Mars Rising
A companion to the expedition series Race to Mars, Mars Rising is a comprehensive examination of the challenges and the obstacles being faced by international space agencies in trying to reach Mars.
Journey to the Red Planet
Dr. James Garvin and Dr. Paul Delaney set the stage outlining the extraordinary challenges and obstacles faced by the international space community in sending a manned mission to Mars.
Rocket Power
The spacecraft that will take a crew to Mars will be assembled–in space. Will the fuel be thermo-nuclear or super-heated charged particles? Engineers must get it right–or the crew will die.
Staying Alive
With zero gravity depleting muscle and cosmic radiation causing cancer, a three-year voyage to Mars in this environment could be punishing for the human body. How will we protect it?
The Human Factor
The human spirit itself may be the Achilles heel of the Mars mission. Mental breakdown, sexual tension, near-suicide, and mutiny have already taken place on shorter space missions.
Six Minutes of Terror
The last six minutes of the flight to Mars is the most dangerous. Only an inflatable aeroshell will protect the capsule as it enters Mars' atmosphere at a temperature of 4,000C and 16,000 kph.
Search for Life
Is there life on Mars? Scientists are combing the most barren places on Earth to search for clues. What if Mars has its own independently-created lifeforms that are deadly to humans?
