Abstract
The paper outlines the major goals and present achievements of the Viking 1 mission to Mars. The construction and instrumentation of the orbiter and lander are described. The criteria used to select the optimum landing site are discussed together with orbit adjustments and the landing process. Special attention is given to constraints on surface coverage and observation conditions.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- August 1976
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 1976Sci...193..759S
- Keywords:
-
- Mars Surface;
- Mission Planning;
- Spacecraft Design;
- Spacecraft Orbits;
- Viking Mars Program;
- Landing Sites;
- Mars Landing;
- Orbit Calculation;
- Planetary Mapping;
- Viking Lander 1;
- Viking Orbiter 1;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration