Mike Mars: South Pole Spaceman by Donald A. Wollheim
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. 1966. Paperback Library. 1st Printing.
Mike Mars is in Danger! His landing site at the South Pole is suddenly "whited out," hidden by mysterious clouds of snow. Yet Mike must land his X-15 immediately; the plane is out of fuel and falling fast. By the time American search teams can take off, a stubby jet transport with a red star on its tail is descending low over the ice. Its mission: capture Mike Mars and the X-15. In his latest assignment, Mike fires a new rocket, the Blue Scout, from the belly of his plane, becoming the first man in history to launch a satellite while himself in flight. Advance tests with the Blue Scout take Mike and Johnny Bluehawk on a secret mission to determine the extent of the Van Allen radiation belt at the South Pole. The test results may bear directly on the future of space exploration, a future in which Mike Mars will not figure - if the Russians have their way.
Sixth book featuring Mike Mars