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In 1976, two identical spacecraft, Viking 1 and Viking 2, successfully landed on Mars. Each spacecraft was equipped with miniature biology laboratories designed to conduct experiments specifically aimed at identifying signs of life. This represented humanity's first serious endeavor to search for biological activity beyond Earth.
The Viking landers conducted three major experiments to detect life. Despite their historic significance, the missions have often been misrepresented in terms of their findings. The prevailing narrative upheld by mainstream science claims that the Viking landers found nothing more than unusual active chemicals in Martian soil, leading to a long-term conclusion that Mars is devoid of life.