Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets

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(MISSION CONTROL) Pegasus, proceed

with checklist for trans-Venus injection.

(YVAN) Copy that.

(NARRATOR) It is our destiny to explore

the far frontiers of space.

Last century we took the first steps to the moon.

Imagine we were ready to take

the next giant leap.

This is the story of a manned voyage

to the planets.

Humanity's greatest challenge

and ultimate adventure.

(MISSION CONTROL) Event timer countdown.

Five, four, three, two, one.

(NARRATOR) This eight-billion-mile tour

of our solar system

is based on science fact, not fiction.

Using data from over 40 years of

unmanned probes and human space flight,

it is a vision of how technology could take us

on a search for the origins of our own planet

and signs of extraterrestrial life.

No single nation could take on

a project this vast.

A manned mission to the planets

is a global endeavour,

but the dreams of billions

lie in the hands of just five astronauts.

They represent a wide range of disciplines -

engineering, medicine,

geology and aeronautics.

These five are scientists as well as astronauts

and they've been training for this mission

most of their adult lives.

The mission will begin with Venus.

It's our nearest neighbour, but nothing like Earth.

Venus is the most hostile planet

in the solar system.

Two of the crew will attempt to land

on its burning surface.

Huge electrostatic storms,

winds of over 200 miles an hour.

Clouds of hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid.

It gets so hot on the surface, it never rains.

(T0M) They'll be flying into hell.

Venus is permanently covered with cloud, so

they will be the first humans to see the surface.

Venus is covered in lava plains

and it's comparatively recent.

The thing is we've never seen any eruptions

so...what's going on?

No ordinary spacesuit can withstand the soaring

temperatures and crushing pressures.

This titanium suit has been tested

in a blast furnace.

On Venus, it will only function for about one hour.

(YVAN) It's a bit like going to Rome and

getting only two seconds in the Sistine Chapel.

When I get down there,

I won't have time for big speeches.

I'll have to leave that to politicians.

I'm going there to pick up rocks.

They will be out of Earth's gravity

and their muscles will be weakened.

Grigorev will need all his strength

once he's on the surface.

0n Venus, the gravity's like Earth's

so it'll come as quite a shock.

We've got an exercise regime on the way there

to help, but the suit weighs 100 kilos.

(BLEEPING)

The crew will pursue their mission objective.

the search for any signs of life

even in the acid storms of Venus.

There's a thin layer about 45 kilometres up.

The temperatures and pressures there are just

low enough for microbes to live off the sulphur.

No one thought they'd find life

in the hot sulphur springs here on Earth.

If life is tough enough to make it there,

why not Venus?

(MISSION CONTROL) We have lift-off.

(NARRATOR) This is Pegasus,

one mile of nuclear-powered spacecraft,

home for the next six years,

an oasis of life in the vacuum of space.

Everyone understands the risks. There's

no guarantee any of them will make it home.

(MISSION CONTROL)

You have a go for trans-Venus injection.

Godspeed, Pegasus.

(NARRATOR) The five astronauts

rely on thousands back on Earth.

The tip of the iceberg - Mission Control.

This nerve centre is vital

to the success and survival of the crew.

Flight Director is in overall control.

Flight Dynamics Officer, or FiDO,

handles all manoeuvres.

Flight Surgeon assesses crew health

and the risks

as the astronauts perform experiments

designed by the Science Director.

All Mission Control advice is relayed

to Pegasus through Capcom.

Pegasus, you are go...

Six weeks from Earth

and Pegasus is in Venus orbit,

ready to send the lander Orpheus

into the inferno.

(TOM) Fantastic sight, Larry.

You ought to be here, man.

(LARRY) I'm eating my heart out, Tom.

(T0M) Pegasus standing by

for 0rpheus pad on descent.

(MAN) Surface temperatures can melt lead

and pressures could crush a submarine.

The lander's designed to last for two hours.

(TOM) Orpheus bay is open.

You have to treat Venus like a bank job.

Get in, do your experiments fast and get out.

- You have the parameters for the descent, over.

- Coming up.

Grigorev and Lessard will be the first humans

on Venus, but not the first visitors from Earth.

The Soviets landed eight probes on Venus from

the '60s up until the '80s - the Venera series.

They withstood the heat and pressure

long enough

to transmit our first pictures back

from another planet.

The last one touched down in 1982, Venera 14.

The Russians are keen to find out what's left.

(YVAN) My grandfather worked on Venera 14.

For him, it was a complete disaster.

The camera ejected its lens cap and it landed

exactly where the soil sample was due to go in.

It blocked it, so they got one wonderful picture

before the camera insides melted,

but they couldn't touch the surface.

(ZO) Auto-sense sequencer up.

We're ready for release.

(CAPCOM) Orpheus, go front dock.

(NINA) I see a good set.

They're out at five metres per second.

(T0M) APU's looking good.

(NINA) Altitude is nominal.

(CAPCOM) Looking good, Orpheus.

(NINA) They'll be hitting the atmosphere

in one minute.

(JOHN) Max G due in 10 seconds.

(NINA) Loss of signal in 5.

25,000 kilometres per hour.

Heat shield 1,800 centigrade.

Switching to Venus com sat 4.

(TOM) Orpheus Pegasus.

0rpheus Pegasus, over.

Orpheus Pegasus.

Orpheus Pegasus, over.

- FiD0, when are you expecting tracking?

- Two minutes ago, Flight.

Orpheus Pegasus.

Orpheus Pegasus.

- Is the high gain antenna on?

- (CRACKLY TRANSMISSI0N FR0M 0RPHEUS)

(CHEERING)

(BABBLE 0F V0ICES)

Successful flight chute deployed.

Post-guidance systems are good.

Wind speeds are up, 0rpheus.

You are drifting west.

Thin margin. Compensating east.

Been told there's flashes.

- Yeah, roger that. We saw that one from here.

- Higher sulphur than expected.

Something could've erupted.

Hey, I can see the surface.

I can see it's beneath us -

exactly like the radar images.

Three metres minus half.

Forward one, down half.

- How's the cabin pressure?

- Pressure's good.

(ZO) Abort override off.

(TOM) Looks good. You got a stay for Venus.

(ZO) Orpheus has arrived in HadesI

(CHEERING)

(THUNDER)

(THUNDER)

(TOM) We have visual on Venera 14.

(NINA) Radar's giving 236 metres.

(JOHN) Looks further. Unbelievable distortion.

(CRACKLING THUNDER)

(ZO) Lost the camera.

- It's imploded under the pressure.

- Did we get his first step? Any words?

(YVAN) Looking at the surface camera on one.

(YVAN) Are you getting this, 0rpheus?

It's like a dull day in Moscow down here.

Strange flat light everywhere. 0range.

(Z0) Beautiful. Don't stop.

(YVAN) I can't tell where the sun is.

There are no shadows.

- (THUNDER)

- (CAPCOM) Pegasus Control.

We are enjoying the show, but be advised,

you're four minutes behind the timeline.

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