Viking Program
Viking 1
Vehicle: Titan IIIE | Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Key Mission Milestones & Event Timeline
August 20, 1975
Launch
Viking 1 launched from Cape Canaveral on a Titan IIIE-Centaur rocket.
June 19, 1976
Mars Orbit Insertion
Entered orbit around Mars, beginning high-resolution photographic mapping for landing site selection.
July 20, 1976
Martian Surface Touchdown
The lander separated from the orbiter and successfully landed at Chryse Planitia, sending back the first photos from the surface.
November 11, 1982
Mission Termination
A faulty software upload by ground controllers accidentally disabled the lander transceiver, ending the mission.