July 20, 1976 –
The US spacecraft Viking 1 was the first craft ever to land on Mars on this date. It holds the record for having the second longest mission on Mars‘ surface: 6 years and 116 days.
NASA terminated communications with the craft on August 17, 1980. So technically, it’s still there (unless the martians have stripped the craft and have it up on blocks.)
And so it goes
The Haus of Dcaligari 