A Bridge to Mars 2002
Distributed by Filmakers Library, 124 East 40th Street, New York, NY 10016; 202-808-4980
Produced by Catherine Mullins
Directed by Ole Gjerstad and Catherine Mullins
VHS, color, 51 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Aerospace, Science
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
ALA Notable: ALA.gif
Reviewed by Brad Eden, Ph.D., Head, Web and Digitization Services, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
This film shows the current planning, experimentation, and science that is going on to prepare for the first manned mission to Mars. This work is being done in conjunction with the Canadian Space Agency. The film focuses on three scientists currently helping to design the science for this mission, and hoping to be assigned to go to Mars. Darlene Kim is a scientist whose background is in discovering life forms in sediments, and she hopes to be able to use her skills and science to do the same on Mars. Gordon Osinski is a geologist who hopes to use his experience and science to search for signs of past life on Mars. Stephen Braham is designing the interplanetary communications system that will insure a constant link between Earth and Mars. These three, as well as countless others whose dream is to go to Mars, work yearly at the Haughton-Mars base camp on Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic, the site of a huge meteor crater that has created the most Mars-like environment currently on Earth.
NASA and the Canadian Space Agency have had a manned mission to Mars on their agenda for many years, but the funding and commitment has not been forthcoming. The recent Columbia shuttle catastrophe will be another setback to this futuristic mission, but the film illustrates how important and vital it is for the human race to continue to "reach for the stars" and explore our solar system.