Download THE NEW FRONTIER Episode 1 - Earth Series introduction and the

THE NEW FRONTIER
Episode 1 - Earth
Series introduction and the study of Earth from orbit. The current and planned series of satellites
and observations to better know our own planet.
Episode 2 - The Moon
The study of our most influential partner, learning more about our closest neighbour and a planned
return to the Moon
Episode 3 - The Inner Worlds
Mercury and Venus two planets that generate more questions than answers as we delve deeper into
their workings
Episode 4 - Mars
The enigmatic planet Mars, now under robotic scrutiny with our sights set on a manned mission
soon.
Episode 5 - The Minor Planets
Scientists and engineers have managed to land on a comet, knowledge of these celestial marauders
may drive our industrial expansion into deep space.
Episode 6 - The Ice Giants
Beyond the asteroid belt lay the ice giants, some can be seen with the naked eye, others only
glimpsed once by a passing probe. We are again sending cameras to the edge of the solar system
giving us new insights into the evolution of our worlds
Episode 7 - The Moons of Olympus
These are the Moons of the gas giants. Each a unique and mysterious world of its own. Some have
oceans of water, geysers of Sulphur or atmospheres of plastic. Some are just now being seen at the
outer rim of our solar system, all are worthy of much more scrutiny
Episode 8 - The Sun
It powers the machinery of nature; our weather, encourages and sustains life on land and at sea.
When it sets in the West it reveals to us its many billions of sibling stars populating the night sky. We
study our Sun closely, and like a Rosetta stone it can reveal the secrets of all the other stars above.
Episode 9 - Exo Planets
As scientists and astronomers peer closer at nearby stars with ever more fidelity they are discovering
planets; exo planets, worlds outside our own solar system. With technological advances and
improved techniques scientists are discovering more and more worlds every day. With confidence
scientists now calculated there could be as many as 40 billion Earth like planets in our Milky Way
galaxy alone.
Episode 10 - Edge of the Universe
The night sky is a time machine. The further we look out into the universe the further back in time
we reach. What we see in the night sky is only a small percentage of the contents of the Universe,
most is dark matter and dark energy we know it exists; however its nature eludes us for the
moment.
The New Frontier
Episode 1: THE EARTH - Synopsis
We begin with a summary of the series, and the projects currently underway and planned to explore
our solar system and as a result understand our own planet better. We outline the proposed robotic
and human expansion into the Solar System and how this will be accomplished. The first planet we
study is Earth. We look at all the current and planned observational satellites that orbit Earth
helping us understand the planet's many cycles; water, cloud, heat and ocean currents. How the
latest probes are unlocking secrets of our gravitation and magnetic shielding. With comments from:
Jack Mustard, Science Definition Team Chair, Brown University
Tim Hewison, Meteorological Scientist, Eumetsat ESA
Dieter Klaes EPS programme Scientist, Eumetsat Del Jenstrom, LCDM Deputy Project Manager.
Jim Irons, LDCM Project Scientist.
Moustafa Chahine, AIRS Science Team Leader
Volker Liebig, Director of Earth Observation Programmes.
Rune Floberghagen, SWARM mission manager
Philippe Goudy, Head of Earth Observation Projects, ESA
Ramon Torres, Sentinal 1 Project Manager, ESA
Guido Levrini, Copernicus space segment Programme mgr, ESA.
The episode concludes with the importance of studying the changing environment of this planet and
how to cope with the future evolution of our planet.
* * *
Episode 2: THE MOON - Synopsis
This episode focuses on our nearest neighbour the Moon. We cover the latest lunar probes and the
science they are returning, including the confirmation of water at the Lunar poles. Scientists ar now
confident of their theory of the evolution of the Moon and how it is a part of and critical to Earth's
stability. We show the international and commercial interest the Moon is now receiving. With plans
by China and others to establish a lunar base and utilize local resources.
With comments from:
Cathy Peddie, Deputy Project Manager LRO, NASA
Dr Rich Vondrak, Solar System Exploration Division, NASA
Craig Tooley, LRO Project Manager, NASA
Lynn Carter, Research Space Scientist, NASA
Bill Farrell, Planetary Science, Goddard Space Flight Centre:
Thomas Watters, Smithonian Institution, Air & Space Museum:
Rick Elphic,LADEE Project Scientist, NASA Ames Research Centre
Bruno Gardini,Head of Human Transportation and Exploration ESA
John Keller, NASA
We look at the latest test launches of lunar landing systems from both the United States and Europe
and the development of robotic vehicles being developed by Japan, China and others.
We include the Goole Lunar X Prize and its main contenders.
* * *
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The New Frontier
Episode 3: THE INNER WORLDS - Synopsis
In this episode we focus on the two inner planets Mercury and Venus. They are half of our solar
system's terrestrial planets yet we know so little. As we begin to take a closer look at our
companions they are posing more questions than answers. MERCURY is an enigma of the Solar
system's evolution, we look briefly at the only two U.S. probes to have been sent to investigate the
planet. We then look at the probe BEPICOLOMBO the third mission to Mercury to be launched in
2016 by ESA and JAXA.
With comments from:
Alvaro Gimenez Canete, Dir of Science and Robotics Exploration
Johannes Benkhoff, BepiColombo Project Scientist, ESA
Marcello Coradini, Head of Solar System Exploration Missions
Johannes Benkhoff, BepiColombo Project Scientist, ESA
We conclude with the questions the planet leaves us with and the posibilitiy there is water hidden in
the craters of the poles.
VENUS the least understood planet of all. With a brief summary of past US and SOVIET probes we
look at the latest satellite Venus Express and its observations. With comments from:
Michael Breitfellner,Venus Express Science Operations Engineer
Glyn Collinson, Goddard Space Flight Centre, NASA
Arvind Parmar, Head of Science Operations, ESA
Håkan Svedhem, Venus Express project Scientist, ESA
Donald Merritt, Venus Express Science Ground Seg Manager, ESA
We briefly focus on the current Japanese mission AKATSUKI and its planned observations are to
include cloud and surface imaging with infrared cameras. Their main focus the Ventian meteorology,
including confirming the presence of lightening and any current volcanic activity.
We also look at a future manned mission to the planet:
A study conducted for NASA called HAVOC a High Altitude Venus Operational Concept.
* * *
Episode 4: MARS - Synopsis
Mars the most explored planet other than the Earth.
The main focus for NASA and Europe, Mars is peppered with probes, landers and robots, with
several orbiting satellites studying the planet closely.
This episode covers what we currently know about the planet, its ancient environment, the water
cycle and what happened to change the planet to what we see now.
The plans to send Humans are well advanced and we look at the latest engineering devlopents
underway to put astronauts on the surface of Mars.
We also examine the latest robotic probes travelling over the terrain and their insights into the
history of the planet that once may have harboured life.
With comments from several NASA scientists involved in this research and ESA scientists who have
both current satellites in orbit and readying others for launch.
* * *
Episode 5: THE MINOR PLANETS - Synopsis
Asteroids and Comets are the remnants of the construction of our solar system and are time
capsules four and a half billion years old.
In this episode we chart the exploration of these minor planets, and ouor increased understanding
of their makeup and locations.
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The New Frontier
We cover the porbes sent to land and take samples of these marauding mountains, and explain how
we are watching them all closely in case of danger of an Earth collision which has occured before,
but we are now in a position to deflect any incoming asteroid.
We also look at the mysterious comets, how we have landed on one and made close up
examinations of their consistuents and their origins.
We have comments from various US and European scientists working on current operations to the
asteroids and comets.
The episode concludes with a theoretic mission to capture an asteroid and drag it into a Lunar orbit
for dissection and analysis.
* * *
Episode 6 - The Ice Giants - Synopsis
We explore the current research being undertaken into the stormy planet Jupiter and its clouds.
We look at the Juno Mission enroute to Jupiter with advanced sensors to study beneath the cloud
cover of the planet. The current mission to Saturn is the Cassini Mission which is studying among
other things a giant hurricane at the north Pole of the planet. Only Voyager 2 has ventured past
Uranus and Neptune, we assess what little is known of these worlds.
With comments from:
Amy Simon-Miller, Associate Director for Strategic science.
David Choi Research Fellow.
Scott Bolton, Principal Investigator Southwest Research Institute.
Steve Levin, Project Scientist JPL, NASA.
Dave Stevenson, Co-Investigator gravity and magnetic field sciences Caltech.
Fran Bagenal Co-Investigator Magnetospheric Science University of Colorado, Boulder.
Brigette Hesman, Planetary scientist, Goddard Space Flight Centre, NASA.
Andy Ingersoll, Cassini imaging scientist, Caltech
Dr Edward Stone.
Alan Stern, Principal Investigator New Horizons.
John Spencer, New Horizons Co-investigator SwRI.
Simon Porter, New Horizons post-doc, SwRI.
Marc Buie, New Horizons Co-Investigator, SwRI.
The episode concludes with the latest up to date imagery from the New Horizons mission to Pluto
and the Kuiper Belt.
* * *
Episode 7: The Moons of Olympus - Synopsis
This episode focuses on the many fascinating moons of the Ice Giants. Jupiter has 67 moons, four of
these are of great interest, the Galilean moons, IO with active volcanoes spewing sulphur into space,
Europa; which may harbour indigenous life in its sub-surface ocean. We look at the current plans to
send probes 'The Europa Clipper' and 'JUICE' to these icy moons. Saturn has 62 Moons but one is of
most importance, Titan, There are plans to return to the cloud cover moon where liquid
hydrocarbons behave like water with rain, rivers and lakes. We investigate the Titan Saturn System
Mission and sending probes to float in the lakes and fly through the atmosphere on balloons. The
Moons of Uranus and Neptune somewhere captured in the early days of the solar system, others
formed from rock and ice. These moons are as mysterious as ever.
With comments from:
Kevin Hand, Astrobiologist, JPL Dr Rich Vondrak, Solar System.
Robert Pappalardo, Europa Mission Project Scientist.
Claudia Alexander, Galileo Mission Proj. Man. (1999-2003).
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The New Frontier
Sara Susca, Europa Mission Payload Engineer.
Conor Nixon, Planetary Scientist Goddard Space Flight Centre.
Jonathan Lunine, American Co-Chair, Joint Science Definition Team, Titan Saturn System Mission.
Christopher Stark, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Dept of Terrestrial magnetism.
Bonnie Buratti, Sr research Scientist, NASA JPL.
James Green, Director of Planetary Science, NASA.
We look at the latest images from New Horizons on its flyby of some of Pluto's Moons, Charon, Nix
and Hydra.
* * *
Episode 8: The Sun - Synopsis
The Sun our star. It created the solar system and powers the mechanisms of climate and life. With
the latest in observational technology we get to look closely at this nuclear engine. Seeing it in new
wavelengths of light revealing its secrets to us. We look at the latest plans to send probes ever closer
to the sun, even to skim its corona. Space weather is of great importance and scientists are studying
this phenomenon with great interest, we also hear from Voyager as it leaves the solar system and
still feels the effects of the sun.
With comments from:
Ed Stone, Voyager Project Scientist, CIT.
Dr. Holly Gilbert, NASA Heliophysicist.
Dr. Alex Young, NASA Heliophysicist.
Paul Richards, NASA Astronaut & GOES-R Observatory Manager.
Dr. Phil Chamberlin, NASA Research Heliophysicist and SDO Deputy Project Scientist.
Dawn Meyers, NASA, GSFC Scientist.
Adrian Daw, IRIS Deputy project scientist.
David Sidebeck, Mission Scientist, Van Allen Probes
Dr. Michael Hesse, Director of the Heliophysics Science Division, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight
Centre.
Dr John Dorelli, NASA.
The Sun also holds the key to understanding all the other stars in the galaxy as astronomers look
deeper into the night sky.
* * *
Episode 9 - Exo Planets - Synopsis
One of the great discoveries of the twentieth century, planets orbiting other stars. Once thought to
be a rarity it is now looking like most stars in the sky have at least one planet. The latest
astronomical instruments both in orbit with the Kepler mission and ground based telescopes have
been discovering new planets in their hundreds. Some stars harbouring multiple planets in very
different orbits. Scientists are now cataloguing these worlds and searching harder for Earth like
worlds. Latest discoveries include Rocky planets in the habitable zone of their stars, able to have
liquid water on their surfaces, the key ingredient for life.
With comments from:
Bill Borucki, Kepler Principal Investigator, NASA AMES.
Natalie Batalha, Kepler Dep. Science Lead, San Jose State Uni.
Jack Lissauer, Planetary Scientist, NASA AMES.
Elisa Quintana, Research Scientist, SETI Institute/NASA Ames.
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The New Frontier
Thomas Barclay, Research Scientist, BAERI/NASA Ames.
These worlds are still too far away for us to reach, so new telescopes are being built so we can
investigate them further, study their atmospheres and listen for signs of intelligent life.
* * *
Episode 10 - Edge of the Universe - Synopsis
When Hubble took a photo of an empty black patch of sky and discovered thousands of ancient
galaxies scientists were amazed. Astro physicists are studying the deep sky, looking back to the
earliest times of the universe. Scientists are puzzled by what they see, dark matter and dark energy
make up the bulk of the known universe yet we don't know what it is. Scientists are seeking answers
both in space and underground at the CERN laboratory where they smash atoms together in search
of the elusive dark matter called a WIMP.
With comments from:
Stefan Immler, Former Lead, Swift Guest Observer Program.
Dr. Charles Bennett WMAP Principal Investigator, NASA/GSFC.
Dr. Lyman Page WMAP Team Member, Princetown University.
Charles Lawrence, US Planck project Scientist, JPL.
Dr Patrick Hartigan, Physics & Astronomy Dept. Rice University.
Suzanne Dodd, Spitzer Project Manager NASA JPL.
Michael Werner Spitzer Project Scientist, NASA JPL.
Annie Zavagno, SPIRE co-investigator at LAM.
Bruno Leibundgut, senior astronomer for the European Southern Observatory.
Fiona Harrison, NuSTAR Principal Investigator.
Frank Heberl, Snr scientist, High Energy Group, MPE Garching.
Martin Weisskopf, Chandra project scientist, MSFC.
Belinda Wilkes, Director Chandra X-ray Centre.
Harvey Tananbaum, Director Chandra x-ray centre (1991-2014).
Erik Kuulkers, Integral Operations Scientist ESA.
David Thompson, Fermi Dept. Project Scientist, LAT Coordinator.
Dr. Lynn Cominsky, Fermi Astrophysicist.
Dr. Neil Gehrels, Deputy Project Scientist for Fermi.
Professor Ting, Nobel Laureate and AMS Principal Investigator.
René Laureijs, Euclid Project scientist, ESA.
Jeremy Schnittman, astrophysicist NASA, GSFC.
We conclude the series with a brief look at the future of astrophysics and the intriguing idea of
alternate universes.
* * *
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