Mars mission brings back memories of the greatness of America!

It was back in the 1960's when I was working on government contracts related to Mariner and Viking Mars missions. At that time I was a Chemical Technician analyzing the materials in the Heat Shield under a contract awarded to Avco Corp. Space and Missile Division in Lowell Mass. The idea of working on these programs as well as the Apollo program, gave much pride to all of us. Even today when we meet someone who also worked on these programs we greet them with admiration and a special connection. It was an inspirational time. One felt the country was doing something for mankind and there would be benefits for all, in years to come. The thing that I remembered most was the contrast of these activities and the positive feelings they produced versus those pursuits related by others to waging war. Today, it is the same contrast and awareness for me on this Memorial Day.

Congratulations to all who touched this successful Phoenix Mars program for your ingenuity, for advancing the knowledge of mankind, and to pursue creative science for peaceful purposes, other than war.