Mars

In 2033, the first human mission to Mars enters the planet’s atmosphere, but the Daedalus crew faces a life-threatening emergency when the ship’s landing system goes offline. The crew’s commander risks his life as Mission Control monitors from Earth. In the present day, SpaceX is attempting to land a reusable rocket to develop the critical technology that will help humans reach Mars.

The Daedalus crew battles the harsh Martian terrain to reach the safety of their pre-built base camp. A race against the clock begins when the ship commander reveals he has been injured during landing. In documentary sequences, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly undergoes an historic year-long mission on the International Space Station, revealing both the physical and emotional hardships astronauts face.

The Daedalus mission is in jeopardy as the crew struggles to find a shelter to protect them from radiation. The team must locate a suitable site for their settlement before their mission is cut short. In documentary segments, the European Space Agency and Roscosmos – Russia’s former federal space agency – partner to launch a probe to study the Martian atmosphere and look for signs of life on Mars.

2037: Four years have passed since the crew landed on Mars and established its first settlement. A new crew arrives to plan for expansion and search for life, but a dust storm threatens the outpost. In present day, we look at how McMurdo Station in Antarctica serves as a modern example of how humans may settle Mars, as scientists work to determine whether life could be possible on another planet.

In 2037, the dust storm has lasted for months, and Olympus Town’s infrastructure, along with its residents’ well-being, suffers. The psychological pressures of life on Mars reveal themselves while the crew is trapped inside the habitat. In the present day, scientists study the effects of extreme isolation to prepare for a future manned mission to Mars.

A devastating tragedy in the colony forces everyone on Mars and Earth to question the mission. While Olympus Town tries to cope and persevere, team leaders back on Earth struggle with the decision whether to end the mission. In the present day, SpaceX continues to work on pioneering rocket technology that could one day help mankind reach the red planet.

This behind-the-scenes episode shows the complete story of how we got to MARS, featuring interviews with producers, writers, designers, and experts. Observe the early development of the series through narrative from the creative team. Then learn about design from Director Everardo Gout and Executive Producer Ron Howard, and explore the technical visual components from Visual Effects Supervisor Russell Dodgeson.

The year is 2033, and mankind's first manned mission to Mars is about to become reality. This is the story of how we make Mars home, told by the pioneers making it possible. MARS, a Global Miniseries Event, premieres Monday, Nov. 14 at 9/8c, on National Geographic Channel.

Get a peek behind the scenes and meet some of the international cast and crew on the set of National Geographic's global event series, MARS, premiering Monday, Nov. 14 at 9/8c.

Experts are working hard to get humans on the surface of Mars in a matter of decades, which begs the question: why?

Expedition Mars brings to life one of the greatest sagas of the space age – the epic adventures of Spirit and Opportunity – the rovers that reinvigorated NASA’s Mars program after a string of disappointments in the 1990s, and opened the Martian frontier with the first overland expeditions on another planet.