Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.). Spacecraft Data Systems Section.

Project Viking was approved by NASA Administrator Thomas O. Paine on December 4, 1968. It followed in the aftermath of the cancellation of the Voyager Project to Mars (the name Voyager was, of course, used for a later planetary mission to the outer planets) earlier that year. Viking was originally to be launched in 1973, and was referred to as "Viking 1973." In January 1970, the launch date was postponed to 1975, the next available Mars launch window, as an alternative to a cancellation of the mission itself.

Project Viking consisted of two orbiters and two landers. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) was assigned to design and build the two Viking Orbiters and to conduct mission communications using the Deep Space Network. JPL was also used as the command center for the mission. Overall responsibility for the management of Project Viking was at NASA's Langley Research Center at Hampton, VA. Langley turned management of Project Viking over to JPL towards the end of the mission, in April 1978.

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