First Landing
Encyclopedia
First Landing is a 2002 science fiction
novel by Robert Zubrin
that tells the story of the first manned space expedition to Mars
. Zubrin is the head of the Mars Society
, an organization lobbying the real world NASA
to send astronauts to Mars. The plan used to accomplish their mission in the book is the same one advocated by his group.
In the novel, the explorers discover bacteria
l life on Mars and are abandoned due to political circumstances, and must fend for themselves if they want to return to Earth, thus highlighting many of the more robust features of Zubrin's plan for Mars.
Zubrin also wrote The Case For Mars
, a detailed nonfiction explanation of the same plan.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novel by Robert Zubrin
Robert Zubrin
Robert Zubrin is an American aerospace engineer and author, best known for his advocacy of the manned exploration of Mars. He was the driving force behind Mars Direct—a proposal intended to produce significant reductions in the cost and complexity of such a mission...
that tells the story of the first manned space expedition to Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
. Zubrin is the head of the Mars Society
Mars Society
The Mars Society is an international space advocacy non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the human exploration and settlement of the planet Mars. It was founded by Robert Zubrin and others in 1998 and attracted the support of notable science fiction writers and filmmakers, including Kim...
, an organization lobbying the real world NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
to send astronauts to Mars. The plan used to accomplish their mission in the book is the same one advocated by his group.
In the novel, the explorers discover bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
l life on Mars and are abandoned due to political circumstances, and must fend for themselves if they want to return to Earth, thus highlighting many of the more robust features of Zubrin's plan for Mars.
Zubrin also wrote The Case For Mars
The Case For Mars
The Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must is a nonfiction science book by Robert Zubrin, first published in 1996....
, a detailed nonfiction explanation of the same plan.
Editions
- ISBN 0-441-00963-8 (paperbackPaperbackPaperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
, 2002) - ISBN 0-441-00859-3 (hardcoverHardcoverA hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
, 2002)