Next on NOVA: "Is There Life on Mars?"

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 8 p.m.

(Check your local listings as dates and times may vary. Broadcast in high definition where available.)

After four decades of fly-by probes, orbiters, landers, and rovers,the quest for life on Mars is as tantalizing as ever. "Is There Lifeon Mars?" goes behind the scenes of the latest NASA missions to theRed 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 of signs that Mars once or maybe even still harbors some form of life.

Here's what you'll find on the companion web site:

Life's Little Essential

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/essential.html

Everybody knows that liquid water is necessary for life, at least as we know it. But just why exactly?

Ask the Expert

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/ask.html

Dr. Leslie Tamppari of the Mars Phoenix Lander mission answers viewer questions.

"Live" From Mars

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/live.html

Read Twitter feeds from Phoenix, the rovers, and the Mars Science Lab.

Behind the Scenes

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/producer.html

Producer Mark Davis talks about his memorable experience filming alongside the Mars rover team between
2002 and 2004.

Man on a Mission

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/mission.html

In this January 2003 interview, lead scientist Steve Squyres reveals his hopes and fears for the rovers.

Mars From Afar

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/explore.html

See some of the finest images ever taken of the martian surface, including Phoenix's most famous.

Mars Up Close

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/upclose.html

In late 2004, Steve Squyres narrates this visual tour of some of the rovers' most revealing discoveries.

Anatomy of a Rover

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/rover.html

Examine the robotic geologists and their suite of scientific instruments.

Design a Parachute

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/parachute.html

Create a parachute strong and light enough to safely slow the rovers in their descent toward Mars.

From Launch to Landing

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/mars/launchland.html

Watch an animation of one rover's fantastic journey from Earth to Mars. _____________________________________________________________________

Remember, most NOVA episodes stream on our web site the day after the premiere, so if you missed Hunting the Hidden Dimension you can catch it at:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/programs/