The Horizon Guide to Mars
Drawing on 45 years of Horizon archive, Dr Kevin Fong presents a documentary showing how the intriguing possibility of life on Mars has fuelled man's quest to visit the Red Planet.
The intriguing possibility of life on Mars has fuelled man's quest to visit the Red Planet. Drawing on 45 years of Horizon archive, space expert Dr Kevin Fong presents a documentary on Earth's near neighbour.
Man's extraordinary attempts to reach Mars have pushed technological boundaries past their limit and raised the tantalising prospect of establishing human colonies beyond our own planet.
While the moon lies 240,000 miles away, Mars is at a distance of 50 million miles. Reaching the moon takes three days, but to land on Mars would take nearly eight months, and only two thirds of the missions to Mars have made it. The BBC has been analysing the highs and lows throughout - including the ill-fated British attempt, the Beagle.
Horizon has explored how scientists believe the only way to truly understand Mars is to send people there. If and when we do, it will be the most challenging trip humanity has ever undertaken.
Last on
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
-
![]()
00:27David Bowie
Life On Mars?
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Kevin Fong |
| Producer | Penny Palmer |
| Director | Penny Palmer |
| Executive Producer | Andrew Cohen |
Broadcasts
- Sun 15 Nov 2009 21:00
- Mon 16 Nov 2009 00:00
- Wed 18 Nov 2009 20:00
- Thu 19 Nov 2009 01:55
- Thu 9 Jun 2011 20:00
- Fri 10 Jun 2011 00:45
- Sun 12 Jun 2011 00:55
- Mon 2 Apr 2012 22:00
- Fri 6 Apr 2012 00:30
- Tue 28 Aug 2012 22:00
- Sun 12 May 2013 01:35
- Thu 3 Oct 2013 20:00
- Fri 4 Oct 2013 02:00
- Thu 17 Oct 2013 20:00
- Fri 18 Oct 2013 01:40
- Sun 8 Jun 2014 22:30
- Tue 10 Jun 2014 23:50
- Thu 30 Oct 2014 20:00
- Thu 20 Aug 2015 22:00
- Fri 21 Aug 2015 02:00
- Wed 3 Aug 2016 23:00
- Sun 12 Mar 2017 23:40