Solar Car Documentary on Public TV

The Secrets of Ra 7 showcases the extraordinary story of Principia College’s competition in the 2009 World Solar Challenge, a 1,877-mile solar car race across Australia. Principia College alum and Academy Award-winner Robert Duvall (C’53) introduces the film.

Principia was the only small, liberal arts college to compete in the race. The other teams came from major universities and engineering programs such as MIT, Michigan, and Stanford in the U.S., and from institutions of similar size and stature in the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, and Germany. Some also had formidable sponsors like Sharp Electronics and the European Space Agency. Of the 33 teams that attempted the race, 10 completed it. Principia was among them, taking seventh place and winning the much-coveted safety award.

The Secrets of Ra 7 begins airing this month on public television stations around the country. (KETC in St. Louis plans to air it in September, but the date has not yet been determined.) Those stations expected to show the film in August and very early September are listed below, but others are being added all the time, so keep an eye on your local listings even if you don’t see your station listed here:

Arizona: KUAS
California: KCSM, KLCS
Florida: WUSF
Hawaii: KHET
Indiana: WIPB
Michigan: WGVK
Nevada: KLVX
New Hampshire: NHPTV
New Jersey: NJN, WNJB, WNJT
North Carolina: UNC­-EX
Ohio: WEAO
Oregon: OPB
Rhode Island: WSBE
Tennessee: WKNO
Texas: KLRU
Utah: KUEN
Wisconsin: WHAD, WHLA, WHRM