ROVING MARS

Steve Squyers was the scientific PI (that's NASA-speak for principal investigator) on the mission that landed the SPIRIT and OPPORTUNITY rovers on Mars early in 2004. This account gives enthusiasts an idea of the extraordinary emotional, political, and technological struggles that underpin a space project. Told partly through journal entries covering the rovers' first months on the Red Planet, Squyers's narrative translates well to audio, and Michael Prichard doesn't flag in his own 14-hour mission to get through it. He is, however, a tad dry in his delivery, never quite capturing Squyers's obvious sense of humor. D.B. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 06]