Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* After briefly discussing the search for life on Mars, Rusch introduces Steven Squyres as a 13-year-old boy watching the Apollo 11 moon landing. Later, while studying geology at Cornell, he came across Viking mission photos that inspired his career as a planetary scientist and astronomy professor. This handsome volume from the Scientists in the Field series spotlights Squyres' work at NASA as principal science investigator for the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. Simultaneously, the text tells the story of landing the rovers Spirit and Opportunity on Mars and using them to gather information and images, some of which suggest the past existence of water on the planet. Wildly successful, the mission has lasted years longer than expected, and one of the rovers is still active. This well-designed volume offers insights into the scientist's work as well as a very informative account of the mission. Quotes are used very effectively, both in the text and as dramatic headlines superimposed on photos. Sidebars fill in details on topics such as the communication with the rovers and names of physical features on Mars. Well documented and fully illustrated with many colorful photos and digital images, this is a book that space technology fans won't want to miss.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Rusch takes readers to the red planet, where a 2003 exploratory mission that was initially scheduled to last just 90 (Martian) days is still ongoing. Photos aplenty depict the rugged Martian surface, the scientists back on Earth who planned the mission and nursed it through numerous crises, and the two rovers-down to one now-that survived so long past their expected lifetimes. Mighty, indeed! (c) Copyright 2013. 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.
Review by Horn Book Review
The spectacularly successful, scientifically groundbreaking 2004 Mars Exploration Rover Mission provided compelling evidence for the possibility of water on Mars. It was a public relations triumph as well, due in no small part to the appeal of the two "little" rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, vehicles that embody much of what we find appealing in space explorers: extraordinary toughness and diligent attention to demanding scientific tasks. Those characteristics, too, are displayed by the missions principal scientist, Steve Squyres, whose reflections frame Ruschs excellent history of events. The comprehensive text chronicles the almost-decade-long series of rejections of Squyress scientific proposals for Martian exploration through the demanding timeline to design, test, build, and launch the project, the initial thrill of success, and the years of subsequent data collection. Ruschs account skillfully captures the exciting quest for knowledge that drives Squyres and his team through the leaps and setbacks of scientific exploration. Equally compelling are the images of Mars (mainly from the rovers, but also some from past missions) as well as photographs of Squyres and his colleagues hard at work. Some of the landscapes are superimposed with photos of rovers to give a sense of what they might look like on the surface (only a few camera images from near the landers are real); the photos also convey what a significant engineering accomplishment it was to get the rovers there and keep them functioning for so long. danielle j. ford (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
What's it like to explore Mars? Did life ever exist on Earth's red neighbor? To find out, readers need only soar along with this enthralling account of the adventures of two rovers designed to seek evidence on Mars of water that could have once supported life. Expected to last three months, the indefatigable Spirit and Opportunity incredibly carried out their missions for more than six years. In the process, lead scientist Steve Squyres and his team learned more about and probed more terrain on Mars than anyone before. Readers are carried aloft by Rusch's exciting, clear prose and the rovers' exceptional photos sent Earthside. Along with the team, young people celebrate every thrilling moment of success--yes, there once was water on Mars!--and accept failures and disappointments. This is edge-of-your-seat reading as the author explains how setbacks were handled. Readers are not only drawn in by the dedication, hard work and emotions of the people involved, but they will also, like the scientists themselves, feel proprietary toward the rovers--and, fortunately, there's an update about them. One quibble: the ample backmatter has little specifically for children. Another stellar outing in the consistently excellent Scientists in the Field series. How extraordinary to visit Mars in Spirit; readers will be very glad of the Opportunity. (sources, chapter notes, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
