Surface erosion caused on Mars from Viking descent engine plume

The Moon and the Planets
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

During 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 material, (2) crusty to cloddy material, (3) blocky material, and (4) rock. ?? 1980 D. Reidel Publishing Co.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Surface erosion caused on Mars from Viking descent engine plume
Series title The Moon and the Planets
DOI 10.1007/BF00902045
Volume 23
Issue 3
Year Published 1980
Language English
Publisher location Kluwer Academic Publishers
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title The Moon and the Planets
First page 293
Last page 305
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details