lander (Viking)![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Spacecraft designed to touch down on the surface of the celestial body so as to study it.
radioisotope thermoelectric generator ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Device that supplies electrical power; converts the heat released by the radioactive decay of a substance it contains into electricity.
collector head ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Shovel used to collect soil samples, which are analyzed on-site.
UHF antenna ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Antenna used to establish radio contact with the orbiter.
shock absorber ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Piece of equipment deployed to cushion the impact when the lander touches down.
propellant tank ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Place where fuel for the descent engines is stored.
high gain antenna ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Principal antenna pointed toward Earth to transmit large quantities of scientific data as well as photographs.
camera ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Two cameras make it possible to obtain three-dimensional color images of the celestial body’s surface.
terminal descent engine ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Rocket engine that allows the lander to slow down before it touches the ground.
temperature sensor ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Instrument that measures the surface temperature of the celestial body.
furlable boom ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Mobile extension arm serving to dig into the soil and collect samples.