The Race to Mars: From Viking to Perseverance

NASA’s Viking 1 became the first successful Mars lander in 1976.
Viking missions searched for life but found only inconclusive results.
Later missions like Pathfinder (1997) delivered the Sojourner rover.
Spirit and Opportunity (2004) revealed signs of past water on Mars.
Opportunity set records, lasting nearly 15 years instead of 90 days.
Curiosity (2012) confirmed Mars once had conditions suitable for life.
In 2021, Perseverance landed in Jezero Crater with advanced instruments.
Perseverance carries Ingenuity, the first helicopter to fly on another planet.
Its mission includes caching samples for a future return to Earth.
Together, these missions have turned Mars into the most explored planet after Earth.