Odyssey 5

A hidden gem in the multitude of science fiction TV shows

And some real science behind it

Picture Odyssey 5
A TV show aired between 2002 and 2004, Odyssey 5 is about the adventures of the five surviving Odyssey crew members who, after witnessing the explosion of Earth during their mission which left them stranded in space, are unexpectedly rescued by a friendly alien entity who sends them five years into the past to find a way to change the future. The script is full of action, drama, and even comedy but the tour de force of this storyline is really the characters slowly realizing that by changing some facts in the past with the purpose to help somebody or to achieve the ultimate goal of saving Earth (whose demise they already know of), they're also touching on many other variables therefore leading to surprising and unwanted consequences that would not have taken place five years later. The show unfortunately ended on a cliffhanger and avid fans are still waiting anxiously to learn about the fates of those beloved characters while resigned to watching other excellent sci-fi shows.
Curiously, there is a real Odyssey mission and is thankfully doing very well. Mars Odyssey was launched on April 7, 2001 (soon before Odyssey 5 aired) and has been in orbit around planet Mars since October 24, 2001, holding the record for the longest continually active spacecraft in orbit around a planet other than Earth. During its many years in Martian orbit, Mars Odyssey globally mapped the amount and distribution of the numerous chemical elements and minerals in the Martian surface and also tracked the radiation environment in low Mars orbit, both necessary before humans can effectively explore the Martian surface (source: NASA). Here is a picture of Mars Odyssey in action:
Mars Odyssey
Speaking of real missions, are you following the news on Perseverance, the rover currently exploring Mars? Would you like to take a quiz about it?
Quiz
If you're interested in other shows or movies based on real space missions, we periodically publish a newsletter on the topic and you are more than welcome to join our community of sci-fi lovers by clicking on the button below. Happy sci-fi show watching!🎞
This page was built by Melissa Tseng
Background picture: Pexel (credit)