Plains of Gold

Mars was once a thriving planet with an advanced civilization. But four hundred years ago, a large object struck Mars, leaving its surface cold and lifeless. Some of its inhabitants survived underground, searching for a way to leave their planet.

Help arrived in 1976 when NASA put two spacecraft on the surface of Mars. The Viking landers studied the planet for more than a decade. The conclusion - Mars was a lifeless planet, incapable of supporting life. Future missions to Mars would support ...