BOOK OF THE MONTH: MARCH 2012

                                                         

Title         : Exploring Mars: 

                  Chronicles from a Decade of Discovery
Author     : Scott Hubbard
Publisher : University of Arizona Press
Published: February 2012
Pages       : 224
ISBN        : 10: 0816521115

Price        : $43.46

The Red Planet has been a subject of fascination for humanity for thousands of years, becoming part of our folklore and popular culture. The most Earthlike of the planets in our solar system, Mars may have harbored some form of life in the past and may still possess an ecosystem in some underground refuge. The mysteries of this fourth planet from our Sun make it of central importance to NASA and its science goals for the twenty-first century. 
 
In the wake of the very public failures of the Mars Polar Lander and the Mars Climate Orbiter in 1999, NASA embarked on a complete reassessment of the Mars Program. Scott Hubbard was asked to lead this restructuring in 2000, becoming known as the "Mars Czar." His team's efforts resulted in a very successful decade-long series of missions--each building on the accomplishments of those before it--that adhered to the science adage "follow the water" when debating how to proceed. 

Hubbard's work created the Mars Odyssey mission, the twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the Phoenix mission, and most recently the planned launch of the Mars Science Laboratory.Now for the first time Scott Hubbard tells the complete story of how he fashioned this program, describing both the technical and political forces involved and bringing to life the national and international cast of characters engaged in this monumental endeavor.  

"Exploring Mars: Chronicles From a Decade of Discovery” is Hubbard's absorbing story of how he did it. He describes how he took stock of the Mars program, crafted a 10 year plan based on the triangle of reconnaissance with orbiters, in situ observation with landers, and leading to the possibility of a sample return mission within 10-20 years, with his follow the water strategy and perhaps building up to a manned landing, when the science has identified a robust site to survey.

Dispatching robot spacecraft to Mars was a dangerous game, and when two major and costly American missions failed before reaching the planet in 1999, America's $18 billion space agency was in deep trouble. Author Scott Hubbard has given the reader an inside look at getting to Mars: It’s not easy! And reading this book will give even the most active space cadet a better appreciation of why Mars, why it’s a difficult problem child of a planet, and what that globe has to offer in terms of our future.

Review text Courtesy: http://www.sfgate.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.portaltotheuniverse.org