For centuries, mankind has longed to know more about Mars, and in recent decades that has finally become possible. With full access to NASA's archives, Rod Pyle traces our history of Mars exploration, from the earliest telescopic viewings, through NASA's first flybys in the 1960s, to the landers in the 1970s, and the increasingly sophisticated rovers and orbiters now exploring every region of the planet. Color photos appear throughout, and the text delves into NASA's elaborate plans for human exploration of the red planet.