Go on a Mission to Mars: An Explorer's Guide to Space Travel and the Red Planet

Co-ordinates for a mission to Mars have been locked into your navigation computer. But there are a few things you need to know before getting there. Are you ready for the seven-month journey and the astronaut training program?

The space food served on the rocket is hardly award-winning. Even when you arrive at your destination, the planet itself will not seem welcoming with its epic dust storms and its freezing winter temperatures. But the sunsets will be spectacular and Earth is just a green and blue speck away.

Written as an explorer's guide and packed with scientific facts about our inspirational nearest neighbour, this book is guaranteed to inspire any young scientist.

CONTENTS

Learn about Mars:

The adventure starts here – get your Mars vital stats, read about the history of Mars and its moons, and discover the differences between Earth and Mars. Find out which probes have landed on Mars before you. Be alert to all the potential dangers you will have to face.

Make the journey:

Read about the intensive training you will have to go through, find out what life will be like on-board your Spaceship, and how to stay fit and healthy. Here's what to expect when you arrive.

Exploring Mars:

How will you survive on Mars? What food can you grow? Discover the view from Mars and the incredible new landscape sights from your new home. Start the search for liquid water, and try to find clues of life on Mars – the answers may be hidden within the very rocks. Learn about terraforming Mars and the current potential theories for making the Red Planet more habitable in the future.

Mission accomplished:

Now read about some of the astronomers, scientists and inventors who have furthered our knowledge of Mars.

Colin Stuart is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He has written for the Guardian, the Observer, New Scientist, BBC Focus and European Space Agency, among many others. In 2014 Colin was awarded runner-up in the European Astronomy Journalism Prize.