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Narrator:
Mars, earth's cosmic neighbor,
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More than 40 spacecraft have
been launched to the red planet
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00:00:10,678 --> 00:00:13,846
Seeking to unlock
its secrets.
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00:00:13,848 --> 00:00:17,149
Now, nasa's
new perseverance rover
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Is on a quest to crack
the planet's biggest mystery --
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Was there ever life on mars?
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Ever since the very first
mission to land on mars,
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We've been looking
for signs of life.
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We've seen tantalizing clues.
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This could be the mission that
finally answers the question.
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Narrator:
How will perseverance succeed
where others have failed?
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Could this mission discover
that living things exist today
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On the red planet?
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If the perseverance rover
finds life on mars,
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That will change science
and philosophy forever.
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Narrator:
And how will perseverance
lay the groundwork
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For humanity's next giant
leap in space exploration?
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Thaller:
Someday there will be humans
who no longer
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Identify themselves
as earthlings,
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But they will call
themselves martians.
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To find out, we will venture to
the red planet,
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Voyage beneath its mysterious,
dusty surface,
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And explore its alien underworld
to reveal the secrets
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Of this pioneering mission
to mars.
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♪♪
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-- Captions by vitac --
www.Vitac.Com
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Captions paid for by
discovery communications
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Mars...
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From orbit, the planet
looks barren,
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Temperatures here plummet
to minus 220 degrees fahrenheit.
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00:01:54,248 --> 00:01:58,450
Its thin atmosphere
is 95% carbon dioxide.
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00:02:00,654 --> 00:02:04,089
Cosmic radiation over 30,000
times stronger than
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00:02:04,091 --> 00:02:06,859
On earth blast the surface.
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00:02:09,763 --> 00:02:13,332
Probes and rovers sent to mars
confirm that it appears
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To be a lifeless desert world.
-When you look at the images
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The rovers and landers
have sent back from mars,
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It looks dry, dead,
but that's mars now.
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What was it like
a long time ago?
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Well, the evidence for that
shows a very different world.
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Narrator:
Many space scientists believe
that life could have
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Once thrived on the red planet.
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Mars just squeaks in on the edge
of what we like
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To call the habitable zone.
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00:02:41,128 --> 00:02:43,295
Now, that means the region
in a solar system
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Where liquid water could form
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And could exist
for long periods of time.
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We know that water
is the source of life on earth,
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And it might have been
the case on mars.
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Narrator: Nasa has sent
four rover missions
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To explore mars since 1996.
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Nasa's fifth rover mission
called "mars 2020,"
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Is the first task to seek out
evidence of life on mars.
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This is perseverance.
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It's a six-wheeled
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Robotic vehicle
about the size of an suv.
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Perseverance is the most
ambitious rover
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We've ever flown into space
and that has ever gone to mars.
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Narrator:
Perseverance carries a suite
of super sensitive instruments,
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Ground penetrating radar,
onboard chemical analysis,
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And x-ray detectors
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To sniff out the signs
of ancient life.
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Every single inch of the rover
has been carefully
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Thought through and designed.
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All of this effort
is in support of a chance
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To really ask the question,
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"has life ever existed
beyond earth?"
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Narrator: July 30, 2020.
An atlas five rocket blasts off
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From nasa's kennedy
space center.
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One hour after launch,
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The capsule carrying
perseverance rover
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Separates and heads
out into space.
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Destination -- mars.
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Launching a rover into space
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And traveling more than
130 million miles to mars
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Is the easy part
of this mission.
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The bigger challenge is how
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To land a one-ton rover
on the martian surface.
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Nasa engineers borrow
the multi-stage system
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Used to land the curiosity
rover in 2012.
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It's a proven platform
for getting robotic vehicles
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From space
onto the surface of mars.
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The heat shield comes into
the top of the atmosphere
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That starts to slow us
down a bit,
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But not nearly enough.
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We have to release
the parachute,
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But the mars atmosphere is thin,
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So the parachute
is not good enough on its own.
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It doesn't slow us down enough
to get to the surface safely.
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Narrator:
Now falling at 180 miles
per hour,
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Perseverance is ready
to make a controlled touchdown.
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Williford:
We come down on retrorockets,
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Hover, lower the rover down
on the skycrane,
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And then once it touches
the surface and releases
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That tension on the bridle,
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Pyros fire,
cutting those cables.
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The descent stage flies away
to a safe distance and crashes,
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And the rover is
just there ready to go.
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It's tremendously exciting
and nerve wracking.
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♪♪
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Narrator:
With perseverance now landed
safely on the martian surface,
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The rover's mission begins.
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Mars is just over
half the size of earth,
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Where within this huge area
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Should perseverance
look for life?
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If you're looking for life
on mars,
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Finding evidence of this life
or past life
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Isn't going to be equal
in all places.
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For example,
if you land in the sahara
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On earth versus the amazon,
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You're going to have
a very different outcome.
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The planet is big.
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The rover is small.
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So it's key that you put
the rover in the right spot.
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Narrator:
The key to finding traces
of ancient life on mars
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Is finding signs of water.
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Liquid water is a super solvent.
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It allows lifeless chemicals
to mix
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And transform
into biological systems.
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If there's one thing that earth
teaches is about life,
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It's follow the water.
Where you find water,
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We found life on earth.
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Narrator:
There are no obvious signs
of liquid water on mars today.
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How can scientists locate
where liquid water on mars
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Once used to be?
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In 2004, the twin mars rovers,
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Opportunity and spirit,
beam images back to earth
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That could unlock the answer.
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The cameras on board
both rovers photographed
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These strange martian objects.
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Each one is roughly
1/5 of an inch across.
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Nasa scientists call
these objects blueberries
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Because of their shape and color
in these photographs.
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Analysis reveals
that these blueberries
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Are made from iron oxide.
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00:08:03,350 --> 00:08:05,851
And one theory claims
there's only one way
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That these rusty balls can form.
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Blueberries start life
as tiny specks of crystals
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That exist inside
waterlogged rocks.
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Iron oxides from the rocks
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Wrap around the crystal spheres
like rust,
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Turning them into
small iron balls -- blueberries.
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Thousands of these can form
near each other,
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But to grow,
they need huge amounts of water
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To flush more minerals
onto them.
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Over millennia, strong winds
erode the soft stone
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Around the hard blueberries,
releasing them onto the surface.
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The blueberries are evidence
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That mars once had
rivers and lakes.
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00:09:03,844 --> 00:09:06,111
It's even possible
that the red planet
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Had oceans of liquid water
4 billion years ago.
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With all this evidence and all
this data over all these years,
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The story is clear.
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Mars had rivers
and river channels.
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This means that the probability
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00:09:22,262 --> 00:09:25,497
That mars harbored life
is very high.
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Narrator:
Nasa research finds evidence
that water covered
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1/5 of mars
for over a billion years.
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That's an area almost 40 times
the size of texas,
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Too large for one small rover
to explore in detail.
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Where on mars should
perseverance focus its search
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For ancient life,
and what will it look like?
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00:10:05,372 --> 00:10:09,007
Narrator:
Nasa's perseverance rover
is on a mission
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00:10:09,009 --> 00:10:13,612
To find evidence
of ancient life on mars.
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The perseverance rover
and all of its subsystems,
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Everything about it is really
this concentrated effort
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00:10:21,121 --> 00:10:25,590
In support of exploration and
discovery, scientific discovery.
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A chance to really ask
the question,
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"has life ever existed
beyond earth?"
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Narrator: Scientists believe
these traces could exist
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Where water covered the red
planet four billion years ago.
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This area could make up as much
as 20% of the surface of mars.
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So where in this vast area
should the rover target?
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♪♪
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When you're trying to find
the perfect spot on mars
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To look for
the evidence of life,
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One of the things you need
is standing water
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For a long period of time,
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Something that wasn't just wet
for a few days
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And then dried up.
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Narrator:
A clue to where to search
for ancient life
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Lies in photographs
taken from 180 miles above mars.
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Mars reconnaissance orbiter,
or m.R.O.,
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00:11:24,885 --> 00:11:29,087
Is a satellite that orbits
the red planet.
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Its camera captures images
of the martian surface
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In stunning detail.
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Plait:
The mars reconnaissance orbiter
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Is essentially
a spy satellite in orbit,
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00:11:39,666 --> 00:11:41,733
But instead of spying
on the planet,
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It's mapping it so that
we can better understand it.
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Narrator:
Nasa scientists searched
the m.R.O.'s photographs
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00:11:49,109 --> 00:11:53,978
For the traces that ancient
rivers and lakes leave behind.
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00:11:53,980 --> 00:11:58,550
They find an intriguing feature
in jezero crater --
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A deep depression close
to the martian equator.
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00:12:03,790 --> 00:12:06,491
It's likely that mars had lakes
and rivers
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4 billion years ago.
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An asteroid or comet strike
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00:12:13,633 --> 00:12:17,235
Explodes a mega crater
28 miles across.
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00:12:19,940 --> 00:12:23,908
Over time, two rivers
break through its rim.
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00:12:23,910 --> 00:12:27,812
They create a deep body of water
the size of lake tahoe.
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00:12:31,284 --> 00:12:35,053
On its shore, the rivers
form fan-shaped deltas
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00:12:35,055 --> 00:12:37,288
That are still visible today...
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00:12:39,459 --> 00:12:43,495
...Long after the water the lake
held for millennia dried up.
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♪♪
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00:12:49,002 --> 00:12:51,536
Thaller: So in jezero crater,
we find not one,
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00:12:51,538 --> 00:12:55,640
But two beautiful river deltas.
Now deltas are formed
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00:12:55,642 --> 00:12:57,342
Over a long period of time
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00:12:57,344 --> 00:13:00,078
As a river enters a larger area
like a lake,
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00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,547
Slows down,
and drops its sediment.
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00:13:02,549 --> 00:13:06,484
We know this had to be wet
for perhaps millions of years --
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00:13:06,486 --> 00:13:09,454
A perfect place
to look for life.
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00:13:09,456 --> 00:13:13,958
Narrator:
Nasa scientists use a powerful
camera on the m.R.O. To analyze
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00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:17,162
The rocks in jezero crater
in more detail.
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00:13:19,232 --> 00:13:22,500
Images from the camera reveal
that the rim of the crater
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00:13:22,502 --> 00:13:25,737
Is made from different types
of carbonate rock.
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00:13:28,074 --> 00:13:31,176
Carbonates on earth form
when the shells and bones
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00:13:31,178 --> 00:13:33,912
Of microscopic animals
build up in layers
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00:13:33,914 --> 00:13:38,116
On the floors of lakes
and oceans.
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00:13:38,118 --> 00:13:40,585
These photographs point
a giant marker
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00:13:40,587 --> 00:13:42,086
At where the perseverance rover
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00:13:42,088 --> 00:13:45,423
Should concentrate its search
for martian life.
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00:13:47,928 --> 00:13:50,795
Oluseyi:
In addition to being filled
with water at one time,
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00:13:50,797 --> 00:13:53,631
Jezero crater is also ideal
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00:13:53,633 --> 00:13:55,667
Because it has
this carbonate rock
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00:13:55,669 --> 00:13:58,636
Lining the inside rim
of the crater,
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00:13:58,638 --> 00:14:03,041
And these carbonates
on earth create fossils.
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00:14:03,043 --> 00:14:06,077
If perseverance is able
to study these carbonates,
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00:14:06,079 --> 00:14:08,079
Then that gives us
the opportunity
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00:14:08,081 --> 00:14:11,382
To maybe find fossilized life.
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00:14:11,384 --> 00:14:14,185
We're extremely excited
about jezero crater.
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00:14:14,187 --> 00:14:16,321
We have an incredible
landing site
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00:14:16,323 --> 00:14:19,390
That's the result of many years
of scientific debate
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00:14:19,392 --> 00:14:22,627
And really gives us everything
we're looking for
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00:14:22,629 --> 00:14:25,463
In a landing site for mars.
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00:14:25,465 --> 00:14:29,567
So we are all systems
go for jezero crater.
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00:14:29,569 --> 00:14:33,638
Narrator: The perseverance rover
has its target,
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00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,307
But what should perseverance
search for?
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00:14:36,309 --> 00:14:40,311
What could the remains of
martian life look like?
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00:14:44,751 --> 00:14:46,784
The only place in the universe
that we know
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00:14:46,786 --> 00:14:51,289
For sure life exists is earth,
so we can only use earth
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00:14:51,291 --> 00:14:54,759
As our best possible
guide in the search for life.
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00:14:54,761 --> 00:14:58,062
The best way to search for past
evidence of life on mars
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00:14:58,064 --> 00:14:59,898
Is to assume that it evolved
in a way
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00:14:59,900 --> 00:15:01,833
Similar to that on the earth.
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00:15:05,438 --> 00:15:08,806
Narrator: Around 3.8 billion
years ago,
245
00:15:08,808 --> 00:15:12,277
Oceans of liquid water
start forming on earth,
246
00:15:12,279 --> 00:15:15,446
Triggering the beginning of life
on our planet.
247
00:15:17,717 --> 00:15:19,284
In the warm seas,
248
00:15:19,286 --> 00:15:23,855
Simple chemicals combine
into complex biomolecules
249
00:15:23,857 --> 00:15:28,860
And the first single
celled organisms.
250
00:15:28,862 --> 00:15:32,730
Some of these organisms
develop photosynthesis.
251
00:15:32,732 --> 00:15:35,400
And for over 2 billion years,
252
00:15:35,402 --> 00:15:38,603
They fill earth's atmosphere
with oxygen.
253
00:15:42,142 --> 00:15:46,077
Only in the last 600 million
years does life evolve
254
00:15:46,079 --> 00:15:50,415
Into a vast array
of complex animals and plants.
255
00:15:53,219 --> 00:15:54,719
Oluseyi:
And when we look at mars,
256
00:15:54,721 --> 00:15:57,221
Clearly there aren't giraffes
walking around, right?
257
00:15:57,223 --> 00:15:58,623
There are no alligators.
258
00:15:58,625 --> 00:16:02,994
So I doubt that there
are large lifeforms on mars.
259
00:16:02,996 --> 00:16:07,465
The highest probability
is that it's microbial life.
260
00:16:07,467 --> 00:16:13,004
Narrator:
Bacteria and other microbes
are single celled organisms.
261
00:16:13,006 --> 00:16:18,376
Most of them measure only a
tiny fraction of an inch across.
262
00:16:18,378 --> 00:16:22,613
What will the remains of this
microbial life look like today,
263
00:16:22,615 --> 00:16:26,584
And how can perseverance
find them on mars?
264
00:16:26,586 --> 00:16:31,689
♪♪
265
00:16:37,630 --> 00:16:40,331
Narrator:
Nasa's perseverance rover
is hunting for evidence
266
00:16:40,333 --> 00:16:43,368
Of ancient
microbial life on mars.
267
00:16:45,572 --> 00:16:47,538
What do these remains
of living things
268
00:16:47,540 --> 00:16:51,743
Look like after 4 billion
years on the martian surface?
269
00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:58,016
Ancient shorelines in jezero
crater could hold the answer.
270
00:16:58,018 --> 00:17:04,122
♪♪
271
00:17:04,124 --> 00:17:08,493
These shallow waters
may have been an ideal place
272
00:17:08,495 --> 00:17:10,194
For life to flourish.
273
00:17:13,266 --> 00:17:16,801
On earth, microbes can
group together on lakebeds
274
00:17:16,803 --> 00:17:21,539
To form patches
of sticky microbial mats.
275
00:17:21,541 --> 00:17:25,710
In time, these turn to stone
and new layers of microbes
276
00:17:25,712 --> 00:17:27,912
Grow over the top.
277
00:17:27,914 --> 00:17:30,415
After many thousands of years,
278
00:17:30,417 --> 00:17:34,118
They grow into layered pillars
called microbialites.
279
00:17:36,256 --> 00:17:39,824
Finding remains of such
structures on mars
280
00:17:39,826 --> 00:17:42,960
Could be evidence
that life once thrived here.
281
00:17:46,232 --> 00:17:49,133
Plait: Billions of years ago,
mars was warmer and wetter,
282
00:17:49,135 --> 00:17:51,135
Much like earth is now.
283
00:17:51,137 --> 00:17:54,072
Well, life on earth
arose billions of years ago
284
00:17:54,074 --> 00:17:55,907
And we find evidence of that.
285
00:17:55,909 --> 00:17:58,976
So by investigating that,
we're learning about ways
286
00:17:58,978 --> 00:18:01,446
We can look
for that same sort of life
287
00:18:01,448 --> 00:18:03,748
That may have existed
once on mars.
288
00:18:05,385 --> 00:18:06,684
Narrator: A clue can be found
289
00:18:06,686 --> 00:18:11,222
In the pilbara region
of western australia.
290
00:18:11,224 --> 00:18:15,827
This is one of the most ancient
landscapes on earth.
291
00:18:15,829 --> 00:18:18,196
Here, nasa scientists
investigate
292
00:18:18,198 --> 00:18:20,331
Fossilized microbialites
293
00:18:20,333 --> 00:18:23,367
That are 3.4 billion
years old.
294
00:18:23,369 --> 00:18:27,205
It's in these rocks that we find
these first clear traces
295
00:18:27,207 --> 00:18:31,142
Of microbial life fossilized
in the geologic record.
296
00:18:31,144 --> 00:18:33,511
And the traces are clear.
297
00:18:33,513 --> 00:18:37,014
There are some shapes
that are complex enough
298
00:18:37,016 --> 00:18:40,184
That we find it impossible
to imagine a mechanism
299
00:18:40,186 --> 00:18:42,753
Other than biology
that could build them.
300
00:18:42,755 --> 00:18:44,655
It's possible that we could
observe
301
00:18:44,657 --> 00:18:46,691
Something similar on mars.
302
00:18:46,693 --> 00:18:52,029
♪♪
303
00:18:52,031 --> 00:18:55,566
Narrator:
The high resolution cameras
on board perseverance
304
00:18:55,568 --> 00:18:57,935
Could photograph
the fossilized remains
305
00:18:57,937 --> 00:19:01,506
Of microbialites on mars.
306
00:19:01,508 --> 00:19:05,543
If the mast cam turns around
and takes a picture
307
00:19:05,545 --> 00:19:07,545
And sends it down to earth,
308
00:19:07,547 --> 00:19:10,781
You know,
my heart would leap for joy.
309
00:19:10,783 --> 00:19:12,884
The implications are so large
310
00:19:12,886 --> 00:19:14,752
That we really would need
to confirm it
311
00:19:14,754 --> 00:19:16,587
With follow-up observations.
312
00:19:16,589 --> 00:19:17,989
If perseverance
313
00:19:17,991 --> 00:19:21,526
Were to actually take
an image of a fossil on mars,
314
00:19:21,528 --> 00:19:25,496
And if we could verify that
that fossil is actually evidence
315
00:19:25,498 --> 00:19:27,965
Of past life on the planet,
that would be
316
00:19:27,967 --> 00:19:30,835
One of the greatest
discoveries in human history.
317
00:19:33,439 --> 00:19:36,607
Narrator: Finding fossils
of tiny microbes on a world
318
00:19:36,609 --> 00:19:41,612
Hundreds of millions
of miles away is a long shot.
319
00:19:41,614 --> 00:19:44,715
The conditions on the surface
of mars make it unlikely
320
00:19:44,717 --> 00:19:48,286
That intact
microbialites exist.
321
00:19:48,288 --> 00:19:51,022
Millennia of exposure
to harsh radiation
322
00:19:51,024 --> 00:19:55,593
Breaks down biological remains
and turns them to dust.
323
00:19:57,730 --> 00:20:01,299
It's likely that all obvious
traces of organic life
324
00:20:01,301 --> 00:20:02,934
Have been destroyed.
325
00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:09,774
So how can perseverance
326
00:20:09,776 --> 00:20:12,343
Identify the remains
of long-dead life
327
00:20:12,345 --> 00:20:16,414
Amongst the dust and stones
on the surface of mars?
328
00:20:16,416 --> 00:20:19,584
The solution lies in detecting
the ancient chemical traces
329
00:20:19,586 --> 00:20:24,188
That living things
leave behind in the rock.
330
00:20:24,190 --> 00:20:26,224
Thaller: You're looking for
a chemical signature
331
00:20:26,226 --> 00:20:27,558
That life was once there.
332
00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,895
That life somehow processed
the material around it.
333
00:20:30,897 --> 00:20:33,798
And the word that we use
for this is bio signature,
334
00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:36,667
That the chemistry was changed
in a way that we can say,
335
00:20:36,669 --> 00:20:38,970
"it must have been life
that did this."
336
00:20:41,574 --> 00:20:44,208
Narrator:
Nasa scientists
pioneer technique
337
00:20:44,210 --> 00:20:46,310
To identify the bio signatures
338
00:20:46,312 --> 00:20:49,780
That ancient living things leave
behind in their environment.
339
00:20:52,952 --> 00:20:56,687
X-ray fluorescence zaps
rock samples with radiation
340
00:20:56,689 --> 00:20:59,290
To unlock evidence
of the organic fingerprint
341
00:20:59,292 --> 00:21:01,125
Hidden inside stone.
342
00:21:03,296 --> 00:21:07,465
The technology is an ingenious
way to find life on mars.
343
00:21:10,169 --> 00:21:13,137
Fitting an entire x-ray
fluorescence laboratory
344
00:21:13,139 --> 00:21:18,342
Into the chassis of perseverance
is a big challenge,
345
00:21:18,344 --> 00:21:21,979
So nasa scientists develop
a special scaled-down version
346
00:21:21,981 --> 00:21:25,816
For the rover to use on mars.
347
00:21:25,818 --> 00:21:27,818
It's called p.I.X.L.,
348
00:21:27,820 --> 00:21:30,855
The planetary instrument
for x-ray lithography.
349
00:21:35,295 --> 00:21:39,030
On the end of the rover's
6 1/2-foot long robotic arm,
350
00:21:39,032 --> 00:21:41,599
The instrument focuses
an x-ray beam
351
00:21:41,601 --> 00:21:45,803
Onto a tiny spot
of martian rock.
352
00:21:45,805 --> 00:21:48,406
The rock releases
a radiation signature
353
00:21:48,408 --> 00:21:51,976
That reveals
its chemical composition
354
00:21:51,978 --> 00:21:54,612
By mapping the chemistry
of the martian rocks
355
00:21:54,614 --> 00:21:57,515
To sub-millimeter accuracy,
356
00:21:57,517 --> 00:22:00,117
P.I.X.L. Can identify
the chemical fingerprints
357
00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:04,322
That living things leave behind.
358
00:22:04,324 --> 00:22:07,091
Williford:
The search for ancient life
on another planet
359
00:22:07,093 --> 00:22:10,161
Is not really a smoking gun
type of situation.
360
00:22:10,163 --> 00:22:13,164
We don't expect to find
one piece of evidence
361
00:22:13,166 --> 00:22:16,767
That so striking, make one
observation that's so incredible
362
00:22:16,769 --> 00:22:18,936
That we just all agree
and pack up and go home
363
00:22:18,938 --> 00:22:21,138
And say, "yeah, there's
life on other planets."
364
00:22:21,140 --> 00:22:23,774
You have to collect
many different observations,
365
00:22:23,776 --> 00:22:25,710
Many different pieces
of evidence,
366
00:22:25,712 --> 00:22:28,579
And they all need to point
in one direction.
367
00:22:28,581 --> 00:22:31,649
We built the payload
to give us the best chance
368
00:22:31,651 --> 00:22:36,020
We absolutely can
of answering that question.
369
00:22:36,022 --> 00:22:38,656
Narrator:
P.I.X.L. Promises to unlock
the hiding places of
370
00:22:38,658 --> 00:22:40,658
Long-dead martian life.
371
00:22:42,929 --> 00:22:45,896
But is it possible that living
things thrive today
372
00:22:45,898 --> 00:22:48,666
On the red planet?
373
00:22:48,668 --> 00:22:53,938
If so, how do they survive
and where could we find them?
374
00:22:58,978 --> 00:23:03,481
♪♪
375
00:23:03,483 --> 00:23:06,150
Narrator:
Perseverance is nasa's
first rover to search
376
00:23:06,152 --> 00:23:09,186
For evidence
of ancient life on mars.
377
00:23:11,724 --> 00:23:14,358
It carries a special x-ray
instrument
378
00:23:14,360 --> 00:23:16,861
That scans rocks
for the chemical signatures
379
00:23:16,863 --> 00:23:19,397
That long-dead life
leaves behind.
380
00:23:22,402 --> 00:23:24,268
But is it possible
that the rover
381
00:23:24,270 --> 00:23:28,539
Could find living things
on the red planet today?
382
00:23:28,541 --> 00:23:32,243
The surface of mars today
is extremely inhospitable.
383
00:23:32,245 --> 00:23:35,546
It's hard for us to imagine
any life as we know it
384
00:23:35,548 --> 00:23:39,984
Surviving for any real amount
of time on the surface of mars.
385
00:23:39,986 --> 00:23:44,021
As far as we know, all life
on earth needs water to survive.
386
00:23:44,023 --> 00:23:46,257
So if we want to look
for life on mars,
387
00:23:46,259 --> 00:23:47,892
It makes sense to go
with what you know,
388
00:23:47,894 --> 00:23:49,894
And we want to look
for the water there.
389
00:23:49,896 --> 00:23:53,431
The problem is mars
is incredibly dry.
390
00:23:53,433 --> 00:23:54,632
If we want to look for life,
391
00:23:54,634 --> 00:23:57,001
We're going to have
to find the water.
392
00:24:01,174 --> 00:24:03,073
Narrator:
The planet's polar ice caps
393
00:24:03,075 --> 00:24:06,477
Are the only obvious
signs of water on mars today.
394
00:24:08,581 --> 00:24:11,215
They contain the same volume
of frozen water
395
00:24:11,217 --> 00:24:15,719
As the greenland
ice sheet on earth.
396
00:24:15,721 --> 00:24:18,856
Photographs taken by
mars reconnaissance orbiter
397
00:24:18,858 --> 00:24:22,293
Reveal the traces
of ancient rivers, lakes,
398
00:24:22,295 --> 00:24:27,431
And possibly oceans etched into
the surface of the red planet.
399
00:24:27,433 --> 00:24:30,234
But the liquid water
that once filled these features
400
00:24:30,236 --> 00:24:32,269
Is long gone.
401
00:24:32,271 --> 00:24:35,039
Why did it disappear?
402
00:24:35,041 --> 00:24:38,909
Billions of years ago, mars was
warm and wet, very earth-like.
403
00:24:38,911 --> 00:24:41,512
In fact, it looked more
like earth does today
404
00:24:41,514 --> 00:24:47,017
Than earth did back then.
But today, mars is dry and cold
405
00:24:47,019 --> 00:24:48,619
And the paths
of these two planets
406
00:24:48,621 --> 00:24:51,355
Moved in two
very different directions.
407
00:24:51,357 --> 00:24:53,390
If mars was habitable
in the past
408
00:24:53,392 --> 00:24:55,960
And is in the current condition
it is today,
409
00:24:55,962 --> 00:25:01,599
Then something big and something
bad must have happened to it.
410
00:25:01,601 --> 00:25:04,902
Narrator:
Planetary scientists believe
that something was mars
411
00:25:04,904 --> 00:25:07,438
Losing its protection
against the sun.
412
00:25:09,542 --> 00:25:12,543
The churning molten core
inside the young mars
413
00:25:12,545 --> 00:25:15,112
Generates
a powerful magnetic field.
414
00:25:17,683 --> 00:25:18,916
This magnetic field
415
00:25:18,918 --> 00:25:21,852
Deflects away
the sun's harmful radiation.
416
00:25:24,090 --> 00:25:26,991
It protects the fragile
atmosphere of mars
417
00:25:26,993 --> 00:25:29,059
And preserves its liquid water.
418
00:25:31,364 --> 00:25:37,368
Around 4 billion years ago,
the core cools and solidifies.
419
00:25:37,370 --> 00:25:43,607
The magnetic field turns off,
and mars loses its protection.
420
00:25:43,609 --> 00:25:48,846
Radiation from the sun strips
away the martian atmosphere.
421
00:25:48,848 --> 00:25:51,949
The atmospheric
pressure plummets,
422
00:25:51,951 --> 00:25:56,921
The planet's water
evaporates into space.
423
00:25:56,923 --> 00:26:02,793
The planet turns into
the red desert we see today.
424
00:26:02,795 --> 00:26:04,862
At the surface,
mars has the air pressure
425
00:26:04,864 --> 00:26:07,164
Of about 1%
of the earth's atmosphere,
426
00:26:07,166 --> 00:26:10,100
And that's almost like being
in a vacuum chamber.
427
00:26:10,102 --> 00:26:12,036
What that means is that
if you poured out a bottle
428
00:26:12,038 --> 00:26:13,504
Of liquid water on mars,
429
00:26:13,506 --> 00:26:16,607
It would immediately boil away
and become vapor.
430
00:26:16,609 --> 00:26:20,077
The low atmospheric pressure
on mars means it's very unlikely
431
00:26:20,079 --> 00:26:22,980
For water to exist
as a liquid on its surface.
432
00:26:22,982 --> 00:26:26,951
But that doesn't mean
it's impossible.
433
00:26:26,953 --> 00:26:30,721
Narrator:
In 2008, nasa's phoenix lander
makes a discovery
434
00:26:30,723 --> 00:26:33,757
That reveals how it is possible
for liquid water
435
00:26:33,759 --> 00:26:35,492
To exist on mars.
436
00:26:37,597 --> 00:26:39,563
Phoenix beams back to earth
437
00:26:39,565 --> 00:26:41,865
Images of strange beads
of liquid
438
00:26:41,867 --> 00:26:45,436
Attached to the legs
of the lander.
439
00:26:45,438 --> 00:26:47,905
What stops this water
from fizzing away
440
00:26:47,907 --> 00:26:51,241
In the low atmospheric
pressure on mars?
441
00:26:51,243 --> 00:26:54,945
Phoenix discovers a clue
in a soil sample.
442
00:26:54,947 --> 00:26:59,483
It contains perchlorate,
a type of salt.
443
00:26:59,485 --> 00:27:01,785
What do you do
when your sidewalk is frozen?
444
00:27:01,787 --> 00:27:04,588
Well, you throw salt on it.
When you mix salt in water,
445
00:27:04,590 --> 00:27:06,857
It lowers the freezing point
of water
446
00:27:06,859 --> 00:27:08,726
So that it can exist
as a liquid,
447
00:27:08,728 --> 00:27:09,927
Even though technically
448
00:27:09,929 --> 00:27:12,162
It's below
the freezing point of water.
449
00:27:12,164 --> 00:27:15,265
So it's possible that if water
is salty enough on mars,
450
00:27:15,267 --> 00:27:18,836
That it could be
in a liquid state there.
451
00:27:18,838 --> 00:27:21,372
Narrator:
Martian water, if it exists,
452
00:27:21,374 --> 00:27:25,209
Will be a lot saltier
than the oceans on earth,
453
00:27:25,211 --> 00:27:28,212
But that doesn't mean
that it cannot sustain life.
454
00:27:32,418 --> 00:27:37,621
These are the hot springs
at yellowstone national park.
455
00:27:37,623 --> 00:27:41,625
The temperature of the water in
these pools is close to boiling.
456
00:27:43,696 --> 00:27:47,398
The pools are as acidic
as lemon juice,
457
00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:53,537
But microbial life thrives here
despite the hostile conditions.
458
00:27:53,539 --> 00:27:56,273
There are locations on earth
that we found life,
459
00:27:56,275 --> 00:27:57,975
But we didn't expect
to find a life,
460
00:27:57,977 --> 00:27:59,910
And these are extreme locations
461
00:27:59,912 --> 00:28:04,615
Where we call the life forms
that live there extremophiles.
462
00:28:04,617 --> 00:28:08,419
Narrator:
Some scientists believe that
if life exists on mars today,
463
00:28:08,421 --> 00:28:10,120
It will likely
share characteristics
464
00:28:10,122 --> 00:28:12,956
With extremophiles
that live in yellowstone.
465
00:28:16,128 --> 00:28:18,495
Perseverance will collect
and store samples
466
00:28:18,497 --> 00:28:22,199
Taken from the surface of mars.
467
00:28:22,201 --> 00:28:24,935
Future missions
will return them to earth.
468
00:28:28,641 --> 00:28:32,376
Scientists will test the samples
for evidence of martian life.
469
00:28:35,014 --> 00:28:38,415
But where are the hidden bodies
of salty liquid water
470
00:28:38,417 --> 00:28:42,586
In which living things
could exist now?
471
00:28:42,588 --> 00:28:45,556
And how can
perseverance find them?
472
00:28:45,558 --> 00:28:50,461
♪♪
473
00:28:52,298 --> 00:28:57,434
♪♪
474
00:28:57,436 --> 00:29:01,138
Narrator:
Some scientists believe
that liquid water on mars today
475
00:29:01,140 --> 00:29:03,941
Could harbor life
on the red planet.
476
00:29:06,145 --> 00:29:09,279
Where could nasa's
perseverance rover
477
00:29:09,281 --> 00:29:12,349
Find this liquid
hidden beneath the surface?
478
00:29:12,351 --> 00:29:18,255
♪♪
479
00:29:18,257 --> 00:29:21,892
In 2011, nasa's mars
reconnaissance orbiter
480
00:29:21,894 --> 00:29:26,697
Makes a discovery
that could unlock the mystery.
481
00:29:26,699 --> 00:29:30,367
These images show dark streaks
on the slopes of martian craters
482
00:29:30,369 --> 00:29:32,970
Facing the sun.
483
00:29:32,972 --> 00:29:37,107
The streaks grow in spring,
widen in late summer,
484
00:29:37,109 --> 00:29:39,777
And then fade away in the fall.
485
00:29:39,779 --> 00:29:45,048
Scientists struggle to explain
these mysterious features.
486
00:29:45,050 --> 00:29:47,151
Is it possible these streaks
are evidence
487
00:29:47,153 --> 00:29:49,553
Of large reservoirs
of liquid water
488
00:29:49,555 --> 00:29:54,158
Locked away
inside the martian crust?
489
00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:56,360
And if they are,
490
00:29:56,362 --> 00:30:00,030
What mysterious process
drives them to the surface?
491
00:30:02,368 --> 00:30:05,669
A clue lies here
in death valley, california.
492
00:30:05,671 --> 00:30:10,040
This is the driest spot
in the u.S.A...
493
00:30:10,042 --> 00:30:12,609
Almost as dry as mars.
494
00:30:12,611 --> 00:30:14,878
If you want to look
for life on mars,
495
00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:16,713
It helps to look for places
on earth
496
00:30:16,715 --> 00:30:18,849
That are very much like mars.
497
00:30:18,851 --> 00:30:22,019
And one place like that
is death valley in california.
498
00:30:22,021 --> 00:30:24,121
It's very, very dry there.
499
00:30:24,123 --> 00:30:26,557
And so you can go there and look
around and get a feel
500
00:30:26,559 --> 00:30:30,627
For what it would be
like to be on mars.
501
00:30:30,629 --> 00:30:33,263
Narrator:
But even with virtually
no rainfall,
502
00:30:33,265 --> 00:30:37,334
Life still thrives in this
inhospitable environment.
503
00:30:37,336 --> 00:30:39,203
Death valley is one of
the hottest
504
00:30:39,205 --> 00:30:41,305
And driest places on the earth.
505
00:30:41,307 --> 00:30:43,373
And yet, as you drive around,
there are still places
506
00:30:43,375 --> 00:30:45,275
Where you see little clumps
of vegetation.
507
00:30:45,277 --> 00:30:48,478
There are even some oases
that have water on the surface.
508
00:30:51,217 --> 00:30:53,750
Narrator:
Some scientists believe
that the unique geology
509
00:30:53,752 --> 00:30:56,553
Of death valley
not only unlocks the mystery
510
00:30:56,555 --> 00:30:59,256
Of how this air desert
supports life...
511
00:31:01,293 --> 00:31:04,661
...But also offers a clue
to how on mars,
512
00:31:04,663 --> 00:31:07,397
Liquid water could seep
from below the ground
513
00:31:07,399 --> 00:31:09,299
Up onto the surface.
514
00:31:13,239 --> 00:31:14,838
Death valley sits on a branch
515
00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:17,875
Of the infamous
san andreas fault
516
00:31:17,877 --> 00:31:19,743
Called the garlock fault.
517
00:31:23,182 --> 00:31:25,916
As the rocks here
crunch pass each other
518
00:31:25,918 --> 00:31:30,053
At up to 3-feet
every century, they fracture,
519
00:31:30,055 --> 00:31:33,423
Creating fissures
deep beneath the valley floor.
520
00:31:36,528 --> 00:31:39,596
Groundwater can collect
in the voids,
521
00:31:39,598 --> 00:31:41,231
Building up pressure
522
00:31:41,233 --> 00:31:44,601
That can force water
through cracks to the surface.
523
00:31:49,074 --> 00:31:52,342
That's how water hidden
deep underground
524
00:31:52,344 --> 00:31:57,447
Can turn even the hottest place
on earth into a green oasis.
525
00:31:59,652 --> 00:32:02,152
Nasa's insite
spacecraft discovers
526
00:32:02,154 --> 00:32:03,787
That mars likely has fewer
527
00:32:03,789 --> 00:32:08,825
And less active
tectonic plates than earth.
528
00:32:08,827 --> 00:32:11,295
Scientists think that these
plates don't grind together
529
00:32:11,297 --> 00:32:13,463
As frequently.
530
00:32:13,465 --> 00:32:17,267
So the crust of mars is less
fractured than that on earth.
531
00:32:19,271 --> 00:32:23,473
But there is another way to
create a subterranean pipeline
532
00:32:23,475 --> 00:32:28,512
That will allow water to escape
to the surface of mars.
533
00:32:28,514 --> 00:32:30,580
Tremblay: Over its
multi-billion-year life,
534
00:32:30,582 --> 00:32:33,684
Mars has been pelted continually
by asteroids
535
00:32:33,686 --> 00:32:35,719
And meteorite impacts.
536
00:32:35,721 --> 00:32:39,056
So as these asteroids
impacted the surface of mars,
537
00:32:39,058 --> 00:32:43,160
They crushed and fractured the
crust of the planet beneath it.
538
00:32:43,162 --> 00:32:47,230
And these could create channels
or conduits for salty water
539
00:32:47,232 --> 00:32:50,534
To travel up to the surface.
540
00:32:50,536 --> 00:32:53,670
The water is trapped inside
the structure of the rock itself
541
00:32:53,672 --> 00:32:56,573
In tiny little bits,
but now what can happen
542
00:32:56,575 --> 00:32:59,977
Is if a crack finds
its way down into that rock,
543
00:32:59,979 --> 00:33:03,213
All of that rock is underground
under a lot of pressure.
544
00:33:03,215 --> 00:33:04,982
So the water
is pressurized, too.
545
00:33:04,984 --> 00:33:08,452
That means it can burst up
all the way to the surface.
546
00:33:11,190 --> 00:33:14,157
Narrator:
Today, mars is a frozen desert.
547
00:33:17,930 --> 00:33:20,964
But the rocks beneath
its surface are so salty
548
00:33:20,966 --> 00:33:23,100
That they could melt the ice
549
00:33:23,102 --> 00:33:25,469
And form pockets
of liquid water.
550
00:33:27,706 --> 00:33:30,974
Some scientists believe
that in summer,
551
00:33:30,976 --> 00:33:35,445
High pressure forces water up
through cracks in the rock.
552
00:33:35,447 --> 00:33:38,048
The water seeps
across the martian soil,
553
00:33:38,050 --> 00:33:42,986
Causing dark streaks
visible from space.
554
00:33:42,988 --> 00:33:48,258
In winter, the cracks freeze
shut and the streaks disappear.
555
00:33:48,260 --> 00:33:54,131
♪♪
556
00:33:54,133 --> 00:33:57,034
The perseverance rover
carries technology
557
00:33:57,036 --> 00:34:01,438
That can reveal hidden sources
of martian water.
558
00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:05,442
On board perseverance
is a special type of ground
559
00:34:05,444 --> 00:34:09,479
Penetrating radar
called rimfax.
560
00:34:09,481 --> 00:34:12,749
Underneath the rover, an antenna
probes the ground
561
00:34:12,751 --> 00:34:15,218
With radar waves.
562
00:34:15,220 --> 00:34:19,790
They can detect ice, water,
or salty brine 30 feet
563
00:34:19,792 --> 00:34:22,225
Beneath the martian surface.
564
00:34:22,227 --> 00:34:26,963
Where there's water,
there could be life.
565
00:34:26,965 --> 00:34:30,934
It is possible that deep
in the subsurface of mars,
566
00:34:30,936 --> 00:34:34,471
Where liquid water is stable
for long periods of time,
567
00:34:34,473 --> 00:34:38,041
There could be life today
and there could be habitats
568
00:34:38,043 --> 00:34:41,812
That are refuges of these
ancient habitable environments
569
00:34:41,814 --> 00:34:43,713
That were once in the surface
570
00:34:43,715 --> 00:34:46,983
Where microbial organisms
survived and thrived.
571
00:34:46,985 --> 00:34:50,120
And then as the planet
globally dried out,
572
00:34:50,122 --> 00:34:53,223
These organisms retreated along
with the water
573
00:34:53,225 --> 00:34:55,959
Into the sub-surface,
and it's possible.
574
00:34:55,961 --> 00:35:00,097
It's exciting to think about
that they could survive today.
575
00:35:00,099 --> 00:35:03,266
Narrator:
Advanced radar on board
perseverance promises
576
00:35:03,268 --> 00:35:08,071
To unlock the secrets
of the geology of mars.
577
00:35:08,073 --> 00:35:10,073
The rover could even
find evidence
578
00:35:10,075 --> 00:35:14,444
Of living things
in the martian soil.
579
00:35:14,446 --> 00:35:18,014
But is it possible for life
from earth
580
00:35:18,016 --> 00:35:21,985
To survive long term
on the red planet?
581
00:35:21,987 --> 00:35:24,855
And how will perseverance
lay the groundwork
582
00:35:24,857 --> 00:35:28,592
For humanity's next step
in space exploration?
583
00:35:38,403 --> 00:35:41,438
Narrator:
Nasa's perseverance rover
is searching for evidence
584
00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:44,574
Of ancient life on mars.
585
00:35:44,576 --> 00:35:48,111
The mission is also a crucial
stepping stone on the path
586
00:35:48,113 --> 00:35:53,350
To human exploration
of the red planet.
587
00:35:53,352 --> 00:35:59,022
Nasa plans to send astronauts
to mars in the 2030s.
588
00:35:59,024 --> 00:36:03,827
Private companies have ambitions
to visit even sooner.
589
00:36:03,829 --> 00:36:06,263
The long-term goal
is to make the dream
590
00:36:06,265 --> 00:36:09,733
Of living on mars a reality.
591
00:36:09,735 --> 00:36:11,935
Oluseyi:
As you watch this program,
592
00:36:11,937 --> 00:36:15,105
Starship's are being built
in south texas
593
00:36:15,107 --> 00:36:17,541
At this very moment
for going to mars,
594
00:36:17,543 --> 00:36:19,743
For taking humans to mars.
595
00:36:19,745 --> 00:36:22,746
It's getting real,
really real.
596
00:36:22,748 --> 00:36:28,718
♪♪
597
00:36:28,720 --> 00:36:35,058
Narrator:
But establishing a martian base
is a huge engineering challenge.
598
00:36:35,060 --> 00:36:38,895
Up to 250 million miles
separates earth
599
00:36:38,897 --> 00:36:41,364
From the red planet.
600
00:36:41,366 --> 00:36:43,967
A spacecraft carrying humans
to mars
601
00:36:43,969 --> 00:36:45,802
Doesn't have enough room
on board
602
00:36:45,804 --> 00:36:49,673
To carry fuel
for a return journey.
603
00:36:49,675 --> 00:36:53,944
Plait:
The thing about rockets is that
most of the rocket is fuel
604
00:36:53,946 --> 00:36:56,179
And the people and the payload,
the instruments,
605
00:36:56,181 --> 00:36:57,781
That's at the very tippy top,
606
00:36:57,783 --> 00:37:02,085
You can't bring enough fuel
to go to mars to also come back.
607
00:37:02,087 --> 00:37:04,521
So if you go the way
things stand right now,
608
00:37:04,523 --> 00:37:07,057
It's a one-way trip.
609
00:37:07,059 --> 00:37:09,993
Narrator: How can astronauts
make fuel on mars
610
00:37:09,995 --> 00:37:13,163
For their journey back to earth?
611
00:37:13,165 --> 00:37:17,567
Perseverance carries technology
that could unlock the answer.
612
00:37:20,772 --> 00:37:23,673
The atmosphere of mars
is 100 times thinner
613
00:37:23,675 --> 00:37:27,277
Than the atmosphere of earth.
614
00:37:27,279 --> 00:37:33,516
What gas does exist here
is almost all carbon dioxide.
615
00:37:33,518 --> 00:37:36,219
It is possible to break down
carbon dioxide
616
00:37:36,221 --> 00:37:41,524
To manufacture oxygen
from the martian atmosphere.
617
00:37:41,526 --> 00:37:46,963
And oxygen is essential
for burning rocket fuel.
618
00:37:46,965 --> 00:37:50,367
Nasa engineers fit inside
the perseverance rover,
619
00:37:50,369 --> 00:37:51,901
An instrument that promises
620
00:37:51,903 --> 00:37:56,773
To unlock
the oxygen reserves on mars.
621
00:37:56,775 --> 00:37:58,575
It's called moxie.
622
00:37:58,577 --> 00:38:01,645
It zaps carbon dioxide with
electricity
623
00:38:01,647 --> 00:38:04,981
To extract the oxygen
from the martian atmosphere.
624
00:38:06,985 --> 00:38:09,953
What moxie will do
is live inside the rover
625
00:38:09,955 --> 00:38:13,757
And act as a small chemical
plant pumping in carbon dioxide
626
00:38:13,759 --> 00:38:18,228
And split that into
carbon monoxide and oxygen.
627
00:38:18,230 --> 00:38:20,463
In our case, we'll just
get rid of the oxygen.
628
00:38:20,465 --> 00:38:23,633
We're just trying to demonstrate
that chemical process
629
00:38:23,635 --> 00:38:26,336
In the dusty
surface environment of mars.
630
00:38:29,641 --> 00:38:32,509
Narrator:
Moxie activates soon after
the perseverance rover
631
00:38:32,511 --> 00:38:34,277
Touches down on mars.
632
00:38:37,449 --> 00:38:39,949
Nasa scientists plan
to run the experiment
633
00:38:39,951 --> 00:38:42,619
At different times
during the two-year mission.
634
00:38:45,290 --> 00:38:48,925
The results from moxie
could spawn future technologies
635
00:38:48,927 --> 00:38:51,428
That turn thin martian air
636
00:38:51,430 --> 00:38:56,232
Into the critical component
of rocket fuel.
637
00:38:56,234 --> 00:39:00,503
Imagine you land a much
larger version of moxie and
638
00:39:00,505 --> 00:39:02,272
It sits there
on the surface of mars
639
00:39:02,274 --> 00:39:05,842
And pumps away and pumps away,
pulling in co2,
640
00:39:05,844 --> 00:39:09,846
Generating oxygen,
filling up a big tank of oxygen.
641
00:39:09,848 --> 00:39:12,415
Now, this oxygen
can obviously be used
642
00:39:12,417 --> 00:39:14,351
By the astronauts to breathe.
643
00:39:14,353 --> 00:39:15,785
But of course,
it could be very important
644
00:39:15,787 --> 00:39:20,190
As an oxidizer for their rocket
to oxidize the fuel
645
00:39:20,192 --> 00:39:23,059
To get them back off
the surface and home safe.
646
00:39:23,061 --> 00:39:30,567
♪♪
647
00:39:30,569 --> 00:39:35,305
Narrator:
Oxygen generators will form
the heart of any colony on mars.
648
00:39:35,307 --> 00:39:39,776
A community of 1,000 people
will need about 40 generators,
649
00:39:39,778 --> 00:39:42,479
Each the size
of a shipping container.
650
00:39:44,483 --> 00:39:47,584
The generators will produce
around two pounds of oxygen
651
00:39:47,586 --> 00:39:53,823
An hour from the carbon dioxide
in the martian atmosphere.
652
00:39:53,825 --> 00:39:57,627
Huge storage tanks
will hold liquid oxygen
653
00:39:57,629 --> 00:40:00,497
To supply the base
with air to breathe...
654
00:40:04,403 --> 00:40:08,505
...And for refueling rockets,
for the return flights to earth.
655
00:40:08,507 --> 00:40:14,444
♪♪
656
00:40:14,446 --> 00:40:17,814
This future could be
just around the corner,
657
00:40:17,816 --> 00:40:19,716
Thanks to
the pioneering technologies
658
00:40:19,718 --> 00:40:22,852
Aboard the perseverance rover.
659
00:40:22,854 --> 00:40:25,722
Williford:
I think it's possible,
very possible
660
00:40:25,724 --> 00:40:28,691
That humans could be on their
way to mars in my lifetime,
661
00:40:28,693 --> 00:40:31,060
And I'm extremely excited
about that.
662
00:40:31,062 --> 00:40:34,264
And I just so badly want to hear
those stories
663
00:40:34,266 --> 00:40:36,733
Of what that trip is like,
and what it looked like,
664
00:40:36,735 --> 00:40:42,005
And what it felt like
to stand on another planet.
665
00:40:42,007 --> 00:40:43,840
Narrator:
Perseverance rover is part
666
00:40:43,842 --> 00:40:48,178
Of nasa's
most ambitious mission to mars.
667
00:40:48,180 --> 00:40:50,413
It carries a suite
of instruments
668
00:40:50,415 --> 00:40:53,082
Designed to sniff out
the traces of ancient life
669
00:40:53,084 --> 00:40:57,120
That died out billions
of years ago,
670
00:40:57,122 --> 00:41:01,491
As well as detect where life
on mars might exist today.
671
00:41:03,829 --> 00:41:06,196
Thaller: Finding life anywhere
outside the earth, I think,
672
00:41:06,198 --> 00:41:10,099
Would change how we all view
ourselves in a very basic way.
673
00:41:10,101 --> 00:41:12,469
In the past we've been
this impossible thing,
674
00:41:12,471 --> 00:41:14,070
This rare thing.
675
00:41:14,072 --> 00:41:20,276
And if we find life on mars,
it means we truly are not alone.
676
00:41:20,278 --> 00:41:23,346
Narrator:
Perseverance will also lay
the groundwork
677
00:41:23,348 --> 00:41:28,284
For the next stage of
the human exploration of space,
678
00:41:28,286 --> 00:41:29,986
Testing the technologies
679
00:41:29,988 --> 00:41:33,690
That will make a permanent
settlement on mars possible.
680
00:41:35,894 --> 00:41:39,996
Oluseyi:
Once upon a time, humans
were confined to one continent
681
00:41:39,998 --> 00:41:42,599
And they spread out.
682
00:41:42,601 --> 00:41:47,504
They discovered new lands and
new worlds here on planet earth.
683
00:41:47,506 --> 00:41:51,808
This is another new land
and a new opportunity.
684
00:41:51,810 --> 00:41:54,077
And who knows where
that could end up.
685
00:41:54,079 --> 00:41:56,346
We've seen the vision
of science fiction,
686
00:41:56,348 --> 00:41:59,415
But now it's becoming
science reality.
687
00:41:59,417 --> 00:42:03,786
♪♪