Viking 2 lander settles down at Utopia Planitia.
Along with Viking 1 orbiter, Viking 2 orbiter studies the Martian
atmosphere and images the entire planet at what was then high resolution.
Viking 2 orbiter also flies within 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) of
Deimos and takes high-resolution pictures of this smaller of the
two moons of Mars.
The Viking mission reveals further details of
volcanoes, lava plains, huge canyons and the effects of wind and
water. Analysis of the soils at the landing sites shows them to
be rich in iron, but devoid of any signs of life.
The mission was planned to continue for
90 days after landing. However, both orbiters and landers operate
far beyond their design lifetime. Viking Orbiter 1 functions until
July 25, 1978, while Viking Orbiter 2 continues for four years and
1,489 orbits of Mars, concluding its mission August 7, 1980. The
last data from Viking Lander 2 arrived at Earth on April 11, 1980.
Viking Lander 1 made its final transmission to Earth November 11,
Space Science Data Center