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Viking 2 Image of Mars Utopian Plain

This image is a trip down memory lane. As Mars Odyssey finds water on Mars, the Viking missions in 1976 was a disappointment for anyone who wanted to find life on Mars.

Posted by NASA / Hypography
28 May, 2002 03:16:09

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The boulder-strewn field of red rocks reaches to the horizon nearly two miles from Viking 2 on Mars' Utopian Plain. Scientists believe the colors of the Martian surface and sky in this photo represent their true colors.

Fine particles of red dust have settled on spacecraft surfaces. The salmon color of the sky is caused by dust particles suspended in the atmosphere. Color calibration charts for the cameras are mounted at
three locations on the spacecraft. Note the blue starfield and red stripes of the flag. The circular structure at top is the high-gain antenna, pointed toward Earth. Viking 2 landed September 3, 1976, some 4600 miles from its twin, Viking 1, which touched down on July 20.

Image credit: NASA