A passion for Mars
Subtitle: intrepid explorers of the Red Planet
By: Andrew Chaikin ; foreword by James Cameron.
Publisher: Abrams
Published: 2008
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 279
ISBN-13: 9780810972742
Subjects: Mars (Planet) -- Exploration
Description: 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.
Notes: Includes index.
Table of contents: title: Foreword / James Cameron; title: 1:  Siren song; title: 2:  Flight plan; title: 3:  Oh, my God moment; title: 4:  Explorer; title: 5:  Art of the possible; title: 6:  Underground; title: 7:  Science without a subject; title: 8:  Not your mother's Mars; title: 9:  Curse of the Red Planet; title: 10:  Spirit and opportunity; title: 11:  Tomorrowland; title: Index; title: Credits and acknowledgments.