TASCHEN’s Mars: Photographs from the NASA Archives offers a curated journey through six decades of Martian exploration, presenting a stunning visual archive of humanity’s ongoing fascination with the Red Planet. Spanning early missions to modern explorations, the book highlights NASA’s groundbreaking efforts to unveil Mars’ secrets through detailed imagery and expert analysis.
Stunning imagery across decades
The book begins with the pioneering photographs from Mariner 4’s 1965 flyby, humanity’s first close-up look at another planet. It then progresses to breathtaking high-resolution imagery captured by modern missions, such as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Curiosity rover. You will see ancient riverbeds, polar ice caps, massive canyons, and volcanoes—all evidence of Mars’ complex geological history.
In addition to modern images, the book incorporates historical illustrations that reflect humanity’s imaginative visions of Mars before the space age. Presented in a large, high-quality hardcover format, this 340-page volume includes fold-out pages that enhance the immersive experience.
Expert insights and essays
Accompanying the imagery are essays and commentary from leading space experts, including NASA’s former Chief Scientist James L. Green and JPL Chief Engineer Rob Manning. Their contributions provide context, explaining the technical achievements behind these missions. Emily Lakdawalla’s clear scientific commentary and Margaret Weitekamp’s cultural reflections further enrich the narrative. A foreword by poet Nikki Giovanni adds a creative dimension, contemplating Mars’ symbolic significance.
Image credit: TASCHEN.
