The Mars Challenge: The Past, Present, and Future of Human Spaceflight
Travel to deep space and back again with The Mars Challenge, a nonfiction graphic novel for teens about the science and logistics of a manned mission to Mars.
Nadia is a teen with a dream: to be the first woman on Mars. But to get there, she’s got to learn all she can about the science of spaceflight. It’s a good thing her friend Eleanor is an Attitude Determination and Control Officer―basically, she pilots the International Space Station!
Eleanor takes Nadia on a conceptual journey through an entire crewed mission to Mars, and explains every challenge that must be overcome along the way; from escaping Earth’s gravity well, to keeping the crew healthy as they travel through deep space, to setting up a Mars base, to having enough fuel for the trip home!
In The Mars Challenge, writer Benjamin A. Wilgus and artist Wyeth Yates bring the reader on a thrilling interplanetary voyage and clearly illustrate the scientific concepts and complex machinery involved. Humans can reach Mars in our lifetime―this book explains how it can be done.
Reviews
"An approachable read for those interested in both Mars and spaceflight in general, not to mention a useful classroom resource."
"If you’re interested in what it’ll take to get a human on Mars, or just want to read a well-crafted nonfiction graphic novel, “The Mars Challenge” is worth picking up. It’s a fun, easy read that will teach you a lot about space flight, and putting together a crewed mission to Mars in particular."
"As a teenager, I’d have been reading and rereading every page until I got the concepts down cold. Adults, I think, could also get a real sense of the universe they live in by reading this. It’s a creatively unique way of taking us to Mars"
"The book is a perfect primer for teens who feel the call to boldly go – or build the ships for those who do – and is a quick and accessible read for adults who’d like an overview of how space exploration works."
"The Mars Challenge is the perfect graphic novel to integrate into any high school curriculum or to enrich the life of a young person interested in STEM. But I in no way want to narrow the audience for this book. I loved it! It is informative, inspiring, and depicts a healthy and rewarding mentor-mentee relationship."
"Detailed and accessible, this graphic novel-style approach usefully dramatizes some key questions and explains how difficult it is to mount a deep space mission."