Vikings 1 and 2 Orbiters

Launch: August 20, 1975 (Viking 1); September 9, 1975 (Viking 2)
Arrival: June 19, 1976 (Viking 1); August 7, 1976 (Viking 2)
Mass: 2,325 kilograms (5,125 pounds) with fuel
Science instruments: High-resolution camera, atmospheric water-vapor mapper, surface heat mapper, occultation experiment

Mariner 9 managed to orbit around Mars for 349 days, bringing scientist much information about the red planet. As NASA's attention turned to a new program, the IKI sent Mars 4, 5, 6 and 7 with some success. Roughly three years after Mariner 9's orbit, NASA sent two spacecraft to further investigate Mars as part of the mission called the Viking Mission. Vikings 1 and 2 were designed to consist of an orbiter and lander each. Viking 1 was launched on August 20, 1975, and arrived at Mars on June 19, 1976. Viking 1 then orbited for one month to search for a landing place before its lander separated from the orbiter on July 20, 1976, and touched down at Chryse Planitia. Viking 2 was launched 19 days from Viking 1 on launched September 9, 1975, and entered Mars orbit on August 7, 1976, its lander touching down at Utopia Planitia on September 3, 1976. Above in space, the orbiters were busy imaging the entire surface of Mars. Viking 2's orbiter was powered down on July 25, 1978, after 706 orbits, 2 years of orbiting, and Viking 1's orbiter on August 17, 1980, after over 1400 orbits, 4 years' orbiting. The landers stayed longer to analyse and transmit information about Mars' surface. Viking 2's lander powered down on April 11, 1980, and Viking 1's lander followed on November 13, 1982. The information the Vikings provided us with a complete look of Mars, showing even more geographical structures such as volcanoes and more evidence of surface water. All in all, the Vikings have sent us more than fifty thousand photos, and became the first mission to safely land a spacecraft onto Mars.