Viking missions

The Viking missions, launched in the late 1970s, were NASA's pioneering efforts to explore Mars. Consisting of two spacecraft, Viking 1 and Viking 2, each had an orbiter and a lander. They studied Martian surface, atmosphere, and climate to assess the planet's habitability. Viking was the first U.S. mission to land on Mars and conduct detailed scientific experiments, including searching for signs of life. Their findings provided crucial insights into Mars’ environment, geology, and potential for past life, laying the groundwork for future exploration.