JPL and the Space Age: Landing on Mars

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Published 2022-12-23
In the summer of 2003, two NASA rovers began their journeys to Mars at a time when the Red Planet and Earth were the nearest they had been to each other in 60,000 years. To capitalize on this alignment, the rovers had been built at breakneck speed by teams at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The mission came amid further pressures, from mounting international competition to increasing public scrutiny following the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven. NASA was in great need of a success.

“Landing on Mars” is the story of Opportunity and Spirit surviving a massive solar flare during cruise, the now well-known “six minutes of terror,” and what came close to being a mission-ending software error for the first rover once it was on the ground.

Documentary length: 60 minutes
All Comments (21)
  • @wmffmw1854
    I worked on Curiosity at JPL. Was a good feeling when the rover landed successfully! I designed PCB hardware (PYRO FIRE BOARDS) that controlled the explosive bolts that operated to deploy elements of the spacecraft during EDL.
  • @chrisbelos2834
    JPL and the space age is one of my favorite docu series ever. to see everything that goes behind the curtain is truly awesome. Thank you JPL
  • @shimudeluxe
    these docus are really really good. no artificial drama needed to make spaceflight exiting to watch
  • @SpartanNat
    Another installment in the best space-related series on YouTube. There’s nothing like JPL uploading another installment of JPL and the Space Age, especially in time for the holiday break.
  • @catsforhire9116
    These people are at the cutting edge of human scientific capabilities. It's fascinating to watch all the moving parts come together to work.
  • @PBeringer
    Blaine Baggett is an absolute documentary making machine! But he makes films SO much more compelling and deep in scope than "machine" implies. My God, I've loved every one of these recent JPL documentaries. The amount of offline editing and trawling through archives that must be involved is a monumental achievement on its own; and it simply blows my mind. And it's such a special thing that JPL had cameras rolling almost permanently around the lab, or we wouldn't be able to feel anywhere near as "close" to its atmosphere, culture and achievements, etc. Brilliant work! Love, from Australia.
  • @nilo70
    I worked on the Mars Viking II mission at JPL. I worked up on “ Cardiac Hill “ making things in the SFOF and for the DSN . I’m 70 years old now , but it was the Best Job Ive ever had. The lander performed perfectly, the special Facsimile Camera images ( my department ) of the surface were clear and amazing and the Life detection experiment said there either was , or still was life there . I was stoked ! The Honest Truth is , I would have worked there for Free ! I knew what I was doing was important and would change the world. I was right .
  • @swanee327
    These documentaries are great! My soul has been missing this. I know its not in JPLs job description, but a series about the ISS construction would be cool. No ones done hardly anything about it... And if there's any way i would want to relive and learn about ISS again, its how these documentaries have been presented and made. Great job JPL! :)
  • @sloggiz
    it’s quite amazing to have these exceptional documentaries available for everyone free of charge! thanks a lot for sharing them!
  • @geomodelrailroader
    It was an amazing mission when we sent Spirit and Oppy to Mars they lasted longer than any rover we sent. Rest in Peace Spirit and Oppy and Thank You!
  • @sergiopascale3487
    Am in awe with the amazing intelligence & ability of every single human brain behind this mission...the pioneering legacy of this people to humankind will forever be remembered as we continually explore the vast universe.
  • @nattankress
    Please keep making these documentaries, they're really inspiring and have helped me deal with end of semester burnout.
  • @wk8219
    Around the 45 minute mark when it talks about the software problem I literally busted out laughing when the trick to solving the problem was essentially, rewriting the boot sector. I can’t tell you how many times I had to do that on computers in the early 2000s. It’s nice to know I wasn’t the only one. :-)
  • @speedball1919
    Keep these docs coming JPL Thanks, from all us space nerds.
  • @s1nb4d59
    JPL Studios you rock,and Neil Ross for his lovely narration.
  • @claudethibaudeau2714
    This was absolutely an opening into new discoveries for the future. I remember the news when they said that we were now on Mars and I was literally at awe that humans can accomplish such a feat.
  • @cliffb1
    Another masterpiece. Thank you, JPL. Keep them coming! 👍👍👍