title: Viking lander location and spin axis of Mars: determination from radio tracking data.
abstract: Radio tracking data from the Viking lander have been used to determine the lander position and the orientation of the spin axis of Mars. The areocentric coordinates of the lander are 22.27 degrees N, 48.00 degrees W, and 3389.5 kilometers from the center of mass; the spin axis orientation, referred to Earth's mean equator and equinox of 1950.0, is 317.35 degrees right ascension and 52.71 degrees declination.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Tolson
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mayo
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Blackshear
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Brenkle
authors.forename: I I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Reasenberg