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Science 17 December 1976:
Vol. 194. no. 4271, pp. 1309 - 1318
DOI: 10.1126/science.194.4271.1309
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Articles

The Environs of Viking 2 Lander

RICHARD W. SHORTHILL 1, HENRY J. MOORE II 2, ROBERT E. HUTTON 3, RONALD F. SCOTT 4, and CARY R. SPITZER 5

1 Geospace Science Laboratory, University of Utah Research Institute, Salt Lake City 84108
2 U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025
3 Applied Mechanics Laboratory, TRW Systems Group, Redondo Beach, California 90278
4 Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91125
5 NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia 23665

Forty-six days after Viking 1 landed, Viking 2 landed in Utopia Planitia, about 6500 kilometers away from the landing site of Viking 1. Images show that in the immediate vicinity of the Viking 2 landing site the surface is covered with rocks, some of which are partially buried, and fine-grained materials. The surface sampler, the lander cameras, engineering sensors, and some data from the other lander experiments were used to investigate the properties of the surface. Lander 2 has a more homogeneous surface, more coarse-grained material, an extensive crust, small rocks or clods which seem to be difficult to collect, and more extensive erosion by the retro-engine exhaust gases than lander 1. A report on the physical properties of the martian surface based on data obtained through sol 58 on Viking 2 and a brief description of activities on Viking 1 after sol 36 are given.

Submitted on November 15, 1976


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Scientific Results of the Viking Missions.
G. A. Soffen and G. A. SOFFEN (1976)
Science 194, 1274-1276
   Abstract »    PDF »
Mineralogic and Petrologic Implications of Viking Geochemical Results From Mars: Interim Report.
A. K. Baird, A. K. BAIRD, P. TOULMIN III, B. C. CLARK, H. J. ROSE JR., K. KEIL, R. P. CHRISTIAN, and J. L. GOODING (1976)
Science 194, 1288-1293
   Abstract »    PDF »
Viking Magnetic Properties Investigation: Further Results.
R. B. Hargraves, R. B. HARGRAVES, D. W. COLLINSON, R. E. ARVIDSON, and C. R. SPITZER (1976)
Science 194, 1303-1309
   Abstract »    PDF »
Soil and Surface Temperatures at the Viking Landing Sites.
H. H. Kieffer and H. H. KIEFFER (1976)
Science 194, 1344-1346
   Abstract »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)