Nova: Season 40, Episode 4

40 - 4: Ultimate Mars Challenge

It could be NASA's last chance to set wheels down on Mars until the end of the decade: This August, a rover named Curiosity will touch down inside Mars. Gale Crater, carrying 10 new instruments that will advance the quest for signs that Mars might once have been suitable for life. But Curiosity's mission is risky. After parachuting through the Martian atmosphere at twice the speed of sound, Curiosity will be gently lowered to the planet's surface by a "sky crane". This first-of-its-kind system has been tested on Earth, but will it work on Mars? With inside access to the massive team of scientists and engineers responsible for Curiosity's on-the-ground experiments, NOVA will be there for the exhilarating moments after Curiosity's landing -- and for the spectacular discoveries to come.