S1 E1: Journey to the Red Planet
Dr. James Garvin and Dr. Paul Delaney set the stage outlining the extraordinary challenges and obstacles faced by the international space community in sending a manned mission to Mars.
46 minutes
The countdown has begun for the 21st century's most heroic and potentially deadliest expedition. A manned mission to Mars has been the dream of scientists for decades. This series explores that dream and the challenges being faced by international space agencies and in laboratories.
S1 E2: Rocket Power
The spacecraft that will take a crew to Mars will be assembled in space. Will the fuel be thermo-nuclear or super-heated charged particles? Engineers must get it right or the crew will die.
46 minutes
S1 E3: Staying Alive
With zero gravity depleting muscle and cosmic radiation causing cancer, a three-year voyage to Mars in this environment could be punishing for the human body. How will we protect it?
46 minutes
S1 E4: The Human Factor
The human spirit itself may be the Achilles heel of the Mars mission. Mental breakdown, sexual tension, near-suicide, and mutiny have already taken place on shorter space missions.
46 minutes
S1 E5: Six Minutes of Terror
The last six minutes of the flight to Mars is the most dangerous. Only an inflatable aeroshell will protect the capsule as it enters Mars' atmosphere at a temperature of 4,000 Celsius and 16,000 kph.
46 minutes
S1 E6: Search for Life
Is there life on Mars? Scientists are combing the most barren places on Earth to search for clues. What if Mars has its own independently-created lifeforms that are deadly to humans?
46 minutes