Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Title:
Trench Excavated By Viking 1 Surface Sampler
Original Caption Released with Image:
This image, received today, shows the trench excavated by Viking 1 surface sampler. The trench was dug by extending the surface sampler collection head in a direction from lower right toward the upper left and then withdrawing the surface sampler collector head. Lumpy piles of material at end of trench at lower right was pulled by plowing from trench by the backhoe which will be used to dig trenches later in the mission. Area around trench has ripple marks produced by Martian wind. The trench which was dug early on Sol 8, is about 3 inches wide, 2 inches deep and 6 inches long. Steep dark crater walls show the grains of the Martian surface material stick together (have adhesion). The doming of the surface at far end of the trench show the granular material is dense. The Martian surface material behaves somewhat like moist sand on Earth. Evidence from the trench indicate a sample was collected and delivered to the experiments after repeated tries. The biology experiment level full indicator indicates a sample was received for analysis. The X-Ray fluorescence experiment has no indication to show it received a sample. The GCMS experiment level full indicator suggests no sample was received but this matter is being investigated.
Addition Date:
1996-12-12
Produced By:
JPL
Mission:
Viking
Spacecraft:
Viking Lander 1
Target Name:
Mars
Is a satellite of:
Sol (our sun)
Instrument:
Camera 1
Product Size:
251 samples x 512 lines
Primary Data Set:
Viking EDRs
Producer ID:
P17254
facet_what:
Sun
facet_what:
Crater
facet_what:
Earth
facet_what:
Mars
facet_what:
Viking
facet_what:
Camera 1
facet_what:
Viking 1 Lander
facet_where:
Mars
facet_where:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where:
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
Image #:
PIA00389
UID:
SPD-PHOTJ-PIA00389
orignial url:

Trench Excavated By Viking 1 Surface Sampler