Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up-This exciting sequel to Mars: Dead or Alive (Dec. 2004, p. 69) that described the building, launch, and landing of "Spirit," the first of two Mars robotic rovers, picks up the drama of the second rover, "Opportunity," that landed 21 days later on the opposite side of the planet. While engineer Tracy Nielson of the Fault Protection Team explains some problem solving she and her team are doing to discover why "Spirit" has been silent for several weeks, preparations are made for the landing of "Opportunity." Film crews present in the control room record the reaction of the scientists to the safe landing of the rover. A rare glimpse into the lives of the scientists and their families who must learn to cope with long hours and days rearranged to the Martian clock is interesting. "Opportunity" is shown examining rock outcroppings and mysterious "blueberries" that turn out to be concretions of the mineral hematite. Scientists explain terrain navigation, and the information is supplemented with helpful animations and models. Images transmitted from Mars and animated sequences blend seamlessly to help viewers imagine what we can't see in real time on Mars. Predominantly male scientists explain the mounting evidence that at one time there was water and possibly life on Mars. Although the rovers were designed to last 90 days they still continue to move about the planet's surface and send back data to Earth. Daily information is posted on the Mars rover Web site, marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov. A welcome addition for astronomy, robotics, and physics classes.-Joan Karasick, Greenwich Public Schools, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
