Apollo 13 (Modern Marvels)

Modern Marvels

When three American astronauts became stranded in space, only an extraordinary rescue effort combining human courage and advanced technology could see them safely home. This episode chronicles the Apollo 13 flight in 1970 that nearly ended in disaster when a liquid oxygen tank ruptured, jeopardizing the lives of the heroic crew. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

The Applications of Space Technology

Kodansha

This program covers both scientific and and utility satellites. Geostationary utility satellites include communication, meteorological, and broadcasting satellites; the science satellites cover an almost limitless range, from Explorer 1's discovery of the Van Allen Belt in 1958, to the discovery of solar wind and the gradual solution to the mystery of the polar auroras; Landsat, the Earth observation satellites, provide information for land utilization, water resource management, resource exploration, oceanic survey, and environmental monitoring. The program also covers such spin-off technologies as space suit material, high-temperature fire-fighting materials, nonflammable paper and fabrics, new insulating materials, vacuum refrigeration, and the energy-saving "Tech House." (28 minutes)

Space Shuttle (Modern Marvels)

Modern Marvels

Soon after NASA was formed in 1958, it began testing precursors to today's space shuttle. After many successes and a few disasters, NASA's management structure, safety, and decision making procedures were drastically overhauled. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

Deep Space Disasters (The Universe)

History Education

This program explores the most dangerous aspects of space travel, from the controlled explosion of launch to the fiery crucible of reentry and everything in between. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Universe. (45 minutes)

1957 (Year by Year: 1929-1967)

History Education

John Glenn's 1957 Project Bullet completes the first supersoic transcontinental flight from California to New York, breaking a speed record, as covered in this episode of Year by Year. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

1966 (Year by Year: 1929-1967)

History Education

Eugene Cernan, Gemini 9A pilot, takes a two-hour walk in space, the longest to date. This episode of Year by Year also looks at the Vietnam War. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (45 minutes)

The Space Shuttle Discovery Launches from Kennedy Space Center ca. 1990

The WPA Film Library

The space shuttle, developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the late 1970s, provides a reusable vehicle in which astronauts can conduct experiments and repair satellites. Each shuttle is launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and relies on two solid rocket boosters to propel the craft into space. In light of the shuttle flaws shown by the Challenger and Columbia disasters, NASA plans to retire the shuttle sometime after 2011. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin Trains for First Manned Spaceflight ca. 1960

The WPA Film Library

The cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union also initiated a technological rivalry between the two superpowers. On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space. The success of this mission spurred U.S. president John F. Kennedy to announce that the American astronauts would successfully land on the moon by the end of the decade. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Space Shuttle Discovery Launches from Kennedy Space Center ca. 1995

The WPA Film Library

The reusable space shuttle was an advancement over the capsules used during NASA's earlier Apollo space program. Discovery, one of three spacecraft in the early shuttle fleet, returned to orbit over 20 times after the first space shuttle launch in 1981. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Space Shuttle Atlantis Docks with Space Station Mir ca. 1995

The WPA Film Library

The cold war era competition between the United States and the Soviet Union gave way to scientific cooperation following the fall of communism in Russia. In 1995, the space shuttle Atlantis docked with the Russian-built space station Mir, the first such time that Russian and American astronauts worked together in space. The two nations, along with nine others, are currently combining forces to build the International Space Station. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

John Glenn Rides into Space Aboard the Friendship 7 ca. 1962

The WPA Film Library

The cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union resulted in the "space race" an intense rivalry to become the first nation to send men to the Moon. While the United States ultimately achieved the first lunar landing, the Soviet Union dominated space flight in the early 1960s. After two Soviet cosmonauts had orbited the earth, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) selected John Glenn to become the first American to orbit the earth. He lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 20, 1962. Upon returning from his successful mission, Glenn was welcomed as a national hero. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

NASA Develops Space Shuttle Program ca. 1981

The WPA Film Library

By the late 1970s, social, economic, and political conditions led to decreased funding for space exploration and research. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shifted its focus toward more sustainable projects such as unmanned space probes and the first reusable space shuttle, which was launched in 1981. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

U.S. Engineers Prepare to Launch an Improved Weather Satellite ca. 1960

British Pathe

Following the successful Soviet launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957, the United States entered into a "space race" with the Soviet Union. Each country attempted to develop new satellites and spacecraft that they felt would prove the superiority of their respective economic systems during the rivalry of the cold war. In 1960, the United States launched a greatly improved weather satellite that would help forecasters predict the weather with greater accuracy. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Astronauts Train for Space Flight ca. 1959

British Pathe

The Mercury program was the first manned space program undertaken in the United States. In 1959, at the behest of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Mercury program chose seven astronauts from the ranks of the U.S. military's best pilots. The astronauts underwent nearly two years of intensive training before the first launch. On May 5, 1961, aboard the spacecraft Freedom 7, Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. became the first American in space; the Soviet Union had accomplished the feat two months earlier. The Mercury program launched four more missions, including John Glenn's 1962 flight, during which he became the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the Earth. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Laika Launches into Orbit aboard Sputnik 2 ca. 1958

The WPA Film Library

On November 3, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first living creature into space, a dog name Laika, aboard the Sputnik 2 satellite. Laika survived for two weeks until the oxygen aboard the satellite ran out. The success of the Sputnik launches prompted a "space race" between the United States and the Soviet Union. The ability to launch objects vast distances had military implications, accelerating the arms race as well. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Mercury Program Astronauts Experience Weightlessness ca. 1959

British Pathe

In 1959, under the auspices of the Mercury program, NASA selected seven U.S. military pilots to become the first U.S. astronauts. As part of their training, NASA put the astronauts through various exercises meant to simulate conditions NASA expected the astronauts to experience while orbiting the Earth in a space capsule. In one such exercise, military places ascended to a high altitude, then plunged toward earth, during which time the astronauts, in a specially-padded room, experienced 15 seconds of weightlessness. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Ranger 9 Sends Pictures of the Moon to Earth ca. 1965

British Pathe

Between 1965 and 1969 the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) launched Ranger rockets to the moon to take pictures of the surface and send them back to Earth before crash landing. NASA used these unmanned spaceflights to better understand the lunar terrain in preparation for an eventual manned mission to the moon. On March 24, 1965, Ranger 9 sent these pictures moments before impacting the lunar surface.

Sally Ride Becomes First American Woman in Space ca. 1983

The WPA Film Library

On June 18, 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman to venture into space. While onboard the space shuttle Challenger, Ride acted as flight engineer, launched two communication satellites, operated the shuttle's mechanical arm, and conducted experiments. She returned to space again in 1984. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Ronald Reagan Address the Country after the Challenger Shuttle Explosion ca. 1986

The WPA Film Library

The space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff on January 28, 1986. All seven crew members were killed in the explosion, among them a school teacher who was part of NASA's Teacher-in-Space program. The disaster prompted President Ronald Reagan to create for the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident. The commission concluded that a combination of mechanical failure and human error caused the explosion. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

The True Image of the Earth

ZDF

Galileo's recantation in 1633 opened a gap between Christianity and science, a separation that widened as the first great age of European exploration came to a close. This program studies the second great age ushered in during the latter half of the 18th century amidst a thickening web of French and British colonialism-an age in which maps and charts facilitated political and economic objectives far more than religious concerns. In this program, the voyages of James Cook, the mapping of the Sahara, and the arbitrary partitioning of the Middle East clearly demonstrate the use of cartography in the service of empire. (30 minutes)

The Big Picture: Army Satellites

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

In this episode of The Big Picture, the U.S. Army’s television series, the Army satellites Explorer I and Explorer III are revealed for the first time. This documentary depicts the drama of the crucial 84 days before launching Explorer I, beginning on the morning of November 8, 1957, at Huntsville, Alabama, when a sudden meeting was called by Major General John B. Medaris with his staff, which included rocket scientist Dr. Wernher von Braun, and leading into the final countdown at Cape Canaveral, Florida. This video from the National Archives and Records Administration was filmed by the Army Signal Corps over five months and is narrated by Alexander Scourby. (30 minutes)

The Kepler Space Telescope Has Found New Planets - 1,200 of Them

NewsHour Productions

PBS NewsHour's Jim Lehrer interviews science correspondent Miles O'Brien about the discovery of 1,200 new planets outside our solar system. Original broadcast date: February 03, 2011

Planet Hunters

Canadian Broadcast Corp

For millennia, humans studying the stars had no idea if there were planets outside our solar system, let alone ones similar enough to ours to sustain life. The first extra-solar planet—or exoplanet—was only discovered in 1995. Now, a new space-based telescope has discovered thousands more, and some of them may be just like Earth. If the Kepler Space Telescope’s discoveries are verified, and if what is true for one randomly chosen area of the cosmos is true throughout, then our universe is probably full of habitable planets. This discovery would have enormous implications for the possibility of extra-terrestrial life. (45 minutes)

Irish Science in Space: The Science Squad

Network Ireland Television

Irish scientists are making a name for themselves in space exploration across a number of fields. Aoibhinn meets the researchers who are developing new materials to protect a new €500million ESA satellite from the intense temperatures involved in flying closer to the sun than ever before, and meets scientists who are investigating novel ways to prevent the negative impact of space flights on astronauts--the results of which could help in the fight against Type 2 Diabetes. (7 minutes)

X-15 Rocket Plane, 1959

British Pathe

X-15 rocket plane flight Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Gus Grissom Pilots Successful Test Flight, 1961

British Pathe

Gus Grissom's space flight a success but then capsule sinks on return! (Liberty Bell 7 space flight) Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Finding Life Beyond Earth

PBS

Scientists are on the verge of answering one of the greatest questions in history: Are we alone? Combining the latest telescope images with dazzling CGI, Finding Life Beyond Earth immerses audiences in the sights and sounds of alien worlds, while top astrobiologists explain how these places are changing how we think about the potential for life in our solar system. Distributed by PBS Distribution.

Unlocking the Secrets of Mercury's Surface

Inside Science

Livermore's gamma-ray spectrometer is helping determine the elemental and mineral composition of Mercury's radioactive surface.

Final Frontier? Horizon Guide to the Universe

BBC Worldwide Learning

Over the last 40 years, Horizon has joined scientists as they have probed the secrets of the universe - from the origin of dark matter to the nature of gravity and even stealing a glimpse into the private life of a black hole. Dallas Campbell delves into the Horizon archive to reveal the mind-boggling discoveries that have changed the way we think about our world. A BBC Production.

3-Stage Rocket, 1956

British Pathe

Scientist shows 3-stage rocket that will propel the first satellite into space. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Chimp in Space, 1961

British Pathe

First chimpanzee in space (Mercury-Redstone 2 spaceflight) Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Gemini 4 Space Walk, 1965

British Pathe

Gemini 4 spacewalk of Edward White Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Gemini 3 Mission to the Moon, 1965

British Pathe

Gemini 3 flight to the moon and its return with astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Apollo Program Test Flight, 1966

British Pathe

Apollo flight test (MOS) Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Space Walking, 1995

The WPA Film Library

Space walking astronauts, earth floats in background (space shuttle Discovery mission) Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Astronaut in Orbit, 1995

The WPA Film Library

Floating astronaut against bright blue rotating earth (space walk) Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Messenger: Mission to Mercury

American Museum Of Natural History

The MESSENGER orbiter’s January 2008 flyby of the planet Mercury was historic. The last time a spacecraft visited was 1975, and it only mapped half the planet. MESSENGER is now sending back a complete picture of Mercury, shedding light on its geological history. But the ongoing mission will return much more than images. Its data on the planet’s core, magnetic field, composition, and other attributes will help scientists answer pressing questions about the evolution of the terrestrial planets and even the Solar System itself. In this science bulletin, the MESSENGER science team reacts as the orbiter’s first images of Mercury roll in. From the American Museum of Natural History.

Eagle Module Leaves the Moon, 1969

British Pathe

Apollo 11 Mission. Eagle Module leaving moon. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Launch of Apollo 11, 1969

British Pathe

Apollo 11 preparations & launch. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Launch and Flight of Mariner 9, ca. 1971

The WPA Film Library

Mariner 9 take off and orbiting around Mars Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Soyuz and Apollo Ship Link, ca. 1975

The WPA Film Library

Soyuz and Apollo ships link in space, mission control rooms Copyright The WPA Film Library.

The Launch of Soyuz 19, 1975

The WPA Film Library

Launch of the Soyuz 19 Copyright The WPA Film Library.

The Big Picture: Broken Bridge

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy stars in this classic episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series. His two young sons prompt Murphy to make a tour of modern Army installations and revisit some of the places he saw in Europe during World War II.In Germany, he visits Hitler's stadium in Nuremberg,the Third Division platoon in Wurzburg, and views the Corporal and Redstone missiles. In Norway, Murphy views the Nike Ajax and Hurcules missiles. Returning to the U.S., Murphy sees the LaCrossse, Little John, and Hawk in action at the White Sands Missile Range. From the National Archives and Records Administration. (30 minutes)

Valentina Tereshkova Returns from Her Mission in Space ca. 1963

The WPA Film Library

On June 16, 1963, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel in space. During her three-day mission aboard the Vostok VI, Tereshkova traveled a distance of 1.2 million miles. The highly competitive "space race" between the Soviet Union and the United States was a permanent feature of the cold war. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

NASA Launches the Space Shuttle Columbia for the First Time ca. 1981

The WPA Film Library

The successful launch of the space shuttle Columbia in 1981 ushered in a new era of space exploration. For the first time, NASA was able to launch reusable space vehicles that enabled astronauts to conduct experiments and repair satellites while in orbit. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Universal Newsreels: U.S. Fires Biggest A-Bomb (07/08/1957)

Universal Newsreel

This Universal newsreel focuses on two topics, as follows. (1) At the Yucca Flats Proving Grounds, in Nevada, the largest A-bomb ever to be tested in the U.S. is detonated. (2) A Redstone missile is put on display at New York City's Grand Central Station. Universal Studios. (2 minutes)

Universal Newsreels: Satellite a Bust -- Rocket Blows Up in First U.S. Try (12/09/1957)

Universal Newsreel

This Universal newsreel focuses on five topics, as follows. (1) Test Vehicle 3 of Project Vanguard explodes during launch. (2) A British train collision leaves approximately 100 dead in "a fog-bound nightmare." (3) The 75th anniversary of the Amsterdam Aquarium is celebrated. (4) With stunning force, a gas explosion virtually levels Villa Rica, Ga. (5) Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands is among the interested spectators viewing a new Dutch ramjet helicopter. Universal Studios. (4 minutes)

Universal Newsreels: Russian Exhibit of Sputnik (06/09/1958)

Universal Newsreel

This Universal newsreel focuses on the Russian space program. Moscow, in festive array for the country's industrial exhibition, shows off a full-scale replica of Sputnik 3. Universal Studios. (1 minute)

Universal Newsreels: As World Watched -- Spaceman Hailed after U.S. Triumph (05/08/1961)

Universal Newsreel

This Universal newsreel focuses on Alan Shepard, space pioneer. Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard--the first American in space--receives a medal from President Kennedy at the White House and takes part in a parade up Pennsylvania Avenue. Universal Studios. (2 minutes)

Universal Newsreels: A Day in History -- Telstar Brings World Closer (07/12/1962)

Universal Newsreel

This Universal newsreel focuses on the Telstar satellite: how it works, its launch into orbit, its first transmissions, and plans for more such satellites to be used to form a chain of instantaneous communication around the planet. Universal Studios. (3 minutes)

Voyager: To the Final Frontier

BBC Worldwide Learning

Thirty-five years after leaving Earth, the Voyager spacecraft is about to leave the solar system. This fascinating documentary draws on remarkable footage and images from the NASA and BBC archives as it examines the legacy of a craft that has had a profound effect on our knowledge of the cosmos. Voyager: To the Final Frontier tells the incredible story of a mission that was only supposed to last five years but is still going today, and of the two small spacecraft that have fundamentally changed our understanding of the solar system. Featuring contributions from scientists who have worked on or been inspired by Voyager, it assesses just what the mission has achieved—and asks what happens next. A BBC Production.

Limits of Perception

ORF

Humans have finally succeeded in making the ancient dream of Greek philosophers come true—to “see” an atom. In another direction we also seem to have unlimited sight: the Hubble Telescope grants us a glimpse of remote galaxies. This documentary assesses the limits of human perception, taking us on a journey through time from quasars millions of light-years away from Earth, via the wonders of our populated world, to the depths of the human genotype and the structure of a single atom. (51 minutes)

Prelinger Archives: Highlights 1965 -- A Progress Report (Part II) (1965)

Prelinger Archives

This Prelinger Archives film (part 2 of 3) is an overview of NASA activities during and leading up to 1965. Live-action and animated imagery depict the launch of Mariner 4 mission to Mars, covering both interplanetary data gathered during the flight as well as knowledge gained from the spacecraft's encounter with the Red Planet. Rudimentary, early photographs of Mars' surface are included. Next, the film focuses on the first Voyager mission and its planned probes to further study Mars, then moves on to discussions of more Pioneer missions to Venus as well as the research accomplishments of various Gemini missions. Planned bio-satellite systems with living specimen payloads are shown too. Norwood Studios, Inc., for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (12 minutes)

Prelinger Archives: Highlights 1965 -- A Progress Report (Part III) (1965)

Prelinger Archives

This Prelinger Archives film (part 3 of 3) is an overview of NASA activities during and leading up to 1965. Live-action and animated imagery depict various Orbiting Solar Observatories or OSO missions studying solar phenomena and the Sun's impact on the Earth. OAO systems (orbiting astronomical observatories) are discussed, including their purposes and experiment packages. Viewers learn about the theoretical conception and initial discovery of the Earth's magnetosphere and how various orbital missions confirmed it. Many different vehicles intended for atmospheric, ionospheric, and meteorological studies are featured. Ship-launched sounding rockets for military and scientific purposes are also shown. Norwood Studios, Inc., for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (12 minutes)

The Big Picture: Missiles on Target

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

Most television viewers have seen the drama of the launching pad when a long-range missile is fired into the air. This episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series goes beyond the launch to show how missiles streak through the air to strike unerringly even a small target a long distance away. The film, from the National Archives and Records Administration, starts a few miles from New Mexico’s White Sands Proving Ground where an elaborate, all-out testing and development effort is being pushed. These efforts include launching long-range missiles vast distances and using them to cause maximum destruction by squarely hitting their targets. (30 minutes)

The Big Picture: Army Ballistic Missile Agency

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

Part of the U.S. Army’s Big Picture series, this historical documentary goes behind-the-scenes to the Army’s Classified Ballistic Missile Agency near the growing community of Huntsville, Alabama. This birthplace for research programming delves into the secrets of outer space. High-speed cameras follow the flight of the now famous Redstone missile as it gains altitude and finally vanishes into space and models of future missiles can be seen as they are built and tested in the laboratory. Historical footage provided by the National Archives and Records Administration is a “crash program” for the world of tomorrow. (30 minutes)

The Space Shuttle: A Horizon Guide

BBC Worldwide Learning

After more than 30 years of missions, America’s space shuttle program concluded when the final orbiter took to the skies for the last time in 2011. Its story has been characterized by incredible triumphs, but blighted by devastating tragedies. This unique and poignant program brings together coverage from three decades of the BBC television series Horizon to present a biography of the space shuttle program and to ask what its legacy will be. Will it be remembered as an impressive part of human space exploration, or as fatally flawed? A BBC Production. (59 minutes)

This Day In History: January 27, 1967 – Astronauts Grissom, Chaffee, and White Are Killed in a Flash Fire

The WPA Film Library

Astronauts Grissom, White and Chaffee die in fire.

Prelinger Archives: The Big Bounce

Prelinger Archives

The story of the Echo communications satellite project, and how scientists learned to bounce a radio signal off a big balloon. Describes the necessity of having more satellites in order to meet the world's growing telecommunications needs. (14 minutes)

This Day In History: December 17, 1957 – Atlas ICBM First Successful Test

British Pathe

See the first successful test of Atlas ICBM.

Go or No Go: The Challenger Legacy

Retro Report

On January 28, 1986, seven astronauts "slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God." America’s space program was never the same.

Episode 5: Donna Shirley (Masters of Technology)

PBS

Broadcaster Evan Soloman sits down with NASA engineer Donna Shirley, who headed the team to land the first rover on Mars.

Moon Conquest

Cerebellum Corporation

This program covers the 1969 moon landing, which fulfilled humankind’s dreams of venturing into space. Learn about the moon: its definition, characteristics and phases, and eclipses. Also, learn about NASA and the Apollo Project, Sputnik, Yuri Gagarin, Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, Michael Collins, the Saturn V rocket, man’s first footprints on the moon, and the journey back to earth.

How Does Space Travel Work?

Cerebellum Corporation

How do people travel into space? Learn about humankind's first attempts at space flight. We’ll also cover rockets, fuels, speed, satellites, the first manned space-flights, launchings, man’s first steps on the Moon, and space shuttles.

Sojourner Truth Evoked by Paulene Myers

Creative Arts Television DBA Aviva Films Ltd

On this episode of Camera Three, Pauline Myers portrays Sojourner Truth in a one-woman show incorporating famous addresses and quotations. A former slave, Truth joined the abolitionist movement and fought for civil and women's rights.

Secrets of the Space Probes (The Universe)

A&E

They've discovered water on other planets and snatched the actual building blocks of life from a comet's tail. But can space probes find a new Earth and even make contact with alien life?

The Space Shuttle: Flying for Me

TW Entertainment LLC

This program is a thrill ride recaputuring the drama and excitement of human space flight, while documenting the achievements of the 30-year Space Shuttle program, including diversity of the astronaut corps, the Hubble Telescope, and the International Space Station.

Novo Mundo

National Geographic

In 2033, the first human mission to Mars enters the red planet’s atmosphere but the crew of the Daedalus faces a life-threatening emergency when the ship’s landing system goes offline. The crew’s commander risks his life to fix the problem as mission control monitors back on Earth. In the present-day documentary, SpaceX attempts to land the world’s first reusable rocket in order to pioneer the critical technology that will help humans reach Mars.

A Conversation With Richard Garriott: Conversations with Giants

Epsilon

Richard Garriott, a gaming industry pioneer, astronaut, and deep-sea explorer, joins John to talk about risk-taking and how fear can be the ultimate motivator for creativity and entrepreneurship.

SuperPeople

PBS

Imagine someone holding his breath for seven-and-a-half minutes or memorizing a series of 500 random numbers. From extreme deep diving and extraordinary memory feats to prolonged space travel, people are pushing themselves to the limits of human performance. In this episode of Scientific American Frontiers, Alda visits with former NASA/Mir astronaut and record-setting space traveler Jerry Linenger, goes head-to-head with competitors in a national memory contest and meets a group of champion deep-divers who will leave viewers breathless.

Stanley Love: There is No Planet B

The Green Interview

This episode of The Green Interview features Stanley Love, a planetary scientist with a PhD in astronomy from the University of Washington. In one word, he’s an astronaut and dreamed about being one since he was a child. He been with NASA since 1998 and among other things has participated as crew aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, logging more than 300 hours in space. In this exclusive Green Interview, Love speaks with Silver Donald Cameron about what it’s like to see the Earth from the endless darkness of outer space and what the possibilities are for inhabiting other planets, if we wreck this one.

This Day In History: May 24, 1962 – Scott Carpenter Orbits the Earth aboard the Aurora Seven

The WPA Film Library

Astronaut Scott Carpenter orbits the Earth.

This Day In History: June 5, 1965 – First Spacewalk

British Pathe

Astronaut Edward White makes the first spacewalk.

Legends of Air Power: Chuck Yeager

Three Roads Communications, Inc

Brigadier General Charles Elwood Yeager – World War II ace and the man who broke the sound barrier as depicted in screen classic “The Right Stuff.” Chuck Yeager has had a bigger than life career, always poised on the edge of the envelope. He broke the sound barrier flying “G- Chuck Yeager -lamorous Glennis,” has won nearly every aviation award, was awarded a peacetime Medal of Honor and was the youngest man enshrined in the Aviation Hall of Fame. An aviator with “the Right Stuff,” Chuck Yeager is a true Legend of Airpower.

To Catch a Comet

PBS

Billions of kilometers from Earth, a spacecraft the size of a car traveled towards an icy rock 2.5 miles across hurtling through space at tens of kilometers per second. It had been in space for ten years, but on Nov. 12, 2014 it did something no other spacecraft had ever attempted — orbit and land on a comet.

Modeling Satellite Motion

University of Leeds

Using computer graphics, this program examines the problem of finding the radius of the orbit of a geosynchronous satellite using Newton’s laws. A review of the mathematics required is given, along with a detailed solution to the problem that explains the modeling process. Optional teaching pause points are provided between each step. Suggestions for further problems associated with space flight include excellent NASA footage. (18 minutes)

Astronaut Walks on the Moon 1970

The WPA Film Library

The success of the Apollo program was one of the pinnacles of scientific achievement in the 1960s and 1970s. Astronauts who walked on the lunar surface were able to bring back objects and data that were never before seen on Earth. Under the constant tension of the cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union, such scientific accomplishments also continued to stoke the rivalry between the two superpowers. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Space Shuttle Endeavor Repairs the Hubble Space Telescope ca. 1993

The WPA Film Library

The Hubble Space telescope is a joint project by the United States and the European Space Agency (ESA) that provides high quality images of deep space. In 1993, the space shuttle Endeavor completed the first mission to repair the telescope while in space. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Space Shuttle Atlantis Orbits Earth While Docked to Space Station Mir ca. 1995

The WPA Film Library

Ending a long scientific rivalry, American astronauts aboard the space shuttle Atlantis docked with the Russian space station Mir in 1995. International cooperations such as these will continue in space exploration, as eleven nations are committed to collaborating on the International Space Station Copyright The WPA Film Library.

The WPA Film Library:Astronauts and Cosmonauts Work Together on Space Station Mir ca. 1995

The WPA Film Library

The former Soviet Union launched the first space station, Mir, in 1986. With the collapse of communism, Russian scientists joined their American counterparts in a new spirit of international scientific collaboration. In 1995, an American space shuttle docked to the Mir in the first collaborative mission between the former cold war adversaries. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Planning for the International Space Station ca. 1990s

The WPA Film Library

Following the success of the Salyut space stations and the Mir space station, plans began for an International Space Station (ISS). Upon completion, the space station would be the largest man-made object in space. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

John F. Kennedy Tours Space Centers ca. 1962

The WPA Film Library

During President John F. Kennedy's administration, at the height of the space race between the United States and Russia, a number of significant events occurred within the field of space exploration. Following Russia's parallel successes, Alan Shepard became the first American in space (1961), and John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth (1962). Soon after Glenn's trip, President Kennedy promised to get the first human on the Moon by the end of the decade. The Gemini and Apollo Projects worked towards these goals, and in 1963 Kennedy spoke of using space research for peaceful means. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Mariner IV Transmits Photos of Mars ca. 1965

The WPA Film Library

As the Soviet Union and the United States competed for advantages in the space race, NASA researchers developed exploratory missions of other planets. In 1965, Mariner IV became the first spacecraft to transmit photos of Mars back to Earth. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Yuri Gagarin and Fidel Castro, ca. 1960

The WPA Film Library

Yuri Gagarin meets Fidel Castro and other world leaders after his historic flight Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Atlas Missile Test, 1961

The WPA Film Library

Last test before man is sent into space - Atlas missile explodes but capsule lands safely Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Launch of Communication Satellite, 1962

British Pathe

Launch of Telstar Communication satellite Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Space Shuttle Discovery, 1995

The WPA Film Library

Space shuttle Discovery ready to launch - long shots of shuttle and CUs of engine Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Spartan Satellite in Orbit, 1995

The WPA Film Library

Spartan satellite floating over earth - gorgeous Copyright The WPA Film Library.

The Big Picture: Army in Review

Nat'l Archives & Records Administration

The Secretary of the Army Wilber M. Brucker makes an exclusive appearance as a part of a “Report to the People” on the state of the American Army in this episode of the U.S. Army’s The Big Picture television series. At this time the U.S. is associated with 45 other nations in the most powerful system of collective security ever created, and nearly half of the Army’s strength is stationed overseas in 73 countries in support of the nation’s mutual defense commitments. This video from the National Archives and Records Administration will take viewers to many of these 73 countries ranging from the jungle heat of the Canal Zone to the frigid cold of the Arctic Circle. Also included are scenes of the 280 mm Atomic Cannon, the Nike, Honest John, Corporal, and Redstone missiles. (30 minutes) This is archival footage with imperfections throughout.

Geologists on Mars

American Museum Of Natural History

In January 2004, two NASA rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, landed on Mars and began to explore the planet’s surface. Their mission: to probe the exotic Martian geology for signs of water, past or present. In this science bulletin, scientists at NASA explain the goals and challenges of the current Mars mission, and how evidence of water could bolster the possibility that life may once have existed on Mars. From the American Museum of Natural History.

European Space Technology Center, 1968

British Pathe

European Space Technology Center in Netherlands where scientists from various countries work together on space flight/exploration research Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Launch of Apollo 7, 1969

British Pathe

Apollo 7 launch - first manned testing of the Command Service Module. Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Site of the Moon Landing, 1969

British Pathe

selecting Apollo 11 Landing site Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Soviet Unmanned Moon Landing, ca. 1970

The WPA Film Library

Soviet lunakhod (Lunokhod) moon landing - mission controllers and model of the moon lander Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Moon Rocks, 1970

The WPA Film Library

Examination of moon rocks Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Cosmonauts Prepare of Launch of Soyuz, ca. 1975

The WPA Film Library

Soyuz astronauts prepare for take off for the Apollo-Soyuz linkup; Cosmonauts; Soviet Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Apollo and Soyuz, ca. 1975

The WPA Film Library

Apollo-Soyuz Copyright The WPA Film Library.

Aliens

BBC Worldwide Learning

At the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, a submarine observes extraordinary life forms that thrive without heat or light. Organisms like these have raised expectations about Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. Patterns in Europa’s surface ice suggest that, far below, aquatic life is possible. This program also assesses another compelling clue in the search for extraterrestrial biology: if bacteria breathing toxic gas can live in a desolate Mexican cave, could similar creatures also survive in newly discovered caves on Mars? Despite these tantalizing scenarios, the film culminates in a celebration of life on Earth—in all its beauty, diversity, and sophistication, still the greatest wonder of the solar system. A BBC/Science Channel Co-production. Part of the series Seven Wonders of the Solar System. (50 minutes)

Man in Space (Rockets!)

History Education

This program from the series Rockets! is the story of the Space Race. This episode focuses on the quest to build gigantic rockets that would power men to the moon. The Russian aerospace engineer Sergei Korolev took the early lead, building the first rockets that took satellites into space and men into orbit. President Kennedy found it unthinkable that America would fall behind and committed the nation to reaching the moon first. Distributed by A&E Television Networks. (48 minutes)

Light Speed (The Universe)

History Education

This program addresses light speed and the phenomena it enables, as well as ways scientists envision breaking the “light barrier.” Could the interstellar travel of science fiction one day become a reality? Distributed by A&E Television Networks. A part of the series The Universe. (45 minutes)