Mission: Mars tells the story of the Red Planet, from ancient folklore to modern orbiters and rovers surveying its dusty surface. Every mission is covered, from the Mariner orbiters to the Viking landers, from the Curiosity rover to future Mars colonies. Vital information about the planet includes its geology, atmosphere, gravity, and orbit. Also covered are geographical wonders such as Valles Marineris (the Grand Canyon of Mars) and Olympus Mons (the largest volcano in the solar system), as well as major craters, icy poles, and Mars’s two moons, Phobos and Deimos.

Why is Mars named for the Roman god of war? Did people really think Earth was being invaded by Martians during Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds radio broadcast of 1938? What is the truth behind the mysterious “Face of Cydonia” on the surface of Mars? These questions and more are answered in these inspiring—and sometimes humorous—stories of myth, science, and exploration.

Mission: Mars is based on the bestselling hardcover series, now updated, expanded, and combined into a single-volume ebook for the first time. As American Library Association Booklist said about John Hamilton’s The Space Race (the previous book in the Destination Outer Space series) “… readers will find themselves immersed in the excitement.” Perfect for school reports, but also a thrilling book for anyone interested in space, young or old.