There was a time — especially in the ’60s — when Americans were just kuh-rayzee about the space race. Then everyone got into, well, disco. It wasn’t until the ’80s, thanks to a slew of sci-fi movies (the Star Wars and Close Encounters series, E.T.), that space travel was sexy again.

Yep, movies have always sparked our on-again-off-again interest in NASA and the U.S. space program, and in that tradition, the new IMAX flick Roving Mars should have people Googling the red planet for months to come. The film follows NASA scientists and engineers as they develop a rover capable of withstanding the extreme temperatures and rocky terrain of Mars. As if that’s not hard enough, the eggheads must also ensure that every little piece of equipment survives the 36 million mile trip and is functional, too.

The big-screen flick lets you feel the rumble of liftoff and the seemingly endless trip through our solar system. By the time the pod lands on Mars’s surface, you’re rooting for the cute and intrepid little rover as it searches the planet for signs of water, which might prove — here it comes — that there was once life on our neighboring planet(!). But hey, even if you don’t get off on the idea of extraterrestrial life, the striking visuals and booming sound of Roving Mars will still make for a great ride. For tickets and showtimes, call 713-639-4629 or visit www.hmns.org. $4.50 to $7.

Feb. 3-Aug. 3

This article appears in Feb 2-8, 2006.