As the U.S. Venus probe Mariner II raced through space last week, it slipped past a significant milestone: it effectively escaped from the earth's gravitation and became a satellite of the sun. But far out as it reached, it did not escape from the earth's control. Back on the fast-receding planet, 1,500,000 miles away, the scientists who built the spacecraft could still hear its radio voice, still send it orders.
Agonizing Wait. At Goldstone control center in California's Mojave Desert, the scientists had been composing their message for more than a week. They knew...
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