Viking 1, an unmanned U.S. planetary probe,was launched from
Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a mission to Mars on this day in
1975.

On June 19, 1976, the spacecraft entered into orbit around Mars
and devoted the next month to imaging the Martian surface with
the purpose of finding an appropriate landing site for its lander.

The same day, the craft sent back the first close-up photographs
of the rust-colored Martian surface.

In September 1976, Viking 2—launched only three weeks after
Viking 1—entered into orbit around Mars, where it assisted Viking
1 in imaging the surface and also sent down a lander.

First "clear" image ever transmitted from the surface of Mars
– shows rocks near the Viking 1 Lander (July 20, 1976).

First color image taken by the Viking 1 lander (July 21, 1976).

(FOX NEWS) – NASA’s Curiosity rover is getting a firsthand look
at a region on Mars previously only seen from orbit that features
a "boxwork" pattern, along with evidence of ancient waterways,
including rivers, lakes and maybe an ocean.

New images and data from the Mars rover have already raised
questions about how the red planet’s surface was changing
billions of years ago.

Scientists are still unable, though, to answer why the planet’s
water eventually dried up and converted the surface into a chilly
desert.

Curiosity rover is in an area called Gale Crater, and evidence has
shown that when it was formed, water was percolating under the
surface.

NASA said the rover had found evidence of groundwater in the
crater when it encountered crisscrossing low ridges, some of
which were only a few inches tall and were described by
geologists as being arranged in a boxwork pattern.

 
The "Face on Mars" was first photographed on this day in history, July 25, 1976. (NASA)

A photo from Mars taken by NASA’s Viking 1 spacecraft left
people perplexed and wondering about the possibility of
extraterrestrial life. 

Dubbed the "Face on Mars," the image appeared to show a
carving of eyes, nose and a mouth in the Martian region of
Cydonia.

NASA’s website said "the Viking 1 spacecraft (below) was
circling the planet, snapping photos of possible landing
sites for its sister ship Viking 2, when it spotted the shadowy  
likeness of a human face."      

MIKE GRACIA

Richard Benjamin Speck
(December 6, 1941 – December 5, 1991)

MIKE GRACIA

On this day in 1789, the French Revolution began when Parisians
stormed the Bastille prison and released seven prisoners inside.

Outlaw “Billy The Kid” (William H. Bonney) was gunned
down by Sheriff Pat Garrett (below) on this day in 1881.

Richard Benjamin Speck (December 6, 1941 – December 5, 1991)

Richard Speck murdered student nurses in Chicago (below) on the night’s
of July 13–14, 1966.

Guarded by detectives, Corazon Amurao arrives at the courthouse in Peoria to testify as the state’s chief witness against mass murderer
Richard Speck on April 5, 1967.

The American space probe Mariner 4 flew by Mars, and sent back photographs of the planet (below) on this day in 1965.

Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967)

singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie was one of the most significant figures
in American folk music; his songs, including social justice songs, such
as "This Land Is Your Land", have inspired several generations both
politically and musically. He wrote hundreds of political, folk, and
children’s songs, along with ballads and improvised works.

Guthrie died of complications of Huntington’s disease on October 3,
1967. By the time of his death, his work had been discovered by a
new audience, introduced to them through Dylan, Pete Seeger,
Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, his ex-wife Marjorie and other new members
of the folk revival, and his son Arlo (below).