Viking Lander 2, Mars, the surface sampler on the Martian surface, September, 1976,

the protective aluminium shroud, having bounced twice on the rocky surface, after being ejected by springs to reveal the surface sampler on top of Viking 2, one of the spacecraft’s three landing legs visible in the lower right foreground,

vintage gelatin silver print, 19 x 24 cm. (7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in.), typed NASA caption numbered P-17876, attached verso,