We can’t believe it’s been 40 years since NASA’s Viking mission became the first to successfully land a spacecraft on Mars. It took us only slightly less time to get the Curiosity Rover up there so we could get a closer look at our planet.
Last month, a microbiology lab in Nottingham, England made international headlines when it unearthed a substance that kills methicillin-resistant staph, one of the deadliest superbugs of modern times. The most astounding part about the find? It was a 1,000-year-old Viking potion.
Forget clunky metal and plastic armor that leave you sweating and bruise everyone you scrape by at conventions. This soft and cozy crocheted cyclops outfit is a cool and crafty alternative.
Before the invention of modern navigational equipment, ancient sailors crossed the seas largely through their knowledge of the positions of the Sun and stars. So how did Vikings cross from Europe to America in the often foggy, cloudy northern Atlantic?
At 8:51 UT July 20th, 1976, the Viking 1 lander separated from its orbiting counter-part. In just over two hours it would become the the first spacecraft to successfully land on Mars and carry out its mission.
NASA's Viking probes were colossally disappointing for those looking for life on Mars - not only were there no signs of life, we didn't even find its essential building blocks. Or maybe we just didn't know what to look for.
35 years ago today, Viking 1 departed to Mars. Eleven months later, it showed the sand, rocks and sky of the legendary Red Planet for the first time:
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