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SCIENCE CHANNEL'S ANNUAL SPACE WEEK DELVES INTO THE EXCITING FUTURE OF SPACE EXPLORATION
-- SPACE WEEK Begins Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 9 PM (ET/PT)--
(Silver Spring, Md.) � Science Channel's annual rite of summer, SPACE WEEK, returns Sunday, June 21 � Friday, June 26, 2009, with an unrivaled, in-depth survey of the boundless possibilities that lie ahead as mankind enters a new phase of space exploration. Every night beginning at 9 PM (ET/PT), Science Channel immerses viewers in an adventure through the solar system to find a new Earth; gets a theoretical physicist's take on questions that fuel our imaginations in space (Does life exist on other planets? Are there other planets we can inhabit?); and lifts the veil on NASA's plans for science after the space shuttle retires.
If Earth became uninhabitable, where would humans live? In EXODUS EARTH, the six-part series anchoring SPACE WEEK, physicist and host Dr. Basil Singer eagerly plays the role of human guinea pig to find answers. His mission is to investigate if humans could possibly call Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn's moon Titan, and Jupiter's moons Callisto and Gliese 581c home in the future. In the name of science, Dr. Singer subjects himself to extreme temperatures; tests new survival technologies designed to keep humans alive in harsh environments; suffers the rigors of travel in zero gravity; explores ideas for new human habitats in the sky; and more. EXODUS EARTH premieres Sunday, June 21 from 9 � 11 PM (ET/PT) with regular airings at 10 PM (ET/PT) throughout the week.
In the all new special, CHEAT SHEET TO THE MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE premiering Monday, June 22 at 9 PM (ET/PT), Science Channel's Dr. Michio Kaku demystifies the universe with credible and understandable explanations of mysteries from the Big Bang to what may happen when the universe ceases to exist.
Rounding out the week is a special episode of the hit series BUILD IT BIGGER premiering Friday, June 26 at 9 PM (ET/PT). Host Danny Forster takes viewers behind the scenes at NASA where he explores the space organization's massive, next generation rocket � Ares.
"This year SPACE WEEK showcases programming that transports viewers around the galaxy," said Debbie Myers, Science Channel general manager and executive vice president of Discovery Emerging Networks. "With theoretical physicist Dr. Michio Kaku we're inviting them to find a greater understanding of the universe's exceptional mysteries, to journey through the Milky Way investigating places future generations might call home, and to learn what challenges NASA is tackling today to get future generations there quickly and safely."
Sciencechannel.com will feature an information rich, interactive SPACE WEEK environment with quizzes such as "What Planet Are You?"; a sounds of the solar system game; an overview of America's greatest space missions; a top 10 list of the Most Scientifically Inaccurate Space Movies; "helpful tips" on how to be a space tourist; and more.
Filled with questions, answers and concepts that reach almost beyond comprehension, SPACE WEEK gives viewers a peek into the mystical world of the cosmos. The complete schedule of 2009 SPACE WEEK premieres includes the following:
EXODUS EARTH
World Premiere
Episode One: "Titan"
Sunday, June 21 at 9 PM
Host Basil Singer explores Saturn's moon Titan, one of the most earth-like objects in the solar system. In a rare look beneath the clouds of this far away moon viewers will get a glimpse at a familiar landscape of valleys, lakes and rivers. But the view is not as inviting as it appears. Most everything is made of solid methane with liquid methane lakes, as well as volcanoes that spew a slushy ice and deadly cold of minus 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Long favored by science fiction writers as a future home for mankind, Singer discovers that with some survival technology it might be possible to turn science fiction into science fact.
EXODUS EARTH
World Premiere
Episode Two: "Venus"
Sunday, June 21 at 10 PM
Venus is so hot that no water exists on the planet's surface. Clouds consist of metal-dissolving sulfuric acid and the air pressure would kill anyone who made it to the surface. It seems as though human life existing on this planet would be nearly impossible. But host Basil Singer finds scientists who are working to build refrigerated rovers to explore the surface and enormous air-filled bubble habitats where humans could live high in the atmosphere.
CHEAT SHEET TO THE MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE (wt)
World Premiere
Monday, June 22 at 9 PM (ET/PT)
Dr. Michio Kaku tackles some of the toughest questions about the universe, breaking down the information with credible and easy-to-understand explanations. Through compelling footage, simple and clear-cut language, and easy-to-understand graphics, Dr. Kaku demystifies the mysteries of the universe that always seemed just out of reach.
EXODUS EARTH
World Premiere
Episode Three: "Mars"
Monday, June 22 at 10 PM
With plans under way for a NASA mission to the red planet within 30 years, Singer's challenge is to find out how to make Mars a place where human could live permanently. He discovers the reduced Martian gravity will quickly prove fatal and tries out artificial gravity machines to counteract it, and investigates technology that will make oxygen from rock, as well as fuel from the thin Martian air. Singer also travels to MIT where researchers are developing a new, close fitting, low energy space suit for life of the red planet.
HOW DO THEY DO IT: SPACE
World Premiere
Tuesday, June 23 at 9 PM (ET/PT)
Science Channel's hit series that examines the extraordinary scientific process behind how many everyday objects � elevators, street lights, bricks, carpets, etc. � are created turns its eye to space. This one-hour special based upon HOW DO THEY DO IT? brings viewers inside how NASA assembles space shuttles; protects astronauts in deep space; creates food for shuttle astronauts; and much more.
EXODUS EARTH
World Premiere
Episode Four: "Callisto"
Tuesday, June 23 at 10 PM
A long journey to Jupiter would expose space pioneers to an unacceptable dose of radiation. Host Basil Singer explores how humans will survive radiation on the planet, a new rocket that will transform the journey there from years to months, and how to split water into hydrogen and oxygen to provide fuel and air for breathing, respectively.
END'S OF THE EARTH: HUBBLE'S FINAL CHAPTER
Encore Presentation
Wednesday, June 24 at 9 PM (ET/PT)
Born to parents at NASA in 1990, crippled at birth, but completely cured by engineers and astronauts, Hubble has revolutionized our science of the cosmos. It has become a global superstar and a household name. But after years without maintenance the telescope is desperate for help. Now it faces the most dramatic and exciting moment in its life, the final visit and farewell from its astronaut rescuers. Science Channel examines the massive final mission to revive the greatest science tool of today.
EXODUS EARTH
World Premiere
Episode Five: "Mercury"
Wednesday, June 24 at 10 PM
The closest planet to the sun, Mercury is a harsh planet that experiences light, heat and radiation at ten times the strength as Earth. Temperatures are extreme with 800 degrees Fahrenheit on the hot side and minus 300 degrees Fahrenheit on the cold side. NASA scientists working on Messenger, a mission to Mercury that is now closing in on the planet, hell host Basil Singer that it's not all bad news. The latest evidence shows that near the planet's poles, there may be water ice lurking in deep craters - something vital for the survival of future space pioneers.
TITAN: A PLACE LIKE HOME?
U.S. Premiere
Thursday, June 25 at 9 PM (ET/PT)
Orbiting Saturn is the moon of Titan, who along with Earth, Mars and Venus is one of only four astral bodies in the Solar System to have an atmosphere. But unlike Mars and Venus Titan is believed to have an atmosphere very similar to that of Earth nearly four billion years ago, just as life began. Could Titan hold the key to the origins of Life?
EXODUS EARTH
World Premiere
Episode Six: "Gliese 581c"
Thursday, June 25 at 10 PM
Unique among host Basil Singer's six destinations Gliese 581c is a planet around another star. Yet Singer finds it's more like earth than any planet in our solar system. But at 20 light years away, even the fastest current propulsion system will take 1,000 years to get there. Singer investigates more futuristic propulsion systems including nuclear bombs, teleportation and space sails to find something that can get him there in a human life time. But what will a distant planet be like? Singer also meets scientists extracting information from the tiny glimmers of light reaching earth from these distant solar systems.
BUILD IT BIGGER: NASA
World Premiere
Friday, June 26 at 9 PM (ET/PT)
Danny Forster is going behind the scenes as NASA transitions from the Shuttle program to the Constellation program. It's a giant leap in space exploration that will return humans to the Moon and eventually take them to Mars. But it means engineers have to design and build the first new spacecraft in almost three decades. Ares, the flagship rocket, is under construction right now and planning to launch this summer. It's rocket science in real life as Forster unveils the plan to send man further into space than ever before.
About Science Channel
Science Channel is broadcast 24 hours a day and seven days a week to more than 56 million U.S. homes and simulcast on Science Channel HD. We immerse viewers in the incredible possibilities of science, from string theory and futuristic cities to accidental discoveries and outrageous inventions. We take things apart, peer inside and put things together in new and unexpected ways. We celebrate the trials, errors and brinking moments that change our lives forever. To find out more go to www.sciencechannel.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
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