Landings:
* The first successful landing on Mars was by the Soviet spacecraft Mars 3 in 1971. However, the lander only transmitted for 20 seconds before failing.
* The first successful and long-lasting landing was by the American Viking 1 in 1976. This mission was followed by its twin, Viking 2.
* Since then, many other missions have successfully landed on Mars:
* The Sojourner rover (part of the Mars Pathfinder mission) in 1997
* The twin rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, in 2004
* The Curiosity rover in 2012
* The Perseverance rover in 2021
* The InSight lander in 2018
Orbiters:
* Many spacecraft have also orbited Mars:
* The Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter are just a few examples.
* These orbiters have provided valuable data about the planet's surface, atmosphere, and geology.
Other missions:
* Several other missions have flown by Mars without landing or orbiting, such as the Mariner missions.
It's important to note:
* Landing on Mars is incredibly difficult, and many missions have failed.
* The study of Mars is an ongoing endeavor, with more missions planned for the future.
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