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Viking 1 and 2 Orbiters were one component of a two-part of spacecraft with missions to investigate the Red Planet and search for signs of life. These missions consisted of both an orbiter and a lander designed to take high-resolution images, and study the Martian surface and atmosphere.
The Viking missions were planned to continue for 90 days after landing. Each orbiter and lander operated far beyond its design lifetime. Viking Orbiter 1 continued for four years and 1,489 orbits of Mars, concluding its mission August 7, 1980, while Viking Orbiter 2 functioned until July 25, 1978.
Spacecraft connection to the Museum:
Spacecraft connection to the Museum:
An image of Viking 1 Orbiter propulsion system is available as part of the Museum's digital collection on our website. This object is not on display on the museum floor at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Additional information:
When did Viking 1 & 2 launch from Earth and arrive at Mars?
Launch: Viking 1 launched on August 20, 1975, and Viking 2 on September 9, 1975 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
Mars Orbit Insertion: Viking 1 reached Mars orbit June 19, 1976; Viking 2 began orbiting Mars August 7, 1976.
Mission Status: Inactive Viking 1 Orbiter operations were terminated on August 17, 1980, after 1485 orbits. A 2009 analysis concluded that, while the possibility that Viking 1 had impacted Mars could not be ruled out, it was most likely still in orbit. Viking 2 Orbiter developed a leak in its propulsion system that vented its attitude control gas. It was placed in a 302 × 33,176 km orbit and turned off on July 25, 1978. It continues to orbit Mars.
What were the mission goals for the Viking Orbiters?
Obtain high resolution images of the Martian surface
Characterize the structure and composition of the Martian atmosphere and surface
Search for evidence of life
What makes the Viking 1 Orbiter so special to the National Air and Space Museum?
A signal from Viking 1, orbiting Mars, triggered the ribbon cutting at the opening of the National Air and Space Museum's building on the National Mall, July 1, 1976
What were some of the findings from the Viking Orbiter missions?
Atmospheric pressure varies by 30 percent during the Martian year because carbon dioxide condenses and sublimes at the polar caps.
The permanent north cap is water ice; the southern cap probably retains some carbon dioxide ice through the summer.
Water vapor is relatively abundant only in the far north during the summer, but subsurface water (permafrost) covers much if not all of the planet.
Northern and southern hemispheres are drastically different climatically, because of the global dust storms that originate in the south in summer.
What are some of the instruments on Viking Orbiters and what were their purposes?
Imaging system - map the Martian surface
Mars atmospheric water detector (MAWD)- measure water vapor in the atmosphere
Infrared thermal mapper (IRTM) - measure the reflected solar radiation and surface thermal emission from the area viewed by the orbiter imaging system
Observations of ground frosts or clouds will help to determine their composition, and in the case of extensive H2O frosts, will allow the local water vapor pressure to be estimated
What was the primary power source for the Viking Orbiters?
The power to the two orbiter craft was provided by eight 1.57 × 1.23 m solar panels, two on each wing.
The solar panels comprised a total of 34,800 solar cells and produced 620 W of power at Mars.
Power was also stored in two nickel-cadmium 30-A·h batteries.
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