IT is April 1986, one year since the giant spacecraft blasted out of orbit around earth and headed into deep space, propelled by powerful nuclear engines. The earth is now so far away that it looks no bigger than a bright star. On board, the crew is too busy for sentimental homeward glances. In a few minutes, three astronauts will enter a smaller spacecraft and cast off from the mother ship to start the final lap of a momentous journey. Their little craft will carry the space travelers to man's first landing on the surface of Mars.
Though the scenario has the...
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