"To get to the planet's surface, landers must overcome great odds. They travel millions of miles through deep space, arriving at Mars with pinpoint accuracy. They drop through Mars's thin atmosphere at hyper speeds that can cause delicate electronics to burn up or shake apart. They slow down with perfectly timed rockets and parachutes to avoid crashing on the rocky ground ... Landers are sent on this perilous journey so we can unlock the secrets of Mars's harsh landscape. The mysteries we solve on Mars may one day help us understand Earth's own history and future." -- From page 4.

Landing on Mars -- Why go to Mars? -- Mars 2 & 3 -- The Viking landers -- Touchdown! -- Mars Pathfinder -- Mars Polar lander -- Beagle 2 -- Phoenix Mars lander -- Schiaparelli EDM lander -- InSight -- Timeline -- Glossary -- Online resources -- Index,