August 20

Let's Go To Mars!

Wait we already did. On August 20, 1975, NASA launched Viking 1 aboard a Titan IIIE rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It was the United States’ first fully successful mission to Mars. After a 10-month journey through space, Viking 1 entered orbit around Mars on June 19, 1976, and its lander touched down safely on the Martian surface on July 20, 1976—the first American spacecraft to do so successfully.

What We Learned

The Viking 1 mission was groundbreaking in several ways:

• Surface Images: It sent back the first high-resolution color images of Mars’ surface, showing rocky plains, dust, and sky with a reddish tint.

• Search for Life: Viking 1 carried biological experiments to test Martian soil for signs of life. The results were inconclusive, but they sparked decades of debate and set the stage for all later Mars missions.

• Martian Atmosphere & Weather: The orbiter studied the thin Martian atmosphere and seasonal weather patterns, confirming dust storms and huge variations in temperature.

• Longevity: The lander was only designed to last 90 days but kept working for over 6 years (until November 1982). Its orbiter continued operations until 1980.

Bottom line: Viking 1’s launch on August 20, 1975 was the start of a mission that transformed our understanding of Mars. It proved that landing, operating, and sending science from another planet was possible—and every rover since, from Spirit and Opportunity to Perseverance, has been built on the foundation Viking 1 laid.

A Prayer for Exploration and Discovery

Creator of the heavens and the earth,

On this day we remember the launch of Viking 1,

humanity’s first successful mission to Mars.

You stirred in us the courage to look beyond our own world

and step into the vast unknown of Your creation.

We marvel at the immensity of the cosmos—

galaxies, planets, and stars crafted by Your hand—

and yet we are humbled that You know each of us by name.

Thank You for the gift of curiosity and the spirit of discovery.

Give us courage, Lord, to take our own next steps of faith.

Just as Viking 1 set out across millions of miles,

help us to journey forward into the unknown paths of our lives

with trust in You as our guide.

May all we discover bring us closer to wonder, wisdom, and Your glory.

Amen.

Challenge

Before the weather turns too cold, take one evening to step outside and spend at least 10 minutes under the night sky. Look up at the universe that surrounds us. Let yourself wonder: What do I truly know about the cosmos? And what would I like to understand?