Looking for Life on Mars | Full Documentary I NOVA | PBS

Follow along as NASA launches the Mars 2020 Mission, perhaps the most ambitious hunt yet for signs of ancient life on Mars.

The spacecraft will blaze into the Martian atmosphere at some 12,000 miles per hour and attempt to lower the Perseverance Rover in the rocky Jezero Crater, home to a dried-up river delta scientists think could have harbored life. Perseverance will comb the area for signs of life and collect samples for possible return to Earth. Traveling onboard is a four-pound helicopter that will conduct a series of test flights—the first on another planet.

During its journey, Perseverance will also test technology designed to produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere, in hopes that the gas could be used for fuel—or for humans to breathe—on future missions.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:42 Mars: Exploring The Red Planet with the Curiosity Rover
09:49 Looking Life in the Jezero Crater of Mars
14:56 Preparing the Perseverance Rover for Mars
22:23 The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Launch of Rover
25:22 The Launch of the Perseverance Rover
30:07 Attempting to Fly a Copter on Mars
33:58 Creating Breathable Air on Mars
38:32 How Will the Samples Come Back to Earth?
44:13 The Suspenseful Landing of the Perseverance Rover on Mars

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This program was produced by GBH, which is solely responsible for its content. Some funders of NOVA also fund basic science research. Experts featured in this film may have received support from funders of this program.

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[cliffordrice]

I am now 82 years old. My fascination with Mars began when I was about eleven years old, sparked by reading about Percival Lowell and reading stories by Ray Bradbury. Professor Hubacher also sparked interest through my study for the astronomy merit badge. Of course I fervently believed there was life on Mars, but I conjured a planet that was losing its atmosphere. I believed it was drying out and that Martians built canals to deliver water from the polar ice packs. The truth of the search for life on Mars is a lot different than I imagined, but even more fascinating. I am truly grateful to have lived long enough to experience all of this.

[clessiodaniel]

I'm 73 and 10 months old. I've learned English by myself. I'm Brazilian. I fell very blessed by being able to understand English, so I'm able to watch this and know what's going on at the space exploration. Marvelous, indeed.

[cweefy]

May 25th, 2021 and everything has gone perfectly! Ingenuity, moxy and perseverance all working to plan. Unbelievable accomplishments!!!

[meridien]

I just love how people from all reaches of the globe and all races are united to make this foray from Earth to Mars, a reality! This mission required the best and brightest men, women, Asian, Brown, Black and White, to make it work. No room for prejudice and sexism here and it's incredibly exciting!

[billger]

This should be must see TV for every child in school as an example of human ingenuity, intellect, teamwork and the inspiration and explorer spirit that is mankind and the exciting opportunities that abound with education in math and science. Well done NASA and JPL.

[fungiuse]

When I was a teenager in another country I saw Man (Americanos) landing on the Moon in 1969. It was amazing. Now that I am a geologist/chemical-engineer in the USA I see America (the Rovers) landing on the Mars and the ferruginous rocks such as Hematite on that planet. It is beyond amazing to see similarities between our Earth and Mars. I hope to live until the 2030's to see Americans (man and woman) land on Mars. WOW!! What a Jorney for me!! Congratulations NASA and America for all this joy!!!

[paulinenigh]

AMAZING PEOPLE BRINGING US REMARKABLE MACHINES.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR SHARING ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
YOUR ONE OF A KIND.

[jacoblahr]

I dont think i blinked one time watching this and i couldn't close my mouth. Amazing NOVA. My eyes hurt and im thirsty now

[Dan-hnlx]

Can we just have a moment to recognize the most badass robot ever created

[boyaiking]

Wow, these Engineers are the real Martians - lots of Love from 🇮🇳

[philipibaugh]

My only complaint about this channel is their is only a handful of full episodes with 13 hidden episodes you can't watch. I know Nova has to have hundreds of full episodes from over the years, I understand science has evolved a lot but I'd still enjoy watching older episodes.

[robertperez]

Im so proud to be human and even more proud to see do many cultures /faces/men women working together
to make this dream into reality, May wisdom always prevail and dwell among us humans!!

[kaitlynmonahan]

The guy with the dog almost made me tear up, he was so nervous and the dog was literally the only thing keeping him calm

[stephentackett]

Damn you PBS! You got me again with Mars in the title!! You now own the next 54 minutes of my life.

[joannaglasby]

Moogega! So happy to see her doing what she loves after King of the Nerds

[RandyArellano]

I really liked the movie "The Martian". It was cool to hear so much of the soundtrack in this program. Kudos PBS/Nova!

[eblanco]

The absolute beauty of this mission-project is the multi-nationality background of all the people involved in it.

[MS.MINI]

Im not even into space much but the last two days iv been sucked into space world and I gotta say this was a fantastic documentary

[suntimes]

This is the reason I went to Chicago in 1991 to learn English to watch videos in English I love Nova.

[bristonknight]

Thank you, NOVA and NASA for such an amazing film.
🇺🇦 ❤️ 🇺🇸