This collection is divided into three series. The first series is the two-volume Viking 75 Orbiter Design Book. The second series is the one-volume Viking 75 Orbiter Support Equipment Design Book. Both were written during the period 1970-1975. The third series consists of two shipping notices and related transmittal memoranda. In regard to the first series, the Viking 75 Orbiter Design Book had written specifications that were two-fold. First, it served to provide design criteria. Secondly, it provided a functionally accurate description of the Viking 75 Orbiter at the system and subsystem levels. It was divided into four principal sections: (1) Introduction; (2) Orbiter Design Criteria; (3) Orbiter System Functional Requirements; and (4) Orbiter Subsystem Functional Requirements. Volume 1 contains Sections 1-3. Section 4 is in Volume 2. The design criteria included basing the Viking 75 Orbiter on modifications to the Mariner Mars 1971 spacecraft design, with changes to be made in order to accommodate mission objectives, Viking Lander requirements, launch vehicle requirements, parts availability, and environmental requirements. The Viking 75 Orbiter Design Book consists of a disassembled two-volume document assigned the control number 612-2. Peter T. Lyman, Orbiter System Engineer, was custodian of the document, and responsible for its overall development. Folder 1, in addition to the Contents and Introduction, contains a four-page distribution list. The one-volume Viking 75 Orbiter Support Equipment Design Book, which is the second series in this collection, was used to define the orbiter support equipment and the allocation of system support functions. Any information pertaining to orbiter support equipment functions "had no status" until it was adopted by incorporation into this document. Richard F. Collins, the Orbiter Test and Operations Manager, was responsible for the overall development of the Orbiter Support Equipment (SE) Design Book, and for ensuring that it was consistent with applicable functional requirements and design criteria. R. A. Rotter, Orbiter Support Equipment System Engineer, was the Orbiter Support Equipment Design Book custodian. Similar to the divisions in the Orbiter Design Book, the Orbiter Support Equipment Design Book was divided into four sections: (1) Introduction; (2) Design Criteria; (3) Orbiter Support Equipment System Functional Requirements; and (4) Orbiter Support Equipment Subsystem Functional Requirements. The design criteria included basing the Viking 75 Orbiter Support Equipment upon evolutionary changes to the Mariner Mars 1971 or Mariner Venus Mercury 1973 support equipment designs. Other design objectives required standardization of functional modules, including computer hardware and software, compatibility with the Viking Lander equipment, interchangeability of subsystem equipment, and extensive reliability testing. This part of the collection consists of a disassembled one-volume document, assigned the control number 612-4. Folder 9, in addition to the Introduction and Contents, contains a four-page distribution list. The third series in this collection contains shipping notices and release notices for two design books developed by Martin Marietta Corporation, a contractor on the Viking project. The titles of the two design books described in the shipping notices are: (1) Viking Lander to Viking Orbiter Relay Link Design Book; and (2) Viking Lander Direct Communications Subsystem Design Book. Copies of these design books were not included in the folders, merely the shipping and release notices. A handwritten note in the Viking Lander Direct Communications Subsystem Design Book folder indicates that there was "no copy in the Viking Orbiter file."
