The Enigma of Carter

The enigma that was Jimmy Carter in relation to Mars policy was seen vividly in 1978. Carter, a Naval Academy graduate, was unusually technically astute for a politician. He had nuclear engineering training and expressed interest in space. In 1978, Sagan won a Pulitzer Prize for his book The Dragons of Eden. Carter invited Sagan in December to give a talk on space at the U. S. Naval Observatory, a talk he and his family, as well as the vice president and his family, would attend. The writer Hugh Sidey wrote that, while being briefed by Sagan about planetary exploration, Carter was fascinated. “Eyes bright with the sense of adventure, [Carter] urged that any new missions to Mars seek out mountains and valleys and old volcanoes instead of staying on the more level or gently rolling surfaces.”31

Sagan biographer William Poundstone also commented on the Sagan-Carter exchange. He wrote that Carter was a space buff whose technical background allowed him an understanding rare among politicians. Carter seemed enchanted with Mars and the possibility of life on Mars. Were scientists certain Viking had not found life on Mars? Carter asked Sagan. Sagan pointed out the ambiguities, and that no life was believed to have been found at the two sites at which Viking landed. Then, Carter asked, why had the two Vikings landed in such boring places? Hadn’t the Viking team heard the old saying, “Nothing ventured, noth­ing gained?” “You know,” Carter told Sagan, “You ought to write a few books to really get people interested in planetary exploration. Then we could do some really exciting missions.” “But Mr. President,” Sagan responded, “You only need to write your name at the bottom of a single sheet of paper and we could have a rover mission to Mars.” The president, according to Poundstone, just smiled.32