Howard Koslow (1924 - 2016) "Space Exploration - Mars w/ Viking Orbiter" Signed lower left. Original Acrylic on Illustration Board painting. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the United States 29c Mars with Viking Orbiter stamp issued October 1, 1991. So similar to Earth, yet so different, Mars has all the ingredients necessary for life as we know it. So said the Viking spacecraft, which explored the Red Planet beginning in 1976. The Martian atmosphere contains oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and even water vapor, though the planet is drier than Earth's driest desert. Still, evidence gathered by Viking shows that at one time water flowed on Mars. There are abundant channels apparently carved by running water -- and scientists analyzing Viking data theorize there was once enough water on Mars to cover the entire planet 33 feet deep. While Viking found no canals, it did observe geological features scientists feel were caused by large bodies of water. Viking also observed storms on Mars, whirling in a cyclonic fashion identical to terrestrial weather phenomena. Other Viking data suggests that Mars was once warmer and its atmosphere substantially thicker than at present. Today, the Martian atmosphere is but 1/100 as thick as Earth's and temperatures are bitterly cold, with daytime highs only approaching -20F. Much of the planet's scant remaining water is locked in the north polar cap, which grows in the winter and shrinks in the summer, and in a layer of underground permafrost. Despite the wealth of information gathered by Viking, a number of questions remain. What happened to all the Martian water? And is there life on Mars? Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 19.25 x 17.25 in. Unframed. (B13296)