v Americans have been misguided as to the proper place for their search: they searched in the desert region, and in some other desolate region. While if they search in the temperate regions, they may find people, animals and plants.
God – be exalted – said in the Quran 42: 32-34 concerning ships and how they lost their way in the vast sea, and may then perish:
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ الْجَوَارِ فِي الْبَحْرِ كَالْأَعْلَامِ . إِن يَشَأْ يُسْكِنِ الرِّيحَ فَيَظْلَلْنَ رَوَاكِدَ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ . أَوْ يُوبِقْهُنَّ بِمَا كَسَبُوا وَيَعْفُ عَن كَثِيرٍ . وَيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا مَا لَهُم مِّن مَّحِيصٍ
The explanation:
(And of His signs are [ships] that sail on the sea like 'high indicative marks'. [like the lighthouse on a mountain]
If He wills, He stills the wind, and the [ships] remain motionless on the [sea] surface. Surely in that are [indicative] signs for every steadfast and grateful [man.]
Or [God] makes the [ships] get lost because of [the sins] that the [crew and passengers] have earned, but even He pardons much [of their sins, and postpones their punishment.]
And that those who dispute about Our revelations may know they have no escape [from the sea save by God's will.] )
Russians had been misguided before, because they were atheists, and they chose to investigate Venus more than Mars, and their efforts turned useless. Their astronaut had just circled around the earth in his capsule and they said he had not seen God.
Americans had a better chance and were more fortunate; because they are Christians, and not all of them are atheists; a large number of them believe in God – be glorified – the Almighty and Most Gracious Who gave them more success, and they went and landed on Moon, and the American glorified God at his first step on Moon.
Then Americans chose to go to Mars rather than Venus, and so they were fortunate and successful. But because of their association with God and their enthusiasm about Jesus: the righteous servant of God, they have been misguided in their efforts to find life on Mars, while it does obviously exist, but till now they have not found any indication of life there, and this is a miracle of God that He confounded them and blinded them to this.
v In case they go to the mountains of Mars, specially the large chains, not the sporadic isolated mountains, they may find there water springs, streams or rivers in the valleys inbetween such mountains; but of course the plain land (almost it was some deserts) will be easier for their rovers to move there, and for their table (Phoenix) to land safely upon.