/ Modified may 1, 2010 2:24 a.m.

NOVA Is There Life on Mars?

The latest scientific results from the Mars rovers and Phoenix probe, which are poised to reveal provocative new clues in the tantalizing search for water and life on the Red Planet. Thursday, January 1st 11:00 pm PBS-World

Phoenix Mars Lander
The mission of the Phoenix lander (pictured) is to land in icy soils near the north polar permanent ice cap of Mars and explore the history of the water in these soils and any associated rocks, while monitoring polar climate.

After four decades of fly-by probes, orbiters, landers and rovers, the quest for life on Mars is as tantalizing as ever. NOVA goes behind the scenes of the latest NASA missions to the Red Planet to reveal new clues and challenges on the road to answering this ultimate question.

With unique access to the NASA Phoenix and Mars exploration rover missions, NOVA shows scientists and engineers in action, directing the operations of spacecraft millions of miles away, as the robotic explorers drill into rock, claw into soil, analyze samples and trundle across the rock-strewn landscape in search for signs that Mars once harbored or maybe still harbors some form of life.

They may not be on Mars themselves, but there is drama enough for the Earth-bound operators, as they must deal with harsh Martian conditions and equipment emergencies in pursuit of their science objectives. NOVA captures the payoff in stunning surprises that bring cheers to the science operations centers.

So far, there is good news and bad news on Mars. The good news is that the planet has water today in the form of subsurface ice, and there is evidence that water once flowed in abundance across the planet billions of years ago. The Martian soil is also conducive to life in some locations, although neither Phoenix nor the twin rovers were equipped to look for life directly.

The bad news is that for all its superficial resemblance to Earth, Mars and our planet clearly took different paths billions of years ago. Mars today is a cold, dry, hostile world with an ultra-thin atmosphere that won’t support liquid water at the surface.

See previews and find out more at pbs.org.
Phoenix Mars Mission Site
NASA Phoenix Mars Lander Site
HiRISE site

NOVA Is There Life on Mars? airs Thursday, January 1st 11:00 p.m. PBS-World.

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