Synopses & Reviews
When Steve Squyres was thirteen years old, watching the first person walk on the moon, he never thought that he would one day be part of a record-breaking space mission himself. It wasnt until college that he first saw strange and beautiful photographs of Mars—a planet that hadnt been explored and wasnt understood—and knew immediately what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Steve is the man behind Spirit and Opportunity, the twin vehicles called rovers who have been cruising around the red planet since 2003. Scientists hoped that the little robots would bring them a few steps closer to answering the question people have asked for so long: is there life on other planets? The mission was supposed to last three months. But the rovers still soldier on, years later, tens of millions of miles away from home, in what may well be the most successful space mission ever. What was it like to come up with the idea for these rovers? And what sort of challenges did Steve and his team face?
In this nail-biting and eye-opening entry in the acclaimed Scientists in the Field series, author Elizabeth Rusch takes readers behind the scenes and straight into mission control -- where it seemed like everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Running out of power, getting stuck in ditches, becoming lost in dust storms -- Spirit and Opportunity faced numerous challenges, and each time, Steve and his talented colleagues devised a way to solve the problems facing their beloved rovers. If you ever wondered if robotic cars could make a room full of adults laugh, cry, and shout for joy, then your answer is here. And for every child who looks up into the dark night and wonders if he or she might solve some of the mysteries of our universe, Steve's story is nothing short of inspiring. With amazing photos from NASA and Steve's personal collection, this is a perfect addition to our already-stellar Scientists in the Field series.
Review
"Enthralling . . . How extraordinary to visit Mars in Spirit; readers will be very glad of the Opportunity."--Kirkus, starred review
Review
-NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2012
and#160;
(star) "Enthralling . . . How extraordinary to visit Mars in Spirit; readers will be very glad of the Opportunity."--Kirkus, starred review
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(star) "Well documented and fully illustrated with many colorful photos and digital images, this is a book that space technology fans won't want to miss."--Booklist, starred review
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(star) "This detailed look at planning, implementing, maintaining, and troubleshooting a highly complex scientific mission puts a human face on an incredible accomplishment."--School Library Journal, starred review
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(star) "Rusch's account skillfully captures the exciting quest for knowledge that drives Squyres and his team through the leaps and setbacks of scientific exploration."--Horn Book, starred review
Review
Winner of the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
* andquot;This behind-the-scenes look at the first Apollo moon landing has the feel of a public television documentary in its breadth and detail.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly, starred review
* andquot;This beautiful and well-documented tribute will introduce a new generation to that triumphant time.andquot;and#160;
andmdash;Kirkus Reviews, starred review
andquot;This dramatic account will mesmerize even readers already familiar with the event-andmdash;and also leave them awed by the level of care and dedication it took to surmount so many daunting technological challenges.andquot;and#160;
andmdash;School Library Journal
andquot;Thimmesh gives names and voices to the army that got Neil Armstrong and company to the moon and back. The result is a spectacular and highly original addition to the literature of space exploration.andquot;and#160;
andmdash;Horn Book
andquot;Catherine Thimmesh tells us the stories of the 400,000 people it took to make...that and#39;one giant leapand#39;...Their collective devotion to an exciting goal comes across strongly.andquot;and#160;
andmdash;Chicago Tribune
* andquot;Kids . . . probably feel they know quite a bit about the first manned moon landing. But until theyand#39;ve read Thimmeshand#39;s breathless behind-the-scenes account, they know zip.andquot;and#160;
andmdash;Bulletin, starred review
andquot;An edge-of-your-seat adventure . . . lavishly illustrated . . . this exhilarating book . . . will captivate.andquot;and#160;
andmdash;Chicago Sun-Times
andquot;Thimmeshand#39;s enthusiasm for her subject is palpable, and the sense of excitement she brings is as vital to Team Moonand#39;s success the bookand#39;s very premise.andquot;
andmdash;Chris Barton, author of Shark vs. Train
An NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book
AAAS/Subaru SBandF Prize for Excellence in Science Books
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An ALA Notable Childrenandrsquo;s Book
and#160;
Review
"[This] handsomely designed volume displays the joys of being fascinated by one's work.and#8221; 6/1-615/2008 Booklist, ALA
and#147;Thoughtful design adds to the pleasure of this splendid invitation to explore darker corners of the universe." 5/1/08 Kirkus Reviews, Starred
"[A] sense of adventure that readers will feel as they join a team of researchers on science's biggest frontier." School Library Journal
Review
An exciting, visually awesome look at frontier science.
School Library Journal, Starred
The newest entry in this terrific series takes readers considerably further into the "field" than any of its predecessorsand#133;Readers will come away with a clear sense of the lure of this frustrating but exciting endeavor.
Booklist, ALA, Starred Review
and#147;The search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program is a fascinating venture, as is readily evident from spending time with SETIand#8217;s director, Jill Tarter, in this terrific addition to the first-rate Scientists in the Field series.and#8221; Horn Book
Synopsis
An edge-of-your-seat adventure story about the relentless team who gave us our first in-depth look at the Martian landscape.and#160; Filled with awesome pictures from NASA and the author's personal collection, this is a stellar addition to the Scientists in the Field series about the planet, Mars.
Synopsis
The Mighty Mars Rovers tells the greatest space robot adventure of all time--one of the most successful space explorations ever undertaken.
On June 10, 2003, a little rover named Spirit blasted off on a rocket headed for Mars. A month later, a twin rover named Opportunity soared through the solar system with the same mission: to find out if Mars ever had water that could have supported life. They were expected to last no more than three months on the frigid, harsh planet. Instead, they explored the red planet for years.
Packed with full-color photos, this 80-page book is a thrilling addition to the acclaimed Scientists in the Field series, told through the eyes--and heart--of Steven Squyres, the lead scientist on the mission.
This suspenseful page-turner captures the hair-raising human emotions felt during the adventures with two tough rovers.
Synopsis
On June 10, 2003, a little rover named Spirit blasted off on a rocket headed for Mars. On July 7, 2003, a twin rover named Opportunity soared through the solar system with the same mission: to find out if Mars ever had water that could have supported life.A thrilling addition to the acclaimed Scientists in the Field series, The Mighty Mars Rovers tells the greatest space robot adventure of all time through the eyesand#8212;and heartand#8212;of Steven Squyres, professor of astronomy at Cornell University and lead scientist on the mission.
This suspenseful page-turner captures the hair-raising human emotions felt during the adventures with two tough rovers.
Synopsis
Here is a rare perspective on a story we only thought we knew. For Apollo 11, the first moon landing, is a story that belongs to many, not just the few and famous. It belongs to the seamstress who put together twenty-two layers of fabric for each space suit. To the engineers who created a special heat shield to protect the capsule during its fiery reentry. It belongs to the flight directors, camera designers, software experts, suit testers, telescope crew, aerospace technicians, photo developers, engineers, and navigators.
Gathering direct quotes from some of these folks who worked behind the scenes, Catherine Thimmesh reveals their very human worries and concerns. Culling NASA transcripts, national archives, and stunning NASA photos from Apollo 11, she captures not only the sheer magnitude of this feat but also the dedication, ingenuity, and perseverance of the greatest team everand#151;the team that worked to first put man on that great gray rock in the sky.
Synopsis
The universe is rapidly expanding. Of that much scientists are certain. But how fast? And with what implications regarding the fate of the universe?
Ellen Jackson and Nic Bishop follow Dr. Alex Fillippenko and his High-Z Supernova Search Team to Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii, where they will study space phenomena and look for supernovae, dying stars that explode with the power of billions of hydrogen bombs. Dr. Fillippenko looks for black holes--areas in space with such a strong gravitational pull that no matter or energy can escape from them--with his robotic telescope. And they study the effects of dark energy, the mysterious force that scientists believe is pushing the universe apart, causing its constant and accelerating expansion.
Synopsis
Human beings have always looked at the heavens and asked: Are we alone? Is there life elsewhere in the universe? What is that life like? Unfortunately, people canand#8217;t actually travel to other solar systems. Even the closest stars are too far away to visit.
Today, astrophysicists such as Jill Tarter are looking for other ways to search for extraterrestrial life. Jill is the director of Project Phoenix at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California. SETI stands for and#147;Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.and#8221; Twice a year, Jill and her team travel to the mountains of Puerto Rico where they use the worldand#8217;s largest radio telescope to examine nearby stars. They search the sky, listening for radio signals that, if found and verified, would provide strong evidence that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe.
Author Ellen Jackson and photographer Nic Bishop introduce us to a dedicated scientist and her thrilling, rigorous, and awe-inspiring work in the field.
Synopsis
A captivating, comprehensive, and accessible look at the Moon, illustrated with spectacular full-color photographs.
Synopsis
Since the dawn of human existence, people have gazed up at the night sky and wondered about the moon. Here the veteran nonfiction author Elaine Scott skillfully presents a wealth of captivating, kid-friendly information, covering everything from the newest theories on how the moon formed, to the recent, startling discovery of water on its surface and the very real possibility of future moon colonies. Illustrated with stunning, full-color photographs and packed with fun facts, this is the most complete and up-to-date book available on the moon and should find a home on every curious childandrsquo;s bookshelf. Includes glossary, bibliography, and index.
About the Author
Elizabeth Ruschs obsession with volcanoes began at age 13, when she watched the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens on television. Now she lives in Portland, Oregon, surrounded by Cascade volcanoes. She learned about the incredible work of the volcanologists in this book while researching Will it Blow?: Become a Volcano Detective at Mount St. Helen, which was a Washington Reads pick and a Natural History magazine best book for young readers. Lizs other award-winning nonfiction titles for children include The Mighty Mars Rovers, a Junior Library Guild selection, and The Planet Hunter: The story behind what happened to Pluto. She has also published more than a hundred articles in magazines such as Smithsonian, Backpacker, and American Girl. Liz is the author of Mighty Mars Rovers, a Scientists in the Field book.