JPL and the Space Age: The Pathfinders

Ғылым және технология

It started with JPL agreeing to land something on Mars - cheaply - and do it in a radically different way. This is how the era NASA called “Faster, Better, Cheaper” began. The documentary film “The Pathfinders” tells the story of a small group of engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who did not heed warnings that the audacious challenge of landing on Mars with airbags would likely not be a career-enhancing move.
From relying on a parachute that could not be tested in a way to match the Martian atmosphere to receiving the late addition of an unwanted rover that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a toy store, the Mars Pathfinder mission was a doubter’s dream, taken on by a mostly young group of engineers and scientists guided by a grizzled manager known for his maverick ways.
“The Pathfinders” retraces the journey of this daring mission to Mars that captured the imagination of people around the world with its dramatic landing and its tiny rover - the first wheels ever to roll on Mars.
Documentary length: 60 minutes

Пікірлер: 204

  • @davidly138
    @davidly138 Жыл бұрын

    Hearing Neil's voice gives me goosebumps. I remember listening to all of the codex entries in all 3 Mass Effect games and Neil's voice is perfect.

  • @TarisRedwing

    @TarisRedwing

    10 ай бұрын

    I always hear him on the Nasa channel and wondered if it was him as I never see him credited anywhere.

  • @whirledpeas3477

    @whirledpeas3477

    9 ай бұрын

    ​@@TarisRedwingWho?

  • @monsterlair
    @monsterlair Жыл бұрын

    Can't get enough of these JPL docus ❤

  • @japroz
    @japroz Жыл бұрын

    Im in love with this JPL and the space age series

  • @engineeranonymous
    @engineeranonymous Жыл бұрын

    These documentaries must be mandatory in Universities as a part of introduction to engineering class. They show the importance of leadership and team work, understanding policy and policy making, why budget matters, how much you can accomplish so much with so little and what is risk taking and what to do when you fail.

  • @kao354
    @kao354 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you! Finally story of Pathfinder+Sojourner is told by JPL itself on KZread. The video is great! Thank you again!

  • @roshaan
    @roshaan Жыл бұрын

    This mission was why I got interested in space and astronomy. It has literally changed my life!

  • @DextroDNAOfficial
    @DextroDNAOfficial Жыл бұрын

    The narrator is the codex reader from Mass Effect!

  • @DarkDragonPath
    @DarkDragonPath Жыл бұрын

    The part at 56:50 choked me up... Thinking about how poor little Sojourner basically did a "Land Before Time" with their mother(ship) Pathfinder passing away right in front of her, waiting patently by their side before they too finally succumb to the elements. 😢😢😢 Fantastic, ground-breaking mission though, I grew up on this and other explorations of the cosmos.

  • @Astronetics

    @Astronetics

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad I'm not the only one who got emotional at this part. To all the rovers now sleeping on Mars, rest well little ones. You will always be remembered.

  • @adarsh4764

    @adarsh4764

    9 ай бұрын

    Question! Do you think that when humans finally reach Mars. Should they bring the dead rovers back to life or should they just keep them there as Memorial piece for future Martians to see how they looked at their operational sites?

  • @williamhoward7121

    @williamhoward7121

    5 ай бұрын

    I believe it's inevitable that all of the landing sites on Mars and the Moon will be revisited. Many of the rovers will likely be recollected and brought back to Earth eventually. What a Smithsonian exhibition that will be!

  • @MarkHopewell
    @MarkHopewell Жыл бұрын

    I remember patiently waiting until the early hours of the morning in the UK to download the first image from Pathfinder's Sojourner rover after it had landed back in 1997. It took almost as long to download the file over a 14K modem! Exciting times.

  • @residentfelon

    @residentfelon

    Жыл бұрын

    and a few years later we find out that space is a hoax

  • @GibsonGH
    @GibsonGH Жыл бұрын

    These docs are fascinating. I remember watching Curiosity's landing live stream years ago. It was maybe the most gripping and monumental stream I have ever witnessed. The dedication and skill of these folks is enormous.

  • @vivigesso3756

    @vivigesso3756

    Жыл бұрын

    Prove it was real. Liar

  • @MrHichammohsen1
    @MrHichammohsen1 Жыл бұрын

    This series makes me so emotional! Thank you JPL.

  • @TarrBenceLaszlo
    @TarrBenceLaszlo Жыл бұрын

    This is an amazing documentary with a very touching happy ending! I was at the edge of my seat watching the EDL! Almost felt like a live broadcast! Congratulazions to JPL for this ground-breaking mission, and also for making this film! THANK YOU!

  • @RV4aviator
    @RV4aviator Жыл бұрын

    I love JPL and all it stands for..! Anyone even not interested, or informed about Space Science Engineering, hearing "JPL" immediately says "oh yeah , NASA's Rocket Guys " . When properly funded ( Viking ) heavy landers with lots of data return capacity are delivered. When not funded abundantly ( Pathfinder/Sojourner ) light , data scarce landers are sucessfully delivered. And so onto Spirit and Opportunity, heavier and more successful. And now the gigantic Curiosity and Perseverance Rovers...! In summary, place your bets on JPL, because those brainiacs CAN deliver...!!!!!! 😀 Great doco, thank you...!

  • @Tiger1x1
    @Tiger1x1 Жыл бұрын

    It's amazing how everyone in this team looks younger than at the time of mission. How can one grow younger...

  • @talkingmudcrab718
    @talkingmudcrab718 Жыл бұрын

    I freakin love these JPL documentaries. Please keep them coming.

  • @miriamherrera2656
    @miriamherrera2656 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you JPL. Tears of happiness uplifted our existence!

  • @nabilaamir123
    @nabilaamir123 Жыл бұрын

    Curiosity , opportunity , spirit , perseverance , ingenuity and then finally humans on Mars

  • @shivammathur1583

    @shivammathur1583

    Жыл бұрын

    I mean robotic missions like those will always be sent but I guess

  • @fotmheki

    @fotmheki

    Жыл бұрын

    There are already new multicopter proposed for the very next Mars mission, I suppose at least another 2 or 3 robotic missions are to be expected before a possible human landing

  • @shivammathur1583

    @shivammathur1583

    Жыл бұрын

    @@fotmheki there is that and new rover concepts. I’m literally working on one with NASA lol

  • @ninjacker1497

    @ninjacker1497

    Жыл бұрын

    It takes Curiosity, Opportunity. Perseverance, Ingenuity, and then finally humans on mars.

  • @shivammathur1583

    @shivammathur1583

    Жыл бұрын

    @@ninjacker1497 and more man

  • @claudelebel49
    @claudelebel492 ай бұрын

    An incredibly moving historical capsule. Well done !!

  • @adityakrishna4101
    @adityakrishna4101 Жыл бұрын

    What a mission!.... I don't know what to say.... What a Mission!

  • @mikekemble958
    @mikekemble958 Жыл бұрын

    an exceptional programme, thank you all, from the UK

  • @windlive04
    @windlive04 Жыл бұрын

    Amazing documentary, in that time I was in my 16 years old with a lot of dream, thanks from Brazil,!

  • @robbyirwin4846
    @robbyirwin4846 Жыл бұрын

    What a awsome story of such a awsome , humble and fun team staying true to them selves!! Wish the whole world would approach stuff like the way this team did!!! Thanks!!

  • @michaelto1975

    @michaelto1975

    Жыл бұрын

    😊❤😊❤😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😢😮😊😢😮😊😢😊😮😊😢😊😮😊😢😊😊😊😊😮😊😢😮😊😢😮😊😢😊😊😮😊😢😊😊😊😊😮😊😢😮😊😢😊😊😊😊😊😮😊😢😮😊😢😊😊😊😮😊😢😊😊😢😊😊😮😊😢😮😊😢😮😊😢😊😊😊😊😊😊😢😮😊😊😢😊😊😢😮😊😢😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😮😊😊😊😊😊😢😮😊😮😮😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😢😮😮😮😮😊😢😮😊😢😮😮😮😊😊😊😢😮😊😢😮😊😊😢😊😊😊😮😮😊😢😮😊😊😢😮😊😮😮😊😊😮😮😮😮😮😮😊😮😊😮😊😢😮😮😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😮😮😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😮😊😮😮😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😮😊😊😊😢😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

  • @tmo4330

    @tmo4330

    Жыл бұрын

    Exactly! And the next generation should NOT destroy the technology like we did because it's a painful process to build it back again. The idiots from NASA destroyed the technology to go to the moon, that is why man has been stuck in low earth orbit since 1972.

  • @scaryb69
    @scaryb69 Жыл бұрын

    That was cool. Would love to see more of behind the scenes stuff..laboratory, control center, problem solving, landing and scouting footage. Never boring for me. Could watch and study for days. Thanks for this vid.

  • @ismaelgonzalez6989
    @ismaelgonzalez6989 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent excellent I enjoyed every second of it thank you JPL

  • @twt3716
    @twt3716 Жыл бұрын

    Buzz Aldrin's favourite chat up line was 'I was the first man on the Moon my dear, Neil before me'. Tremendous. Although for quotes you can't beat Churchill. An elderly lady noticing that his trouser flies were open at a party, whispered to him 'Prime minister, I'm afraid the guard house door is open' to which he replied to the rather shocked old lady 'And tell me Madam, is the guard asleep with his head on two sandbags'

  • @randomvariable1836
    @randomvariable1836 Жыл бұрын

    Aaahhh 12:32 that is my brother Sam. He always wanted to be an astronaut ever since he was a young Boy Scout. I remember him showing me the video of the airbag lander test when they drop the scale model onto a huge artificial slope covered with pointy rocks. He did well in life.

  • @DgimaYugadge

    @DgimaYugadge

    Жыл бұрын

    Real Mars Video! 👍

  • @jerrilehane7815
    @jerrilehane7815 Жыл бұрын

    I originated the Mars rovers concepts/designs 1987 as Ghostwriter for Star Trek,sending my drawings for JPL rovers &orbiters 1987 April along with Trek material for Gene to relay to JPL since he was well-known and a celeb to many Jpl workers. Jerry Lehane Mars.

  • @thecyanadon

    @thecyanadon

    Жыл бұрын

    Sure man

  • @PrabhatKumar-fn4vy
    @PrabhatKumar-fn4vy Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for uploading

  • @ismaelgonzalez6989
    @ismaelgonzalez6989 Жыл бұрын

    Watching everybody an excitement after it happens I have to say we were all there with you as humanity makes you feel proud thank you all we were all there with you and we'll always be there with you thank you very much 😂😃😁🙀🙀🥳🥳🥳🥳😃🤗

  • @garrusvakarian9896
    @garrusvakarian9896 Жыл бұрын

    N7DAY!!!

  • @MetallicaRules

    @MetallicaRules

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey Garrus. Glad to see you take a break from your calibrations to watch this video

  • @marchu0909
    @marchu0909 Жыл бұрын

    It’s really exciting to work with such a team.

  • @jammer2isme
    @jammer2isme Жыл бұрын

    i lost soooo much sleep that 4th of July ... but so worth it. went to work that night thinking of the possibilities and didn't even need caffeine.

  • @AdamLaiben
    @AdamLaiben Жыл бұрын

    This was such a great series. More of this please! Thank you.

  • @ruledbysaturn
    @ruledbysaturn Жыл бұрын

    What a great made for tv fiction. NASA deserves an award.

  • @RoCkShaDoWWaLkEr
    @RoCkShaDoWWaLkEr Жыл бұрын

    Even though Jack Parsons got pushed out of the company he created in a field he created I think he would be proud of what's been accomplished, the first JPL team definitely deserve to be household names.

  • @omarmuthana5365
    @omarmuthana5365 Жыл бұрын

    So amazing I hope sometime will get there thanks for sharing this video

  • @tammyl3726
    @tammyl3726 Жыл бұрын

    I loved watching this. So inspiring.

  • @gazzacroy
    @gazzacroy Жыл бұрын

    really cool video again. i do love watching these and i learn stuff too :)

  • @kathleendavis63
    @kathleendavis63 Жыл бұрын

    You guys are truly amazing!!!

  • @antoniozambrana1357
    @antoniozambrana1357 Жыл бұрын

    Gracias por compartir con nosotros los esfuerzos de tan maravillosa Tecnología

  • @AlphaKingofGlory
    @AlphaKingofGlory Жыл бұрын

    Thank you soooooo much for all you have done and are doing.

  • @pm7579
    @pm7579 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent video. Thank you

  • @brucelamberton8819
    @brucelamberton8819 Жыл бұрын

    GREAT video - thank you very much!

  • @loc4177
    @loc4177 Жыл бұрын

    This documentary just captured my heart

  • @JimMcTavish
    @JimMcTavish Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this look back at ye olde JPL. Was fixated on Cassini at the time and missed all this. You should put all your old press conferences up, if you still have them. Would be a hoot :)

  • @arundhutidas8850
    @arundhutidas8850 Жыл бұрын

    Speechless ❤

  • @whirledpeas3477

    @whirledpeas3477

    Жыл бұрын

    Replyless ❤

  • @paulrichards2365
    @paulrichards2365 Жыл бұрын

    I worked with IBM years ago. I remember they said at the time, one of the biggest problems was the documentation.

  • @noorjood7461
    @noorjood7461 Жыл бұрын

    سبحان الله الخالق الجبار .. هذا خلق الله ..

  • @TheStockwell

    @TheStockwell

    Жыл бұрын

    Unless this God fella is funding NASA, I'm pretty sure all of this is a result of human ability, determination, and funding from various government departments. 🚀

  • @user-lq6si2ny1e
    @user-lq6si2ny1e Жыл бұрын

    Very interesting!

  • @cogoid
    @cogoidАй бұрын

    Great film. Shows how tortuous the path to success was. 19:25 "build it, test it, break it, fix it, do it again."

  • @masterblaster7953
    @masterblaster7953 Жыл бұрын

    So did we find any Prothean ruins on Mars or a Void Dragon?

  • @kennethstammers5801
    @kennethstammers5801 Жыл бұрын

    Brilliant (nuff said ! )

  • @DgimaYugadge

    @DgimaYugadge

    Жыл бұрын

    Real Mars Video! 👍

  • @EpicRobloxianReal
    @EpicRobloxianReal Жыл бұрын

    When is the one for Mars polar lander? Or the one for spirit and opportunity?? Also amazing documentary, I love it

  • @paulneale988
    @paulneale988 Жыл бұрын

    Awesome presentation

  • @DgimaYugadge

    @DgimaYugadge

    Жыл бұрын

    Real Mars Video! 👍

  • @gigawattbeehot0913
    @gigawattbeehot09139 ай бұрын

    I respect them , fabulous technology and their Spirits to Science and astronomy and curiosity . Human kind has ‘ Curiosity ‘ , it’s tons , curiosity makes people to build up future . Pathfinder isn’t only machine to research something on another planet , wisdoms in the Pathfinder , a lot . Updating is important .

  • @johnlaccohee-joslin4477
    @johnlaccohee-joslin4477 Жыл бұрын

    I still find it remarkable that the concept of landing,or more importantly, slowing down for entry, always seems to be hard work for a team with more money behind it that any other project, when a single man developes a craft that slows itself down boy folding in have and using its flight surfaces to slow it down as Bert Rutan did in his craft, it worked perfectly,so much so that the craft was made of fibre glass not metal. If he can do it why not they??

  • @tbh224

    @tbh224

    6 ай бұрын

    False equivalency, bro.

  • @BrokiMaform
    @BrokiMaform2 ай бұрын

    The way we put robots on Mars makes me believe that maybe we might land humans on Mars. Great work JPL 🫡

  • @Phoenix-no8eb
    @Phoenix-no8eb Жыл бұрын

    Great 😁🔥

  • @JesbaamSanchez
    @JesbaamSanchez Жыл бұрын

    Sojourner is the true star here!

  • @yokoshibata6661
    @yokoshibata6661 Жыл бұрын

    I can't help but be moved by this affair even now

  • @mikekincaid7412
    @mikekincaid7412 Жыл бұрын

    If I could start over this would be my career path.. there folks were crazy.. fun and way smart

  • @aimatters5600
    @aimatters5600 Жыл бұрын

    this is just wow.

  • @DgimaYugadge

    @DgimaYugadge

    Жыл бұрын

    Real Mars Video! 👍

  • @bphenry
    @bphenry Жыл бұрын

    36:00 - All I could think of was, "Waht if that plane went down." 😲

  • @ajsalvlk
    @ajsalvlk10 ай бұрын

    Wow better than any movie i have seen.

  • @aghilanmayan97
    @aghilanmayan97 Жыл бұрын

    You should take a movie of this🔥😎

  • @AlphaKingofGlory
    @AlphaKingofGlory Жыл бұрын

    Good job Dan 3:44

  • @DgimaYugadge

    @DgimaYugadge

    Жыл бұрын

    Real Mars Video! 👍

  • @vikramanand4723
    @vikramanand4723 Жыл бұрын

    So much luck has also played for these missions and will do so in space missions to come

  • @aternias
    @aternias Жыл бұрын

    These guys are rockstars

  • @whirledpeas3477

    @whirledpeas3477

    9 ай бұрын

    Rocketstars 😊

  • @lucianobernardodiasbernard5551
    @lucianobernardodiasbernard5551 Жыл бұрын

    Gostei!

  • @aternias
    @aternias Жыл бұрын

    so much doubt by everyone, yet they actually did it. never doubt engineers

  • @DavidGalich77
    @DavidGalich77 Жыл бұрын

    Contempt prior to investigation. God Bless ~~ The U.S.! ~~ NASA TOO! ;)

  • @user-fs1su2ii9v
    @user-fs1su2ii9v Жыл бұрын

    伟大的航天工程

  • @ERS8
    @ERS8 Жыл бұрын

    ❤️

  • @aghilanmayan97
    @aghilanmayan97 Жыл бұрын

    TONY SPEAR 😎AKA 😎TONY STARK 🔥

  • @marialuciarobimdasilva5567
    @marialuciarobimdasilva5567 Жыл бұрын

    👏👏❤

  • @Lion_McLionhead
    @Lion_McLionhead Жыл бұрын

    Lions just love the vintage UNIX screenshots. They showed a tiny bit of the unpaid for XV program which caused a scandal. The late 90's were the peak of UNIX as a desktop.

  • @markbass_trojanthinking
    @markbass_trojanthinking Жыл бұрын

    After watching this when I said I watched it but did not seem to register although same account? I wonder if you knew something about things more recent. Mars squeezed in. Modus operandi comes to mind- there is even a mission carp diem that phrase began everything that 1kb file the dreams😢 😂😅❤ thanks

  • @juancarloshumbertomarquezs9942
    @juancarloshumbertomarquezs9942 Жыл бұрын

    Gracias !!!! ME inspiran , NOS inspiran!! Llegar a Marte no es tan sencillo como decirlo !! Pero estén seguros de nuestro respeto y admiración porque USTEDES lo hicieron POSIBLE !!! BRAVO BRAVO !! DESDE TUCUMÁN - ARGENTINA !! LA PATRIA DEL Ingeniero Miguel San Martín y tantoss otros científicos FEÑICITACIONES!!! GENIOSSSS!!!!

  • @AlphaKingofGlory
    @AlphaKingofGlory Жыл бұрын

    Alright nasa we need some equipment

  • @thatguysayz
    @thatguysayz Жыл бұрын

    I hear the budget is so tight since covid that they are considering sending everything up through Southwest airlines 🤣🤣..incredible feat considering the obstacles.

  • @agena6594
    @agena65943 ай бұрын

    32:12 _"If only you knew how bad things really are"_

  • @SuperJuntax
    @SuperJuntax Жыл бұрын

    18:29 this guy already used a small type mobile phone, wow

  • @thecyanadon

    @thecyanadon

    Жыл бұрын

    Ooof, have you heard of a flip phone?

  • @jerrilehane7815
    @jerrilehane7815 Жыл бұрын

    It was my idea and request to land Pathfinder Sojourner on Mars July 4,1997,as I wrote in April 1987

  • @101shapshifter
    @101shapshifter3 ай бұрын

    After doing the math, i was 7 months and 1 day old when Pathfinder landed.

  • @herogolf
    @herogolf Жыл бұрын

    .in Pasadena California!??? Come and challenge me

  • @DgimaYugadge

    @DgimaYugadge

    Жыл бұрын

    Real Mars Video! 👍

  • @AlphaKingofGlory
    @AlphaKingofGlory Жыл бұрын

    Right 1:09 the truth of the awaking

  • @jamescregan2052
    @jamescregan2052 Жыл бұрын

    And the MEDAL goes to ME...YEP EEE..LOL..🏅🏅🏅

  • @andrewcapilli8379
    @andrewcapilli8379 Жыл бұрын

    What will we DO with these Rover's when Mars is fully colonised..? I think we should build museums/enclosures at least to preserve the legacy of our journey. I don't think they should be moved... They should stay exactly where they are. 🇦🇺🤙

  • @replica1052
    @replica1052 Жыл бұрын

    to surrect planets is how to live in a universe - mars belongs to life

  • @replica1052

    @replica1052

    Жыл бұрын

    (once it rains fish can survive mars nature)

  • @Awesomes007
    @Awesomes0076 ай бұрын

    Why is an airbag landing so much less expensive than the alternatives?

  • @henrivanbemmel
    @henrivanbemmel7 ай бұрын

    In this series a theme of impossible timelines, budget and major stress is repeatedly stressed. Perhaps JPL had no choice, but to work under such conditions, but trying figure out these highly complex machines and missions with technically incompetent bureaucrats breathing down your neck seems to be more of an NFL locker room than a technical lab of a major university. Perhaps this appeals to some but tired and stressed people make mistakes as well. Regardless, the infighting and outfighting with NASA HQ does not paint an appealing picture of such a workplace.

  • @wardo57
    @wardo57 Жыл бұрын

    21:57 🤔

  • @thecyanadon

    @thecyanadon

    Жыл бұрын

    Someone: No balls. NASA:

  • @chandananimalsepala7825
    @chandananimalsepala7825 Жыл бұрын

    NASA🇺🇲🎧🇺🇲NASA

  • @johnpatricklim4509
    @johnpatricklim4509 Жыл бұрын

    Then mark wattney used the pathfinder to communicate to earth again...

  • @vivekcreate3455
    @vivekcreate3455 Жыл бұрын

    Curiosity in the mars mission lounch the earth Live Blog stats

  • @janklaas6885
    @janklaas6885Ай бұрын

    📍41:17

  • @vivekcreate3455
    @vivekcreate3455 Жыл бұрын

    Curiosity mars mission lounch be astronaut

  • @whirledpeas3477

    @whirledpeas3477

    Жыл бұрын

    It's gotta be a alcohol thing. 🍸 😅

  • @vivekcreate3455

    @vivekcreate3455

    Жыл бұрын

    @@whirledpeas3477 hii

  • @whirledpeas3477

    @whirledpeas3477

    Жыл бұрын

    @@vivekcreate3455 hiii

  • @drakulton1
    @drakulton1 Жыл бұрын

    Hopefully they'll have a working microphone today. 😂

  • @TheStockwell

    @TheStockwell

    Жыл бұрын

    This is a documentary film, not a press conference. No microphones are needed. 😐

  • @drakulton1

    @drakulton1

    Жыл бұрын

    @@TheStockwell So what did they record the audio with for the documentary? 😉

  • @mikekincaid7412
    @mikekincaid7412 Жыл бұрын

    What is refreshing to see about this outfit is they are not a bunch of stiff shirts that were full of themselves

  • @lynntaylor349
    @lynntaylor3499 күн бұрын

    27:14 "People were not interested in whether your were green or purple or blue or female or male or whatever. They were mainly interested, Could you get the job done?" - When America was still a normal country

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