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Projects: Space InformationThe Planetary ReportVolume XXVIII, Number 2, March/April 2008
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Credit: NASA / JPL / Malin Space Science Systems |
This mosaic view of Mars’ north polar region is composed of wide-angle camera daily global mapping images taken by Mars Global Surveyor in October 2006. The polar cap is visible at center right, and two annular (somewhat circular) clouds are visible at upper left. Annular clouds are common in midnorthern summer in Mars’ north polar region, and they may be from eddy currents in the lower atmosphere.
Although most of Mars is dry, its polar regions are
rich in water ice. Phoenix is on its way to study the structure, composition,
and chemistry of soil and ice samples near the Red Planet’s north pole.
Image: NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems
From The Editor
We like to look back at the time of Apollo and remember how, for a brief moment, the people of Earth pulled together to place a man on the Moon.
Memories can be faulty. Opinion polls taken at that time repeatedly showed that the public was never solidly behind the space program. Among political leaders, scientists, and engineers, there was never consensus on the right path to take. Books were written chronicling the decisions, from John F. Kennedy’s political resolve to land a man on the Moon to the engineering choice to use lunar orbit rendezvous.
Nearly a half-century later, we are wrestling again with how to move humanity into space. Four years ago, U.S. President George W. Bush laid out his Vision for Space Exploration and tasked NASA with finding the best path back to the Moon and onward to Mars. This new vision would be bigger than Apollo, be far more expensive, and last many more years.
Figuring out how to do that -- and get the fractious community of scientists, engineers, and policy makers to agree -- has been, as they say, like herding cats. The Planetary Society, with Stanford University, brought together representatives of the space community in a workshop called "Re-examining the Vision." This spring, through a series of town hall meetings, we are inviting the public to contribute their views.
To explore space is difficult. We must choose to do what is hard. Join us
as we seek a way back to the Moon -- and on to Mars.
—Charlene M. Anderson
Features
Opinion --
On the Road to Mars: Three Stepping-Stones and a Stumbling Block
by Robert Farquhar
A Message to the Future: Visions of Mars
by Peter Hollingsworth Smith
Annual Report to Our Members
by Dan Geraci
Departments
World Watch
We Make It Happen!
Questions and Answers
Society News
Members’ Dialogue
The Planetary Report is available only to Members of The Planetary Society. If you'd like to read these and other exciting features, JOIN THE PLANETARY SOCIETY TODAY!
MEMBERS: Download this and other back issues of The Planetary Report in PDF format from the For Members section of the website.
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