Watch Phoenix Mars Mission: Onto the Ice

In 2009, PBS released a thrilling documentary, Phoenix Mars Mission: Onto the Ice, that takes viewers on an unforgettable journey to the red planet Mars. The documentary captures the excitement and challenges faced by a team of scientists, engineers, and programmers who aimed to achieve a historic feat - building and landing a lander vehicle on the icy northern pole of Mars. The documentary is a perfect blend of scientific facts, graphics, and real-life shots that bring to life the efforts and emotions of the team.

The documentary is hosted by Peter Thomas, a veteran narrator, and features interviews with Ray Arvidson, the lead scientist for the mission, and Guy Beutelschies, the Project Manager. Throughout the film, the three take viewers on a multi-year journey that began with the visionary idea to land on the Martian ice to the final moments of the landing itself.

The documentary opens with stunning visuals of Mars and a brief introduction to the mission's objectives. The team wanted to uncover if Mars ever had the potential to support life and if there is water ice present on Mars's frozen northern pole. The team designed the Phoenix Mission, a landing vehicle equipped with state-of-the-art technology to analyze and test the Martian soil and atmosphere.

The journey to the icy northern pole was not an easy task, and the team faced numerous challenges. The documentary showcases the rigorous testing and development stages of the Phoenix Mission. From the testing of prototypes in harsh Arctic conditions to designing instruments that could work in sub-zero temperatures on Mars, the team made every effort to build a stable and reliable lander vehicle.

As the Phoenix Mission launched and began its six-month journey to Mars, the team faced their next obstacle: a critical 5 minutes that would determine the success or failure of the entire mission. This period of time, known as the 'Seven Minutes of Terror,' tested the nerves of the entire team. The landing of the vehicle on the icy Martian surface was the most significant challenge the team faced - a perfect landing would mark a breakthrough in space exploration.

The documentary builds suspense and shows the team's reactions to the landing as the Phoenix mission slowly descended to the Red Planet's surface. The team anxiously waited for any confirmation from the lander vehicle that it had landed on Mars safely. The Phoenix Mission utilized new technologies like 'Sky Crane' to ensure that the landing vehicle would touch down safely on the icy surface of Mars.

Finally, the team received news from NASA that the Phoenix Mission had landed successfully, and the celebrations began. The team was relieved after years of hard work and anxious waiting to have achieved the historic feat of landing the Phoenix Mission on Mars.

The documentary then quickly moves on to the next phase of the Phoenix Mission - to gather scientific data from the Martian environment. The team had to maximize the effectiveness of the lander in the 90-day time period before the harsh Martian winter approached. The team carried out numerous experiments, including drilling samples from the ground and analyzing the soil samples gathered by the Phoenix Mission.

The scientists' excitement is palpable as they uncover vital information about the Martian environment, including discovering water ice on Mars. The discoveries made by the team as they undertook experiments opened new chapters in space exploration and added to the knowledge of Mars's geology.

The documentary concludes by revisiting the success of the Phoenix Mission and highlighting its significance in furthering scientific exploration of the universe. The successful mission changed the way scientists viewed and interpreted Mars, and its legacy influenced future missions to the Red Planet. Phoenix Mars Mission: Onto the Ice is an awe-inspiring documentary that recreates the journey to the Red Planet in a thrilling and informative way that appeals to everyone. It is a story of perseverance, passion, and scientific advancement that is sure to leave viewers in awe.

In conclusion, this PBS show, Phoenix Mars Mission: Onto the Ice, takes viewers on an unforgettable journey to Mars, showcasing the efforts and excitement of an innovative team eager to accomplish a unique feat in space history. It celebrates the human spirit of exploration and the passion to seek knowledge beyond our current understanding of the universe.

Phoenix Mars Mission: Onto the Ice is a series that ran for 1 seasons (1 episodes) between October 13, 2009 and on PBS