So? Viking I entered Mars orbit in July 1976 for the bicentennial. Of course a country spending literally billions is going to time it well with local goals i

So? Viking I entered Mars orbit in July 1976 for the bicentennial. Of course a country spending literally billions is going to time it well with local goals if it makes sense. IMO, if anything you get bonus points for achieving goals like this on a a timetable you set, being an additional constraint.