Fifty years ago: Viking craft lands on Mars, sends back clear pictures
On July 20, 1976, the American unmanned Viking space probe lander successfully touched down on Mars after an 11-month, 800 million-kilometre journey from Earth. The 600 kg craft landed on the Martian plain of Chryse, using its three slender aluminium legs. Within 25 seconds of landing, it transmitted two exceptionally clear photographs showing hills, small rocks, and gravel. Scientists at Mission Control in Pasadena speculated that the terrain, visible up to three to five kilometres away, could be composed of volcanic lava or basalt. The ground was soft with rocks and gravel, but the legs did not sink. Some rocks, about 30 cm across, had sharp angles suggesting breakage by sandstorms. The second panoramic picture revealed dunes alongside hills. Each photograph took five minutes to complete, line by line, and 35 minutes to reach Earth.
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