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The Environs of Viking 2 Lander

Shorthill, Richard W. and Moore, Henry J., II and Hutton, Robert E. and Scott, Ronald F. and Spitzer, Cary R. (1976) The Environs of Viking 2 Lander. Science, 194 (4271). pp. 1309-1318. ISSN 0036-8075. doi:10.1126/science.194.4271.1309. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20151116-131234343

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Abstract

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.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.194.4271.1309DOIArticle
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/194/4271/1309PublisherArticle
http://www.jstor.org/stable/1743815JSTORArticle
Additional Information:© 1976 American Association for the Advancement of Science. Received 15 November 1976. We acknowledge the continuing aid and support given to the physical properties investigation team by the surface sampler team. The lander imaging team kindly furnished the pictures (more than 40) used in this report. We also thank P. Duffy for his assistance as the physical properties intern for the month of September. We thank L. Crafton for typing the manuscript several times and for attending to many administrative matters. We thank Dr. D. W. Collinson for his review of the manuscript and discussions of the physics of the soil properties of Mars. Dr. S. Liebes, Jr., provided the mensuration data for the rock pushes and nudges. We thank Dr. R. Goldstein for his support during sol 0 for VL1 and VL2 and throughout the mission. This work was supported by NASA contract NAS1-12705 to the University of Utah Research Institute, NASA order L-9714 to the U.S. Geological Survey, and NASA contract NAS1-10534 to TRW Systems, Inc.
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
NASANAS1-12705
NASAL-9714
NASANAS1-10534
Issue or Number:4271
DOI:10.1126/science.194.4271.1309
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20151116-131234343
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20151116-131234343
Official Citation:The Environs of Viking 2 Lander RICHARD W. SHORTHILL, HENRY J. MOORE II, ROBERT E. HUTTON, RONALD F. SCOTT, and CARY R. SPITZER Science 17 December 1976: 194 (4271), 1309-1318. [DOI:10.1126/science.194.4271.1309]
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:62126
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Tony Diaz
Deposited On:18 Nov 2015 04:01
Last Modified:10 Nov 2021 22:58

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