Introductory essays by Viking Project scientist Gerald A. Soffen and Viking Orbiter scientist Conway W. Snyder describe the project, the spacecraft, selection of the Martian landing sites, and the experiments undertaken. The rest of the papers are by scientists involved in the project and comprise a record of the data obtained, the experiments, and their evaluation.
More than 50 years after the Mariner 4 flyby on 15 July 1965, Mars still represents the next frontier of space explorations. Of particular focus nowadays is crewed missions to the red planet. Over three sections, this book explores missions to Mars, in situ operations, and human-rated missions. Chapters address elements of design and possible psychological effects related to human-rated missions. The information contained herein will allow for the development of safe and efficient exploration missions to Mars.
Focusing on men from old families in England’s Wirral and West Lancashire regions, this survey traces the DNA of the local populace back to their Viking ancestors in order to determine the impact of past societies on their genetic make-up. Arguing that the areas exhibit many archaeological and historical features proving them to have had a clear Viking presence, this account provides background information on Viking settlements as well as conclusions drawn from the DNA testing. An illustrated example of how DNA methods can be used to learn about the past is also included.
Claims of Martian life continue to spur scientific debate; this partisan account summarizes the arguments to date. When several experiments conducted by the 1976 Viking Mars Landers returned positive results regarding signs of life, NASA scientists dismissed them as false positives. According to DiGregorio, this was based on nothing more than a refusal to accept the possibility of life beyond Earth. To bolster this argument, he surveys the history of the idea that life might exist on other planets, invoking such names as Giordano Bruno and Galileo. As our understanding of both biology and astronomy grew, the notion that life is not unique to Earth took hold in the minds of many scientists. The recent rise of the new science of exobiology opened doors to an understanding of how life might have arisen on any planet with the right conditions. Dr. Levin and Dr. Straat, who designed and built one of the Viking experiments, contribute two chapters summarizing the current status of this fascinating debate. The author's detailed research, as well as extensive interviews with Dr. Levin and others, highlights the intriguing evidence pointing to life on the Red Planet.
