People have been walking on the surface of Mars for more than a century, in fantasy. Now, however, the possibility is so real that many people think that the question is not whether humans will go to Mars, but when they will go, how they will get there and who will go first.
Although there is a growing agreement that reaching Mars will be some kind of multinational effort, a prosperous nation, like the United States, seems capable of such an achievement by itself. For the US it is a political priority. The cost of the project has been estimated at 6 billion dollars, about double the price of the Apollo Moon project.
Of all the other planets in the solar system, Mars is the most like Earth. With about half the Earth's diameter, with one third of the gravity and only one percent of the atmosphere, space vehicles have found that Mars hides an important amount of water under its surface and in its frozen poles. While Venus is closer, with an average temperature of about 850 degrees, it is hostile.
From the presence of water and a relatively moderate climate comes another powerful attraction. The fascination with Mars centres around the issue of life. Mars is key to answering that critical question:
Is there life somewhere other than the Earth?
Answer the questions:
1. Is reaching Mars only a scientific challenge? Why?
2. What is the most interesting reason for exploring Mars?
True or False?:
1. Mankind has actually set foot on Mars.
2. Reaching Mars can cost as much as reaching the moon.
3. Mars is the same size as the Earth.
4. Venus's climate is gentle.
Thinking he was a thief, police shot a young black dentist who had just dropped his girlfriend off at Sao Paulo's international airport on February 3rd. That killing haunted a celebration which took place a week later, the opening of first Brazil's first college catering mainly for blacks. It "shows the dimension" of the exclusion of black brazilians from a society that until recently considered itself unusually tollerant, says José Vicente, president of Afrobras, a group that is the moving force behind the school.
Internet users who distribute movies before they are sold in shops could face up to five years in prison under a proposed USA bill, that is to say, a plan for a new law. Video recording of movies in cinemas would also be prohibited. Those supporting the proposal say unauthorised copying costs film-makers an estimated 3 billion dollars in lost sales.
Valencia C.F. won their septh Copa del Rey after defeating Getafe C.F. 3-1 at the Vicente Calderón stadium. Mata and Alexis scored two goals in the first ten minutes of the match, but Granero, with a penalty kick, gave hopes to Laudrup's team. In the second half, the "azulones" could tie, Granero crashed a ball in the crossbar, but Morientes finished the match in minute 83 taking advantage of a mistake by Ustari.
