© 2024 SDPB Radio
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Independent Lens

What an Antarctic Disaster Can Teach Us About Getting to Mars

Season 25 Episode 16 | 15m 09s

A manned mission to Mars presents a huge array of challenges for scientists and explorers to figure out. Chief among them: how to keep humans sane and relatively content on the isolating, confining, and potentially years long journey to the red planet and back. Turns out, explorers from generations ago here on Earth survived similar challenges that tomorrow's astronauts can learn from.

Extras
Watch • 13:41
Independent Lens
Antarctica's Survival Guide for Mars Explorers
How did the extreme Antarctic winter affected the Belgica's crew?
Clip: S25 E16 | 13:41
Watch • 12:32
Independent Lens
Can Humans Get to Mars Without Going Insane?
How can future astronauts best prepare themselves to face these challenges?
Clip: S25 E16 | 12:32
Watch • 1:00
Independent Lens
Extended Trailer | Space: The Longest Goodbye
The grueling journey to Mars.
Preview: S25 E16 | 1:00
Watch • 10:38
Independent Lens
The Great World of Gregory Blackstock
The richly obsessive life and work of a renowned autistic artist comes to life.
Special: 10:38
Watch • 14:21
Independent Lens
Brother
A filmmaker's brother opens up about his recovery from opioid use disorder.
Special: 14:21
Watch • 14:08
Independent Lens
Folk Frontera
Two fronteriza women live in two cultures at the same time along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Special: 14:08
Watch • 0:30
Independent Lens
Watch Space: The Longest Goodbye with PBS Passport
Get early access with PBS Passport.
Preview: S25 E16 | 0:30
Watch • 0:30
Independent Lens
Trailer | The Tuba Thieves
The role and meaning of sound is explored in an unconventional documentary experience.
Preview: S25 E17 | 0:30
Watch • 0:30
Independent Lens
Trailer | Space: The Longest Goodbye
NASA psychologists prepare astronauts for the extreme isolation of a Mars mission.
Preview: S25 E16 | 0:30
Watch • 1:25:48
Independent Lens
Storm Lake
Inside the family-run newspaper keeping local journalism alive.
Episode: S23 E3 | 1:25:48
Latest Episodes
All
  • All
  • Independent Lens Season 25
  • Independent Lens Season 24
  • Independent Lens Season 23
  • Independent Lens Season 22
  • Independent Lens Season 21
  • Independent Lens Season 20
  • Independent Lens Season 19
  • Independent Lens Season 18
  • Independent Lens Season 17
  • Independent Lens Season 16
  • Independent Lens Season 15
  • Independent Lens Season 14
  • Independent Lens Season 13
  • Independent Lens Season 12
  • Independent Lens Season 11
  • Independent Lens Season 10
  • Independent Lens Season 9
  • Independent Lens Season 8
  • Independent Lens Season 7
  • Independent Lens Season 6
  • Independent Lens Season 5
  • Independent Lens Season 4
  • Independent Lens Season 1
Watch • 1:25:17
Independent Lens
The Tuba Thieves
The central mystery of this unconventional documentary is the nature of sound itself.
Episode: S25 E17 | 1:25:17
Watch • 1:24:52
Independent Lens
Space: The Longest Goodbye
NASA psychologists prepare astronauts for the extreme isolation of a Mars mission.
Episode: S25 E16 | 1:24:52
Watch • 1:18:04
Independent Lens
One With the Whale
For Native Alaskans living on a tiny Bering Sea island, if you don’t hunt, you die.
Episode: S25 E15 | 1:18:04
Watch • 54:41
Independent Lens
Matter of Mind: My Parkinson’s
Three people navigate their lives with determination in the face of Parkinson’s disease.
Episode: S25 E14 | 54:41
Watch • 55:37
Independent Lens
A Thousand Pines
A crew of 12 Mexican tree planters travel the United States regrowing America’s forests.
Episode: S25 E13 | 55:37
Watch • 1:24:54
Independent Lens
Greener Pastures
Midwestern families deal with unseen mental health issues affecting farmers in America.
Episode: S25 E12 | 1:24:54
Watch • 1:24:13
Independent Lens
Breaking The News
Women and LGBTQ+ journalists launch startup The 19th* to buck a broken news media system.
Episode: S25 E11 | 1:24:13
Watch • 55:23
Independent Lens
Sister Úna Lived a Good Death
A nun with stage IV cancer teaches others that death doesn’t have to be the end.
Episode: S25 E10 | 55:23
Watch • 1:23:30
Independent Lens
Razing Liberty Square
A public housing community in Miami becomes ground zero for climate gentrification.
Episode: S25 E9 | 1:23:30
Watch • 1:23:49
Independent Lens
Racist Trees
In Palm Springs, a Black neighborhood fights to remove a divisive wall of trees.
Episode: S25 E8 | 1:23:49