The Flickr Soilsampler Image Generatr

“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...

(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

Check this out:

www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a12/a12mr_fig03_25_en.jpg