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Viking '75 Mars Lander Construction, Looking for Viking lander design/construction information
PaulH51
post Jun 27 2017, 09:45 AM
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QUOTE (Tom Dahl @ Jun 27 2017, 08:01 AM) *
...boom extend-retract drive mechanism...

Wonderful stuff.... Thanks for sharing this with us here... Thinking out loud, I wonder if we'll ever see any of the Mars rovers in this or similar format smile.gif Probably not in my lifetime...
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monty python
post Jun 28 2017, 05:31 AM
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Thanks. Always wondered how that worked.
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Tom Dahl
post Aug 4 2017, 04:14 PM
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The Viking lander's Surface Sampler Acquisition Assembly (SSAA) is complete, for now at least. The SketchUp model file is available at the 3D Warehouse. The final set of components to be finished included the boom supports and guides:
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Here is the overall lander (still missing most external components) with the SSAA and its Collector Head in place (the second view shows the collector head fully retracted):
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This view shows the surface sampler with its Collector Head Shroud Unit (CHSU) attached and configured for launch, cruise to Mars, and landing wherein the SSAA is pivoted down to engage the triangular restraint post. The CHSU sealed the ultra-clean and sterilized collector head:

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Tom Dahl
post Jan 14 2018, 12:37 AM
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I've completed a detailed (nearly 18 minutes long) video animation that demonstrates operation of the Viking lander's Surface Sampler Acquisition Assembly. The video features the 3D digital model of the lander that I've been working on for the past few years (and which has a few more years to go until completion), described in earlier replies.

My thanks to the following organizations who have allowed me to research their Viking artifacts:
The Viking Mars Missions Education and Preservation Project
The Museum of Flight
California Science Center
Virginia Air and Space Center
NASA Langley Research Center
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
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vikingmars
post Jan 14 2018, 08:37 AM
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QUOTE (Tom Dahl @ Jan 14 2018, 01:37 AM) *
I've completed a detailed (nearly 18 minutes long) video animation that demonstrates operation of the Viking lander's Surface Sampler Acquisition Assembly. The video features the 3D digital model of the lander that I've been working on for the past few years (and which has a few more years to go until completion), described in earlier replies.

My thanks to the following organizations who have allowed me to research their Viking artifacts:
The Viking Mars Missions Education and Preservation Project
The Museum of Flight
California Science Center
Virginia Air and Space Center
NASA Langley Research Center
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum


WOW ! Thanks so much Tom for this astounding video: lots of congratulations to you wheel.gif wheel.gif wheel.gif wheel.gif
I feel being back at JPL and I'm remembering a lot of events ! smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif
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monty python
post Jan 14 2018, 09:14 AM
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Tom, that is fantastic! I am old enough to remember those missions, and have always wondered how those arms worked.

Thank you for being such a Viking fan and for your hard work.
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Floyd
post Jan 14 2018, 03:24 PM
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Tom, thank you for a fantastic movie. It is visually striking and extremely informative. The details of how the ten foot arm roles up are ingenious. I would think this movie would be particularly valuable for engineering courses to show how design translates into function---with details from two of the most iconic space craft ever. The description, narration and music all incredibly well done.


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john_s
post Jan 26 2018, 09:23 PM
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Beautiful engineering, beautifully rendered and presented. Congratulations!

John
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PFK
post Jan 27 2018, 11:44 AM
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As a humble chemist (albeit one who vividly remembers reports of the mission at the time and the pictures splashed across newspaper front pages) I have to say I'm blown away by this. Brilliantly informative and impressive stuff!
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Tom Dahl
post Jan 9 2019, 12:51 AM
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The next chapter in the effort to create a high-fidelity Viking '75 Mars lander 3D digital model is complete - the S-Band High Gain Antenna (HGA) and its deployment mechanism (the preceding links lead to the SketchUp 3D Warehouse where the model files are freely available). Here are images comparing the model to actual antenna units:
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Here are exploded and cut-away views of the antenna:
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And an overall view of the work-in-progress lander model with antenna in place (most of the lander's external components are yet to be modeled):
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All externally-visible piece-parts of the HGA and deployment mechanism (along with a selection of internal parts for which I've found some documentation) are modeled in detail - nearly 300 in all. A Google Photos album contains renderings of the model as progress has been made over the past few years (newer at the bottom).

Sincere thanks to the Viking Mars Missions Education and Preservation Project, who allowed me many hours of access in 2015 and 2017 to HGA serial number 21 in their collection. I was able to capture hundreds of detail measurements with precision calipers along with hundreds of close-up photographs to guide the model during two trips from my home in Massachusetts USA to the VMMEPP in the Pacific Northwest.
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PaulH51
post Jan 9 2019, 01:31 AM
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QUOTE (Tom Dahl @ Jan 9 2019, 08:51 AM) *
The next chapter in the effort to create a high-fidelity Viking '75 Mars lander 3D digital model is complete....

I'm going to need more time to look at these in great detail.... wonderful stuff... Thank you Tom.
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sittingduck
post Jan 9 2019, 03:41 PM
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Tom, what you're doing is not only historical preservation, but a work of art.

I wish you the best of luck in continuing the effort.
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Tom Dahl
post Oct 3 2019, 02:12 AM
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I've completed the remaining two communications antennas of the Viking '75 Mars lander: the S-band Low Gain Antenna (LGA) and the UHF antenna. The LGA was small a receive-only antenna used to pick up commands sent from Earth. Here are rendering of the LGA (SketchUp 3D Warehouse link):
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The UHF antenna was used to relay information from the lander through either of the two Viking orbiters and onward to Earth (which could be done either in real-time or deferred via the orbiter's tape recorder). Here are renderings of the UHF antenna (SketchUp 3D Warehouse Link):
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scalbers
post Oct 3 2019, 09:56 PM
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Nice to see these antennas again. I especially recall the LGA from the downlinked images. Thanks Tom!


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mcaplinger
post Apr 2 2020, 07:46 PM
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Over on nasawatch it's being claimed that the NASA worm logo appeared on the Viking lander, but I couldn't find any evidence of this. Bicentennial logo, yes, Viking patch logo, yes, American flag, yes, but no obvious worm. Maybe there's a small one on the patch? I couldn't find any high-res images of the patch as it appeared on the lander. Anyone know?


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Disclaimer: This post is based on public information only. Any opinions are my own.
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