Destination Mars
Destination Mars is about Mars exploration. Find out everything you need to know about Mars, from the possibilities of human colonisation to the chances that it already harbours life. See if you can land your own spacecraft, but keep an eye out for those pesky asteroids! Of all the planets in our solar system, Mars holds the greatest fascination. After the Moon, it is the closest celestial body to Earth and, despite being a cold, barren and desolate place, it seems to be the most Earth-like of the planets. It is the place to which humans most often venture in science fiction, and the media and public have taken a keen interest in all things Martian.
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Is it real? life on Mars?
As long as we have lifted eyes into space, we have dreamed one day finding life on another planet. Scientists believe Mars may be the planet in our solar system that has life. But could there really be life on Mars? Join the National Geographic Channel as they interview top planetary scientists and amateur researchers, who have dedicated their lives to the subject and separate scientific evidence from flights of fancy.
Early speculation
Mars's polar ice caps were observed as early as the mid-17th century, and they were first proven to grow and shrink alternately, in the summer and winter of each hemisphere, by William Herschel in the latter part of the 18th century. By the mid-19th century, astronomers knew that Mars had certain other similarities to Earth, for example that the length of a day on Mars was almost the same as a day on Earth. They also knew that its axial tilt was similar to Earth's, which meant it experienced seasons just as Earth does - but of nearly double the length owing to its much longer year. These observations led to the increase in speculation that the darker albedo features were water, and brighter ones were land. It was therefore natural to suppose that Mars may be inhabited by some form of life.
Liquid water on Mars
No Mars probe since Viking has tested the Martian soil directly for signs of life. NASA's recent missions have focused on another question: whether Mars held lakes or oceans of liquid water on its surface in the ancient past. Scientists have found hematite, a mineral that forms in the presence of water. Many scientists have long held this to be almost self-evident based on various geological landforms on the planet, but others have proposed different explanations?wind erosion, carbon dioxide oceans, etc. Thus, the mission of the Mars Exploration Rovers of 2004 was not to look for present or past life, but for evidence of liquid water on the surface of Mars in the planet's ancient past.
The Face on Mars
One of the Cydonian mesas, situated at 40-45' north latitude and 9-26' west longitude, took on the striking appearance of a humanoid Face on Mars in a photo taken by Viking 1 on July 25, 1976. Some commentators, most notably Richard C. Hoagland, believe it to be evidence of a long-lost Martian civilization along with other features they believe are present, such as apparent pyramids, which they argue are part of a ruined city. While analysis of the early Viking images suggested that the features of the Face might not be an accidental consequence of viewing conditions, today, it is generally understood to be an optical illusion, an example of pareidolia. After analysis of the higher resolution Mars Global Surveyor data NASA stated that a detailed analysis of multiple images of this feature reveals a natural looking Martian hill whose illusory face-like appearance depends on the viewing angle and angle of illumination". A similar feature on Earth is the Badlands Guardian Geological Feature, which resembles a human head wearing a Native American headress.
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Revealing Mars
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will make a more comprehensive inspection of Mars than any previous mission, examining landscape details as small as a coffee table with the most powerful telescopic camera ever sent to orbit another planet. REVEALING MARS walks viewers through the orbiter’s scientific payload and illustrates how each instrument works. The program gives viewers a sense of the high-quality images and data these tools will produce by comparing them to instruments used to investigate the atmosphere and geology of Earth.
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Welcome to Mars
Go inside mission control and explore Mars with rovers Spirit & Opportunity.
Take an astounding look at the red planet in this interplanetary adventure that picks up where the acclaimed film MARS Dead or Alive left off. From the white-knuckle landings of the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, through months of frustrating setbacks and elating discoveries, Welcome to Mars captures the gripping drama and the breathtaking images of the most significant mission events. Mission Control and its two robotic explorers face a daunting task–find proof that liquid water, the essential ingredient of life, once existed on Mars. Just days into the mission, euphoria turns to despair as Spirit suddenly stops communicating with NASA. With the mission on the line, restoring communications with the rover becomes a nerve-shredding ordeal before the problem is solved. Then, Opportunity serendipitously lands near a scientifically valuable rock outcrop that provides crucial evidence allowing NASA to announce solid proof that Mars was once awash in water. Through unprecedented access, Welcome to Mars presents a compelling inside story of triumph, technical ingenuity, and emotional drama packed with stunning images from an alien world.
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