The Flickr Martinmariettacorporation Image Generatr

“Astronaut Robert Stewart moves back to the shuttle Challenger after moving out to a distance of about 300 feet wearing a Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) during his Extravehicular Activity (EVA). His face is clearly visible as he moves by the aft flight deck windows.”

Above paraphrased from/at the following:

nara.getarchive.net/media/41b-35-1693-sts-41b-astronaut-r...
Credit: NARA & DVIDS PUBLIC DOMAIN ARCHIVE website

Stewart is flying MMU no. 3.

How 'bout that?! A fellow Soldier flying the MMU, second only to Bruce McCandless...a "naval aviator".
Take THAT USAF zoomies…HAH & HOOAH! 😉👍

“Bruce McCandless practices with the trunnion pin attachment device (TPAD) and manned maneuvering unit (MMU) docking with the shuttle pallet satellite (SPAS-01A).”

Above associated with the image, from/at:

nara.getarchive.net/media/41b-44-2702-sts-41b-bruce-mccan...
Credit: NARA & DVIDS PUBLIC DOMAIN ARCHIVE website

Also & better, from other photos (linked to below) of the same activity:

“Close-up view of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, STS 41-B Mission Specialist, as he performs a test involving the Trunion Pin Attachment Device (TPAD) he carries and the Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS-01A) in front of him. In this photo, he is about to attach the TPAD to the SPAS-01A. He is wearing one of the experimental Manned Maneuvering Units (MMU) developed for this mission.”

And/or:

“Astronaut Bruce McCandless, using the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) in its first flight tests, prepares to perform a docking maneuver during flight 41-B of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Using a docking adapter called a TPAD (Trunion Pin Attachment Device), McCandless docked with a pin on the Shuttle pallet satellite. This procedure was a rehearsal for the upcoming Solar Max repair mission.”

If it were ‘properly’ oriented, that is, from the perspective of the shuttle flight deck, from which/where the photograph I assume was taken, McCandless should be facing ‘downward’. However, this rarely seen image is so damned cool, I chose to orient it in a more familiar/comfortable perspective, to better take in its multitude of coolness.

The insect-like ‘antennae’:

twitter.com/kiwibacon/status/1359158862998368262?s=46&amp...
Credit: Steve Rice/Twitter

Note also the "flat-top" appearance of McCandless' helmet, due to it actually being the housing of the solid state color TV camera...attached to the top of the helmet. The camera was manufactured by Fairchild Weston Systems Inc., of Syosset, N.Y.
Finally, note the "EV1" labeling of the carabiner just above McCandless' left forearm & whatever is just below his right forearm. Apparently, during the EVAs, McCandless' call-sign during air-to-ground transmissions was "EV-1" & Stewart’s was "EV-2." How that translates to labeling of equipment - I don't know. Maybe they were individually configured/adjusted for ease/convenience of use by the respective Astronaut.

The two pointless observations above are from the following informative document:

spacepresskit.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/sts-41b.pdf
Credit: Nick Deakin/"Space Presskits" website

“A “zero-reaction” wrench is one of the special space tools under development by Martin Company for making in-flight emergency repairs on space vehicles. In the artist concept…, an astronaut operating in weightless condition is using the wrench (shown in inset at upper right) for a repair job in space. The wrench operates by squeezing the handles together to turn an adjustable socket. Because force is applied equally in opposite directions, the undesirable torque reaction is eliminated. If an astronaut tried to use an ordinary monkey wrench under weightless conditions, the reaction to the force applied to the handle would turn the astronaut instead of the tool. The “zero reaction” wrench is among several new tools and repair methods being developed as a result of a study by Martin Space Systems engineers in association with Black & Decker Manufacturing Co., also of Baltimore.”

Being a Martin Co. work, the vehicle has a Titan stage appearance to it…not that a Titan would ever require repairs. 😉

7.75” x 9.3125”.

By John Gorsuch; the Man, Machine, Myth & Legend. Who frustratingly & defiantly - despite his massive, diverse & brilliant body of work - remains a total unknown.

Other than the circular 'reporting' regarding Mr. Gorsuch, because of my dogged efforts - with much gratitude to Ed Dempsey, who provided me his first name - the only other 'official' documentation that additionally confirms such is a caption reference in the September 1962 issue of "Western Aerospace" magazine. In it, he's also referred to as "senior staff artist for the Martin Co.".

www.collectspace.com/review/wlaine/rauschenberg_retroacti...
Credit: member “Wlaine”/collectSPACE website

Also known as the Titan II SLV (Space Launch Vehicle), the rockets were retired Titan II ICBMs that were converted into launch vehicles to carry payloads for the United States Air Force, NASA and NOAA. Thirteen were launched between 1988 and 2003. This unused Titan 23G was donated to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. Adapted Titan IIs were also used in the 1960s for Project Gemini. They were known as the Titan II GLV (Gemini Launch Vehicle).

IDK – a total SWAG…a (I believe) Martin Marietta SV-5/X-24 derivative? The conical aft adapter is reminiscent of the “Marooned” X-RV…which would’ve been the possible interface with its Titan III booster?…or a MOL-like craft? Again, no idea. But why is it in the vicinity of the moon, even looking like it’s returning from it? Merely artistic license? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Whatever it is, it’s cool…with nice airbrush work. However, the moon is a pre-existing commercial image, likely taken from some astronomical publication, as a number of topographical features are identified, annotated on it as one would view the moon through a telescope, i.e., ‘upside down’. With that, against my better judgment & violating the ‘north toward top’ rule, I’ve oriented the image in accordance.

No idea on the artist.

“AFT CARGO CARRIER (ACC) CONCEPT SPACE STATION

This configuration uses modules of two sizes. One size is compatible with the Space Shuttle cargo bay dimensions; the other, with a proposed Aft Cargo Carrier (ACC). Teleoperator Maneuvering System (TMS) would retrieve cargo brought up in the ACC. This system permits the launching of modules up to 25 feet in diameter. The space station depicted will house 12 crew members.”

I suppose the external tank in the background still has the payload attached, with the TMS enroute to get it.

Beautiful work by Martin Marietta artist/illustrator John G. Tieleman. A hollow win, gone way too early:

allstatescremation.com/tribute/details/149267/John-Tielem...
Credit: All-States Cremation website

Excellent context, with additional images. Always excellent. I really gotta become a Patreon:

www.aerospaceprojectsreview.com/blog/?p=426

www.aerospaceprojectsreview.com/blog/?p=777

www.aerospaceprojectsreview.com/blog/?p=3938

Specifically, the configuration being the one at lower left/"pg. 18":

www.aerospaceprojectsreview.com/catalog/spacedoc58.jpg
All above credit: Aerospace Projects Review Blog website

Possibly as part of NASA’s 1988 - 1989 Mars Exploration Case Studies, an unmanned articulated Martin Marietta rover is depicted in action. I’ve never seen this before & couldn’t find it anywhere online.
The rover appears to be equipped with a suite of soil analyzing instrumentation…maybe even return capable chambers/canisters?
I like the sporty paint scheme of the wheels, which I’d think would be for engineering photographic documentation. If so, is it logical to assume this is part of a manned exploration proposal? Since a human would likely take those photographs? Along those lines, note the lack of a high-gain antenna, supportive of this being a ‘localized’ component of a larger effort/mission. Maybe?
Oh yeah, doesn’t the sampler arm look like one of those fancy pot filler faucets?

Being of Martin Marietta origin, and the timeframe I’m thinking, this may well be by Robert S. Murray. Although, maybe even Charles O. Bennett.

In this ca. 1988 Martin Marietta artist’s concept, two teams of Astronauts have commenced human exploration of Mars. One team is seen embarking via a pressurized rover towing a supply/provisions?, instrumentation/experiment laden?, power-generating? trailer. In the foreground, two Astronauts are exploring the immediate vicinity of the landing site by foot. A communications relay tower has been erected to facility long distance surface communications & I assume contact with earth? The tower also appears to have meteorological instrumentation…maybe.
Although I’ve found no documentation (with similar imagery) pertaining to this specific aspect of such a proposed mission, with minor variations, the lander looks much like the Mars Descent/Ascent Vehicle (MDAV) in other Martin Marietta Mars concepts I’ve recently posted. And if I’m interpreting the photo ID correctly, this would then be from 1988, thus viable as being related. The others concepts are subsequent and may account for the design variation/evolution. IDK, I’m winging it.

That magnitude of relief, talus slopes, exposed strata, etc…gotta be Valles Marineris…like, in it. Right? Rhetorical.

Whatever it is/is called, it's like an 'open-air' Mars Excursion Module (MEM) and the following addresses/explains how it got there…I think:

“A variety of Artificial Gravity/Mars Transfer Vehicle (AG/MTV) concepts were developed by the Martin Marietta Astronautics Group for NASA’s Mars Exploration Case Studies in 1988 to 1989. Each of these concepts used a large diameter (~39 to 46 m) aerobrake (AB) with a low lift to drag (L/D) ratio of ~0.2 for Mars Orbit Capture (MOC). These large ABs required assembly in LEO before being outfitted with habitation, auxiliary Photo-Voltaic Array (PVA) power and chemical propulsion system elements within their protective envelope. By rotating the AB about its central axis at different spin rates and mounting the habitat modules near the outer perimeter of the AB to increase the rotation radius, a range of centrifugal forces can be generated for the crew during the transit out to Mars and back…

However, initial concepts had several drawbacks, to include being very large, requiring significant orbital assembly for the AB and overall vehicle, with large Initial Mass in Low Earth Orbit (IMLEO) requirements. Additionally, problems of the five different concepts developed ranged from incompatible internal arrangements of varying habitation modules, the required movement of major pressurized mechanical joints, large propellant consumption to start/stop a tethered combination along with associated dynamic control problems & possible critical mechanical failures, even the possibility of crew isolation from systems enclosed within the AB e.g., Mars Descent/Ascent Vehicle (MDAV).

To avoid the deficiencies of those concepts, Martin Marietta proposed ‘Concept 6’, an AG/MTV design that used chemical propulsion and carried twin cylindrical Space Station Freedom (SSF) habitation modules whose long axes were oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal spin axis of the MTV—referred to as the Dumbbell B configuration. The hab modules were connected to a central logistics and docking hub by two pressurized tunnels each ~12.5 m long. Each hab module—designed to accommodate two to three crewmembers—had excess capacity so that either could serve as a safe-haven for the entire crew in case of an emergency. Attached to the Sun-facing side of each tunnel and hab module were ~30 and 75 m2, respectively, of PVAs producing ~26 kWₑ of electrical power for the spacecraft’s various systems. Once fully assembled, the rotation radius from the center of the logistics module to the floor of each hab module was ~17 m allowing centrifugal acceleration levels ranging from 0.38-g to 0.68-g for vehicle spin rates of 4.5 to 6 rpm. At a slightly higher spin rate of 7.25 rpm, 1-g could be achieved. The pressurized logistics hub also provided a shirt-sleeve environment and anytime crew access to the MDAV docked to the front of the vehicle.
The aft end Mars orbit capture stage (MOCS) and forward Trans-Earth Injection Stages (TEIS) used four
~25 thousand pound thrust liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen (LOX/LH₂) RL10B-2 engines with an Iₛₚ of ~460 s. The MOCS also functioned as the TMI stage using propellant supplied from six surrounding drop tanks jettisoned in pairs as they are drained. The vehicle IMLEO at TMI was ~710.8 t.”

The above, at/per:

ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20160014801/downloads/2016001...

The second paragraph consists of my paraphrasing, the rest is direct copy/paste.

Yet another spectacular work by Martin Marietta artist Robert S. Murray. A WIN:

www.paintingsbyrobertsmurray.com/about-me.html
Credit: “Paintings by Robert S. Murray” website

midcurrent.com/art/robert-s-murray/
Credit: “MIDCURRENT” website

A segment of the image:

twitter.com/humanoidhistory/status/1399482585827446790?la...
Credit: Humanoid History/Twitter

“CONCEPT OF VIKING LANDER TO BE LAUNCHED TO MARS IN 1975

Robot Spacecraft to Search for Life in the Martian Soil.”

Also:

“The Viking lander design went through a number of versions in 1968 and 1969. The three-legged September 1969 design added a second camera for stereophotography and moved the meteorology instrument to the high-gain antenna mast.”

At:

history.nasa.gov/SP-4212/p218b.html

Disregard the terminal propulsion nozzles (3 places) being also labeled as “fuel tanks”…ugh. Proofreading anyone?

Possibly on display…at Martin Marietta’s Denver HQ?

A subsequent design iteration…also in the same…building…lobby?

www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/the-viking-lander-w...

“The helmet visor of Astronaut Bruce McCandless, II, mission specialist, reflects the outside of the forward bulkhead (cabin area) of the shuttle Challenger during his extravehicular activity (EVA). He is wearing the extravehicular mobility unit (EMU), the manned maneuvering unit (MMU), and two cameras - a 35mm attached to his MMU and a TV camera on his helmet.”

More specifically, the stunning image was captured through one of Challenger’s two overhead windows, seen reflected in the visor.

Not a single decent resolution of this image seems to be available - anywhere. But, yet again, the decremented, ‘zombie’ KSC website continues to be more productive than anything ‘current’, and yielded the above, with the usual low-resolution associated image.
Although I’m grateful, it’s pathetic that that’s IT:

science.ksc.nasa.gov/mirrors/images/images/pao/STS41B/100...

science.ksc.nasa.gov/mirrors/images/images/pao/STS41B/100...

For shits & grins, I peeled the above URLs back to the parent website. There, a clickable link with the following is available:

“This sever will be Permanently Shutdown the week of March 1, 2022”. Clicking on that takes one here:

science.ksc.nasa.gov/whats-new.html

Although expected, it's still sad, disappointing, pathetic, infuriating…and a bunch of other ‘bad’ adjectives, to include historically negligent, even ‘criminal’.

HOWEVER, graciously, at reasonable resolution, if you don’t mind THEIR digital watermarks, it can be viewed at either of these fine ‘establishments’:

www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/member-of-the-cre...

Additionally, the good folks at the following site offer the image, at roughly half the resolution of mine, for $499.00. However, there currently appears to be a "special" offer of $450...that's like a WHOLE 10% off! What a neighborly offer. Shameless, greedy & arrogant burglary in broad daylight. They know they're filling a gap left by others - who shall remain NAmelesS, Aargh:

www.alamy.com/nasa-astronaut-space-walk-in-earths-orbit-u...

“Space Logistics Vehicle”

Also, per Ed Dempsey (so you know it’s spot-on), and his posting of the image (linked below):

“Martin Co, art showing a sophisticated lifting body manned spacecraft with two astronauts going EVA.

From an optimistic time, when aeronautical engineers, basing much of their work off captured German WWII aeronautical data, were certain that most spacecraft would return to land on runways. Some were still convinced that they could develop engines that could land and takeoff from runways. The problems turned out to be a lot harder (and more expensive) to solve than they ever dreamed.

More recently, the Shuttle program has pretty much proven that such a spacecraft is still not practical. All the new spacecraft designs have returned to the modified ballistic reentry used in the 1960's. The lifting body concept is still valid. It has been flown by the US and Russia, but only as an experimental manned vehicle. Small, unmanned, lifting bodies have been ( and are being) flown into and out of orbit, but a runway to orbit and back manned vehicle still seems just out of reach.

Then again, who REALLY knows what goes on at shops like the Skunk Works and at Area 51?”

8.5” x 11”, on standard weight ‘printer paper’, which looks to be a ‘first generation’ copy of the magnificent original artwork by Frank R. DiPietro. Most importantly, this photo was graciously provided through the amazing generosity of Frank DiPietro, Mr. DiPietro’s son. A WIN+++++!!!!!

Multiple goodness going on in this masterpiece. Note the quad solid? rocket assist takeoff motors at the bottom aft of the vehicle. Also, what (to me) looks like a green, domed porthole/observation window at the upper starboard fuselage.
Then there are the small elevons on the two rudders, much like that of the M2-F1 lifting body. I don't know my lifting body lineage nor have the gumption to get smart enough to ascertain if they were considered, or if its subtle/clever artistic license. Either way, it's outstanding...along with no forward windscreen/window being visible. Maybe a/the protective panel/shield is jettisoned prior to re-entry, like that of the X-20 Dynasoar. Again, who cares! And the markings, colors, numbering...it's the whole visual package.
And finally, the Astronauts...although tethered, they're wearing 'mini-AMU's'. In fact, the exhaust plume of the nearer Astronaut's AMU is visible...and it's firing with NO HANDS-ON input! Plausible? NO. Dangerous? YES. TOO TOO COOL? HELL YEAH!
And to finish it off, the colorful & dynamic cosmic "void".

THANK YOU Frank R. DiPietro.

“The space shuttle Endeavour and her crew of seven lifted off from Pad 39-B at 10:23 a.m. EDT. Space Shuttle Mission STS-47 is carrying the SPACELAB-J (SL-J) payload, also onboard is the first African-American woman and the first Japanese citizen to fly on the space shuttle.”

Check out the following aberration! A pleasant shock:

“STS-47 Endeavour, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 105, atop its external tank (ET) and flanked by two solid rocket boosters (SRBs), is recorded in this low angle view as it heads for its second trip into space. From this angle, the space shuttle main engines (SSMEs) are clearly visible as well as the diamond shock effect produced during firing. Exhaust plumes trail from the SRB skirts. OV-105 is just about to begin its roll maneuver. Liftoff from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex (LC) 39 pad occurred at 10:23:00:0680 am (Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)).”

At, of all places!:

science.ksc.nasa.gov/mirrors/images/images/pao/STS47/1006...

Both photo identifications available at the wonderful "George's Rocketry Pages" website:

georgesrockets.com/GRP/Scale/ShuttleData/HTMLshuttlepics/...

“This is an artist concept of the permanently manned Space Station being developed by NASA for operation in the mid 1990’s. In the foreground of the picture is the solar dynamic power system which uses concentrated light from the sun to heat a fluid which turns a generator to provide electrical power for the Station. Solar array panels are also used to generate electricity for the Station. At the center of the Space Station are the pressurized modules where crews will work and live. The United States will provide a laboratory and habitat module. Also shown is the proposed Japanese experiment module which includes a pressurized module, exposed workdeck and local manipulator arm. The proposed European Space Agency module is not visible in this picture. Canadian provided Space Station remote manipulator arms are located on the truss structure. A Space Shuttle Orbiter is shown docked to one of resources nodes which connect the modules together. Off in the distance is a Space Station Co-orbiting toward the platform. The OMV will rendezvous with the platform, attach itself and bring the platform back to the manned base for servicing.”

Wonderfully informative! Refreshing!

Surely originally a contractor concept? And thanks to Cygni_18 (see below), confirmed as Rockwell International!

Neither here nor there, but the ‘AC’ prefixed photo identification number is associated with Ames Research Center ‘photos’. I don’t know what their designated role was in space station development. I thought most, if not all space station stuff at this time, especially any external configuration depictions, was a MSFC thing.

Finally, what I assume to be the associated description, per Marcus Lindroos/Astronautix website:

“Space Station Freedom Phase Two Growth. The expanded "Dual Keel" Space Station "Freedom" made a final comeback in 1989 when President Bush proposed a Moonbase by 2001-2005 and missions to Mars by 2018.”

At:

www.astronautix.com/s/spacestationfreedom.html

Specifically:

www.astronautix.com/graphics/s/ss87iix.jpg

Although indeed the dual keel design, the rest of the description doesn’t seem to apply to the image, to me at least.

Not pertinent, but worth sharing. Thanks to Dr. Al Koller and the good folks of the NASA Alumni League, Florida Chapter:

www.nalfl.com/?page_id=10706

Specifically:

www.nalfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Exploring-Space-...

“VIKING DIGS A DEEP HOLE ON MARS -- This 110-degree color panorama of the Viking 1 Landing area was taken Feb. 17 to document deep-trenching activities that took place Feb. 12 and 14. The area viewed extends from north to northeast of the lander. The trench, to the right of the meteorology boom, is being dug to obtain samples from as far as 30 centimeters (12 inches) below the surface. Some significant changes can be seen in this picture, compared with earlier pictures of the landing area: the sky is much brighter than it was in the days just after landing last July. That indicates that the amount of dust suspended in the atmosphere has increased markedly, as more scattered light is now reaching the surface; hence the shadows (of the meteorology boom and the spacecraft itself) are no longer dark. Finally, the amount of reddish dust on the spacecraft has increased as a result of sampling activity: fine dust can be seen on the leg support and the radioisotope thermoelectric generator cover. On March 12 the surface sampler will deliver some fine material from the trench to the inorganic chemical instrument. That sample analysis may help explain the anomalously high sulfur content of previous samples. On April 2 a sample from the bottom of the trench will be delivered to the biology instrument so scientists can try to better understand the chemistry of the Martian soil observed in earlier experiments.”

While a whole lot of entities have, or offer this image - the JPL Photojournal website not being one of them - the following is the only one I came across that at least has an abridged version of the original caption:

www.tsgc.utexas.edu/spacecraft/viking/v1l_01.html
Credit: Texas Space Grant Consortium website.

A beautifully composed original 1976 work by the eminently talented/multi-talented artist, Michael W. Carroll, on behalf of the Martin Marietta Corporation, depicting the key sequence of events of a proposed Mars Surface Sample Return (MSSR) mission.

15” x 30”.

From left to right, a modified Viking ’75 Orbiter is shown arriving at the red planet, followed by ‘lander capsule’ separation, aeroshell/heat shield atmospheric entry, parachute descent and terminal propulsion system descent to the surface, like that of the original Viking Landers.
Appropriately enough, note the appearance of the modified Viking Lander, with the addition of the large cylindrical object – the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV)! In the depiction, the surface sampler arm/scoop is seen in the process of depositing a sample into the sample container portion of the MAV. The MAV is then elevated & rotated to ‘launch position’, depicted in the distance, immediately to the right of the foreground rendering of the lander. The MAV consists of not one, but TWO solid rocket motor stages to place it in an orbit for rendezvous with the orbiter. Once in orbit, the MAV, shown with the sample container apparently extended…or is that a docking probe??? And no idea what the extended blue? appendages are...solar arrays? IDK. Whatever’s going on there, the MAV then docks with the orbiter, specifically, the Earth Return Vehicle/Craft (ERV/ERC) portion of it, recognizable by the also blue circumferential solar panels? in both the Mars approach & trans-earth depictions. The annoyingly affixed diagram details the configurations of the aforementioned vehicles. The ERV/ERC then proceeds, engine firing, on its way back to earth.
It’s at this point the artwork depiction diverges from the 1974 feasibility study, which called for the sample canister to separate from the ERV/ERC, reenter earth’s atmosphere using heat shield protection & parachute deceleration, followed by either terrestrial touchdown or aircraft capture during the parachute descent. Whoah...maybe the potential of a catastrophic “Andromeda Strain” scenario, along with the realities of 1976, during which the Viking Landers were either about to, or had landed, resulted in the more prudent sample container/space shuttle orbiter rendezvous & RMS capture in earth orbit.

Fortunately - remarkably actually - I gleaned the above information from the following unexpectedly available document, from 1974:

ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19750006729/downloads/1975000...
Credit: The NASA Technical Reports Server...yes, I typed that correctly...the NTRS.

And, I just found this as well - there, at the NTRS - I'm trippin' man...like far out:

ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19760011102/downloads/1976001...
The blind squirrel not only found an acorn, but a walnut as well!

Also:

history.nasa.gov/EP-177/ch7-2.html

I kinda see why this wasn’t pursued further. To me, it’s really Rube Goldberg-ish. It was however novel, although I think dangerous & excessively complicated. Gorgeously depicted though. I’ve never seen any version of this mission proposal artistically portrayed.

Who knew?!?
Did you?!
I didn’t!

Awesome:

stock-space-images.com/
Credit: Michael Carroll/Carroll Space Art website

iaaa.org/member-portfolio/?member=39
Credit: International Association of Astronomical Artists

Courtesy of Mr. Carroll:

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Phobos_Marte.jpg
Credit: Wikimedia Commons website

photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21048
Credit: JPL Photojournal website

By the way, if you're digging any of the artwork I've posted, do yourself a favor & devote some time to peruse the contents of the IAAA website.

Compare/contrast:

www.space.com/nasa-mars-sample-return-rocket-lockheed-mar...
Credit: Space.com website

www.leonarddavid.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/VIKING-SA...
Credit: Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE website

“BODY BUILDING IN BALTIMORE -- LIFTING BODY, THAT IS . . . The Air Force’s first manned lifting body has moved off the production jig at Martin Marietta Corporation in Baltimore. The rocket powered wingless vehicle, called SV-5P, is being built for the U.S. Air Force’s Project PILOT (Piloted LOwspeed Test) and is scheduled to make its maiden flight late this year from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. It will be carried aloft under the wing of a B-52 to 45,000 feet, released to rocket up to 100,000 feet and then make an aircraft type landing at Edwards. SV-5P will attain a speed of Mach 2 in flight but will land at conventional jet fighter speeds. A Martin Marietta-funded jet version, SV-5J, identical except for its engines, is also being built. Although a lower performance vehicle, the jet will be capable of takeoff under its own power and will serve as a test and training vehicle for the critical approach and landing phase of lifting body flight. It also will be available as a backup vehicle to the rocket. In the foreground a test section of the cockpit is used for canopy fitting and pressure checks. Two smaller unmanned versions of the SV-5, the SV-5D, also built by Martin Marietta, have already flown successful orbital return missions under Project PRIME (Precision Recovery Including Maneuvering Entry). PILOT and PRIME are both parts of the Air Force’s Spacecraft Technology and Advanced Reentry Test Program (START). The two projects will provide data on a single lifting body design throughout the total flight regime, orbit to landing. They are aimed at advancing the technology required to contribute to future decisions in the development of manned and unmanned reentry spacecraft.”

THANK YOU! Now THAT’S a caption worth reading!


Since everybody's wondering:

www.adspast.com/store/product_image.php?imageid=34434
Credit: AdsPast.com website

“A mobile lander system is being considered for use in a possible follow-on mission to the Viking ’75 landings on Mars. A mobile Viking lander, which could be launched as early as the 1979 opportunity, would be capable of traversing 100 m to 1 km per day on a commanded heading while sensing hazards and performing avoidance maneuvers. The degree of autonomous control, and consequently the daily traverse range, is still under study. The mobility concept requires the addition of: (1) track-laying or wheel units in place of the Viking Lander footpads, (2) a set of hazard and navigation sensors, and (3) a mobility control computer capability. The technology required to develop these three subsystems is available today. The principal objective of current design studies, as described in this paper, is to define a mobile lander system that will demonstrate high reliability and fail-safe hazard avoidance while achieving range- and terrain-handling capabilities which satisfy the Mars exploration science requirements…

…The question then arises, "What sort of return mission should be planned?" One mission feature that comes to mind frequently when scientists consider responding to potential Viking '75 results is mobility - the ability to move about on the surface. A mobile system would allow one landing to return science data equivalent to that gathered by hundreds of fixed surface laboratories. Interesting objects in the camera field of view, but just beyond the reach of the surface sampler, could be examined. Anomalous atmospheric analyses, when the wind blows from a particular direction, could be tracked to a possible outgassing source. Orbiter pictures indicating a nearby area of interest, could be used as guides for exciting sorties, or a completely adaptive exploration scheme could be followed with each day's findings used to plan the next traverses. The potential science value and popular appeal of this sort of active exploration of Mars has prompted the consideration of converting a Viking lander into a mobile surface laboratory as shown in [this artist’s concept].”

The above extracted from, which also includes the image:

“IFAC Proceedings Volumes”, Volume 9, Issue 1, Part 2, May 1976, Pages 765-783, published by Elsevier
Specifically, an article entitled “Automatic Control of a Mobile Viking Lander on the Surface of Mars”
By: J. Moore (Deputy Manager), W. Scofield (Manager), W. Tobey (Engineer)
At:

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1474667017671623
Credit: ScienceDirect website

Finally, if I’ve got this right, apparently the above concept/proposal for locomotion was subsequently referred to as the Elastic Loop Mobility System (ELMS).
Per usual, excellent discussion of such & additional similar imagery::

www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/viking-lander-with-elms-...
Credit: SECRET PROJECTS website

Literally, a Viking lander with treads instead of footpads.

Very nice artwork by W. Williams, possibly a JPL artist.

"Artist's concept of Air Force TITAN II under development at Martin Company's Space Systems Division boosting NASA 2-man GEMINI spacecraft."

Beautiful work by the - I dare say - prolific - John Gorsuch.

(To me), the most iconic of all artists' concepts of the Viking Program, particularly of the lander on the Martian surface. One of many amazing works by Mr. Bennett over the years.

Charles O. Bennett. Continue to Rest In Peace & Space:

www.celestis.com/participants-testimonials/charles-oren-b...
Credit: Celestis, Inc. website

Note that this photo is an official 1973 - most likely by permission of Martin Marietta - TRW print. I was unaware of what TRW's contribution was to the program. Apparently, it was the biology instrument - responsible for the search for life! And it appears they had some really serious issues:

history.nasa.gov/SP-4212/ch7.html
Credit: Chapter 7 of the online "SP-4212
On Mars: Exploration of the Red Planet. 1958-1978" website

See also:

www.space.com/33468-viking-1-first-mars-landing-pictures/...
Credit: Space.com website

www.americaspace.com/2016/07/19/viking-remembered-celebra...
Credit: AmericaSpace.com website/Paul Scott Anderson

Impressive:

airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/technological-breakt...
Credit: NASM website