Embark on a mission to Mars with innovative TV documentary to be shown National Geographic Abu Dhabi

Mars, a six-part documentary, will be broadcast on National Geographic Abu Dhabi from Sunday.

Mars is a six-part documentary series that explores life on the Red Planet. Courtesy National Geographic

Television viewers have a chance to follow in the big-screen footsteps of Matt Damon and explore the Red Planet, thanks to an innovative dramatised documentary that begins on National Geographic Abu Dhabi on Sunday (November 13).

Mars, the first episode of which starts at 10pm, is six-part documentary series that blends fact and fiction as it explores the planet's formation.

Produced by the Academy Award-winning team of Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, the fictional element follows a group of astronauts attempting to colonise Mars in 2033, while the traditional documentary aspect includes interviews with leading real-life international experts.

One of those interviewed is billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, the founder of space-flight company SpaceX.

He tells of his enthusiasm about the commercial prospect of sending humans to Mars.

“The future of humanity is fundamentally going to bifurcate along one of two directions,” he says. “Either we’re going to become a multi-planet species and a spacefaring civilisation, or we’re going to be stuck on one planet until some eventual extinction event. For me to be excited and inspired about the future, it’s got to be the first option.”

Mars will be broadcast weekly on National Geographic Abu Dhabi owned by Abu Dhabi Media, which also publishes The National.

“This incredible series forms an important part of National Geographic Abu Dhabi’s ongoing commitment to excellence, demonstrated through the production of world-class documentaries that combine visually spectacular storytelling with narratives that are sure to enthral even the most inquisitive of minds,” says Abdul Hadi Al Sheikh, Abu Dhabi Media’s executive director of television.

National Geographic Abu Dhabi’s general manager Sanjay Raina adds: “You can call it television pointing the way for reality, as we tell a science-supported, but cinematic story of humankind’s first steps onto a new planet.”

• Visit www.natgeotv.com/me for more details