Mars is not merely a celestial body but embodies evolving human ideologies and philosophies. The 1965 Mariner 4 probe provided the first real images of Mars, dispelling myths of life, revealing instead a lifeless, rocky terrain. This revelation led to reflections on human uniqueness in the universe, as articulated by President Johnson and major media outlets. The initial excitement from human spacewalks was contrasted by the sobering reality of Mariner 4, transforming hopes about extraterrestrial life into a stark realization of Mars’ desolation and reinforcing humanity's singularity.
Mars isn't just a planet. It's a philosophy, an ideology. The way humans think about it changes over time, reflecting the unstable mix of assumptions, hopes, dreams and anxieties that define each historical moment.
In 1965, NASA's Mariner 4 probe flew past Mars and beamed the first closeup images back to Earth. Prior to that flight, humans knew the planet only through telescopes.
Mariner 4 revealed the truth: it was a rocky, cratered place seemingly devoid of life. President Lyndon B Johnson declared that life as we know it, with its humanity, is more unique than many have thought.
Life magazine devoted an issue to Ed White's Glorious Walk in the Cosmos: millions pored over the images. Only a few weeks later, Mariner 4's images of Mars were broadcast on TV, showing its desolation.
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