SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -The Viking program consisted of a pair of identical American space probes, Viking 1 and Viking 2, which landed on Mars in 1976. Each spacecraft was composed of two main parts: an orbiter designed to photograph the surface of Mars from orbit, and a lander designed to study the planet from the surface.

Detailed explanation-2: -Is there life on Mars? One former NASA scientist said we found evidence of such more than 40 years ago. In an essay for Scientific American, Gilbert V. Levin explained how life-detection equipment aboard the Viking mission to Mars in 1976 reported positive results for evidence of life.

Detailed explanation-3: -About the mission The first spacecraft to successfully land on Mars, Viking 1 was part of a two-part mission to investigate the Red Planet and search for signs of life. Viking 1 consisted of both an orbiter and a lander designed to take high-resolution images, and study the Martian surface and atmosphere.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Phoenix Lander discovered the chemical perchlorate in the Martian soil. Perchlorate is a strong oxidant so it may have destroyed any organic matter on the surface.

Detailed explanation-5: -Viking 2 landed on Mars in September 1976–immediately following the first successful spacecraft landing on Mars by Viking 1–and was part of NASA’s early two-part mission to investigate the Red Planet and search for signs of life.