Discovery Channel takes a six-part look back at the space race

[thatcrazycajun]

If you can stand one more retrospective on the U.S. space program, Discovery Channel is celebrating NASA's 50th birthday with a new six-part limited series (as distinct from the two-or-more-night movies usually labeled "miniseries") called When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions, starting tonight with a segment on the Gemini missions.

So far, it's pretty good..but of course, I admit bias on this subject. New interviews, recently declassified footage and crisp narration by Gary Sinise (Ken Mattingly in the film Apollo 13) make it worth at least checking out for any fan of space exploration. And they appear to have even managed to coax first man on the Moon Neil Armstrong out of his notoriously reclusive media avoidance to speak on camera for this one. Be warned, though: the first episode is a solid three hours, so if you're not prepared to set aside that much time at one sitting, tape or TiVo it.

Comments

[luscious-words.livejournal.com]

Doesn't it just figure this starts before we get HD cable? *sigh*

[archiver-tim.livejournal.com]

Actually, I've just figured out the schedule. 3 2-hour shows (made up of 2 episodes) or 6 1 hour episodes. I thought the 3rd hour was some of the supplemental stuff, but no, it is only the first hour of the two we just seen/recorded.

Great stuff! It's either news or NASA footage or talking heads. After seeing Gene Krantz (Mission Contro) in "Failure Is Not An Option", his narrative and views in this show become a major part of the narrative. Good to see Neil Armstrong, hopefully we will see much more of him next Sunday.