The atmosphere of Mars today is like the Earth's atmosphere is like at 100, 000 feet.
There were instruments to measure the composition of the atmosphere of Mars as it entered the atmosphere.
In order to have liquid water at the surface, the atmosphere of Mars had to be considerably thicker than it is today.
So, as Viking entered the atmosphere of Mars it made critical measurements.
So we knew so little about the atmosphere of Mars, we knew so little about this technology, that we couldn't take anything for granted, and we are going back.
It gathered samples of the atmosphere to be measured by its Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instruments, which allow sophisticated analysis of the Martian atmosphere from the rover.
FORBES: Curiosity Sniffs The Martian Atmosphere But Finds No Sign Of Life
And by looking at the difference in the ratio of isotopes it was concluded that Mars lost 99.99 percent of its atmosphere.
One key element in searching for life on Mars is the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere As a simple carbon compound, methane is often a precursor to the formation of the complex organic chemicals that make life possible.
FORBES: Curiosity Sniffs The Martian Atmosphere But Finds No Sign Of Life
And, in fact, Viking data 30 years ago gave us the first evidence that Mars may have lost 99.9 percent of its atmosphere.
As part of our commitment to maintain American leadership in the exploration of Mars beyond the Curiosity mission, NASA will launch the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) orbiter next year.
Flying high in the earth's atmosphere, where the air is thin, is, he says, rather like flying near the surface of Mars.
"Dust in the atmosphere has a major role in shaping the climate on Mars, " said Manuel de la Torre Juarez of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
ENGADGET: Curiosity rover finds radiation levels on Mars are safe for humans
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