Mars On Earth

Twenty-three million years ago an asteroid slammed into what is now the Canadian Arctic at 40,000 miles an hour. The impact created a blast of energy equivalent to a nuclear explosion. Within a radius of almost one hundred miles, plant and animal life ceased to exist.

Some scientists believe that the treeless, rocky terrain of the Haughton Crater on Devon Island, Canada is similar to the craters on Mars. With this distinction Haughton has become a testing site for future missions to the red planet. Haughton has become "Mars on Earth."

Scientists, mostly from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Aurora photographer Peter Essick embark on a mission to Mars to examine Haughton Crater's rocks, drill into its lake-bed deposits, chart its rugged terrain, and peer beneath its surface with radar.

Their goal is to answer two questions: What can Haughton tell us about water on Mars? What can Haughton tell us about life on Mars?

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