NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Surface erosion caused on Mars from Viking descent engine plumeDuring the Martian landings the descent engine plumes on Viking Lander 1 (VL-1) and Viking Lander 2 (VL-2) eroded the Martian surface materials. This had been anticipated and investigated both analytically and experimentally during the design phase of the Viking spacecraft. This paper presents data on erosion obtained during the tests of the Viking descent engine and the evidence for erosion by the descent engines of VL-1 and VL-2 on Mars. From these and other results, it is concluded that there are four distinct surface materials on Mars: (1) drift materials, (2) crusty to cloddy material, (3) blocky material, and (4) rock.
Document ID
19810028474
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hutton, R. E.
(U.S. Geological Survey Harbor City, Calif., United States)
Moore, H. J.
(U.S. Geological Survey Menlo Park, Calif., United States)
Scott, R. F.
(California Institute of Technology Pasadena, Calif., United States)
Shorthill, R. W.
(Utah, University Salt Lake City, Utah, United States)
Spitzer, C. R.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, Va., United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1980
Publication Information
Publication: Moon and the Planets
Volume: 23
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
81A12878
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASA ORDER W-14575
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available