The Quest for Mars: NASA scientists and Their Search for Life Beyond Earth

The Quest for Mars: NASA scientists and Their Search for Life Beyond Earth
Laurence Bergreen

This edition does not include illustrations.Is there life on Mars? And if not, why not? These questions have gripped mankind throughout the twentieth century. In the shadow of the new millennium, The Quest for Mars seeks the definitive answers from the dedicated NASA scientists participating in the race to discover life on the Red Planet.‘Ever since I was a small child, I’ve believed there was life out there. When I look at the magnitude of the universe, with its billions of stars, I believe that if life developed here on Earth, it must have developed elsewhere. We simply can’t be unique. I really don’t think we’re the most intelligent life forms in the universe, but that’s just my gut feeling’, Dr Claire Parkinson, NASA scientist.Of all the planets, Mars has exerted the most powerful allure over the human intellect and imagination. Generations of astronomers have expected to find clues to the origin and destiny of Earth and its inhabitants concealed amid the red storms sweeping across the surface of Mars. Today, the mystique of Mars is even greater. Public interest in the Mars mission is sky-high; the exploits of the tiny Mars Rover ‘Sojourner’ in the summer of 1997 excited the greatest curiosity in a space mission in a generation.In The Quest for Mars Laurence Bergreen has unrestricted access to a team of NASA employees – engineers, geologists and other scientists – who are consumed by the search for proof of life on Mars. As one formidable obstacle after another attempts to scupper their quest for a deeper understanding of life on Mars and throughout the Solar System, the narrative takes us step by step through the exhilaration and the despondency of their extraordinary adventure. Nothing is off limits in this unique, behind-the-scenes story of space exploration.

The Quest for Mars

The NASA Scientists and Their

Search for Life Beyond Earth

LAURENCE BERGREEN

DEDICATION (#ulink_d649ee97-438a-507d-b4a6-1e5c5a4c0126)

To Betsy, Nick and Sara

EPIGRAPH (#ulink_b472da94-a837-5014-a9ff-cbff78c24261)

“Ever since I was a small child, I’ve believed there was life out there. When I look at the magnitude of the universe, with its billions of stars, I believe that if life developed here on Earth, it must have developed elsewhere. We simply can’t be unique. I really don’t think we’re the most intelligent life form in the universe, but that’s just my gut feeling.”

Dr. Claire Parkinson, NASA Scientist

CONTENTS

Cover (#uedaca595-9b3b-5619-8731-56fe35e82fdf)

Title Page (#u2b989433-b922-55d3-9885-a7a5c96cc684)

Dedication (#u63d9775a-b39b-5902-a268-71fdcdc82bc0)

Epigraph (#uf07b8d79-de56-5994-8898-606252215077)

PART ONE: THE MISSION (#u421d7e84-9e29-5b89-9b9d-37bf30b1c2c1)

1. Mars on Earth (#u25fcc64f-6889-57aa-9b5c-14e716d45905)

2. Message in a Bottle (#uea469cc6-4a2a-5425-a69f-bb8fa72e3161)

3. Ground Truth (#ufbde391e-6f96-5229-9952-0dea84cd7a84)

4. From Outer Space to Cyber Space (#ud9cff58a-8b46-5297-8fae-df68075d5e4e)

PART TWO: CODE S (#litres_trial_promo)

5. Shoot Out at Cal Tech (#litres_trial_promo)

6. The Honor of the Team (#litres_trial_promo)

7. Goddard (#litres_trial_promo)

8. The Genesis Question (#litres_trial_promo)

PART THREE: DISCOVERING MARS (#litres_trial_promo)

9. Rocket Science (#litres_trial_promo)

10. Ghosts and Ghouls (#litres_trial_promo)

11. Human Error (#litres_trial_promo)

12. Mars or Bust (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue: Stargazing (#litres_trial_promo)

Keep Reading (#litres_trial_promo)

Select Bibliography (#litres_trial_promo)

Index (#litres_trial_promo)

Acknowledgments (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Author (#litres_trial_promo)

Praise (#litres_trial_promo)

Also by the Author (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

PART ONE (#ulink_dd9051c6-63b8-5ae5-bd64-2bce5b5edecd)

1 MARS ON EARTH (#ulink_7800e4c0-6a5d-5849-853a-0cefaa0598fc)

Subject: ICELAND

Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 00:48

From: Laurence Bergreen <bergreen@NYCnet.net>

To: Jim Garvin <jgarvin@nasa.gov>

Hi Jim,

It’s late Wednesday night, and I am back home from Houston. With time growing short, what can you tell me about Iceland? Last I heard, there was a strong chance of postponement till October. Looking forward to hearing from you as soon as possible. Thanks.

Larry