Scientist Sagan Backs U.S.-Soviet Mars Trip

Astronomer Carl Sagan said Thursday that he still favors a manned U.S.-Soviet mission to Mars. He said that such a mission would be “a fitting tribute” to the seven crew members who died Tuesday in the space shuttle disaster.

In an article written before the shuttle tragedy, published in the coming issue of Parade magazine, Sagan said that an effort to put a man on Mars would allow both nations to “do something not just for their nations, but for their species.”