Synopsis

The year 2003 saw Mars approach Earth as closely as it had in 60,000 years, prompting scientists to dispatch three planetary landers on a quest for life. Should these ambitious voyages succeed, all three should be actively exploring the surface of the Red Planet by January 2004. NASA’s Spirit and Opportunity, alongside the European Space Agency's Beagle 2, mark what many consider the high point in humanity’s search for extraterrestrial life. Prominent scientists, who maintain a belief that life