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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

Viking 75 project: Viking lander system primary mission performance report

Viking Lander hardware performance during launch, interplanetary cruise, Mars orbit insertion, preseparation, separation through landing, and the primary landed mission, with primary emphasis on Lander engineering and science hardware operations, the as-flown mission are described with respect to Lander system performance and anomalies during the various mission phases. The extended mission and predicted Lander performance is discussed along with a summary of Viking goals, mission plans, and description of the Lander, and its subsystem definitions.

Cooley, C. G.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The Viking project

The Viking project launched two unmanned spacecraft to Mars in 1975 for scientific exploration with special emphasis on the search for life. Each spacecraft consisted of an orbiter and a lander. The landing sites were finally selected after the spacecraft were in orbit. Thirteen investigations were performed: three mapping experiments from the orbiter, one atmospheric investigation during the lander entry phase, eight experiments on the surface of the planet, and one using the spacecraft radio and radar systems. The experiments on the surface dealt principally with biology, chemistry, geology, and meteorology. Seventy-eight scientists have participated in the 13 teams performing these experiments. This paper is a summary of the project and an introduction to the articles that follow.

Soffen, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1971

The Viking project safety program

The safety requirements and the management of these requirements for the Viking Project are given. Potential hazards are identified and ways of reducing or providing a sound confidence limit are analyzed.

Donald H. Ward↗
NASA NTRS1973

Project Viking.

NASA will launch two spacecraft to Mars in 1975 to soft-land on the surface and test for signs of life. After confirming the site data from orbit, each of the spacecraft will separate into two parts, an orbiter and a lander. Together they will conduct scientific studies of the Martian atmosphere and surface. The lander's instruments will collect data for transmission to earth, direct or via the orbiter, including panoramic, stereo color pictures of its immediate surroundings, molecular organic and inorganic analyses of the soil, and atmospheric, meteorological, magnetic, and seismic characteristics. It will also make measurements of the atmosphere as it descends to the surface.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1972

Viking 75 Project.

Description of the Viking Project, a current effort to explore Mars using two unmanned spacecraft, consisting of an orbiter and lander each, during the 1975-1976 opportunity. The experiments on the surface will deal principally with biology, geology, and meteorology. If life is discovered on Mars, the dramatic find would greatly expand the field of exobiology and lead to a remarkable opportunity to study life that may be similar or different from our own.

Martin, J. S., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The Viking Mars Orbiter 1975 solar energy controller

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is responsible for the Viking Orbiter System, which is part of the overall Viking Project managed by the Viking Project Office at Langley Research Center for NASA. The spacecraft will be launched on a Titan IIIE/-Centaur Launch Vehicle in August 1975. Solar energy for temperature control purposes is introduced into the propulsion module of the Orbiter. The energy enters by way of four individually commandable solar energy controllers (SECs). This paper summarizes the SEC thermal development, design and test results. Test results are presented for the prototype unit and for the flight units.

Stultz, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Viking mission support

On April 26, 1976, the network operations control center was declared available for planetary operations in support of the Viking project. This final capability in the network configuration for Viking had been delayed since February with hardware and software problems both in the control center and at the Deep Space stations. The effect of these problems, particularly insofar as they affected production of intermediate data records, the resolution of the problems, and the current status of the network operations control center in the Viking environment, are given in this article. Also discussed are the operational verification tests performed to check out the new capabilities and associated procedures. The Viking project tests supported by the DSN and finally the DSN support of Viking cruise operations, along with some statistics on performance, are included.

Mudgway, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Telecommunications and data acquisition systems support for the Viking 1975 mission to Mars, volume 5

The support provided by the Deep Space Network to the Viking Project from 1 June 1978 to 30 April 1980 is described. The project was supported by the worldwide network of Deep Space Stations with 26- and 64-meter-diameter antennas, together with a ground communications system, for the transmission of commands, telemetry, radio metric data, and operational instructions between the stations and the network operation control center in Pasadena, California. Assistance was substantially less than in the previous phases of the Viking Project in order to provide adequate support to the Pioneer and Voyager Projects.

Larkin, W. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Balloon launched decelerator test program: Post-flight test report, BLDT vehicle AV-2, Viking 1975 project

The pertinent events concerned with the launch, float, and flight of balloon launched decelerator test vehicle AV-2 are discussed. The performance of the decelerator system is analyzed. Data on the flight trajectory and decelerator test points at the time of decelerator deployment are provided. A description of the time history of vehicle events and anomalies encounters during the mission is included.

Dickinson, D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Balloon launched decelerator test program: Post-flight test report, BLDT vehicle AV-3, Viking 1975 project

The pertinent events concerned with the launch, float, and flight of balloon launched decelerator test vehicle AV-3 are discussed. The performance of the decelerator system is analyzed. Data on the flight trajectory and decelerator test points at the time of decelerator deployment are provided. A description of the time history of vehicle events and anaomalies encounters during the mission is included.

Dickinson, D.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The Viking landing sites - Selection and certification

During the past several years the Viking project developed plans to use Viking orbiter instruments and earth-based radar to certify the suitability of the landing sites selected as the safest and most scientifically rewarding using Mariner 9 data. During June and July 1976, the earth-based radar and orbital spacecraft observations of some of the prime and backup sites were completed. The results of these combined observations indicated that the Viking 1 prime landing area in the Chryse region of Mars is geologically varied and possibly more hazardous than expected, and was not certifiable as a site for the Viking 1 landing. Consequently, the site certification effort had to be drastically modified and lengthened to search for a site that might be safe enough to attempt to land. The selected site considered at 47.5 deg W, 22.4 deg N represented a compromise between desirable characteristics observed with visual images and those inferred from earth-based radar. It lies in the Chryse region about 900 kilometers northwest of the original site.

Masursky, H.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Risk and value analysis of SETI

The risks, values, and costs of the SETI project are evaluated and compared with those of the Viking project. Examination of the scientific values, side benefits, and costs of the two projects reveal that both projects provide equal benefits at equal costs. The probability of scientific and technical success is analyzed.

Billingham, J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Deep Space Network to Viking Orbiter telecommunications performance during the Viking extended mission, November 1976 - February 1978

The telecommunications performance during the Viking extended mission, starting with the completion of the first superior conjunction in November 1976 and ending with the jettison of the VO-2 aft bioshield early in March 1978 is discussed. Viking Orbiter activities and problems, the ground system activities and problems, radio science activities, and communication link performance are included. The substantial involvement of the Deep Space Network and the coordination of their telecommunication planners with Viking Project telecommunications analysts in the planning and execution of complex Viking Orbiter sequences are discussed.

Taylor, F. H. J.↗