The Viking missions provided an unprecedented view of the red planet. Viking 1, like its sister spacecraft Viking 2, consisted of an orbiter and a lander. On July 20, 1976, after a month in orbit, the Viking 1 lander detached from its orbiter and traveled to the Plain of Chryse. Viking 2 touched down in a different region several weeks later.

The landers captured thousands of images of the surface, conducted weather measurements, and analyzed surface samples for composition and signs of life. The resulting data indicated that there were no living organisms in the vicinity of the landing sites.

The Viking 1 lander continued to operate on the Martian surface until November 1982.