APOLLO MISSION CONTROL PHOTO PLUS

Viking Mission To Mars

NASA's Viking Mission to Mars was composed of two spacecraft, Viking 1 and Viking 2, each consisting of an orbiter and a lander. The primary mission objectives were to obtain high resolution images of the Martian surface, characterize the structure and composition of the atmosphere and surface, and search for evidence of life. Viking 1 was launched on August 20, 1975 and arrived at Mars on June 19, 1976. The first month of orbit was devoted to imaging the surface to find appropriate landing sites for the Viking Landers. On July 20, 1976 the Viking 1 Lander separated from the Orbiter and touched down at Chryse Planitia (22.48° N, 49.97° W planetographic, 1.5 km below the datum (6.1 mbar) elevation). Viking 2 was launched September 9, 1975 and entered Mars orbit on August 7, 1976. The Viking 2 Lander touched down at Utopia Planitia (47.97° N, 225.74° W, 3 km below the datum elevation) on September 3, 1976. The Orbiters imaged the entire surface of Mars at a resolution of 150 to 300 meters, and selected areas at 8 meters. The lowest periapsis altitude for both Orbiters was 300 km. The Viking 2 Orbiter was powered down on July 25, 1978 after 706 orbits, and the Viking 1 Orbiter on August 17, 1980, after over 1400 orbits.

£6.95

The Viking Project

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 70-H-215

10 February 1970

This fine project visual overview was shown at NASA's Aerospace Conference on 10 February 1970.

This fine vintage NASA photograph is in very good condition.

£5.95

The Viking Landing Profile

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 75-H-459

June 1975

Artist's concept illustrating the mission profile of the Viking spacecraft showing, left to right, bisoshield separation, lander capsule separation, the descent, parachute deployment, terminal propulsion, and entry to landing.

This fine vintage NASA photograph is in very good condition.

£11.95

The Viking Spacecraft

10 x 8 Colour NASA Photograph

JPL No. 295-9175

1974

This is not a concept photo but an actual photo of the Viking Spacecraft taken at JPL just after final check-out before delivery to KSC.

The Viking spacecraft, weighing 7760 lbs. (3520 kg), consists of an Orbiter and Lander - encapsulated in a bio-shield in this picture). The Lander is an automated scientific laboratory designed to obtain information about the structure, surface, and atmosphere of Mars, including the possible existence of past or present life forms. Its data is radioed to the Orbiter from the surface through an antenna located on one of the Orbiter-Earth radio link. Behind the dish is the Orbiter's movable science instrument platform. The white blanket, from which the rocket motor nozzle protrudes, controls propulsion system temperatures. The end of the Orbiter's omni-direction radio antenna is visible behind the blanket.

This fine vintage colour NASA photograph is in very good condition. VG+

£8.95

Viking Lander Biology Instrument

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

Technicians at TRW Systems assemble a Viking Lander Biology Instrument. The instruments were built, assembled and tested under rigid condition of cleanliness, then were heat sterilized to prevent accidental discovery of earth life on the red planet by Viking.

This fine vintage glossy NASA photograph is in very good condition. VG+

£3.95

Viking Under Assembly

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 74-H-325

May 1974

The planetary landing spacecraft, Viking which includes stereo cameras, a weather station, and automated soil analysis laboratory and a biology instrument that can detect life is under assembly at Martin Marietta Aerospace near Denver. This Viking spacecraft will travel more than 460 million miles from Earth to a soft landing on the Red Planet in 1976 to explore the surface and atmosphere of Mars. The Lander will be powered by two Nuclear Generators.

Sadly this wonderful vintage NASA photograph is in poor condition. It was stuck to another photo and when separated, a couple of small pieces of gloss stuck to the other photo. Those small pieces of gloss are still on the other photo :o(

As it is such an important photograph I decided to list it. I would not normally list a photo that is damaged, unless its importance warrants it.

£7.95

Viking Mating Atop Titan-3 Centaur

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 101-KSC-75P-348

28 July 1975

The Viking A spacecraft was moved from KSC's Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility to LC-41 and mated to its Titan III/Centaur launch vehicle on the morning of 28 July 1975. Viking A is scheduled for launch from Complex 41 on August 11, with a window extending from 4:59 to 5:51 p.m. EDT.

This fine vintage NASA photograph is in very good condition. VG-

£9.95

Titan-III/Centaur And Viking (A) Lift Off

10 x 8 Colour NASA Photograph

JPL No. 101-KSC-75PC-442

20 August 1975

On Aug. 20, 1975, after years of painstaking work, Viking 1 perched atop its gleaming Titan III Centaur rocket was launched into history. The Viking 1 spacecraft was launched by a Titan/Centaur rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:22 p.m. Aug. 20, 1975. It ended its 500 million-mile journey 11 months later, landing on Mars on July 20, 1976. Just one month after Viking 1 was launched, Viking 2 followed its twin and both arrived at their destinations in the summer of 1976.

This fine vintage colour NASA photograph is in very good condition.

£7.95

Viking 1 Photograph Of Mars

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. S80-32397

18 June 1976

This fantastic shot of Mars was assembled from three photographs taken by Viking 1 on June 18, 1976. Each of the three photos were taken at the same time by three different camera's onboard the spacecraft.

This fine vintage glossy NASA photograph is in very good condition.

£7.95

Viking 1 Western Chryse Planitia Region

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 76-H-529

9 July 1976

Viking 1 photographed an area in the western part of Chryse Planitia on July 9th while in search of a landing site. These photos, as its a mosaic of 4 photos were taken from about 1000 miles up.

This fine vintage glossy NASA photograph is in good to very good condition.

£8.95

Viking 1 Surface View Of Mars

10 x 8 Black & White NASA Photograph

NASA No. 101-KSC-76PC-367

21 July 1976

This picture of Mars was taken July 21--the day following Viking l's successful landing on the red planet. The local time on Mars is approximately noon. The view is southeast from the Viking Lander. Such weathering of the rocks and terrain is very much like how it would look on Earth in the presence of water and an oxidizing atmosphere.

This fine vintage NASA photograph is in near mint condition.

£8.95

Viking 1 Bicentennial Symbol On Mars

10 x 8 Black & White NASA Photograph

NASA No. 101-KSC-76P-404

23 July 1976

The flag of the United States stands on the surface of Mars. It is mounted on the housing of Viking 1's nuclear power system. Also seen are the U.S. Bicentennial symbol and a student designed Viking emblem. The bright flat surface near the centre is the seismometer container. This picture was taken on July 23 at about 2:30 p.m. Mars time. The view is west of the spacecraft and includes a series of low hills. The blocky hill in the centre appears to be part of a crater rim. The dark, rocky stripes may be material ejected from the crater. The light areas are dune-like and may be accumulations of windblown sand or dust.

This fine vintage NASA photograph is in near mint condition.

£8.95

Viking 1 The Letter B Found On Mars

10 x 8 Black & White NASA Photograph

NASA No. 101-KSC-76P-403

25 July 1976

The letter 'B' or perhaps the figure '8' appears to have been etched into the Mars rock at the left edge of this picture taken yesterday by the Viking 1 Lander. It is believed to be an illusion caused by weathering processes and the angle of the sun as it illuminated the scene for the spacecraft camera. The object at lower left is the housing containing the surface sampler scoopt.

This fine vintage NASA photograph is in near mint condition.

£8.95

Viking 1 Faces On Mars

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. S80-35077

25 July 1976

NASA's Viking 1 spacecraft photographed this region in the northern latitudes of Mars on July 25, 1976 while searching for a landing site for the Viking 2 Lander. The speckled appearance of the image is due to missing data, called bit errors, caused by problems in transmission of the photographic data from Mars to Earth. Bit errors comprise part of one of the 'eyes' and 'nostrils' on the eroded rock that resembles a human face near the centre of the image. Shadows in the rock formation give the illusion of a nose and mouth. Planetary geologists attribute the origin of the formation to purely natural processes. The feature is 1 mile across, with the sun angle at approximately 20 degrees. The picture was taken from a range of 1,162 miles.

This fine vintage glossy NASA photograph is in very good condition.

£6.95

Viking 1 Faces On Mars #2

10 x 8 B/W Glossy NASA Photograph

NASA No. 76-H-593

25 July 1976

This fine vintage glossy NASA photograph is in good to very good condition.

£9.95

U.S. Flag On Mars

10 x 8 Colour NASA Photograph

JPL No. P-17173

26 July 1976

The flag of the United States with the rocky Martian surface in the background is seen in this colour picture taken on the sixth day of Viking Lander 1 on Mars (July 26). The flag is on the RTG (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator) wind screen. Below the flag is the bicentennial logo and the Viking symbol which shows an ancient Viking ship. This Viking symbol was designed by Peter Purol of Baltimore, winner of the Viking logo contest open to high school science students. To the right is the Reference Test Chart used for colour balancing of the colour images. At the bottom is the GCMS Processor Distribution Assembly with the wind screens unfurled demonstrating that the GCMS cover was deployed properly. The scene in the background is looking almost due west on Mars.

This fine vintage colour NASA photograph is in near mint condition.

£7.95

Viking 1 Martian Dune Field

10 x 8 Black & White NASA Photograph

NASA No. P-17430

3 August 1976

This spectacular picture of the Martian landscape by the Viking 1 Lander shows a dune field with features remarkably similar to many seen in the deserts of Earth. The dramatic early morning lighting - 7:30 a.m. local Mars time--reveals subtle details and shading. Taken yesterday (August 3) by the Lander s camera #1, the picture covers 100 , looking northeast at left and southeast at right. Viking scientists have studied areas very much like the one in this view in Mexico and in California (Kelso, Death Valley, Yuma). The sharp dune crests indicate the most recent wind storms capable of moving sand over the dunes in the general direction from upper left to lower right. Small deposits downwind of rocks also indicate this wind direction. Large boulder at left is about eight meters (25 feet) from the spacecraft and measures about one by three meters (3 by 10 feet). The meteorology boom, which supports Viking s miniature weather station, cuts through the picture s centre. The sun rose two hours earlier and is about 30 above the horizon near the centre of the picture.

This fine vintage NASA photograph is in very good condition. VG+

£5.95

Viking 1 Surface Sampler

10 x 8 Black & White NASA Photograph

NASA No. 76-H-638

9 August 1976

The collector head of Viking l's surface sampler is full of Martian soil destined for the gas chromatograph mass spectrometer, the instrument which analyzes the surface material for the presence of organic molecules. The material was scooped out of the surface on August 3, but the sampler arm stopped operating while transporting it to the instrument. The Martian soil will be deposited into the instrument's processor today. The surface sampler is operating properly, but the cause of last week's problem is not yet known. This picture, taken Monday (August 9), was made for operational purposes, focusing on the collector head. Hence, the out-of-focus view of the Martian surface.

This fine vintage NASA photograph is in good to very good condition.

£9.95

Sunset At The Viking Lander 1 Site

10 x 8 Colour NASA Photograph

NASA No. S-76-2857

21 August 1976

This colour image of the Martian surface in the Chryse area was taken by Viking Lander 1, looking southwest, about 15 minutes before sunset on the evening of August 21. The sun is at an elevation angle of 3 or 4 degrees above the horizon and about 50 degrees clockwise from the right edge of the frame. A depression is seen near the centre of the picture, just above the Lander’s leg support structure, which was not evident in previous pictures taken at higher sun angles. Just beyond the depression are large rocks about 30 centimetres across. The diffuse shadows are due to the sunlight that has been scattered by the dusty Martian atmosphere as a result of the long path length from the setting sun.

This fine vintage colour NASA photograph is in near mint condition.

SOLD

Martian Sunset As Seen By Viking 1

10 x 8 Colour NASA Photograph

JPL NO. P-17704

21 August 1976

This wonderful Martian sunset over Chryse Planitia as photographed by Viking 1. The camera began scanning the scene from the left about 4 minuets after the sun had dipped below the horizon, continuing for 10 minuets and covering 120 degrees from left to right. The sun had set nearly 3 degrees below the horizon by the time the picture was completed.

This fine vintage colour NASA photograph is in near mint condition.

£9.95

Big Joe In The Chryse Planitia

10 x 8 Colour NASA Photograph

21 August 1976

Near the Viking 1 Lander on the Chryse Plains of Mars, 'Big Joe' stands a silent vigil. This large, often-photographed dark rock has a topping of reddish fine-grained silt that spills down its sides. It is about 2 meters (6.6 feet) long and lies about 8 meters (26 feet) from the spacecraft. The rough texture of the sides shows it to be coarse grained. Big Joe appears to be part of a field of large blocks that has a roughly circular alignment and which may be part of the rim of an ancient degraded crater. The part of the Lander that is visible in the lower left is the cover of the nuclear power supply. Viking l's meteorology instrument is mounted atop the extended boom that is seen in the right foreground.

This fine vintage colour NASA photograph is in near mint condition.

£7.95 Viking 2 Northern Plains Of Mars

10 x 8 Black & White NASA Photograph 4 September 1976 NASA No. 76-H-699

This rocky panoramic scene is the second picture of the Martian surface that was taken by Viking Lander 2 shortly after touchdown on September 3 at 3:58 PM PDT (Earth received time). The site is on a northern plain of Mars, at about 48 N. Lat., 226 W. Long., known as Utopia Planitia. The picture sweeps around 330 degrees in azimuth, starting from northwest at the left through north (above the sampler arm housing) past east, where the sky is bright at the centre, and southeast toward the right above the radioisotope thermoelectric generator cover. The surface is strewn with rocks out to the horizon, ranging in size up to several meters across. Some pitted rocks resemble fragments of porous volcanic lava. Other rocks have grooves that may have been eroded by windblown sand and dust. Although fine-grained material is seen between the boulders, no sand dunes are evident. The dip in the eastern horizon at the centre is an illusion caused by an 8-degree tilt of the Lander toward the west. Actually, the terrain is more level than that at the Viking 1 site. The horizon toward the left of the panorama (northwest) appears featureless, indicating that it may be several kilometres distant. The sky at the centre (east) is bright because the sun was above but out of the picture at 10 AM Mars time. Toward the right (southeast), the rocks that are silhouetted against the skyline indicate that the horizon is much nearer, probably because of a slight rise in that area of the terrain. The circular high-gain antenna at the right has clots of fine-grained material adhering to the lower half, some of which appeared to have been sliding downward while the camera was scanning the area. At the extreme right, the banded appearance resulted because the camera continued to scan while it was no longer moving in azimuth. Any motion or other variation in the scene would show up as a change in successive lines.

This fine vintage NASA photograph is in very good condition. VG+

SOLD

Martian Sunrise As Seen By Viking 2

10 x 8 Colour NASA Photograph

NASA No. S-78-36446

14 June 1978

Viking Lander 2 photographed this sunrise at Utopia Planitia on Mars on 14 June 1978. The sun was actually visible, seemingly resting on the horizon before ascending into a pink-tinged golden sky to illuminate another day on the red planet.

Another NASA photo that was printed upside down.

This fine vintage colour NASA photograph is in near mint condition.

£9.95

Viking 2 Image of Mars Utopian Plain

10 x 8 Colour NASA Photograph

JPL No. P-18296

14 June 1978

The boulder-strewn field of red rocks reaches to the horizon nearly two miles from Viking 2 on Mars' Utopian Plain. Scientists believe the colours of the Martian surface and sky in this photo represent their true colours . Fine particles of red dust have settled on spacecraft surfaces. The salmon colours of the sky is caused by dust particles suspended in the atmosphere. Colour calibration charts for the cameras are mounted at three locations on the spacecraft. Note the blue star field 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 2.

This fine vintage colour NASA photograph is in near mint condition.

£5.95

Viking 1 Lift Off

10 x 8 Vintage NASA Colour Lithograph

20 August 1975

Lift off of the Titan Centaur Launch Vehicle with Viking 1 onboard to start the first mission to Mars.

This fine vintage colour NASA lithograph is in very good condition.

£5.95

Viking Colour Mosaic

8.5 x 11 Vintage NASA Lithograph

NASA No. P-31317 insert P-18641

August 1975

This image is a mosaic of specially processed Viking Orbiter images. The large rift across the centre of the planet is Valles Marineris, Mars' Grand Canyon but this one is about 3,000 miles in long.

The insert is a view from Viking Lander 1. The Landers meteorological boom points to the sky next to trenches dug by the soil sampler arm.

This fine vintage colour NASA lithograph is in near mint condition.

£3.95

First Viking Orbital Landscape View

10 x 8 Vintage Glossy NASA Lithograph

JPL NO. Pic # 8

23 June 1976

This picture was the first to be processed and displayed in the Viking Control Centre at JPL, bringing cheers of excitement from Flight Team members. It was actually the 33rd of a 58-frame sequence acquired during the fist 7-minute survey of the pre-selected landing site region.

This fine vintage glossy NASA lithograph is in very good condition.

£3.95

A Martian Island

10 x 8 Vintage Glossy NASA Lithograph

JPL NO. Pic #10

23 June 1976

This island was one of many found in the channel complex near the pre-selected, but rejected, Viking 1 landing site. The rough channel floor is clearly visible as are a number of layers representing water levels on the tail of the island.

This fine vintage glossy NASA lithograph is in very good condition.

£3.95

Martian Crater Yuty

10 x 8 Vintage Glossy NASA Lithograph

JPL NO. Pic #11

24 June 1976

Yuty, a crater photographed in eastern Chryse, exhibits a well-formed ejecta blanket that is commonly found in association with craters on Mars.

This fine vintage glossy NASA lithograph is in very good condition.

£3.95

Martian River Channels

10 x 8 Vintage Glossy NASA Lithograph

JPL NO. Pic #17

25 June 1976

Fluvial channeling in the north-eastern part of Chryse Planitia are very pronounced, to the extent that smaller eddy currents cut their own channels along the shorline.

This fine vintage glossy NASA lithograph is in very good condition.

£3.95

Martian Surface 5 Frame Mosaic

10 x 8 Vintage Glossy NASA Lithograph

JPL NO. Pic #19

26 June 1976

This five-frame mosaic was constructed from a sequence of pictures acquired while the spacecraft was near its orbital high point, 20,000 miles, Gangis Chasma, seen in the lower right, is the canyon that leads into the Valles Marineris canyon complex.

This fine vintage glossy NASA lithograph is in very good condition.

£3.95

Martian Landslides

10 x 8 Vintage Glossy NASA Lithograph

JPL NO. Pic #32

6 July 1976

Looking across a section of Valles Marineris, Mars' huge equatorial canyon system, the Viking 1 Orbiter looked down on this scene of massive landslides.

This fine vintage glossy NASA lithograph is in very good condition.

£3.95

Martian Surface Subsidence

10 x 8 Vintage Glossy NASA Lithograph

JPL NO. Pic #33

7 July 1976

This mosaic represents a small section of a larger mosaic assembly of pictures taken on a high plateau area somewhat south of the Martian equator.

This fine vintage glossy NASA lithograph is in very good condition.

£2.95

Martian Early Morning Fog

8.5 x 11 Vintage Glossy NASA Lithograph

JPL NO. P-17487

24 July 1976

Two pictures taken a half-hour apart by the Viking 1 Orbiter show the development on Mars of early morning fog in low spots. Scene at left was photographed shortly after Martian dawn from 12,400 kilometres and, at right, 30 minutes later from 9800 kilometres.

This fine vintage glossy NASA lithograph is in very good condition and is printed on thin stock.

£3.95

Viking 1 Landing Site

10 x 8 Vintage Glossy NASA Lithograph

JPL NO. Pic #41

13 July 1976

This is a mosaic of a section of west Chryse where, after a month-long search for a landing site, a suitable region was certified as safe for the Viking 1 landing.

This fine vintage glossy NASA lithograph is in very good condition.

£4.95

Martian Landscape View

8.5 x 11 Vintage Glossy NASA Lithograph

JPL NO. P-17657

21 August 1976

This colour image of the Martian surface in the Chryse area was taken by Viking Lander 1. This view is looking southwest, about 15 minutes before sunset.

See NASA photograph S-76-2857 above for more details.

This fine vintage colour glossy NASA lithograph is in good condition.

£4.95

Martian Landscape View #2

8.5 x 11 Vintage Glossy NASA Lithograph

JPL NO. P-17165

24 August 1976

This colour image of the Martian surface was taken by Viking Lander 1 camera no. 1 and its facing southeast. Part of the spacecraft's grey structure is in the foreground.

This fine vintage colour glossy NASA lithograph is in good condition.

£4.95

Martian Landscape View #3

8.5 x 11 Vintage Glossy NASA Lithograph

JPL NO. P-17173

26 August 1976

The flag of the U.S. with the rocky Martian surface in the Background is seen in this colour photograph taken on the sixth day of Viking Lander 1 on Mars.

This fine vintage colour glossy NASA lithograph is in good condition.