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Viking Missions

The Viking Mars mission was performed by two spacecraft, Viking 1 and Viking 2, launched within a couple of weeks of each other. Each spacecraft consisted of an orbiter and a lander, which traveled attached together for nearly a year to reach Mars orbit. The orbiters then began taking pictures of the Martian surface, from which a landing site was selected.
Did NASA Probes Kill Martian Life?
One Washington State University geology professor wonders if NASA may have accidentally killed life on Mars. At a recent meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle, Dirk Schulze-Makuch presented his theory in a paper, which was released Sunday. He bases his ideas on more recent discoveries of conditions in which life can develop.
Viking 1 and 2 Missions Information
Like the Mariners 6 and 7 missions, Viking was a twin spacecraft mission as well, consisting of Viking 1 and Viking 2, launched within a couple of weeks of each other. Each spacecraft consisted of an orbiter and a lander, which traveled attached together for nearly a year to reach Mars orbit. Upon arrival at Mars, the orbiters began taking pictures of the Martian surface, from which a landing site was selected.

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