In 1971, NASA set its sights beyond the moon and aimed for the far reaches of our solar system. Through remarkable feats of engineering, NASA launched probes to explore the planets and their satellites, uncovering new wonders of our universe. The documentary “Exploration of the Planets” showcases the NASA program for exploring our neighboring planets during the 1970s, and delves into the remarkable discoveries that were made.
The film takes us on a journey through the planets of our solar system, offering us a glimpse into their unique features and mysteries. We see the stark beauty of Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, and learn about its scorched surface and lack of atmosphere. Venus, known for its thick and toxic atmosphere, reveals its intense surface temperatures and geologic activity. We witness the rugged terrain and diverse climate of Mars, as well as the vast expanses of the asteroid belt that lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Beyond Jupiter lies Saturn, the second-largest planet in our solar system. The documentary shows us the grandeur of Saturn’s rings, made up of countless particles of ice and rock. We learn about the dozens of moons that orbit the gas giant, including the mysterious Enceladus, which appears to have a subsurface ocean that may contain life.
Uranus and Neptune are the outermost giant planets, both with their own distinct features. Uranus is tilted on its side, which results in unusual seasons and magnetic fields. Neptune has the fastest winds in the solar system, which drive massive storms that create distinctive features on the planet’s surface.
The film concludes with a look at the Voyager missions, which launched in 1977 and traveled beyond the outer planets to explore the vast reaches of interstellar space. The Voyager probes have now left our solar system, carrying with them messages from Earth in the form of the famous Golden Record, which contains a variety of sounds and images meant to represent the diversity of life on our planet.
