The NASA Viking 1 and 2 probes were targeted to two specific regions on Mars.
- Viking 1 landed on July 20, 1976 on the "Golden Plain" (Chryse Planitia) about 22° north of the Martian equator.
- Viking 2 landed on September 3, 1976 on the "Utopia Planitia" plain in the northern mid-latitudes, on the opposite side of Mars from Viking 1.