The Snapshot feature in the fall 2019 issue highlighted the development of the unmanned Martian Roving Vehicle developed at RPI. My parents were in Troy for my graduation in 1962. We visited the top-floor lookout of the newly constructed physics building, and were treated to a peek at a prototype of that rover, with a description by a faculty member. Work on that model proceeded for many years, and one version was featured on episode five of Carl Sagan’s TV documentary COSMOS. The rover was shown as essentially identical to the picture on page 1 of the “Space Legacy” article, with the RPI logo prominently displayed.

JEROME ZOELLER ’62, San Antonio, Texas

The picture of the RPI Mars Rover prototype reminds me of the 25 years I spent on the planetarium staff of the Schenectady Museum, 10 years of which were as planetarium director. The RPI Mars Rover was on display outside of the planetarium for decades but occasionally we would have to move it to a different location for special events. We didn’t use white gloves back then so, no doubt, you’ll find my fingerprints on it!

RICHARD MONDA ’89G, Schenectady, New York