Viking Orbiter 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

Part of the Grand Canyon, Marineris Vallis, on Mars, 1976. This view was taken by the Viking Orbiter 1 spacecraft. The canyons are some 4000 kilometres long and are over 6 kilometres deep in places

View of Mars, August 1976. Taken from the Viking 2 Orbiter, this photograph shows the large Ascreaus Mons volcano swathed in clouds of ice crystals in the top right corner

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"Exploring the Mysteries of Mars: Viking Orbiter 1" In 1976, NASA's Viking 1 Mission to Mars captured breathtaking images of the Red Planet from its orbit. The Viking spacecraft, a marvel of engineering from the 1970s, provided us with unprecedented views and insights into our neighboring planet. One such image is "Big Joe, " a stunning photograph taken by Viking Orbiter 1 showcasing the Martian landscape in all its glory. This snapshot offers a glimpse into the vast expanse that awaited further exploration. The mission also included a lander component, which touched down on the surface of Mars. From there, we were able to witness firsthand the barren yet captivating terrain through images like "Lander and surface of Mars. " It was an awe-inspiring sight that fueled our curiosity about this alien world. Viking 1's sample scoop and arm played a crucial role in gathering data about Martian soil composition. These tools allowed scientists to study samples up close and gain valuable insights into the planet's geological makeup. Perhaps one of the most iconic moments was when Viking 1 captured and transmitted back to Earth the first-ever color photograph of Mars' surface. This groundbreaking achievement marked a significant milestone in our understanding of this enigmatic planet. As day turned into night on Mars, Viking Orbiter 1 documented mesmerizing scenes like "Martian sunset. " Witnessing this celestial event reminded us that even though we were millions of miles away from home, nature still had its way of enchanting us across space. Another intriguing discovery came in form of "Trench excavated by surface sampler. " This image revealed evidence suggesting possible signs for past water activity on Mars—a tantalizing clue in our search for extraterrestrial life. Throughout its mission, Viking Orbiter 1 continued to capture striking visuals like "Martian planet surface" and "Rock-strewn Martian surface.