Viking Mission Software Programs User's Guides Collection, 1971-1977.

ArchivalResource

Langley Research Center. Viking Mission Software Programs User's Guides Collection, 1971-1977.

Viking Mission Software Programs User's Guides Collection, 1971-1977.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/733100275

This collection has been assembled from two separate accessions and reflects a logical organization of disparate Viking materials. The documents in the collection are arranged in one chronological sequence. The collection consists of documents that describe computer software programs utilized for the Viking Mission spacecraft, the orbiters and the landers. They were written principally guides for the operation of the program by computer personnel, or as operational procedures for user acceptance tests of the software. Most documents give an explanation of the software program design, its requirements and functions. In addition, some have very detailed operating instructions and text of the actual program code. The majority of the software programs described in the documentation are those that control Viking operations such as: orbit trim operations, antenna pointing, sequential lander operations generation, lander thermal performance measurement, biology instrument operations, lander science, Mars atmospheric data estimation, scan platform, imaging system, and lander entry trajectory. Nearly all of the software programs were given acronyms by which they are known. For example, the antenna pointing program is referred to as APOP, the Mars orbit insertion program is known as MOIOP, and the lander trajectory program is known as LTRAJ. Where these acronyms are known, they are included in the file folder titles. Most of the software programs relating to the landers were developed at Martin Marietta. The majority of the orbiter software was developed at JPL. Many of the programs are written as handbooks and user guides, often including assembly diagrams of the spacecraft units and functions the software packages are designed to operate. The Surface Sampler Subsystem is a good example of that type of handbook. Not all of the Viking software is in this collection. For example, box 20 of JPL 144 has documentation for the Mission Computer and Control Center (MCCC) system support software for the Viking Orbiters, and collection JPL 137 contains the Viking operating software functional requirements documents. The software documents usually contain at least one identifying number, usually a Viking Orbiter Data Index number. These are usually written in pencil in the lower right or left hand corner of the first page. The Archives has a nine-volume printout of the Viking Documents listed by Data Index number. The listing of index numbers, although in ascending sequential order is discontinuous. Number series are repeated several times.

14.4 cubic ft. (538 folders).

Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives