NASA's Changing Fortunes

摘要

The Mars Polar Lander science team was optimistic on December 3, 1999, as the spacecraft raced toward landing. On the wall, a digital clock counted down the seconds until the craft was expected to make its first report from the surface. The time came and the radio was silent. Suddenly, the faces in the mission control room at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory grew somber. The news room, filled with reporters, also was silent until a phone rang. "It's trying to call home," somebody said, and there was nervous laughter.