Publisher's Synopsis
This book follows astronauts from selection, through training, to the journey to the red planet. During training one of the trainees dies in suspicious circumstances, and then investigators disappear. When they get into space to reach the space ship that is to take them to Mars, the astronauts find that it is mainly being built by robots and androids, with some help from humans. The International Space Station is reaching the end of its useful life in Earth orbit, so it is being used to form the main structure of the new space ship. During the build of the interplanetary craft 'Phoenix' one of the astronauts has an 'accident' when she gets whisked off into space. The Chinese conclude they have had enough at this stage, so they leave the consortium. It is agreed that if any more countries decide to quit the whole programme will be in danger, so a slightly premature departure is undertaken. The crew consists of two Americans, two Russians, one Japanese and one Brit. One of the Russians and the Japanese are women. There are problems on the way to Mars when one of the Russians causes trouble. The landing procedures and dramas are described in great detail. In order to survive six to nine months on the planet the astronauts need plenty of supplies. These are provided in four large supply vessels which they bring with them. Three land with them, but the fourth one seems go astray. Mark, the Brit, finds it, and the reason why we have always been fascinated by the concept of men from Mars. Then things start to get exciting. More of the astronauts find the secret. The robots begin to turn on the humans to prevent the secret getting out, but eventually, after a long fight, the astronauts manage to get off the planet. Only to be pursued by androids in the supply vessels which are faster than the Phoenix?
