The countdown has begun for the 21st century's most heroic and potentially deadliest expedition. A manned mission to Mars has been the dream of scientists for decades—and now Mars Rising explores that dream and the challenges being faced by international space agencies and in laboratories. More than 300 scientists from Canada, the United States, Europe, Chile and Russia have contributed to Mars Rising, a six-part documentary series and a companion to the expedition series Race to Mars. The quest to the secrets of the universe begins—on Mars.
Mars Rising offers a comprehensive examination of the challenges, the obstacles, the fears and the successes of the mission and experts with diverse backgrounds and nationalities contributed their knowledge to this series. Producers Galafilm secured unprecedented co-operation from the NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, the European Space Agency and various Russian space agencies and contractors like Energia, gaining access to top personnel and up-to-the-minute prototypes. Over 300 scientists were consulted for the series and more than 60 experts, including former and current astronauts, appear on camera. Critical subjects covered include spaceship design, possible trajectories, rocket fuel, finding new life forms, new thoughts on astronaut selection and training, space suit engineering, medical training for deep space, blasting through Mars’ atmosphere, life support systems and robotics.
Mars Rising was shot in HD in 48 locations over a period of almost two years, from March 2005 to January 2007, filming for an unprecedented 140 days. Crews were dispatched to Russia, Europe, the United States, China, Chile and across Canada, including the Canadian Arctic. Various crews spent a total of 32 days in Russia, filming at Energia, Lavochkin, IBMP and Star City. At the height of filming in August 2005, four separate film crews were working simultaneously in the U.S. and Russia. And all of this travelling means that audiences will be taken by helicopter to Chile's Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth; underwater in Pavilion Lake, British Columbia; underground in Sudbury, Ontario; and the Four Window Caves in New Mexico and the Mars-like terrain of the Arctic’s frigid Devon Island.
Among the distinguished experts appearing in the series, three experts with very different backgrounds stand out: James Garvin, lead scientist for Mars and Lunar Exploration at NASA; Paul Delaney, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Toronto’s York University; and Academy-Award winning filmmaker James Cameron (‘Titanic’) who is a member of NASA’s special advisory committee. They all speak passionately and incisively about the dangers of the mission and the possibilities of life on Mars. Nine astronauts and Russian cosmonauts talk about their incredible experiences. They include:
Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the Moon.
Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian mission specialist and the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm in orbit.
Canadian Dave Williams, who was on board the Atlantis (June 2007) and who is expected to make three space walks on the Shuttle Endeavour in August.
Retired NASA astronaut Jerry Linenger, who spent 132 days aboard the Mir Space Station in 1997.
Jeffrey Hoffman, who was inducted into the U.S. Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Canadian Julie Payette, lead astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency and first Canadian to board the Mir Space Station.
