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Article: Space experts battle over Mars vs. moon
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- December 10, 1989
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright (null) Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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HOUSTON Is there life on Mars?
"Maybe not, but there will be," the red planet's enthusiasts
vow.
A team of astronauts could be strolling under Martian skies by
the year 2016, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
officials say.
But many other advocates of a Mars journey aren't happy because
NASA first plans to visit the moon with a series of orbiting scouting
missions, robotic explorations of the lunar surface, and perhaps a
manned outpost by 2004.
Former Apollo astronaut Michael Collins concedes that the NASA
approach makes some sense, but he says, "The moon is an unnecessary
detour that would delay our colonizing a much more interesting place.
Besides, I think NASA only ...