A passion for Mars : intrepid explorers of the Red Planet
INITIAL_TITLE_SRCH:
A passion for Mars : intrepid explorers of the Red Planet
AUTHOR:
Chaikin, Andrew, 1956-
Cameron, James
ISBN:
9780810972742
PUBLICATION_INFO:
New York : Abrams, 2008
PHYSICAL_DESC:
279 p. : ill. ; 25 cm
GENERAL_NOTE:
Includes index
CONTENTS:
Foreword / James Cameron -- 1: Siren song -- 2: Flight plan -- 3: Oh, my God moment -- 4: Explorer -- 5: Art of the possible -- 6: Underground -- 7: Science without a subject -- 8: Not your mother's Mars -- 9: Curse of the Red Planet -- 10: Spirit and opportunity -- 11: Tomorrowland -- Index -- Credits and acknowledgments.
ABSTRACT:
From the Publisher: The quest for Mars is chronicled by bestselling author Andrew Chaikin in this story of a passionate band of Earthbound explorers caught in the irresistible pull of the Red Planet. They include celebrated figures: astronomer Carl Sagan, who champions the idea of life on Mars-; rocket scientist Wernher von Braun, drawing up plans for human Mars expeditions; and science-fiction author Ray Bradbury, standard-bearer for Mars's crucial place in human destiny. Readers also meet the rogue grad students known as the "Mars Underground," keepers of the flame when Mars falls off NASA's radar; biologist Jerry Soffen, looking for signs of life in a Martian meteorite; geologist Mike Malin, who defies skeptics to reveal a Mars no one imagines; and many others, including Chaikin himself, who served on the first Viking Mars landing and covered Mars exploration as a science journalist. Based on extensive interviews, illustrated with compelling images, and animated by the author's own passion, Chaikin's account will resonate with anyone who has ever dreamed of a journey to Mars.
SUBJECT_TERM:
SUBJECT:
| Mars (Planet) -- Exploration |
BIBSUMMARY:
From the Publisher: The quest for Mars is chronicled by bestselling author Andrew Chaikin in this story of a passionate band of Earthbound explorers caught in the irresistible pull of the Red Planet. They include celebrated figures: astronomer Carl Sagan, who champions the idea of life on Mars-; rocket scientist Wernher von Braun, drawing up plans for human Mars expeditions; and science-fiction author Ray Bradbury, standard-bearer for Mars's crucial place in human destiny. Readers also meet the rogue grad students known as the "Mars Underground," keepers of the flame when Mars falls off NASA's radar; biologist Jerry Soffen, looking for signs of life in a Martian meteorite; geologist Mike Malin, who defies skeptics to reveal a Mars no one imagines; and many others, including Chaikin himself, who served on the first Viking Mars landing and covered Mars exploration as a science journalist. Based on extensive interviews, illustrated with compelling images, and animated by the author's own passion, Chaikin's account will resonate with anyone who has ever dreamed of a journey to Mars.