Scientists and engineers dream of a manned mission to Mars—it’s a place where life is possible. The race is on to get there: nine months out and nine months back. This is the story of mankind’s preparation to colonize the red planet.

EPISODE ONE: THE VOYAGE – Drawing on high quality animation, interviews with US, German and Russian engineers we describe the tools being built to get to Mars. NASA and the European Space Agency are collaborating on two future Mars missions (ExoMars), using an Atlas rocket to propel a lander to the red planet and then a rover, ultimately to remotely control a return mission bringing soil sample back to Earth, by 2026.

EPISODE TWO: THE HUMAN FACTOR – The human factor in the Mars project is the single most challenging aspect of the plan. There are three main issues with sending humans to Mars: the psychological impact of confinement, physiological impact on the human body, and potential contamination of samples and of the Martian biosphere.

EPISODE THREE: THE RED PLANET – This episode looks at what we know about Mars, from the water (ice) concentrations to the methane gas to the ferrous earth. The producers use their exclusive access to tell a compelling story of human endeavor and advanced technology. Interviewees include scientists and engineers plus the astronauts training for the Mars Mission.