Blasting Off to Mars

One day humans could be living on Mars. At least, that’s what the people behind National Geographic’s “Mars” want us to believe.

The new series is a unique mixture of narrative storytelling and interviews with scientists and space industry leaders, including Neil DeGrasse Tyson and billionaire Elon Musk, who is currently working on financing the first manned trip to Mars.

“Mars” debuts on National Geographic Channel on Monday at 9 p.m. ET.

Set in both the future and the present day, “Mars” follows a crew of astronauts in 2033 who land on the Red Planet, while also working in documentary footage with leading experts of today. These experts break down what such a mission would take — and if it would ever be possible.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk thinks colonizing the planet is very possible and lies somewhere in his future. The founder of SpaceX has often talked about an Interplanetary Transport System from SpaceX that would allow people to travel from Earth to Mars for the eventual low cost of $200,000.

It may sound like pie-in-the-sky science fiction, but Musk has been putting his own money into his dream. SpaceX has been testing different rockets and even plans to shoot a capsule to Mars in 2018, when the orbits of the Red Planet and Earth will be closest together. From there, they will send more equipment and eventually, maybe, possibly — be able to put people on Mars.

“I really think there are two fundamental paths [for humans]: one path is we stay on Earth forever, and some eventual extinction event wipes us out,” proclaimed Musk at this year’s 67th annual International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico. “The alternative is become a spacefaring and multi-planetary species,” he continued.

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“Mars” is not the first fictional story to examine a future where space-exploring humans land on the Red Planet, but the Ron Howard-produced series is likely the first to take it so seriously. The modern-day documentary footage makes the fictional scenes seem all the more real and possible.

Not that Mars colonization has ever been out of the question. Many experts agree it is a possibility. The atmosphere contains nutrients like nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and the gravity is 37 percent that of Earth’s.

National Geographic’s six-part series may be a big step in getting the general public behind a future Mars mission — whether run by NASA or billionaires like Musk. After all, people once came together over the race to get to the moon.

“I actually think long-term a Mars settlement can be totally sustainable. But that’s gonna take 10, if not 100 years,” Robert Braun, professor of space technology at Georgia Institute of Technology and scientific consultant for the television series, told CNBC.

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“Mars” will debut in 171 countries and will include space experts such as Musk, Tyson, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, and many, many more.

People may disagree on whether the show’s 2033 date for a manned mission to Mars is accurate or too hopeful — but Musk has even more optimism.

The SpaceX CEO said he plans on having a developmental spaceship ready in three years. Then, he thinks it could be ready to depart in 10 years.

“This is a huge amount of risk, will cost a lot, and there’s a good chance we won’t succeed. But we’re going to try and do our best.” For now, we will have to settle with National Geographic’s fictional mission to Mars.