NOVA Season 4 Episode 14 Red Planet (The)

In season 4, episode 14 of NOVA, titled "Red Planet (The)," viewers are taken on a journey to the planet Mars. The episode focuses on a series of missions NASA sends to Mars, ranging from orbiters and rovers to the recent launch of the Mars Perseverance rover. As the episode progresses, viewers gain an understanding of Mars' environment and the challenges NASA faces in exploring the planet.

The episode begins with an overview of the Mars Global Surveyor, an orbiter that NASA launched in 1996. The orbiter was the first to extensively map Mars' surface, providing the first high-resolution images of the planet. From there, the episode delves into the Mars Pathfinder mission, which landed on Mars in 1997, sending back images and data from the surface of the planet.

The episode then moves on to the Mars Exploration Rovers mission, which NASA launched in 2003. Two rovers, Opportunity and Spirit, roamed the planet for years, taking images and conducting experiments to learn about its geology and search for signs of water. The episode features interviews with scientists involved in the project who discuss the challenges of designing and operating rovers on Mars, as well as the discoveries made during the mission.

The focus then shifts to the Mars Science Laboratory mission, which sent the Curiosity rover to Mars in 2012. The episode details the intricate landing process required to safely land the rover on the planet's surface and takes viewers on a tour of the rover, showcasing its various instruments and capabilities. The episode also includes interviews with scientists involved in the project who discuss the mission's goals and the discoveries made so far.

Finally, the episode covers the Mars 2020 mission, which launched the Perseverance rover to Mars in July 2020. The episode follows the rover's journey to Mars and features interviews with scientists involved in the project who discuss the rover's capabilities and the goals of the mission. The episode also covers the intricate landing process required to safely land the rover, which was particularly challenging due to the coronavirus pandemic and the need to safely operate the mission with minimal staff on-site.

Throughout the episode, viewers gain an understanding of the challenges of exploring Mars and the great strides that NASA has made in doing so. The episode also touches on the importance of continued exploration of Mars and the search for signs of life on the planet. Overall, "Red Planet (The)" is a captivating and informative episode that provides a glimpse into the fascinating world of Mars exploration.