The Rocketeers Have Shaggy Ears

A rocket patrol crashes on Venus and the injured crew must trek through dense, hostile rainforest toward an isolated base, conserving supplies while scientists record local flora and fauna. The base confronts limited reconnaissance, bureaucratic pressure, and fears that inadequate reports will prompt military takeover of the space program, so staff debate what to microfilm and send home. During the overland journey the men face mechanical breakdowns, shortages, leadership strains, and violent encounters with native, man-like creatures, forcing improvisation and difficult choices about survival, scientific priorities, and the strategic future of the exploration effort.