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Viking 50th Anniversary
at Ames

On July 20, 2026, NASA will celebrate the enduring legacy of the Mars Viking Mission on its 50th Anniversary. America’s first landing on Mars was an achievement that transformed planetary exploration and helped define the scientific field we now call astrobiology. Viking demonstrated that not only could we land on another world, but that we could investigate it with purpose, curiosity, and rigor.

Image of the announcement for the Mars Viking Image for 50th anniversary event at NASA Ames Research Center. The image shows a vintage poster that shows the mars viking lander on the martian surface.

Science Symposium at NASA Ames

Save the Date: July 20th, 2026

The live streamed Science Symposium will highlight the contributions of Ames scientists whose work reflects the interdisciplinary spirit that Viking embodied. Hear from Viking scientists, learn about future missions to Mars, and experience the legacy of astrobiology at NASA.

Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM (PST)

Live stream link: Coming Soon

Agenda for the 50th anniversary of the NASA Project Viking, held at NASA Ames Research Center on July 20 ,2026. Shown in widescreen version.

Event contacts: aaron.mckinnon@nasa.gov and marybeth.wilhelm@nasa.gov

Media

10 Images
Vance Oyama
Bonnie Dalton looks through a glass enclosure with a test module inside for the Viking biological experiments.
viking_lander_sterilization
viking_1_5_first_image_from_surface_jul_20_1976
Viking Lander
Image of Martian sunset
Spacecraft with three small solar arrays, oval shaped object on top and inverted cone shaped bottom
This mosaic of Mars is a compilation of images captured by the Viking Orbiter 1.
Image of the biological payload of the Mars Viking mission.

Astrobiology at Ames

Learn more about NASA's legacy in the field of astrobiology and its current missions in the search for life beyond Earth.

Exobiology Branch Overview

Planetary Systems Branch Overview

Science Directorate at Ames

Ames Exploration Technology Directorate