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Scientists in the Field
The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity
On June 10, 2003, a little rover named Spirit blasted off on a rocket headed for Mars. On July 7, 2003, a twin rover named Opportunity soared through the solar system with the same mission: to find out if Mars ever had water that could have supported life.A thrilling addition to the acclaimed Scientists in the Field series, The Mighty Mars Rovers tells the greatest space robot adventure of all time through the eyes—and heart—of Steven Squyres, professor of astronomy at Cornell University and lead scientist on the mission.
This suspenseful page-turner captures the hair-raising human emotions felt during the adventures with two tough rovers.
This suspenseful page-turner captures the hair-raising human emotions felt during the adventures with two tough rovers.
80 pages, Hardcover
First published June 18, 2012
4 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Rusch
30 books72 followersELIZABETH RUSCH is an award-winning book author, magazine writer, editor, writing teacher and speaker. Her wide-ranging passions include astronomy, volcanology, art, music, history, nature, waves, jokes, crayons, and mud — anything that catches her fancy. She is inspired by stories of exploration and discovery, stories that have been overlooked by history, and stories that grapple with persistent questions. Whether writing fiction or nonfiction for children or adults or teaching workshops, she hopes her work opens doors, opens minds, opens possibilities.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
June 18, 2021
My eight-year-old and I absolutely loved this! I checked it out a few months ago when we were really into space with Perseverance etc. -- I just got it based on the catalog description and hadn't realized how dense it would be. I thought maybe my son would still like to look at the pictures and some captions. Well, he wanted me to read the whole thing! We did it as a read-aloud and I have to say I was really drawn in, too. I wondered if he would lose interest as it went along but he just wanted me to keep going and I think would have gone through it all in one sitting if my voice hadn't needed a rest ;-) It really wrapped us up in all the excitement and ups and downs of the rovers' creation and journeys (I even got a little choked up at the end!) Although I'd of course heard of Spirit and Opportunity years ago, I learned so much. Highly recommend though do note that the text size is quite small so that might be a challenge for some readers.
December 27, 2020
The Red Planet has for aeons captured the imagination of those who have pondered over the issue of extra-terrestrial existence. This book in-part quenches a lot of those inquiries.
Early 2004 it was. And Spirit and Opportunity, the matching Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs), landed on Mars. Part of NASA's long-term Mars Exploration Program, the mission prospered well afar the anticipations of its architects.
Designed to last 90 Martian days (a Martian day, called a sol, is 24 hours and 39 minutes), the two robot geologists astounded all and sundry by enduring for many years. And they beamed back remarkable data, comprising hundreds of thousands of images, many of which encompassed signs that water once flowed on the red planet.
One of the extremely mesmeric things about this book is how it tells the story of the enormously successful mission to Mars while framing it through the eyes of the mission’s lead scientist, Cornell professor Steven Squyres.
Spirit landed in Gusev crater, a 100-mile-wide basin supposed to have once contained a body of water. On the reverse side of Mars, Opportunity landed on the Meridiani Planum, a level plain that when viewed from orbit seemed to be covered in hematite—an iron compound that forms in water.
The landing sites were chosen to aid the rovers attain their principal scientific objective: to scrutinize rocks and soil for indication that there had been liquid water on the Martian surface. Mars today is excessively cold and its atmosphere disproportionately thin for liquid surface water to exist.
But if there once had been water—which on Earth is an indispensable component for life—Mars may have been a place where life was likely.
Rolling along on six wheels, these golf-cart-sized rovers could travel more than 300 feet (100 m) a day — and on occasion had gone substantially beyond. Navigational and hazard-avoidance cameras help the rovers make their way around. Like all good field geologists, the rovers had excellent tool kits with which to conduct "hands-on" investigations. These tools and other high-tech instruments assited the rovers conclude the mineral composition of a rock. Sequentially, scientists back on Earth used that information to study how the rock was formed and if water played a role in its formation.
Spirit and Opportunity were expected to last only a few months, but continued to gather data for years.
This detailed and meticulously researched look at a complex scientific mission should not be missed. In addition to shots of the expansive rovers, the book features stellar photographs of the red planet and of the scientific team at work.
Spirit and Opportunity's success seems all the sweeter because of the obstacles that were overcome. When the rovers' solar panels became covered with the omnipresent Martian dust, it looked as if the mission would swiftly come to an end. But then dust devils—miniature tornados—engulfed the rovers, scouring away the grime on the solar panels.
Even with the solar panels fully operational, though, no one expected the rovers to survive a Martian winter—after all, winter on Mars offers precious little sun. Ingenious engineers came up with the idea of parking the rovers on hills, their panels angled to catch what little sunlight was available.
The purpose of the trip to this hostile environment was to gather information and images and to determine if Mars ever had water, suggesting the possibility of life.
Award-winning author Elizabeth Rusch configures this legend of the robot vehicles Spirit and Opportunity as a pronounced quest story charged with sentiment. This petite 80 page classic is a 'must read' for all star-gazers out there.
Early 2004 it was. And Spirit and Opportunity, the matching Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs), landed on Mars. Part of NASA's long-term Mars Exploration Program, the mission prospered well afar the anticipations of its architects.
Designed to last 90 Martian days (a Martian day, called a sol, is 24 hours and 39 minutes), the two robot geologists astounded all and sundry by enduring for many years. And they beamed back remarkable data, comprising hundreds of thousands of images, many of which encompassed signs that water once flowed on the red planet.
One of the extremely mesmeric things about this book is how it tells the story of the enormously successful mission to Mars while framing it through the eyes of the mission’s lead scientist, Cornell professor Steven Squyres.
Spirit landed in Gusev crater, a 100-mile-wide basin supposed to have once contained a body of water. On the reverse side of Mars, Opportunity landed on the Meridiani Planum, a level plain that when viewed from orbit seemed to be covered in hematite—an iron compound that forms in water.
The landing sites were chosen to aid the rovers attain their principal scientific objective: to scrutinize rocks and soil for indication that there had been liquid water on the Martian surface. Mars today is excessively cold and its atmosphere disproportionately thin for liquid surface water to exist.
But if there once had been water—which on Earth is an indispensable component for life—Mars may have been a place where life was likely.
Rolling along on six wheels, these golf-cart-sized rovers could travel more than 300 feet (100 m) a day — and on occasion had gone substantially beyond. Navigational and hazard-avoidance cameras help the rovers make their way around. Like all good field geologists, the rovers had excellent tool kits with which to conduct "hands-on" investigations. These tools and other high-tech instruments assited the rovers conclude the mineral composition of a rock. Sequentially, scientists back on Earth used that information to study how the rock was formed and if water played a role in its formation.
Spirit and Opportunity were expected to last only a few months, but continued to gather data for years.
This detailed and meticulously researched look at a complex scientific mission should not be missed. In addition to shots of the expansive rovers, the book features stellar photographs of the red planet and of the scientific team at work.
Spirit and Opportunity's success seems all the sweeter because of the obstacles that were overcome. When the rovers' solar panels became covered with the omnipresent Martian dust, it looked as if the mission would swiftly come to an end. But then dust devils—miniature tornados—engulfed the rovers, scouring away the grime on the solar panels.
Even with the solar panels fully operational, though, no one expected the rovers to survive a Martian winter—after all, winter on Mars offers precious little sun. Ingenious engineers came up with the idea of parking the rovers on hills, their panels angled to catch what little sunlight was available.
The purpose of the trip to this hostile environment was to gather information and images and to determine if Mars ever had water, suggesting the possibility of life.
Award-winning author Elizabeth Rusch configures this legend of the robot vehicles Spirit and Opportunity as a pronounced quest story charged with sentiment. This petite 80 page classic is a 'must read' for all star-gazers out there.
December 14, 2015
This is another great addition to the Scientists in the Field series. Reading books like this makes me feel smarter! Or at the very least I learn some great trivia facts to sprinkle into conversations. :) Elizabeth Rusch did a great job of keeping my interest in the story and helping me not get bogged down or discouraged with too many technical details. The photos also helped a lot in clarifying details of the story.
After finishing this, I had to check out the latest updates on the rovers at: http://marsrover.nasa.gov
I feel like I should have known, but I had no idea that Opportunity is STILL rolling around up there on Mars! It was launched on July 7, 2003. That is AMAZING for a rover who was only expected to last about three months!
This is a 2015 Grand Canyon Reader Award nominee.
After finishing this, I had to check out the latest updates on the rovers at: http://marsrover.nasa.gov
I feel like I should have known, but I had no idea that Opportunity is STILL rolling around up there on Mars! It was launched on July 7, 2003. That is AMAZING for a rover who was only expected to last about three months!
This is a 2015 Grand Canyon Reader Award nominee.
January 15, 2013
Another outstanding book in the always reliable Scientists in the Field series. Excellent information, great storytelling, superb illustrations, and attractively designed.
xx-dnf-skim-reference
June 17, 2021Love this series. Aimed at kids, and being discussed in Children's Books group here on GR, June 2021, but for all ages really.
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Very small text font so I'm not actually reading. But the photos, section titles, etc. are wonderful. One caption threw me - a reference to hematite-containing blueberries. No, that's not a typo. They named these kinds of blueish rocks blueberries. But there's a problem - neither in index nor in glossary in the book was there mention of blueberries... I had to google for information. Bad mistake, imo. But anybody with younger eyes and more interest should read this book.
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Very small text font so I'm not actually reading. But the photos, section titles, etc. are wonderful. One caption threw me - a reference to hematite-containing blueberries. No, that's not a typo. They named these kinds of blueish rocks blueberries. But there's a problem - neither in index nor in glossary in the book was there mention of blueberries... I had to google for information. Bad mistake, imo. But anybody with younger eyes and more interest should read this book.
May 22, 2013
My husband talked me into taking a geology class while attending University. I lasted two weeks. I say this because I really liked the first part of this book and the focus on robotics, but I lost interest when it shifted toward the study of rocks on Mars. I'm a tech geek. I love the guts of metal contraptions moreso than silica and pyllosilicates. See why I dropped my class? Rock names like that can lull or tangle a brain in minutes. While I thought this book was well researched and well-written, I needed more variety with the alternating narratives of the rovers when they were exploring Mars. The narrative pattern of something mechanical breaking on the rovers, the scientists waiting anxiously as they tried to fix it followed by the rovers recovering got a bit repetitive. Overall, the story is engaging and full of interesting facts and data.
Steve Squyres dreamed of sending a geologist to Mars, but when he approached NASA they were not interested. The climate was too harsh. It was too far away. A person needed too much equipment. And on and on. Squyres was determined and instead came up with the idea of sending rovers to Mars. He drew up a proposal and sent it to NASA who said, "Nada" again, but like a squirrel foraging for acorns, Squyres didn't give up. He spent eight years trying to convince NASA that his idea was valid and worth exploring. NASA decided to give it a go when Mars orbited to a spot that made it closer to Earth than it had been in 60,000 years. The program to build two exploration rovers, Opportunity and Spirit, to go to Mars was launched in the year 2000 with the objective of studying rocks and soils to see if they hold clues to past water activity on Mars. Opportunity and Spirit took three years to build and were launched in 2003. Scientists were hoping they would last three months, but they have exceeded expectations and Opportunity is still tooling around Mars today while Spirit is resting in peace in a sand trap, its communication ceasing in 2011 with scientists.
The informational text is a narrative with subtexts explaining information. While the narrative is engaging and the subtexts are visually attractive, some subtexts didn't fit smoothly in with the narrative text - at least for my random reading habits. Oftentimes, I read the subtext before the narrative and it would give away a point. Once I realized this, I made sure I read the narrative first and then the subtext. I thought the photos were beautiful and the layout attractive.
I would have liked Steve developed more as a person. I think that if his personality had been rounded out more I might have had a greater emotional investment in the tension of whether or not the rovers would survive the challenges faced on Mars. It might have countered my lack of interest in rocks too. As portrayed I didn't really care after the third malfunction or obstacle that needed to be resolved and found myself skimming. Others who like geology should not feel this way. No author can expect everyone to like his or her book and there is an element of personal taste or aesthetics that makes an individual like or dislike a book; hence, I don't particularly like the subject but I do recognize that this is an excellent expository text.
The ending talks about sending Curiosity to Mars, a new and better robot. That perked my antennae and made me go searching NASA's website to see what this new rover was up to. I also went on Wikipedia and looked up the guts of the machine. As I'm reading about the computerized mother boards on the rovers I'm thinking that someone could easily argue with me, "computer processing units and million instructions per second are not more interesting than silica and pyllosilicates." So now that I've worked myself into a hole and am basically saying that calling a book "boring" is not a good argument, I feel I should rewrite my review and get rid of my interfering personal taste comments. But I'm not going to. I'll leave it as a reminder to not take "boring-route-review" highway. A good nonfiction book for your library. I can't argue the craftmanship.
Steve Squyres dreamed of sending a geologist to Mars, but when he approached NASA they were not interested. The climate was too harsh. It was too far away. A person needed too much equipment. And on and on. Squyres was determined and instead came up with the idea of sending rovers to Mars. He drew up a proposal and sent it to NASA who said, "Nada" again, but like a squirrel foraging for acorns, Squyres didn't give up. He spent eight years trying to convince NASA that his idea was valid and worth exploring. NASA decided to give it a go when Mars orbited to a spot that made it closer to Earth than it had been in 60,000 years. The program to build two exploration rovers, Opportunity and Spirit, to go to Mars was launched in the year 2000 with the objective of studying rocks and soils to see if they hold clues to past water activity on Mars. Opportunity and Spirit took three years to build and were launched in 2003. Scientists were hoping they would last three months, but they have exceeded expectations and Opportunity is still tooling around Mars today while Spirit is resting in peace in a sand trap, its communication ceasing in 2011 with scientists.
The informational text is a narrative with subtexts explaining information. While the narrative is engaging and the subtexts are visually attractive, some subtexts didn't fit smoothly in with the narrative text - at least for my random reading habits. Oftentimes, I read the subtext before the narrative and it would give away a point. Once I realized this, I made sure I read the narrative first and then the subtext. I thought the photos were beautiful and the layout attractive.
I would have liked Steve developed more as a person. I think that if his personality had been rounded out more I might have had a greater emotional investment in the tension of whether or not the rovers would survive the challenges faced on Mars. It might have countered my lack of interest in rocks too. As portrayed I didn't really care after the third malfunction or obstacle that needed to be resolved and found myself skimming. Others who like geology should not feel this way. No author can expect everyone to like his or her book and there is an element of personal taste or aesthetics that makes an individual like or dislike a book; hence, I don't particularly like the subject but I do recognize that this is an excellent expository text.
The ending talks about sending Curiosity to Mars, a new and better robot. That perked my antennae and made me go searching NASA's website to see what this new rover was up to. I also went on Wikipedia and looked up the guts of the machine. As I'm reading about the computerized mother boards on the rovers I'm thinking that someone could easily argue with me, "computer processing units and million instructions per second are not more interesting than silica and pyllosilicates." So now that I've worked myself into a hole and am basically saying that calling a book "boring" is not a good argument, I feel I should rewrite my review and get rid of my interfering personal taste comments. But I'm not going to. I'll leave it as a reminder to not take "boring-route-review" highway. A good nonfiction book for your library. I can't argue the craftmanship.
November 9, 2013
The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity written by Elizabeth Rusch; was a fascinating non-fiction story about the space rovers that were launched onto Mars in 2003. The rovers were designed with a number of different tools that allowed them to function on Mars as a sort of robotic geologist. The creator Steven Squyres wanted to take his passion for physically exploring our planet to Mars by developing a robot/rover that would be able to not only take pictures of the planet, but crack open rock, X-Ray the soil and discover things about the planet that we can’t from images alone. Primarily, the testing of rock and dust sample allowed us to see whether there has been any sign of long-lasting water that could potentially sustain life! This book did not only tell the story of these amazing space crafts unfathomable journey, but the physical creation, development of the idea, and a brief biography of the creator himself. The rovers themselves took three years to create after being denied by NASA numerous times! Being able to complete the assemblage of these amazing devices in such short time was quite a feat, and it took even longer to develop the idea! Squyres spent his undergrad in planetary science, and really enjoyed the study of our earth along with geologic escapades he was able to partake on, but he felt there were other planets that needed more discovery, so off to Mars he took us!
June 9, 2013
This could be a good read aloud to 4-6th grade students - even 7th/8th. Fascinating, fascinating how a team of engineers and scientists can design, create and send a small rover to Mars to explore and learn more than we've ever known about the planet. If you're exploring the Next Generation science standards with students - this book is the perfect illustration of what the standards mean by science and engineering, by scientific and engineering practices, by true collaboration - over time that includes patience and perseverance.
My only criticism is the focus on one person as a thread - Steven Squyres, the geologist who had the dream of the rovers and applied to NASA year after year for funding. I think readers/listeners who can comprehend this text developmentally could handle the focus on a team - maybe 3-5 people who were involved through the whole project along with many, many others. What's implied in the book is that this was a team effort - I think the structure of the book needed to be a scaffold for this central idea and that the audience could handle this.
My only criticism is the focus on one person as a thread - Steven Squyres, the geologist who had the dream of the rovers and applied to NASA year after year for funding. I think readers/listeners who can comprehend this text developmentally could handle the focus on a team - maybe 3-5 people who were involved through the whole project along with many, many others. What's implied in the book is that this was a team effort - I think the structure of the book needed to be a scaffold for this central idea and that the audience could handle this.
March 16, 2016
This informational picture book delves into the two Mars missions: Spirit and Opportunity. It was written by Elizabeth Rusch. The photography throughout the book is incredible. The pictures are in full color with detailed captions. They range from artful pieces of photography to actual photographs taken from the rovers. The content of the book is accurate and, overall, very impressive. Generally speaking, the book is easy to read because it is so visually appealing and uses a variety of font sizes to keep the reader interested.
I would most definitely use this text in my classroom. I think it would be a great book to use for older primary students all the way through high school students. I would only use it as a research tool, however.
I would most definitely use this text in my classroom. I think it would be a great book to use for older primary students all the way through high school students. I would only use it as a research tool, however.
April 16, 2013
Lots of stunning photos and fascinating information about Mars gathered by two robots who were only supposed to operate for about 3 months, and yet gathered info for 6 and more YEARS. Rusch talks about building and launching the roving robots Spirit and Opportunity, tidbits about the people behind the project, and lots of info on what the two rovers found on Mars. Excellent for upper elementary, middle school and older.
November 3, 2019
The rovers that had been sent to Mars before Opportunity and Spirit could not explore the ground and different locations on the planet. Mars rovers before Spirit and Opportunity could not move or take samples of the ground beneath them. When people sent the first moving rovers to Mars it took a lot of preparation and there had to be plenty of ideas of what the rovers would look like and the technology they would use to control the rovers and communicate with them. Steven Squires was the leader of the missions to Mars. He had loved space and was determined as a kid to explore space. He studied space in college and started to get ideas of building space objects. When he got out of college he built a rover but it got rejected by NASA because he messed up calculations with the cameras. He kept on trying and got rejected for 8 years and then on his 9th year he got a call from NASA saying that they wanted him to build them a rover to go to Mars. Steven accepted and started working with the NASA mechanic and technology teams to help him build the rovers. They sent the rover to Mars and all started well with the rovers until the Spirit rover could not charge or stay charged because it's solar panels were not working properly. They got the panels fixed and continued its mission on Mars. The rovers went past their expected lifetimes and made thousands of discoveries on the planet. One day Spirit's wheel got jammed and it could not move so it had to drag the non-working wheel around which used a lot more energy than it needed to so then it had to stop and recharge more often which wasted more time each day. Opportunity had been traveling for a long distance without any problems and traveled for two years than its exected time to live. One day Spirit got caught in a sticky mud that got Spirit stuck in it. Steven went to the monitor and saw that the mud was white and the white mud was made where there is a lot of water around. Spirit still to this day is sitting stuck in the mud and it will never get out. Opportunity lasted for 14 years and one-day adust storm covered the planet which covered the solar panels. The sun could not get to them so it shut down and never turned back on.
I gave this book a 5 out of 5 because it was an informational picture book. It gave diagrams and pictures to what they were describing on that page. It also compared the two rovers as to what was different and what different things they found on Mars. It also was a very good book because it gave information about the people who made it and the main people leading the missions. It had a good amount of pages so it can give you the most information as possible as a picture book. It gave actual photographs of Mars taken by the rovers.
I gave this book a 5 out of 5 because it was an informational picture book. It gave diagrams and pictures to what they were describing on that page. It also compared the two rovers as to what was different and what different things they found on Mars. It also was a very good book because it gave information about the people who made it and the main people leading the missions. It had a good amount of pages so it can give you the most information as possible as a picture book. It gave actual photographs of Mars taken by the rovers.
December 8, 2025
”Are Martians real? As silly as it may seem, this question has driven Mars exploration for decades. People all over the world yearn to know: Is there life on Mars? If not, has there ever been life on Mars?”
As part of the “Scientists in the Field” series, Rusch follows the development of the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers, as well as their years of exploration on Mars.
Why I like this book: Other wonderful books about the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity exist, notably Alexandra Siy’s CARS ON MARS. However, Rusch focuses much of her book on the team behind the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers. She shines the spotlight on Steven Squyres, the principal science investigator, who dreamed up the rovers as “rolling geologists.” It was Squyres’s sheer grit and determination that brought this mission to fruition, after NASA turned down his proposals for eight years. Rusch shows how scientists see the rovers as extensions of themselves on Mars, truly as “scientists in the field.” Rusch also previews the Curiosity rover, which landed on the Red Planet last month, kicking off a planned two-year mission.
As part of the “Scientists in the Field” series, Rusch follows the development of the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers, as well as their years of exploration on Mars.
Why I like this book: Other wonderful books about the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity exist, notably Alexandra Siy’s CARS ON MARS. However, Rusch focuses much of her book on the team behind the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers. She shines the spotlight on Steven Squyres, the principal science investigator, who dreamed up the rovers as “rolling geologists.” It was Squyres’s sheer grit and determination that brought this mission to fruition, after NASA turned down his proposals for eight years. Rusch shows how scientists see the rovers as extensions of themselves on Mars, truly as “scientists in the field.” Rusch also previews the Curiosity rover, which landed on the Red Planet last month, kicking off a planned two-year mission.
November 5, 2019
In the book "The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity" there are two rovers that travel around Mars to collect information. These tow rovers are named Spirit and Opportunity. They were created by Steven Squyres, a professor at Cornell University and his team of 170 workers. NASA gave them 26 months to complete the two robots, two years less than what it would usually take. Eventually, Spirit took flight on June 10, 2003, exactly a month later, Opportunity blasted off.
My opinion on this book is that it is very good but has too many details for my liking. I am all for informational books that have descriptive detail, but this book feels like they are trying to shove the details in your mouth. Except for that, I love the descriptiveness of the book and the connection you get to the rovers. If you enjoy Sci-fi novels that have very descriptive details, then this is the book for you.
My opinion on this book is that it is very good but has too many details for my liking. I am all for informational books that have descriptive detail, but this book feels like they are trying to shove the details in your mouth. Except for that, I love the descriptiveness of the book and the connection you get to the rovers. If you enjoy Sci-fi novels that have very descriptive details, then this is the book for you.
May 9, 2018
This book contains a lot of information on small text. It should be geared toward 5/6th grade because of the writing structure and work choices but it definitely has enough information for older kids to enjoy as well. I did appreciate the abundance of photos and the extra facts included. I found the story of Opportunity being stuck really interesting. I hadn't realized it had taken 6 weeks to get out of the sand dune.
I would use this book for reports or those interested in the rovers.
I would use this book for reports or those interested in the rovers.
January 25, 2021
This is a fun and informative book that gives young people (and their parents) a peek into what exploration of other planets entails. Rusch does a good job of representing both the exciting highlights and the long stretches of waiting for communications between Earth and Mars. My 11-year-old is more of a history kid, but he enjoyed it fairly well. (This is a title from the Level 6 Build Your Library curriculum booklist.)
August 23, 2024
My son had questions about Rover's. He was wondering if there was more than one that made it to space? Filled with a lot more information than even I knew about Rover's. This was a nice learning experience for my son and I. Accompanied by many full color images, which helps to see what everyone is talking about.
May 14, 2018
I liked this book, the way the information was presented was fun to read and kept me interested till the end. The suspense of if the Rovers would work once they landed had me on the edge of my seat. Some of the illustrations in this book were real pictures of Mars, that were taken by the Rovers.
July 25, 2019
a lot of good information. i loved that there were no interruptions from sidebars. they were at a page turn or a subject pause.
Read
October 18, 2019same as the team moon book if you liked this check out the book team moon.
June 2, 2024
This book deserves more praise it is literally sAuR GoOd I actually cried while reading it and it is a book about robots so that's interesting. Anyways u HAVE to read it. If u want to...
June 3, 2024
I started this book early in the year, finished it in a day, cried over robots, and loved it.
December 9, 2024
Great photos and good explanation of Spirit and Opportunity's mission
Want to read
June 28, 2012HMH
June 2012
Ask Ellen
Booklist starred (June 1, 2012 (Vol. 108, No. 19))
Grades 5-8. After briefly discussing the search for life on Mars, Rusch introduces Steven Squyres as a 13-year-old boy watching the Apollo 11 moon landing. Later, while studying geology at Cornell, he came across Viking mission photos that inspired his career as a planetary scientist and astronomy professor. This handsome volume from the Scientists in the Field series spotlights Squyres’ work at NASA as “principal science investigator” for the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. Simultaneously, the text tells the story of landing the rovers Spirit and Opportunity on Mars and using them to gather information and images, some of which suggest the past existence of water on the planet. Wildly successful, the mission has lasted years longer than expected, and one of the rovers is still active. This well-designed volume offers insights into the scientist’s work as well as a very informative account of the mission. Quotes are used very effectively, both in the text and as dramatic headlines superimposed on photos. Sidebars fill in details on topics such as the communication with the rovers and names of physical features on Mars. Well documented and fully illustrated with many colorful photos and digital images, this is a book that space technology fans won’t want to miss.
Kirkus Reviews starred (May 15, 2012)
What's it like to explore Mars? Did life ever exist on Earth's red neighbor? To find out, readers need only soar along with this enthralling account of the adventures of two rovers designed to seek evidence on Mars of water that could have once supported life. Expected to last three months, the indefatigable Spirit and Opportunity incredibly carried out their missions for more than six years. In the process, lead scientist Steve Squyres and his team learned more about and probed more terrain on Mars than anyone before. Readers are carried aloft by Rusch's exciting, clear prose and the rovers'exceptionalphotos sent Earthside. Along with the team, young people celebrate everythrilling moment of success--yes, there once was water on Mars!--and accept failures and disappointments. This is edge-of-your-seat reading as the author explains how setbacks were handled. Readers are not only drawn in by the dedication, hard work and emotions of the people involved, but they will also, like the scientists themselves, feel proprietary toward the rovers--and, fortunately, there's an update about them. One quibble: the ample backmatter has little specifically for children. Another stellar outing in the consistently excellent Scientists in the Field series. Howextraordinary to visit Mars in Spirit; readers will be very glad of the Opportunity. (sources, chapter notes, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)
June 2012
Ask Ellen
Booklist starred (June 1, 2012 (Vol. 108, No. 19))
Grades 5-8. After briefly discussing the search for life on Mars, Rusch introduces Steven Squyres as a 13-year-old boy watching the Apollo 11 moon landing. Later, while studying geology at Cornell, he came across Viking mission photos that inspired his career as a planetary scientist and astronomy professor. This handsome volume from the Scientists in the Field series spotlights Squyres’ work at NASA as “principal science investigator” for the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. Simultaneously, the text tells the story of landing the rovers Spirit and Opportunity on Mars and using them to gather information and images, some of which suggest the past existence of water on the planet. Wildly successful, the mission has lasted years longer than expected, and one of the rovers is still active. This well-designed volume offers insights into the scientist’s work as well as a very informative account of the mission. Quotes are used very effectively, both in the text and as dramatic headlines superimposed on photos. Sidebars fill in details on topics such as the communication with the rovers and names of physical features on Mars. Well documented and fully illustrated with many colorful photos and digital images, this is a book that space technology fans won’t want to miss.
Kirkus Reviews starred (May 15, 2012)
What's it like to explore Mars? Did life ever exist on Earth's red neighbor? To find out, readers need only soar along with this enthralling account of the adventures of two rovers designed to seek evidence on Mars of water that could have once supported life. Expected to last three months, the indefatigable Spirit and Opportunity incredibly carried out their missions for more than six years. In the process, lead scientist Steve Squyres and his team learned more about and probed more terrain on Mars than anyone before. Readers are carried aloft by Rusch's exciting, clear prose and the rovers'exceptionalphotos sent Earthside. Along with the team, young people celebrate everythrilling moment of success--yes, there once was water on Mars!--and accept failures and disappointments. This is edge-of-your-seat reading as the author explains how setbacks were handled. Readers are not only drawn in by the dedication, hard work and emotions of the people involved, but they will also, like the scientists themselves, feel proprietary toward the rovers--and, fortunately, there's an update about them. One quibble: the ample backmatter has little specifically for children. Another stellar outing in the consistently excellent Scientists in the Field series. Howextraordinary to visit Mars in Spirit; readers will be very glad of the Opportunity. (sources, chapter notes, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)
November 1, 2013
I reviewed this book for the informational category. The source was the Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students, K-12: 2013.
This book chronicles the story of two rovers, Spirit and Odyssey, from their creation to their journeys to Mars. What will inspire readers most is the attention to details concerning Steven Squyers and his amazing and emotional journey to make sure these rovers worked well and kept going despite facing obstacles on Mars.
The organization of this book is interesting because it starts by giving the reader background information about Steven Squyers even before he invented the rovers. This helps the reader make an emotional connection with him and root for his two rovers to succeed despite the obstacles they face on Mars.
The pictures are stunning and definitely make the reader want to see more. The detailed captions that accompany each picture offer readers additional information and read like mini lessons in themselves.
While the source list, chapter notes, and glossary would be beneficial to students, the most interesting item found in this book is the list of multimedia and the list of places to view 3D images of Mars. These two additions would certainly engage a young reader to find more information.
My personal reaction is that there is so much current research in this book that it would be hard to not be interested in this book. While science doesn't excite me, this book creates a human connection by following Squyers and his story. It is not just a collection of facts. The facts actually come to life.
I would use this book in science class to show students what is currently happening in the field of science. Because of the immense amount of research that went into this book, I would read this book to students before beginning a research paper on a science topic.
I also think students would enjoy looking at the photos in this book. This book would be perfect to accompany a lesson on Mars. The class could read a chapter at a time and view the pictures.
This book chronicles the story of two rovers, Spirit and Odyssey, from their creation to their journeys to Mars. What will inspire readers most is the attention to details concerning Steven Squyers and his amazing and emotional journey to make sure these rovers worked well and kept going despite facing obstacles on Mars.
The organization of this book is interesting because it starts by giving the reader background information about Steven Squyers even before he invented the rovers. This helps the reader make an emotional connection with him and root for his two rovers to succeed despite the obstacles they face on Mars.
The pictures are stunning and definitely make the reader want to see more. The detailed captions that accompany each picture offer readers additional information and read like mini lessons in themselves.
While the source list, chapter notes, and glossary would be beneficial to students, the most interesting item found in this book is the list of multimedia and the list of places to view 3D images of Mars. These two additions would certainly engage a young reader to find more information.
My personal reaction is that there is so much current research in this book that it would be hard to not be interested in this book. While science doesn't excite me, this book creates a human connection by following Squyers and his story. It is not just a collection of facts. The facts actually come to life.
I would use this book in science class to show students what is currently happening in the field of science. Because of the immense amount of research that went into this book, I would read this book to students before beginning a research paper on a science topic.
I also think students would enjoy looking at the photos in this book. This book would be perfect to accompany a lesson on Mars. The class could read a chapter at a time and view the pictures.
Read
March 26, 2014Twin Text: There's Nothing To Do On Mars by Chris Gall, @2008
Rationale: I selected this picture book about a family who moved to Mars because of the connections between the story and what the rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, discovered when they landed on Mars. In the book, a bored little boy is sent outside to play, wearing his space helmet. The author/illustrator tells of dry riverbeds, canyons, craters, volcanoes and the lack of water on Mars. All these geographical features are recorded in my non-fiction book: The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity. Looking for water or signs that water once existed on Mars was a major part of the mission of Spirit and Opportunity. The fiction story tells how the little boy accidentally finds water on Mars. Life is changed forever on the planet and the planet itself is forever changed with the discovery of water. The author allows the reader to imagine a new life on another planet.
Text structure: This book is two books in one. A chronological structure is used while telling a short biography of Steve Squyres and his involvement in building and directing the rovers on Mars. This component is printed in small text. A description structure is used throughout describing the building of the rovers, the landscape of Mars, and pictures of the rovers in action are also included on each page. Text about the rovers and the Martian landscape is printed in a larger font. A teacher and/or student can choose to read the biography of Steven Squyres or only the information about the rovers or both.
Strategy application: I would have students do a venn diagram and compare/contrast the facts in the nonfiction title to the events in the story. Which match events occur in both and are consistent and which are different between the two texts. This will also spark a good discussion between nonfiction/fiction.
Book review citation for NONFICTION Book:
(2012, August 15). Horn Book Magazine. http://www.booksinprint2.com.leo.lib....#
Rationale: I selected this picture book about a family who moved to Mars because of the connections between the story and what the rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, discovered when they landed on Mars. In the book, a bored little boy is sent outside to play, wearing his space helmet. The author/illustrator tells of dry riverbeds, canyons, craters, volcanoes and the lack of water on Mars. All these geographical features are recorded in my non-fiction book: The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity. Looking for water or signs that water once existed on Mars was a major part of the mission of Spirit and Opportunity. The fiction story tells how the little boy accidentally finds water on Mars. Life is changed forever on the planet and the planet itself is forever changed with the discovery of water. The author allows the reader to imagine a new life on another planet.
Text structure: This book is two books in one. A chronological structure is used while telling a short biography of Steve Squyres and his involvement in building and directing the rovers on Mars. This component is printed in small text. A description structure is used throughout describing the building of the rovers, the landscape of Mars, and pictures of the rovers in action are also included on each page. Text about the rovers and the Martian landscape is printed in a larger font. A teacher and/or student can choose to read the biography of Steven Squyres or only the information about the rovers or both.
Strategy application: I would have students do a venn diagram and compare/contrast the facts in the nonfiction title to the events in the story. Which match events occur in both and are consistent and which are different between the two texts. This will also spark a good discussion between nonfiction/fiction.
Book review citation for NONFICTION Book:
(2012, August 15). Horn Book Magazine. http://www.booksinprint2.com.leo.lib....#
June 24, 2016
Bloom's Taxonomy
For my intermediate non-fiction book, I chose The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity by Elizabeth Rusch (2012). This book along with a list of Bloom’s Taxonomy questions would be useful in a science class while studying the solar system and Earth’s neighboring planet, Mars.
Question 1: Remembering
When it was time to name the two Mars rovers, a contest was set up to see who could come up with the best names. Sofi Collis, a little girl adopted from Siberia won. What were the names of the two Mars rovers? (p.20)
Question 2: Understanding
Scientists decided that 2003 was a perfect year to launch the rovers to Mars. In your own words, can you summarize why this was the best window for a launch? (p.15)
Question 3: Applying
Talking with the rovers on Mars was not the same as one scientist talking to another scientist on the phone. Scientists typed commands into their computers and sent the single into space using satellites. Draw a diagram of how a signal travels from Earth to Mars and back again.
Question 4: Analyzing
It took three long years to build the Mars rovers. The team hand to build the rovers to be self sufficient and last through harsh conditions on Mars. Explain how the rovers were human-like in their construction and behavior. (p. 19)
Question 5: Evaluating
When Steve Squyres asked NASA if he could send a rover to Mars, NASA came back and asked him to send two. NASA wanted two rovers so that they could gather information from opposite sides of Mars. Assess what the differences between Spirit’s and Opportunity’s missions and achievements were. (p. 24-71)
Question 6: Creating
When Spirit got stuck in the sand, people from all over the world sent in suggestions on how to get her unstuck. Imagine you are sending in a suggestion on how to get Spirit out of the sand. What would you propose for NASA to do to free her? (p. 69)
Rusch, E. (2012). The mighty mars rovers: The incredible adventures of Spirit and Opportunity. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
For my intermediate non-fiction book, I chose The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity by Elizabeth Rusch (2012). This book along with a list of Bloom’s Taxonomy questions would be useful in a science class while studying the solar system and Earth’s neighboring planet, Mars.
Question 1: Remembering
When it was time to name the two Mars rovers, a contest was set up to see who could come up with the best names. Sofi Collis, a little girl adopted from Siberia won. What were the names of the two Mars rovers? (p.20)
Question 2: Understanding
Scientists decided that 2003 was a perfect year to launch the rovers to Mars. In your own words, can you summarize why this was the best window for a launch? (p.15)
Question 3: Applying
Talking with the rovers on Mars was not the same as one scientist talking to another scientist on the phone. Scientists typed commands into their computers and sent the single into space using satellites. Draw a diagram of how a signal travels from Earth to Mars and back again.
Question 4: Analyzing
It took three long years to build the Mars rovers. The team hand to build the rovers to be self sufficient and last through harsh conditions on Mars. Explain how the rovers were human-like in their construction and behavior. (p. 19)
Question 5: Evaluating
When Steve Squyres asked NASA if he could send a rover to Mars, NASA came back and asked him to send two. NASA wanted two rovers so that they could gather information from opposite sides of Mars. Assess what the differences between Spirit’s and Opportunity’s missions and achievements were. (p. 24-71)
Question 6: Creating
When Spirit got stuck in the sand, people from all over the world sent in suggestions on how to get her unstuck. Imagine you are sending in a suggestion on how to get Spirit out of the sand. What would you propose for NASA to do to free her? (p. 69)
Rusch, E. (2012). The mighty mars rovers: The incredible adventures of Spirit and Opportunity. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
April 21, 2012
In the eleven chapters in this book (part of the Scientists in the Field series), readers are drawn into the world of a team of scientists responsible for sending two rovers to Mars back in 2003. Readers follow the mission from its inception through lift-off and then as the two rovers, launched a month apart, explore Martian terrain at the behest of the men and women on the ground. Spirit and Opportunity were expected to last only three months, but both explored Mars for six years in search of clues as to whether life could have existed on Mars, far exceeding anyone's expectations. The author relates their missions in an edge-of-the-seat style, luring readers into the story and making them care about Spirit's broken wheel and Opportunity's months spent trapped into the sand. It's intriguing to consider how the rovers were "driven" by someone on Earth, and how frustrating it must have been to wait for signals indicating the vehicles were okay. Although readers hear from many of those involved in the project, the author returns to Steven Squyres, an astronomy professor at Cornell, whose words seem to capture perfectly the way the team felt about this mission. Back matter includes a Mission Update, chapter notes, and websites for additional current information on the Mars mission. The book is filled with photographs that almost make it seem as though readers have made their own trip to Mars. Fascinating, inspiring, and ultimately humbling, this book is sure to intrigue the budding scientists in your classroom or home, and although machines clearly are just that--machines--it's hard not to internalize lessons from these vehicles that just never seem to quit, continuing on against all odds while those on the ground tried to come up with solutions to the problems they faced on Mars.
July 20, 2013
This book is two stories in one book. A short biography of Steve Squyres and his involvement in building and directing the rovers on Mars is printed in small text. Pictures of the building of the rovers, the landscape of Mars, and the rovers in action are also included on each page. Text about the rovers and the Martian landscape is printed in a larger font. A teacher and/or student can choose to read the biography of Steven Squyres or only the information about the rovers or both.
This book with text and original photographs is a current event. The landing of the rovers happened in this young century. The last communication from a rover was in February, 2010. For this reason, I chose all grades as an audience for this book.
audience: grades K-12
genre: informational - science
There's Nothing To Do On Mars by Chris Gall, @2008, New York & Boston, Little, Brown and Company, is the twin fiction book that I chose. This picture book of a family who moved to Mars was written after the rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, landed on Mars. A bored little boy is sent outside to play, wearing his space helmet. The author/illustrator tells of dry riverbeds, canyons, craters, volcanoes and the lack of water on Mars. All these geographical features are recorded in The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity. Looking for water or signs that water once existed on Mars was a major part of the mission of Spirit and Opportunity. The fiction story tells how the little boy accidently finds water on Mars. Life is changed forever on the planet and the planet itself is forever changed with the discovery of water. The author allows the reader to imagine a new life on another planet.
This book with text and original photographs is a current event. The landing of the rovers happened in this young century. The last communication from a rover was in February, 2010. For this reason, I chose all grades as an audience for this book.
audience: grades K-12
genre: informational - science
There's Nothing To Do On Mars by Chris Gall, @2008, New York & Boston, Little, Brown and Company, is the twin fiction book that I chose. This picture book of a family who moved to Mars was written after the rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, landed on Mars. A bored little boy is sent outside to play, wearing his space helmet. The author/illustrator tells of dry riverbeds, canyons, craters, volcanoes and the lack of water on Mars. All these geographical features are recorded in The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity. Looking for water or signs that water once existed on Mars was a major part of the mission of Spirit and Opportunity. The fiction story tells how the little boy accidently finds water on Mars. Life is changed forever on the planet and the planet itself is forever changed with the discovery of water. The author allows the reader to imagine a new life on another planet.
May 9, 2016
One word to represent Elizabeth Rusch’s The Mighty Mars Rovers would be adventurous. The word adventurous represents this book so well because it’s a thrilling story about the discoveries made by a rover named Spirit and its twin rover named Opportunity sent through the solar system with the same mission; learn about the mysteries of mars. I chose this topic because I wanted to learn more about the unknown facts of the distant planet, Mars. I learned many interesting things, but the two that stuck with me the most were, the two rovers were only expected to last three months, but turned into six years of outstanding discoveries and missions and that Opportunity has beamed back 187,000 raw images of the planet, and Spirit produced 128,000 raw images during its time on Mars. Also, each rover is equipped with a microscopic imager that allows it to capture small-scale data features of the Martian rocks and soils. The booked changed my thinking of the topic of mars and its rovers by providing me with more information and answering some of my personal questions, giving me more knowledge and curiosity about Mars. The book was interesting to me because I love learning and knowing about the discoveries outside of Earth. I have a personal connection on finding out what the unknown has to offer. The book was not hard to concentrate on, it was definitely an edge of the seat read, there was always something new to learn and read about. I think anyone who enjoys learning about Mars and its rovers would enjoy reading this book because it gives you a first hand look from the viewpoint of a rover and a scientist.
May 10, 2015
This narrative nonfiction book tells the story of the twin Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, which were launched in 2003 for a three month mission. It begins by introducing the lead scientist, Steven Squyres, and explaining how he first became interested in Mars. Then background information on the development of the rovers, including their scientific instrumentation, is explained. Finally, the rovers blast off, and details of their big discoveries and major troubles are discussed, including the work done by the scientists back on earth. A final note states that Opportunity is still exploring, but Spirit’s mission has ended.
The Mighty Mars Rovers is part of the Scientists in the Field series of nonfiction books for children. As School Library Journal explains, part of the success of this series is how it, “puts a human face on an incredible accomplishment,” giving readers someone specific to connect with. In addition, there are incredible pictures, of the development of the rovers, of the scientists in the control center, and numerous pictures of Mars taken from the rovers themselves. Kirkus describes the storyline as, “edge-of-your-seat reading as the author explains how setbacks were handled,” but points out that “the ample backmatter has little specifically for children.” This book is definitely aimed for older elementary and middle school children, as it includes more complicated scientific and technological words (though a helpful glossary is included). It would definitely serve as a good introductory book on space exploration.
The Mighty Mars Rovers is part of the Scientists in the Field series of nonfiction books for children. As School Library Journal explains, part of the success of this series is how it, “puts a human face on an incredible accomplishment,” giving readers someone specific to connect with. In addition, there are incredible pictures, of the development of the rovers, of the scientists in the control center, and numerous pictures of Mars taken from the rovers themselves. Kirkus describes the storyline as, “edge-of-your-seat reading as the author explains how setbacks were handled,” but points out that “the ample backmatter has little specifically for children.” This book is definitely aimed for older elementary and middle school children, as it includes more complicated scientific and technological words (though a helpful glossary is included). It would definitely serve as a good introductory book on space exploration.
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