SAVE 1976 Viking Mars Mission History - Archive & Artifacts
Tax deductible
Since 1982 the Founder and her father, James E. Tillman have been delivering Viking mission education around the globe starting with the first web based live data exhibit at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. "Live from Earth and Mars" delivered live Viking mission data to the exhibit until the mission ended, when it contined as "The Viking View of Mars" where it remained for over 20 years.
In 1979, the father daughter team with the support of her previous teacher, launched the first (as far as can have discovered) Lego robotics competitions in the world.
In addition, Mr. Tillman developed the first online Mars curriculum in the world, with staff and peers at the University of Washington, and it remains available today, with lessons and instructions for Teachers who can still follow his Atmospheric Sciences kit setup to teach, as well as other science lessons by his peers.
This was just the beginning...
Now for over 40 years, together they have served hundreds of thousands of people across the globe with lessons, talks, hands on engineering and artifacts experiences. And they have created the largest Viking mission Archive in the world including the only Viking flight qualified spacecraft - the VL3 Lander.
GOALS
This is the first major fundraiser for our nonprofit that has been successfully delivering experiences and education around the globe for over 15 years. The funds will be the beginning of a larger campaign to ensure the longevity and future of the organization and the Viking Artifacts and Archives. Over the next year we are hard at work continuing our Educational Programming - including our upcoming road trip around the United States to deliver Viking experiences, our in process Viking Book, and Phase 1 of the strategic plan to create a dedicated Viking space.
What if there were NO original images from Apollo?
What if everyone thought Curiosity was the first mission to land on Mars?
ABOUT THE VIKING MISSION
Believe it or not, many do not know Viking was the FIRST mission to land successfully on Mars and send surface images, science data, and perform engineering firsts!
VIKING reached Mars in 1976 with 2 Landers and 2 Orbiters. The first successful landing on Mars was Viking 1 which landed July 20, 1976. (add a few facts)
Viking was the first successful interplanetary landing mission, and changed history with its Genealogy of Influence in engineering, science, operational models, computing advancements, and cultural and economic impact.
WE ARE The Viking Mars Missions Education and Preservation Project (VMMEPP) a 501c3 nonprofit EIN 47-2530943
WE BELIEVE that critical thinking and skills needed to lead, innovate, and solve complex problems in the future depends upon the ability of youth to be exposed to, learn, and practice them. We know that increasingly, schools are unable to provide the environment for youth to accomplish this. We believe that many of these skills can be learned by exposure to the science, history, and human lessons of Viking, because it:
- Embodies a broad set of firsts
- Is multidisciplinary in nature
- Used an integrated approach to mission planning and operations
- Offers these lessons in a comparative context to current missions, and social - cultural - industrial – scientific environments of then and now
We know that Viking is relevant today, as has been demonstrated by the requests from scholars, institutes, and students alike since we began this project. Institutional heritage is being lost, and with it a knowledge base that can contribute to current programs. Institutes cannot afford to maintain physical libraries dedicated to each project they are responsible for. We are dedicated to doing so for Viking, and will provide digital archives to institutes that donate their physical archives and artifacts.
THE PROBLEM STATEMENT
Viking history has been vanishing as NASA Archives are thrown away and digitized, leaving few and decreasing original records. Real estate has become a problem for NASA and has always been a challenge for Archives. Anywhere from 70-90% of archives and papers donated to archives are not “accessed” or taken into permanent collections. Remaining items are frequently thrown away. This is not a “Viking” problem, but a problem of all archives on any subject. Some historic preservation organizations will tell you in advance that they are not interested in something you might try to donate for preservation purposes, however many, if they see some value, will simply take it all without discussing the process of accession in detail, including that some items may be thrown away or sold.
Digitized content is not sufficient to protect history, as it can be corrupted intentionally and unintentionally, and digital media requires originating media devices to access. It has been discovered that digital media storage is less resilient than paper and printed media in many cases.
~ Vint Cerf
ORGANIZATION
The Viking Mars Missions Preservation and Education Project is a 501c3 nonprofit focused on preserving the history, artifacts, original documents, and data from the Viking Missions, to inspire current and future leaders and thinkers, and to instill collaboration and equity into missions of tomorrow.
We are the only Archive in the world dedicated to a single space mission, and with a model that preserves ALL original mission documentation, media, and artifacts donated to the nonprofit pertaining to the Viking mission. We do not throw away donated items related to the mission, even if we don't know the entire context. Instead we are recreating the fabric of the mission by aggregating everything so the connective threads can be identified and shared to present a holistic view of the entire mission from pre mission office, to funding, planning, design/test/build, launch, and science analysis.
We are also the only nonprofit that has completed over 100 oral history interviews of Viking mission contributors, which does not limit focus to NASA direct reports, but includes individuals from all institutes including NASA, JPL, contractors (primary and sub contractors), and academic institutes around the globe. This includes ALL roles we discover or are shared with us, from Mission Planning, Flight, Science, Engineering, DSN, results analysis, and more. (see snippets of some below from our YouTube Channel)
The challenges we face are three primarily:
1. Cost of digital storage and hosting for the massive quantity of documents, videos, and educational content is currently cost prohibitive. Until we can host them on local servers we can only share a small fraction of what we curate.
2. The Burden Is On Us
- NASA doesn't have the resources or space to adequately preserve missions in this way, and they need to focus on research and development and funding launching new missions and creating the layers of resources needed to serve the commercial sector start upstairs and top OEMs
- Museums have other motives focused more on high level, quick turn experiences and do not understand or have the knowledge or capacity to support real Archives
- Archives that DO have the understanding of the value, and the knowledge to support, don't have the capacity for this large scale focused Archive AND all the hardware (including a spacecraft) that we are entrusted with
3. Accessibility and Reach
- VMMEPP is the only Viking dedicated organization that creates content and shares it through in person, online, and virtual experiences in multiple media. We have been doing this on small budgets for 17 years funded primarily by Vikings and a small number of supporters - traveling across the country and even the world sharing Viking history and activities. We have managed to do this without conducting any major fundraisers.
- In addition to all the work we already do, we have been working on a book to explain and explore the Viking mission in depth through images and written material including quotes from many Vikings, and industry leaders of today and those who have passed. This will require at least $20,000 for a beautiful coffee table hardcover book
- Planning and setting groundwork for an accessible dedicated space for the Lander artifacts and Archive is the long term goal and this first phase requires substantial investment
Which brings us to this fundraiser...
This is Phase One of a much larger fundraiser to purchase a building that will be an interactive teaching and applied learning facility. The facility’s purpose will be to preserve and share Mars exploration history and current practices and to provide career preparation experiences to students of all ages. It would be owned by the nonprofit and give us the freedom to perform our programs without pressure to compromise our mission.
HISTORY OF THE VIKING MARS MISSIONS EDUCATION & PRESERVATION PROJECT (VMMEPP)
From the Founder
"This organization was inspired by my Father, James Eugene Tillman, Viking Meteorology Team Member, and all the other Vikings I have met over the years that intrigued and inspired me, and taught me to work hard and take risks for what I believe in. Seeing the first pictures come from Mars, witnessing the transformation of belief as discoveries were made, listening to the excited and sometimes heated discussions between team members at JPL, the UW, and BBQs at various Vikings’ homes over the years, participating in various aspects of my father’s work - because he believed children had skills and ideas too - inspired me to save the VL3 from scrap, and help my father design the “Live from Earth and Mars” exhibit for The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in 1981.
Seeing the kids in 1979, build and create robots and space vehicles inspired by the Viking Lander we saved, and Viking science we shared, made me sure there was even more we could do. And now almost 40 years later I have the opportunity and team to take this to the next level and share with the world the amazing Viking Mission and the people and institutes behind it."
Currently there are 5 Viking Lander vehicles or models, on display, but only one is flight ready (VL3) built by Martin Marietta, saved from scrap and owned by Rachel Tillman, the Founder of The Viking Mars Missions Education and Preservation Project. The VL3, along with the unprecedented collection of archives and artifacts, constitute the most robust body of privately owned and nonprofit Viking archives and artifacts that span the sciences, instrument design, engineering, computing, organizational management, missions planning, and personal history of Viking.
WHAT WE DO
We have:
1) Created materials consisting of unique Mars / Viking mission original materials, such as educational posters, mobile exhibit panels, and digital content
2) Conducted and digitally preserved over 300 interviews of Viking mission contributors
3) Led and participated in virtual and in-person learning opportunities at museums, international conferences, educational facilities
4) Hosted and initiated more than 10 Viking reunions, including leading the Viking 40th reunion in 2016, which brought together more than 150 Viking contributors for the first time in 30 years. This event was sponsored by Lockheed Martin. We provided event plans for Langley and JPL to host Viking anniversaries, which inspired and guided the Langley event at VA Air & Space Museum.
5) Curated thousands of pages of Viking documents and made the first Viking online exhibit for the Google Cultural Institute platform
6) Developed and led interactive multigenerational (TM)MarsMaker events on two continents and 3 states. Ages 3 to 80+ worked together with student “Project Managers” to construct artistic representations of Viking Landers, using all scrap material.
7) Mentored numerous students in various phases of their educational development, creating tangible project achievements and connections to industry, which have resulted in awards, jobs, scholarships, and learning opportunities for our students
8) Reached thousands worldwide with presentations to diverse audiences, including students, the general public, aerospace industry, and academics on Viking, Leadership, STEM Learning, Technology integration into educational spaces, Space Archeology, Oral History Interviewing, and more
VMMEPP Online Content
VMMEPP YouTube Channel
VMMEPP led Viking 40th Anniversary Education Day at Wings Over the Rockies
Series of excerpts from Dale Rushneck on the Engineering and testing of the Viking GCMS
The inaugural International VMMEPP MarsMaker (TM) event in 2017, AYAA & Brisbane University
Melissa Guzman , Intern of Dr. Chris McKay of NASA Ames, investigating the Viking GCMS data
ACTIVITIES
Created and implemented MarsMaker(™) Program. Hands on “build” events recreating an artistic representation of the Viking Lander out of scrap material for audiences from 3 to 80+ with youth coached by college students with engineering and aerospace studies, trained and led by Rachel. Teaches participants about mission planning, design, and building concepts through a Viking lens. Teamwork. Provides leadership opportunities for students
Oregon Museum of Science & Industry
2019, 2023 OMSI After Dark, Educator Booth
2016 MarsMaker Event
2016 - Science Pubs
2023 - Speaker at GAAC quarterly meeting
2021 - Panelist Opening Event "Searching for Life On Mars", Mars Society Conference
2020 - Guest Educator, Janet's Planet
2020 - Youth Aerospace Career Day (PSU Mentee Team formed a unique group called We In Space(WIA)
Designed Four Career Tracks and solicited the Speakers for Panels. Trained students in event management. Trained students for different roles for the event including Moderator and Speaker handling. Trained students in public speaking. (Meet the young student leaders )
2019 - Inaugural Pacific Northwest Aerospace Expo , Portland State University Rocketry Team
Led PSU students in the successful launch of their first Student Aerospace Conference. Coached PSU students event management, budgeting and sponsorships, solicited Speakers, and presented on Viking.
2019 - Cities In Space
2019 - Spacefest, Educator Booth
2017 - Guest Speaker Mars Day, Mars New Year celebration Mars, Pennsylvania May 6
2019 - MarsMaker(™) Event at Brisbane University with Australian Youth Aerospace Association (AYAA)
2017 - Oregon State University Maker Fair MarsMaker(™) Event
2017 - Robot Garden, with MarsMaker(™) event in San Francisco
2016, 2018 Barnes & Nobles , Meet the Viking Makers and learn about space organizations in Oregon
2010-2023 Museum of Flight
- Provided the content and VL3 for multiyear Viking Exhibit
- Provided interaction and education of visitors for the launch of Apollo Special Exhibit. 2018
2016 - Wings Over the Rockies, VMMEPP led Viking 40th Anniversary and Family Education Day
- Viking interview excerpts and event overview
2007 - University of Washington
Atmospheric Sciences & Electrical Engineering: Designed the Viking VL3 Exhibit which was then built by faculty, students, and additional materials by Don Morrisey of Rocket Research. Featured on KUOW
BOOKS, PAPERS, ARTICLES, INTERVIEWS & PUBLISHED WORKS
A Bunch of Plumbers by Viking John Newcomb , Autobiography. Assisted in editing, fact checking, providing image assets, promotion
Silent publisher of Dr. Patricia Ann Straats Autobiography “To Mars With Love ” copy and image editing, all promotion and speakership, and owns the copyrights and movie rights. Developed and maintains the associated website and content Astrobiology Article tribute
2023 - KUOW Radio
2020 - Discover-Con
2019 - AIAA-2019-1442: The Viking Mars Missions Education and Preservation Project. AIAA SciTech San Diego
2019 - IAC-2019 70th Interactive Presentation IAC-19/E5/IP.1.Preserving and sharing aerospace history through cross generational and interactive collaborative activities, Rachel Tillman, The Viking Mars Missions Education and Preservation Project (VMMEPP), United States Abstract
Two Episodes feature VMMEPP
2016 - Space Times
2016 - Preserving the stories of Viking Presentation, Hillsdale Library in Portland, Oregon
2016 Seattle Astronomy , Greg Scheiderer
2014 - The Genealogy of Influence : Viking Mars Missions’ Impact on the Future, IAC Toronto
CONTRIBUTIONS TO RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS
2023 - The Big Book of Mars , Marc Hartzman
2017 - Mars Making Contact , Author, Rod Pyle
Poster, Phillip C. Price, ASMS History Committee
MakerEd Contributed Data to Research Brief
Leonard David, Space Journalist
Viking GCMS Data Restoral and Perceiving Temperature on Other Worlds: Astrobiology Projects at NASA Ames, Melissa Guzman
MEPAG (content is temporarily unavailable due to 2025 Administrative order)
Organizer
Rachel Tillman
Organizer
Portland, OR
The Viking Mars Missions Education and Preservation Project
Beneficiary