This series takes a fascinating new look at a very old universe. Fifty years after man first ventured into outer space, we examine the greatest secrets of the heavens. Each episode outlines how humans have explored the universe, and scrutinises the discoveries they have made.

We look at hi-tech space telescopes which record the violent birth of stars, robotic rovers which glimpse the red surface of Mars, and sophisticated NASA probes which delve into the mysterious make-up of comets.

As the earth churns ominously with the effects of global warming, this is a revealing and prescient journey into the heavens. From the planets to the stars and out to the edge of the unknown, history and science collide in this epic exploration of the Universe and its mysteries.

In this instalment of The Universe, we investigate our own planet. For over 4.5 billion years, the Earth has survived in one of the most violent and dangerous areas in the entire Universe. Repeated catastrophes have brought the evolution - as well as the end - of life over and over again.

‘Spaceship Earth’ takes viewers on a high performance ride through the formation of the third planet from the Sun. Galactic investigators hunt for answers to some of man’s most puzzling questions. How was Earth created? What creatures hold clues to how life began? Where did the planet’s water come from?

We also ask why Earth is the most habitable planet in the universe for humans. We ask what forces threaten its ultimate demise. From its early struggles with asteroids and comets to its current battles against global warming, the creation of Spaceship Earth is one of the most complex and controversial scientific detective stories of all time.