Clive Anderson launches three days of programmes to mark the beginning of new era in space exploration with Nasa's Pathfinder probe due to land on Mars this weekend. The probe will deliver the world's first remote-controlled inter-planetary explorer, the Sojourner Rover, set to traverse the planet and beam back the first pictures taken from the surface of Mars for over two decades.
See today's choices.
(Stereo)

8.35 Horizon Special: Destination Mars
Tonight's documentary takes a behind-the-scenes look at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Russia's Lavotchkin Institute and meets the engineers and scientists. It also charts the story of the exploration of Mars from the earliest attempts to reach the planet in the sixties, and reports on the young mission team anxiously monitoring Pathfinder's every move.
Producer Max Whitby; Series editor John Lynch

Followed by Your Weekend Weather on Mars
Ian McCaskell gives forecast for the Sojourner Rover's stay on Mars.

9.30* Mars to Clive Anderson
In tonight's live chat show, Clive Anderson watches the extra-terrestrial action as it unfolds. Special guests include experienced star-gazer Patrick Moore , leading British scientist and Mars expert Dr Monica Grady , and British astronaut Mike Foale, interviewed via satellite as he orbits Earth in the Russian space station Mir.
Producer David McNab : Executive producer John Lynch
*Approximate times

10.10* What Have the Martians Ever Done to Us?
A look at the funniest alien comedy clips this side of the solar system.
Producer Gary Monaghan Stereo

10.20 * Space Jammin'
Records that have been dedicated to the Martians.
Producer Gary Monaghan
(Stereo)

Videoplus code (not PDC) for 8.30-10.30
See This Week: page 7

Followed by UK Image