How One Line of Code Led to the Mars Polar Lander Catastrophe

Explore the dramatic story of NASA's Mars Polar Lander mission through this 15-minute documentary video that examines how a single line of code led to the loss of a $165 million spacecraft. Discover the intricate details of the December 1999 mission aimed at exploring Mars' south pole and searching for water ice, only to end in disaster when a software error caused the lander to misinterpret leg deployment vibrations as touchdown signals. Learn from expert interviews and detailed analysis about the complexities of spacecraft engineering, autonomous systems design, and the critical importance of thorough software testing in space exploration. Gain valuable insights into how this catastrophic failure, caused by a premature shutdown of descent engines while still high above the Martian surface, has shaped modern approaches to spacecraft software development and testing protocols.