2006 Palau 30th Anniversary Viking 1

Stamp Sheet Commemorates First Mars Landing

This mint sheet pictures some of the first images of the surface of Mars sent from the Viking 1 spacecraft. 

As early as 1966, officials recommended that research objectives in the post-Apollo era focus on the unmanned exploration of Mars. The Viking 1 mission – with a landing planned to coincide with the nation’s July 4, 1976 Bicentennial celebration – set off to accomplish that goal on August 20, 1975.

Viking 1 – along with its sister ship Viking 2 – would be the first spacecraft to conduct prolonged scientific studies on the surface on another planet. Viking 1 entered Mars’ orbit in June of 1976 and began hunting for a safe landing site. Problems locating a site postponed the landing until July 20, 1976. Viking 1 transmitted photos, information on the Martian atmosphere, and other data for nearly 6 1/2 years, ceasing in November 1982. Although Viking 1 remains on Mars, legal ownership has been transferred to the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution