator: NASA
Trench excavated by surface sampler, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. The Viking 1 spacecraft, part of NASAs Viking programme

Martian planet surface, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. Creator: NASA
Martian planet surface, Viking 1 Mission to Mars, 1976. The Viking 1 spacecraft, part of NASAs Viking programme, was the first spacecraft to land successfully on Mars and perform its mission

Rock-strewn Martian surface, Viking Lander mission, 1970s. Creator: NASA
Rock-strewn Martian surface, Viking Lander mission, 1970s. NASAs Viking program consisted of a pair of American space probes sent to Mars, Viking 1 and Viking 2

Viking 2 image of Mars Utopian Plain, September 3, 1976. Creator: NASA
Viking 2 image of Mars Utopian Plain, September 3, 1976. The boulder-strewn field of red rocks reaches to the horizon nearly two miles from the Viking 2 spacecraft

Viking 1 Launch
Viking 1 was launched by a Titan/Centaur rocket from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:22 p.m. EDT to begin a half-billion mile, 11-month journey through space to explore Mars

Viking 1 launch. Titan 3E rocket launching NASAs Viking 1 spacecraft on its mission to Mars. Viking 1 was the first of two spacecraft sent to Mars as part of NASAs Viking program

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"Exploring the Red Planet: Viking 1's Historic Mission to Mars" In 1976, NASA launched the groundbreaking Viking 1 mission, sending its orbiter and lander on an extraordinary journey to Mars. The Viking 1 spacecraft captured breathtaking images of the Martian planet surface, providing us with a glimpse into this mysterious world. One of the most iconic photographs taken by Viking 1 was that of Big Joe, a stunning crater on Mars. This image showcased the immense beauty and ruggedness of the Martian landscape. As Viking 1 descended onto Mars' surface, it provided us with unprecedented views through its lander camera. We marveled at the first color photograph ever taken of this alien planet's terrain, revealing vibrant hues we had only imagined before. The mission also gifted us with captivating glimpses of everyday life on Mars. A mesmerizing Martian sunset painted streaks across the sky as seen from Viking 1's perspective. It was a reminder that even in this distant world, nature's wonders still unfolded. Viking 1 carried out scientific experiments too; its surface sampler excavated trenches to study soil composition while capturing our imagination with rock-strewn surfaces reminiscent of Earth but uniquely different. Not limited to just one location, Viking 2 joined in later and presented us with another awe-inspiring view – an image showcasing Mars Utopian Plain. These pictures expanded our understanding of this enigmatic planet and fueled our curiosity for further exploration. The success marked a significant milestone in space exploration history. Its launch paved the way for future missions to unravel more secrets about our neighboring celestial bodies and ignited dreams about humanity's potential beyond Earth’s boundaries.