On Mars: Exploration of the Red Planet, 1958-1978--The NASA History
Although it was only designed for a ninety-day surface mission, the Viking 1 lander ultimately transmitted science messages to Earth for seven years. This authoritative history chronicles the remarkable achievements of the Viking program during its first three decades. Commissioned by NASA, it recounts the events surrounding the first planetary landing on Earth's closest neighbor and the first on-site search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. It also portrays a human drama in which thousands of professionals from government, industry, and academia joined together to accomplish the seemingly impossible.
This history begins with a survey of the qualities that make the surface and atmosphere of Mars prime targets for scientific investigation. A retrospective of NASA's Mariner program follows, detailing the series of robotic interplanetary probes that led to the initiation of the Viking program in 1968. The authors trace the ensuing technological developments, including the first lander vehicles and orbiter. They also profile the cooperation of managerial, technical, and scientific teams during the mission's data-gathering and analysis phases. The final chapters outline the scientific results of the Viking investigations, examine some of the unresolved questions, and consider possible future explorations. Dozens of photos taken by Viking cameras illuminate the text. 
1111560528
On Mars: Exploration of the Red Planet, 1958-1978--The NASA History
Although it was only designed for a ninety-day surface mission, the Viking 1 lander ultimately transmitted science messages to Earth for seven years. This authoritative history chronicles the remarkable achievements of the Viking program during its first three decades. Commissioned by NASA, it recounts the events surrounding the first planetary landing on Earth's closest neighbor and the first on-site search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. It also portrays a human drama in which thousands of professionals from government, industry, and academia joined together to accomplish the seemingly impossible.
This history begins with a survey of the qualities that make the surface and atmosphere of Mars prime targets for scientific investigation. A retrospective of NASA's Mariner program follows, detailing the series of robotic interplanetary probes that led to the initiation of the Viking program in 1968. The authors trace the ensuing technological developments, including the first lander vehicles and orbiter. They also profile the cooperation of managerial, technical, and scientific teams during the mission's data-gathering and analysis phases. The final chapters outline the scientific results of the Viking investigations, examine some of the unresolved questions, and consider possible future explorations. Dozens of photos taken by Viking cameras illuminate the text. 
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On Mars: Exploration of the Red Planet, 1958-1978--The NASA History

On Mars: Exploration of the Red Planet, 1958-1978--The NASA History

On Mars: Exploration of the Red Planet, 1958-1978--The NASA History

On Mars: Exploration of the Red Planet, 1958-1978--The NASA History

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Overview

Although it was only designed for a ninety-day surface mission, the Viking 1 lander ultimately transmitted science messages to Earth for seven years. This authoritative history chronicles the remarkable achievements of the Viking program during its first three decades. Commissioned by NASA, it recounts the events surrounding the first planetary landing on Earth's closest neighbor and the first on-site search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. It also portrays a human drama in which thousands of professionals from government, industry, and academia joined together to accomplish the seemingly impossible.
This history begins with a survey of the qualities that make the surface and atmosphere of Mars prime targets for scientific investigation. A retrospective of NASA's Mariner program follows, detailing the series of robotic interplanetary probes that led to the initiation of the Viking program in 1968. The authors trace the ensuing technological developments, including the first lander vehicles and orbiter. They also profile the cooperation of managerial, technical, and scientific teams during the mission's data-gathering and analysis phases. The final chapters outline the scientific results of the Viking investigations, examine some of the unresolved questions, and consider possible future explorations. Dozens of photos taken by Viking cameras illuminate the text. 

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780486467573
Publisher: Dover Publications
Publication date: 05/21/2009
Series: Dover Books on Astronomy Series
Pages: 560
Product dimensions: 6.70(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author


Formerly a historian at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Edward Clinton Ezell  is a curator of military history at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Linda Neuman Ezell is a historian at NASA Headquarters.

Table of Contents


INTRODUCTION TO THE DOVER EDITION
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
WHY MARS?
THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE: MARINER SPACECRAFT AND LAUNCH VEHICLES
THE SEARCH FOR MARTIAN LIFE BEGINS: 1959-1965
VOYAGER: PERILS OF ADVANCED PLANNING, 1960-1967
REORGANIZATION AND THE CREATION OF VIKING
VIKING ORBITER AND ITS MARINER INHERITANCE
VIKING LANDER: CREATING THE SCIENCE TEAMS
VIKING LANDER: BUILDING A COMPLEX SPACECRAFT
SAFE HAVENS: SELECTING LANDING SITES FOR VIKING
SITE CERTIFICATION—AND LANDING
ON MARS
EPILOGUE
APPENDIXES
BIBLIOGRAPHIC ESSAY
ERRATA
SOURCE NOTES
INDEX
AUTHORS
LIST OF NASA PHOTOGRAPH NUMBERS
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