火星坠落：NASA优先级转变使50年火星生命探索陷入困境

NASA’s shifting priorities are putting a 50-year search for Martian life in limbo BY LISA GROSSMAN IT WAS AMERICA’S BICENTENNIAL, July 4, 1976, and NASA was hoping not to see fireworks. Our russet neighbor in particular has many Earthlike qualities, so if it ever hosted life, that would be a promising sign for it sprouting elsewhere across the galaxy. After a 10-month traverse through space, the Viking 1 lander was ready to become the first spacecraft to operate on Mars — if it didn’t crash on the unexpectedly rugged ground first. More than two tense weeks passed while mission managers searched for a suitable landing site. Viking ultimately sank its footpads into Martian soil on July 20. …