Part 3/10:
The Viking missions in the 1970s were a turning point. Launched in 1975, Viking 1 and Viking 2 aimed to image the Martian surface, analyze the atmosphere, and search for signs of life. Despite a total cost of around $1 billion, the Viking landers produced ambiguous results. Richard C. Hoagland, an influential figure in alternative space theory, suggested that the vibrant images disseminated were manipulated, altering perceptions of the Martian environment.