Don't miss the next show!

Join our newsletter to receive a monthly summary about new collections published.
Don't worry, no crap, no spam, we hate that stuff too LOL

the best documentaries hero image popcorn
Mars Documentaries

Top 4 Incredible Mars Documentaries That Will Make You Dream

Watch the best Mars documentaries featuring interviews with scientists, engineers and astronauts about Mars exploration efforts.

Intro: Mars Documentaries

Welcome to Mars! Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is approximately half as far again out of our orbit compared to the Earth. It is 202,828,000 kilometers (1 mars year) away from the sun on an elliptical orbit.

This distance averages about 228 million km (139 million miles) between its closest (perihelion) and farthest (aphelion) points along its orbital path. The red planet has fascinated people for thousands of years with its reddish appearance that comes mostly from iron oxide which covers more than 50% of mars surface. Also mars has two moons. First one, Phobos , seems potato shaped and takes only 7 hours 40 minutes to go around mars by a very low  orbit. Second, Deimos , is two times smaller than Phobos and takes 30 hours to go around mars by a very high orbit.

Mars has some similarities with Earth but also it has some significant differences that make mars the most habitable planet for humans outside our home planet. Here are those differences:

* Mars rotates counterclockwise as seen from north pole, which means that all of its poles have 24 hours sunlight during summer and no sunlight during winter . This can be helpful for colonists who want to grow their food in greenhouses . Also it would help if solar panels installed on mars' surface receive sun light directly without dust or cloud cover filtering the direct sunlight. Moreover mars's atmosphere doesn't filter ultraviolet rays so they will increase  the number of growing days for crops. For this reason mars is called the second best place for an agricultural greenhouse after Earth .

* The atmosphere on mars mostly consists of carbon dioxide (95%) with some nitrogen, argon and oxygen mixed in the remaining 5%. Carbon dioxide can be useful for colonists because it is used to produce food in greenhouses by a process called Autonomous Photosynthesis Organism or Apo . So if colonists use special equipment connected to mars's main power grid they will generate carbon dioxide which plant life needs to grow healthy. Also this gas can be harmful when inhaled too much so colonies should have proper ventilation systems .

* Temperature on mars varies from -143 °C (-225 °F) at night up to 20  °C (68 °F) in the day. So mars is very cold but it isn't much colder than Earth's south pole where people can survive year-round with proper clothing . Plus mars has a warmer temperature range compared to other planets, so mars is better for colonization than other planets without enough heat. The only obstacle mars colonists need to overcome is dust storms which happen when mars geographical area sees an atmospheric pressure drop during its summer seasons. This causes winds up to 100 kilometers per hour strong enough to carry fine particles of sand or dust that are then deposited on higher elevations after being carried into the upper atmosphere by these winds .

* On mars there are two types of terrain, cratered and volcanic. Cratered terrain consists of large  impact craters which can be up to hundreds of kilometers in diameter. Mars also has Olympus Mons, the largest volcano with a height of 27 km (17 mi) that is three times taller than Mount Everest on Earth! Two other mars mountains are Ascraeus Mons and Arsia Mons; they are 21 km (13 mi) and 16.5 km (10.3 mi) high respectively .

* Mars has no liquid water oceans or rivers but it does have some water ice at its poles. Also mars has ancient riverbeds which might not contain running water anymore but could contain evidence of past flowing water

So mars isn't exactly like Earth so humans will need proper medical equipment , good ventilation systems , special greenhouses to grow crops.

Even though there are some obstacles mars colonists will face, colonizing mars seems closer than colonizing any other planet because mars is similar to Earth enough for human survival.

1. Looking for Life on Mars - Mars Documentaries

Follow the Mars 2020 Mission, perhaps NASA's most ambitious quest yet for indications of ancient life on Mars.

On board the spacecraft will be a four-pound helicopter that will conduct a series of test flights, including one on another planet. The Perseverance Rover will descend into Jezero Crater, which contains a dried-up river delta thought to have harbored life, and attempt to lower the spacecraft. Perseverance will examine the region for signs of life and gather samples for potential return to Earth. A four-pound helicopter with 12,000 mph speeds is aboard the vehicle; it will fly over periods during which an external camera is used to capture pictures in order to verify their condition after landing on Mars.

Perseverance will also test technology that might be used to convert Martian air into oxygen, in the hopes that it may be utilized as fuel—or for humans to breathe—on future missions.

2. Mars Making the New Earth - Mars Documentary

This documentary will explore the possibility of building a new Earth on Mars and what it would take to do so.

With over 100 times the surface area, Mars could offer unlimited resources and opportunities for humans to live in peace and prosperity. The only problem is that we need to find out how we're going to get there.

3. Destination MARS: From The Moon To The Red Planet - Documentary about Mars

The idea of humans traveling to Mars is not new. But now, for the first time in history, it's actually possible. What will our future look like when we get there? Will we be able to survive on this hostile planet? And what are the challenges that await us along the way?

Mankind is on the cusp of a new era in space travel. Before the decade is out, astronauts will return to the Moon. And experts and visionaries predict that humans will soon set foot on a different planet for the first time: Mars.

July 30th, 2020  was the date of NASA's last Mars mission. From Florida's Kennedy Space Center, an Atlas V rocket launches. The spacecraft separates from the upper stage of the rocket a half hour later and heads for Mars. Perseverance is on board, it's NASA'S most ambitious attempt yet to Mars.

4. SpaceX - The First 10.000 Days on Mars

SpaceX is a space exploration company founded by Elon Musk. It has developed and flown rockets since 2002, when it was awarded a contract from NASA to transport cargo and eventually astronauts to the International Space Station with its Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket...

In 2024, a breakthrough event in space exploration history was made when Elon Musk and SpaceX launched five cargo ships to land at Erebus Montes on Mars. Paving the way for the first inhabitants of our red neighbor, this mission marks the beginning of Mars Base Alpha where inhabitants will build homes and plants will take root as part of a growing self-sustaining colony. This mini documentary offers insights into life on Mars, how many people will be initially settling the planet during each launch window mission, a comprehensive overview of their impressive fleet of Starships, and concludes with an uplifting vision of the Martian colony's growth between 2024 and 2050.

Conclusions: Mars Documentaries

Mars is one of the most fascinating planets in our solar system. Despite its relatively small size, it has many mysteries that scientists are still trying to unlock. And with life on Earth becoming more and more endangered due to climate change, overpopulation, pollution and other factors, some researchers believe we should colonize Mars as soon as possible before it’s too late.

If you enjoyed this post, check out also our maxi collection of documentaries about space, documentaries about aliens and moon documentaries.

Images credits: Unsplash.com