[Astrobiology] This article outlines engineering challenges that were involved in the design innovations required to successfully deliver not one but two landers for Viking.
Viking 2
Posted inMars
Fifty Years after Viking: The Promise of Solar System Microbiology and Microbial Ecology
[Astrobiology via PubMed] The ambiguity of the Viking lander life-detection experiments left microbiology and microbial ecology out of space missions for 50 years. However, this was largely because the scientific […]
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Press Release
Signs Of Recent Life On Mars Could Be Detected Using New Simple Test
A PhD student and his supervisor have developed a simple way for testing for active life on Mars and other planets using equipment already on the Mars Curiosity rover and […]
Posted inMars, Status Report, Video, Audio, Webcasts, Podcasts
Astrobiology.com on Alhurra TV: Viking 2 Landing
On 4 September 2024 Astrobiology.com editor Keith Cowing appeared on Alhurra TV to talk about the anniversary of the Viking 2 landing on Mars, future Mars exploration, and Astrobiology, the […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs
Viking 1 Examines Martian Soil
Operations have begun at the Viking landing site to dig foot-deep trench in the Martian soil and distribute samples to three instruments.
Posted inPress Release
Second Viking Oven May Have Failed
One of three small ovens in an experiment aboard the Viking 1 spacecraft may not be working, similar to condition on Viking 2 reported last week. Both Vikings are enroute […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Tricorders & Sensors
Viking 2 Oven Has Failed
One of three small ovens on an experiment aboard NASA’s Viking 2 Lander apparently did not operate during recent checkout tests of the instrument.