Mission To Earth, Part 2, Life Forms And Resources (1977)

Orbit stabilized. Probe status. >> Probe check complete. >> Sensor readout. >> Sensor checkout nominal. >> Probe launch sequence to automatic. 3 2 1 launch. >> Probe to descent mode. >> Sensor shield in place. >> Time to surface. 409. >> Color separation to automatic. 3 2 1. Jettison. Sensor shields removed. Life sensor readout nominal. >> Time to surface 057. >> Secure from launch stations. Command to crew. Probe launch complete. We are now beginning the second phase of our exploration. During phase 1, we investigated the physical nature of the planet. During that investigation, we detected large areas of diversified life forms. The purpose of phase 2 is to investigate these life forms as well as the resources of the planet as they are used by the life forms. Science section will review our findings to date. >> Science section to all crew. We have found a very active planet number three of a nine planet system. It receives solar energy from its star sun. Atmosphere consists of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. The compound water is found in abundant supply covering 70% of the surface area. Because of the planet's rotation and the energy received from the sun, temperatures on the surface cause the water to be constantly changing from one form to another. This cycle of water has eroded and redistributed parts of the land mass. But internal forces from within the planet are constantly pushing up new land forms. The water cycle tends to balance temperatures and all of these conditions have made this planet well suited for life. The surface is dominated by water. [Music] This is infrared scanner image. >> Affirmative. Infrared scanner makes plant forms much more visible. These are not true colors. >> The large areas of red indicate extensive plant communities. Sensor position. Saltwater marsh near coast. >> This area is the most biologically productive. The greatest variety and numbers of plants occur in areas like this where water is abundant, soil is rich in nutrients and temperature range is mild. The plants we see here are adapted to these conditions and when they occur, the plants thrive. Notice that as the probe moves inland to drier areas, the plant life becomes less concentrated. Life forms here are much different, adapted to different conditions. Notice that the plants we saw in the marsh do not exist here. They could not survive under these conditions. >> In other words, plant communities develop in response to specific conditions of the environment. Confirmed. On scanners is a different plant community. Broadleaf tree forms. Deciduous trees. >> Different soil, water, and temperature conditions allow this form to dominate here. Another form of tree, conifers. They dominate here because conditions are again different. They have adapted to the conditions that exist on this part of the planet and they tend to exclude other less well- adapted plants. The dynamic nature of the planet, especially the water cycle, is responsible for these variations. Here is an analysis of the plant form system. They are the only life on the planet that uses the energy of the sun directly. They convert that solar energy into chemical energy in their green leaves where carbon dioxide, water, nutrients are converted to a sugar glucose which serves as a food for the plant and other life forms which consume the plant. It is a basic system and on these plants all other life systems will have to be based. >> Even after the death of the plant, the chemical energy is still available for other living things. >> Probe positioned for life form scan. >> A great many life fors seem to be involved in the system and we recorded some diverse examples. They are actually interdependent because the relationship is favorable for all the elements of the natural system. They are all actually dependent on each other. Probe is now at an area of water scarcity and temperature extremes. Plants have adapted to the situation with smaller, thicker leaves which conserve and store water. >> What doesn't show on the scanner is the root systems which most plants have. They support the plant physically as well as extracting water and nutrients from the soil. >> Soil analysis data. Soil varies by area. Composition is of small bits of eroded material and the remains of former life forms. It is another cyclic system. New life forms growing from the remains of the old life forms. Probe approaching higher elevation. Large trees well adapted to the severe environment. [Music] large areas of these trees appear to have been removed. Analysis science. >> They have obviously been removed which means that they are considered valuable by a higher form of life. If they have been harvested for use by these beings, they would become a resource. I suspect we will find extensive evidence of resource utilization as the mission proceeds. >> Define the term resource. >> A resource is anything which is used like these trees, but it could be water, gases in the atmosphere, minerals in the soil, or anything else. The pattern of these rock deposits shows that at one time mining occurred here and minerals were removed. >> Unnatural patterns on surface scanner. >> Look what's happening here. These are not natural plant communities. They have been deliberately planted, cultivated, and then harvested by a higher and very complex being. These are not even natural plants. They are specialized and quite different from the other plants we saw earlier and must have been deliberately planted, cultivated and harvested. These plants are so specialized that they could not survive without aid of an intelligent form of life. >> The regularity of these fields, the way the plants are aligned suggests careful planning and decision-making ability. Something has been modifying large areas of the surface, a dominant being. These specialized plants are a highly cultivated resource on this planet. How are they used? >> Primarily as a food supply, but some, like the trees we saw earlier, are used for other purposes. [Music] We've picked up an unusual formation. This is a waterbearing channel, but it's not natural. It is carrying a large quantity of water from a place of abundance. This area is normally dry. Look beside the channel. But if this water is applied to the land, which is fertile and in a tempered area, plants would grow readily. So water, the most prevalent compound on the surface of the planet, is being used by these dominant beings, which would make it another resource. [Music] Here is a simple machine being used to further regulate and redistribute the resource. Water [Music] >> sensors have detected the dominant beings. [Music] >> Visual scanners. Close on subject. >> Humanoids. They resemble us very closely. >> Yes, they appear to be just like our people. Astounding. Here are more areas used to cultivate plant growth. There is a great dependence on machines in this kind of agriculture and very few people actually working in the fields. That would suggest large concentrations of these people elsewhere dependent on this area for food. >> But I suspect that things could be different elsewhere on the planet where growing conditions are not so favorable. >> Highly probable. We see much evidence here of decisionmaking in the types of crops, their cultivation, the arrangement of the fields and the relationship of this food production area to the areas where the people are concentrated. All these decisions are based on a culture and there are likely to be many cultures on this planet as there are on our own. [Music] What a complex system. [Music] This must be a gathering process. [Music] Is this food intended for the people in an indirect manner? First, it is fed to these specialized animals which are brought together in these regulated areas for feeding. Then the animals are used for food. [Music] What's this? A crude sort of flying machine. And it's dropping something. Is it distributing water? >> No. It is applying a chemical substance. It could be for increasing plant growth, but it might also be an attempt to control competing organisms. >> What a funl looking machine. [Music] >> Here we have some more resource gathering. Is it water they are pumping? No, it is an oil type substance, a liquid from deep within the planet. Analysis shows it to be a hydrocarbon derived from the remains of plants which grew very long ago. >> Its use >> primarily for energy, but it could be used in manufacturing as well. All of the machines we've seen depend on this material for their energy source. Here it is being transported. The design of the carrier shows an interest in efficiency. Large quantities are moved from one area of the planet to another. [Music] And here is one of the carriers being unloaded. The resource must be pumped to a processing facility nearby. [Music] This is the facility. Here the raw resource is converted into many forms but most are for energy. The size of the facility tells us how valuable the society considers this resource. Here's another facility for producing energy. This one is under construction, but it has to be a device for using nuclear fuel to produce electrical energy. They do seem to be searching for alternatives. >> Yes, but that fuel is a finite nonrenewable resource, too. Someday they will have to find other sources of energy. [Music] >> The use of energy on this part of the planet is very intense. The development of all these resources for food and other uses is based on elaborate machines which consume energy in vast quantities. Many of the resources like water are renewable. But this particular society seems to have developed a dependence on non-renewable resources which could be dangerous. >> Solar terminator 2 + 7 science. Can we have a review of our phase 2 findings? >> Right. Command. Basically, we have found that there is a reason for the location of everything on this planet. Whether natural or peoplemade. They are there because of natural processes or because of decisions made by people. These people have actually invented plants and animals which they use as resources. Their agriculture is a major modification of the surface of the planet. Agriculture disrupts the natural processes. >> But the conditions we observed cannot be present everywhere on the land mass. We found an area in a tempered zone with abundant water and other resources. These conditions allowed a certain kind of culture to develop. Everything we've seen indicates that there must be high concentrations of people elsewhere, dependent on the relatively few who actually grow the food and gather the other resources. >> We'll investigate those concentrations of people in the third phase of the mission. Prepare to shut down the probes. Resource and life form investigation terminated. Program to hold position. >> Sensors to standby. >> Probe drive to flight idle. [Music] visual transmissions to monitors off. Phase two complete.