'Phoenix Mars Mission: Ashes to Ice' Premieres on Nov. 6

Johnny Cruz
Nov. 5, 2007


Phoenix Mars Mission, rising from the ashes of previous unsuccessful missions, blasted off to the Red Planet in August 2007. “Phoenix Mars Mission: Ashes to Ice” follows the mission's meticulous preparations through its spectacular pre-dawn launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The new one-hour KUAT-TV high-definition production premieres in Southern Arizona Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 9 p.m. on KUAT channel 6 and in HDTV on KUAS Channel 27-1.

The Phoenix mission is led by Principal Investigator Peter H. Smith of The University of Arizona in partnership with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, the Canadian Space Agency and other organizations from around the world. “Ashes to Ice” features interviews with Smith and other key scientists who talk about the spacecraft's instruments and the intricate preparations that preceded the launch.

Ashes to Ice producer Tom Kleespie, director of photography Martin Rubio and sound engineer Jim Blackwood were in Cape Canaveral to cover the scientists' and engineers' excitement in the days leading to liftoff and to record the launch itself.

The $420 million mission will be headquartered at the UA, which is extraordinary because it is the first time in NASA's history that a public university will lead a mission to Mars.

Touchdown is scheduled for May 25, 2008. If landing is successful, Phoenix's ultra-sensitive instruments will have about 90 days to learn about the history of water on the planet and search for organic compounds in the ice-rich soil of Mars' northern polar region. KUAT has already begun production of a second program that will trace the vehicle's journey through landing and early experiments on the Red Planet. Look for the second installment of KUAT's Phoenix Mars program to air in 2009.

Jack Gibson, KUAT's director and general manager, said, "KUAT, as a part of the UA, is uniquely positioned to document and broadcast the story of this incredible research project. We help inform and connect people throughout Southern Arizona and in this case, nationally on PBS stations across the country, to the university's important research activities through original productions like ‘Phoenix Mars Mission: Ashes to Ice.’"

"
Phoenix Mars Mission: Ashes to Ice” airs Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 9 p.m. It repeats Sunday, Nov. 11, at 3 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 22 at noon on KUAT.

Space enthusiasts will also want to watch “NOVA: Sputnik Declassified,” which airs back-to-back with “Ashes to Ice.” The program reveals the astonishing behind-the-scenes story of how the Soviets beat the United States in October 1957 by launching the world's first satellite into space. “Sputnik Declassified” airs at 8 p.m. on November 6 preceding “Ashes to Ice” and follows it on Nov. 11.

”Phoenix Mars Mission: Ashes to Ice” was funded by the Desert Program Partners, a fund supported by individual contributions for the support of original KUAT productions.

The KUAT Communications Group, affiliated with PBS and NPR, is an educational broadcast and production resource of the UA. The group consists of PBS stations KUAT-TV Channels 6 and 27, KUAT-DT Channels 28 and 30, classical music station KUAT-FM 90.5, NPR and jazz station KUAZ-AM 1550/FM 89.1 and the UA Channel.

Extra info

KUAT Television

http://www.kuat.org

 

Phoenix Mars Mission

http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu 

Share

Resources for the media

Pamela Dickens

520-621-7358

pdickens@kuat.org