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A rocket launches upward. There is a very bright flame coming from the rocket, as well as clouds of white vapor. The clouds cover up the right side of the scene. On the left side, the sky is visible along with some thin white clouds. There are trees and other vegetation in the foreground of the image.

Viking 1 Begins Journey to Mars

Viking 1 was launched by a Titan-Centaur rocket from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:22 p.m. EDT on Aug. 20, 1975, to begin a half-billion mile, 11-month journey through space to explore Mars. The 4-ton spacecraft went into orbit around the red planet in mid-1976 and landed on Mars on July 20, 1976.

Image Credit: NASA

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TakenAugust 20, 1975
Image CreditNASA
Size1536x1229px