Race to Mars
A fictional Mars mission based on contemporary research.
Race to Mars is a Canadian television mini-series from 2007 that presents a fictional journey to Mars grounded in real-world scientific research. The two-part program aired on Discovery Channel Canada and its HD channel, with the first episode on September 23, 2007, and the second on September 30. Galafilm Inc. co-produced the series, which features narration by William Shatner.
A companion book with the same title, authored by Dana Berry, came out in September 2007 and was selected by the Science Fiction Book Club. Additionally, a six-episode documentary mini-series called Mars Rising aired from October 7 to October 21, 2007, incorporating footage from Race to Mars.
The story opens in 2026 with a test lander exploding upon touchdown. Jumping to 2029, the narrator outlines Project Olympus, detailing four nuclear thermal rocket spacecraft: the cargo lander Shirase, the Mars Surface Habitat Atlantis, the Mars lander Gagarin, and the Crew Transfer Vehicle Terra Nova. In early 2030, an international crew of six astronauts—from the United States, Russia, France, Canada, and Japan—boards Terra Nova for a 582-day round trip to Mars. Along the way, they face repeated equipment failures, eventually traced to fraud by a subcontractor. The team races against China, which has already landed a robot on Mars.
Upon landing, astrobiologist Hiromi breaks his arm due to a faulty landing gear. The Chinese robot later discovers water, but it contains too much calcium chloride to support life. A Martian dust devil irreparably damages the crew’s drilling equipment. The astronauts send an emotional plea to Earth, requesting permission to cannibalize the Chinese robot lander, arguing that Mars exploration should belong to all humanity, not be constrained by politics. Their request is granted, and they intensify drilling efforts. After days of nonstop work, they finally strike water, but Hiromi is killed when pressure buildup in the well causes an explosion that knocks over a beam, crushing his spacesuit.
After returning to the main spacecraft for the journey home, the entire crew falls gravely ill. They suspect Martian microbes, but commander Rick Erwin refuses to open the seals on their samples to prevent further contamination. The actual cause turns out to be carbon monoxide poisoning, which they manage to resolve.
Quick Facts
- Writer
- Garfield Reeves-Stevens / Judith Reeves-Stevens
- Director
- George Mihalka
- Starring
- Michael Riley / Lothaire Bluteau / Pascale Bussières
- Narrator
- William Shatner
- Country
- Canada
- Language
- English
- Num Episodes
- 2
- Executive Producer
- Arnie Gelbart / Ken MacDonald / Phyllis Platt
- Producer
- Pia Marquard
- Network
- Discovery Channel Canada
- First Aired
- 2007-09-23
- Last Aired
- 2007-09-30
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The four-hour mini-series begins in the year 2026, with a test lander exploding on landing. Jumping to 2029, the narrator explains the mission, 'Project Olympus' and shows the four NTR spacecraft: Cargo lander Shirase, Mars Surface Habitat Atlantis, Mars lander Gagarin, and Crew Transfer Vehicle Terra Nova. In early 2030, the international crew of six astronauts from the United States, Russia, France, Canada and Japan board Terra Nova to begin their 582 day journey to Mars and back. They suffer numerous equipment failures along the way, eventually traced back to fraud on the part of a subcontractor. The international team is racing against China, who have already landed a robot on Mars. The astronauts land on Mars, but astrobiologist Hiromi's arm is broken by a faulty landing gear. Later, the Chinese robot finds water, but it contains too much calcium chloride for it to contain life. The crew's drilling equipment is irreparably damaged by a Martian dust devil. The crew sends an impassioned plea back to Earth, asking to allow them to cannibalize the Chinese robot lander, saying that the exploration of Mars should be for humankind and not be limited by politics.
Reader's Guide
Race to Mars is significant as a Canadian-produced mini-series that dramatizes a plausible near-future Mars mission, integrating contemporary international research into its fictional narrative. It aired on Discovery Channel Canada in 2007, narrated by William Shatner, and was produced by Galafilm Inc. The series explores themes of international cooperation, equipment failure due to subcontractor fraud, and the tension between national competition and shared human exploration. Its companion book, written by Dana Berry, was published in September 2007 and selected by the Science Fiction Book Club. Additionally, a companion documentary mini-series, Mars Rising, aired from October 7 to October 21, 2007, using sequences shot for Race to Mars. The mini-series concludes with a scene set in 2095 showing a Mars base named for Robert H. Goddard near the grave of the deceased crew member Hiromi, underscoring the long-term vision of human settlement on Mars. Its legacy lies in its educational and entertainment value, presenting a realistic depiction of the challenges of interplanetary travel.
Did You Know?
- The mini-series is narrated by William Shatner.
- A companion book of the same title, written by Dana Berry, was published in September 2007.
- The mini-series ends with a scene in the year 2095 showing a Mars base named for Robert H. Goddard.
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