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Documentary Takes Viewers Behind the Scenes of Phoenix Mission

October 9th, 2009
Phoenix Mars Lander
Artist rendering of the Phoenix Mars Lander.

(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of filmmakers from Arizona Public Media have produced a second documentary on the UA-led NASA Phoenix Mars Mission.

A new documentary from Arizona Public Media continues the enthralling story of the Phoenix Mars Lander's exploration of Mars and the subsequent confirmation of water ice just beneath the planet's surface.

"Phoenix Mars Mission: Onto the Ice" documents the experiences of the people responsible for the success of the Phoenix Mars Mission, which was led by the University of Arizona. The one-hour program premieres Tuesday, Oct. 13. at 9 p.m. on PBS-HD channel 6.

From practice landings and simulations to the real-life, heart-pounding "seven minutes of terror" spacecraft decent onto the planet's surface, "Phoenix Mars Mission: Onto the Ice" follows principal investigator Peter H. Smith and the rest of the Phoenix Lander team as they work to successfully land an exploratory vehicle on Mars for the first time in more 10 years.

"Phoenix Mars Mission: Onto the Ice" picks up where the last Phoenix Mars Mission documentary left off, just after the exciting launch from Earth. "Phoenix Mars Mission: Ashes to Ice," the first part of this story, captured the excitement on a national level in May 2008 by following the team from the creation and construction of the Phoenix Mars Lander to its successful August 2007 launch from Kennedy Space Center.

The Phoenix Mars Mission series documents the exciting beginning of a new era in the search for signs of life on neighboring planets.
This film was produced by Tom Kleespie and his team, which included Martin Rubio, Jon Weigand and Jim Blackwood.

Filming took place at the UA Science Operations Center, working in conjunction with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., and Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver, Colo. The UA was the first public university to lead a mission to Mars.

In addition to the Tuesday night premier, an encore broadcast of "Onto the Ice" will air on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 5 p.m.

Provided by UA

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