When did Viking 1 launch from Earth?
The Titan/Centaur rocket lifted off from Earth on the 20th of August 1975. This launch vehicle carried the Viking 1 spacecraft toward its distant target.
Questions about Viking 1
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What date did Viking 1 Orbiter enter Mars orbit?
Viking 1 Orbiter entered Mars orbit on the 19th of June 1976. The spacecraft trimmed its path to a specific certification orbit by the 21st of June.
Where is the Viking 1 lander located on Mars?
The landing site was western Chryse Planitia at 47 degrees west longitude. Imaging showed the original target too rough for safe operations before moving to this location.
How long did the Viking 1 lander operate on Mars?
The lander operated for 2,245 sols until the 11th of November 1982. A faulty command sent by ground control ended contact permanently after that duration.
Did Viking 1 test Einstein's theory of general relativity?
Scientists used radio signals from the lander to test general relativity predictions. Observed Shapiro delays matched theoretical predictions exactly during transmission tests.