Live From Mars was active July 1996-December 1997.
In collaboration with NASA's Mars Exploration Directorate at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, PASSPORT TO KNOWLEDGE presented two live programs for the 1996-97 school year -- from Florida's Cape Canaveral before launch (Nov. 96) and from NASA/JPL during the cruise phase of the mission (April 97), where students met the men and women who fly the spacecraft.
Two, two-hour live telecasts for home and science center viewing were broadcast July 6, 1997. They celebrated the landing of the Pathfinder spacecraft and its Sojourner micro-rover. Two wrap-up programs in October and November 1997 will incorporate images literally "live" from Mars and tell the story of Sojourner's travels and the latest discoveries about Martian climate and geology.
LIVE FROM MARS #5: "TODAY ON MARS... " November 13, 1997, 1-2 p.m., Eastern
Live weather data and imagery from Mars show what has been learned to date from the Pathfinder lander and rover: how the continuing data stream provides students with material to analyze in math and computer classes. What Sojourner has revealed, to date, about the actual composition of Martian rocks, and what this implies for the question of liquid water and the possibility of life. A preview of the next decade of exploration.
For the first time, Closed Captioning will be made available thanks to additional support from the Digital Equipment Corporation. Please note that this will be available for PBS broadcasting only, not NASA-TV.
A draft script of program is available in two parts: part 1, part 2.
LIVE FROM MARS #4: "DESTINATION MARS" October 30, 1997, 1-2 p.m. Eastern
Highlights from both Pathfinder and Global Surveyor missions will be featured as well as an introduction to Mars as perhaps the most exciting planet to visit in our solar system.
A draft script of program is available in two parts: part 1, part 2.
LIVE FROM MARS #3: "TOUCHDOWN" July 6 and 9, 1997 2-4 p.m., Eastern
Pathfinder's arrival at Mars: first images from the Martian surface. Sojourner deploys and returns its first images of the lander. The Planetary Society's PLANETFEST celebrates the last decade of Earth's achievements in exploring the solar system, with a special focus on Mars and the Galileo mission to Jupiter.
Please note that satellite coordinates listed in the Live From Mars Teacher's Guide DO NOT apply to the summer broadcasts. See important broadcast information.
Program 3A: Touchdown: July 6, l997
Pathfinder's arrival at Mars: first images from the Martian
surface. Sojourner deploys and returns its first images of the
lander. The Planetary Society's PLANETFEST celebrates the
last decade of Earth's achievements in exploring the solar
system, with a special focus on Mars and the Galileo mission
to Jupiter.
Please note that satellite coordinates listed in the Live From Mars Teacher's Guide DO NOT apply to the summer broadcasts. See important broadcast information.
Program 3A: Touchdown: July 6, l997
A draft script of program is available in three parts:
part 1,
part 2 and
part 3.
Program 3B: Touchdown + 6: July 9, l997
A draft script of program is available in two parts:
part 1,
part 2
Various Internet services supported these broadcasts.
LIVE FROM MARS #2: "CRUISING BETWEEN THE PLANETS" April 24, 1997, 1-2 p.m., Eastern
Behind the scenes at NASA's JPL, lead center for planetary exploration. How rocket fuel, momentum, gravity and ingenuity get spacecraft from Earth to Mars. Mars Pathfinder and Global Surveyor's progress to date. Portraits of the men and women who control the missions. Building and testing robots.
A draft script of this program is available.
Various Internet services supported this broadcast.
LIVE FROM MARS #1: "COUNTDOWN" November 19, 1996, 1-2 p.m., Eastern
Behind the scenes at Cape Canaveral: the launch of Mars Global Surveyor; final preparation of the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft. Why go to Mars? the evidence of liquid water and the possibility of life. Past missions -- from first dreams of interplanetary travel to the sophisticated spacecraft of today.
A draft script of this program is available in three parts: part 1, part 2 and part 3.
Various Internet services supported this broadcast.
Also, NASA Television will be simulcasting the programs. Many cable television systems receive and redistribute NASA-TV, particularly during space shuttle missions. Consider contacting your local system to see if they might redistribute NASA-TV during the Live From Mars events. For those with access to satellite reception, NASA Television is carried on GE-2, Transponder 9C at 85 degrees west longitude, vertical polarization, with a frequency of 3880 MHz, and audio of 6.8 MHz.
Community access television stations, education TV systems and community colleges are other resources that might potentially carry the programs if requested by you.
Note: Media coordinators are encouraged to TEST these coordinates at least two to three days in advance to be sure they are receiving a signal. PBS broadcasting and NASA TV should both be accessible at during daytime hours to help you confirm the test.
