As NASA’s rover Curiosity conducts its mission on Mars, Samira Ahmed presents a special programme on the Red Planet. To plot a course through the clouds of theology, astronomy and pure speculation, Samira is joined by the science writer Marcus Chown, theoretical physicist Lawrence M. Krauss, and one of Radio 3's New Generation Thinkers, Josh Nall - a science historian from Cambridge University. They're joined on board by the writers Francis Spufford, Liz Williams and Sophia McDougall who'll dissect the fictional record of our involvement with Mars. And sound artist and broadcaster Robert Worby ponders the planet’s influence on musicians and composers.