Viking program

The Viking program was a NASA mission consisting of two robotic spacecraft, Viking 1 and Viking 2, launched in the 1970s to explore Mars. Each spacecraft included an orbiter for imaging and studying the atmosphere, and a lander designed to touch down on the Martian surface. Viking's primary goal was to search for signs of life and gather detailed data on Mars' climate, geology, and surface conditions. The mission provided the first close-up images of the planet’s surface and advanced our understanding of Mars, laying groundwork for future exploration.