The extraordinary story of a secret, US government-backed attempt to build a spaceship the size of an ocean liner and send it to Mars. Jupiter and Saturn. propelled by thousands of miniature nuclear bombs.

With Zeinab Badawi.
Followed by Weather

8/10 Having sailed down the Ohio River on a Mississippi steamboat, Miriam Margolyes arrives in St Louis. She attempts to teach at a high school, visits the inspiration for Martin Chuzzlewit and meets the United Houma Indian Nation on a sacred burial ground.

In November 2004, Tom Roberts spent 30 days with the US Army in south Baghdad. Filming started just after the Fallujah campaign was launched, heralding reprisal ambushes. Travelling with the patrols, Roberts witnessed the fatal escalation of tension.

5/6. Palin follows the Yangtze along Tiger Leaping Gorge into south-west China. Along the way, he steers clear of marriage, rides an elephant and stays in a monastery.

featuring Femi Kuti and Wole Soyinka , this film explores how Nigeria's post-colonial history went so wrong and how democratic the country is now.
See also A Day in Africa, tomorrow on BBC Radio 4

Trouble in Paradise 6/6: bizarre plans to beat HIV/Aids and boost tourism are launched