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THE EXPLORATION OF MARS AND THE SEARCH FOR LIFE

The Exploration of Mars

First photograph ever taken on the surface of Mars, taken by Viking 1 on July 20,1976. (Photo by NASA)

THE EXPLORATION OF MARS AND THE SEARCH FOR LIFE: VIKING TO HUMANS

Join leading scientists, engineers, faculty and students as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Viking landings and look ahead to the future of human exploration of Mars. 

Photo of Mars' Utopian Plain taken by Viking 2. (Photo by NASA)

50 YEARS ON MARS

Humanity’s first two successful landings of operational and functioning spacecraft on the surface of planet Mars took place on July 20 and September 3, 1976. The Viking Landers were also the first spacecraft, and to-date, humanity’s only spacecraft, to look for active life on Mars. We will celebrate the historic landings of the Viking spacecraft 50 years ago and their search for life on Mars and also review NASA’s developing plans to send humans to the surface of Mars.

The Viking Project was developed and managed at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. To learn more about the Viking mission, visit NASA's official site Viking: 50 Years on Mars. 

Event Details

  • September 18

    Doors open at 11:30 with the program scheduled for 12-5 p.m.

  • Free

    Open to the public with no cost for admission.

  • Commonwealth Auditorium

    Sadler Center, 200 Stadium Road Williamsburg, VA 23185

  • Visiting W&M

    Resources to plan your visit, to include directions, parking information, and campus maps.

Live Stream

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Agenda

Agenda

Agenda for the Mars Symposium
12 p.m.

The Viking Legacy: 50 Years of Exploration 

Dr. Ellen R. Stofan
1 p.m.

Viking Unanswered Questions

Tom Young
2 p.m.

The Viking Legacy

Gentry Lee
3 p.m.

Why Viking More Likely Than Not Found Life on Mars and Why You Do Not Know That Already

Dr. Steven Benner
4 p.m.

Viking Witnessed Through the Lens of a High School Intern

Dr. Hans-Peter Biemann
4:15 p.m.    

Planning for the Future of Mars Exploration: A Human Mission to Mars-Scientific Goals and Objectives

Dr. Joel S. Levine

For questions about the symposium, contact Dr. Joel Levine at [[jslevine]]

Speakers

Dr. Ellen R. Stofan

Graduate of William & Mary ('83) and now Under Secretary for Science and Research, The Smithsonian Institution and former NASA Chief Scientist and former Director of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Tom Young

Viking Mission Director and former President and Chief Operating Officer of Martin Marietta and Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin

Gentry Lee

Viking Director of Science Analysis and Mission Planning and former Chief Engineer for Solar System Exploration at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the subject of the recent movie “Starman”

Dr. Steven Benner

Director, Westheimer Institute of Science and Technology and the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution and author of “Meet the Neighbors: Life on Mars and How to Find It”

Dr. Hans-Peter Biemann

Author of “The Vikings of ’76”

Dr. Joel S. Levine

Research Professor, Department of Applied Science, William & Mary and former Senior Research Scientist at the NASA Langley Research Center