After the Martian Apocalypse: Extraterrestrial Artifacts and the Case for Mars Exploration

Was there once intelligent life on Mars? Consider the Face, a remarkably human-like image located in the Cydonia Mensae region of the Red Planet. NASA says it's just a natural formation but, as science fiction writer Tonnies points out, it does look spookily human. He describes other findings on Mars that could be the remains of a pre-cataclysmic civilization: grids that recall a""metropolitan infrastructure""; and the Fort, a seemingly artificial structure located a few miles from the Face. While Tonnies claims scientific objectivity, his breathless tone in considering the magnitude of these discoveries is directed at believers, not skeptics. He rhetorically exploits contemporary fears, citing the possibility of an""ecological 9/11"" in support of the idea that humans must colonize space. He also calls for a manned mission to Mars to examine the Face and other phenomena to determine if they are natural or artificial formations. The value of reviving manned space missions is hotly debated in the scientific community; for those who feel its necessity is a given, Tonnies offers more fuel for the argument. Photos.