When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions
Overview
A miniseries documenting American human spaceflight, spanning from the first Mercury flights through the Gemini program to the Apollo moon landings, the Space Shuttle, and the construction of the International Space Station. It was created in association with NASA to commemorate the agency's fiftieth anniversary in 2008.
Key Crew
Producer: Dan Hall, Richard Dale
Top Cast
Seasons
Season 0 ()
No overview available.
31 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: Freedom 7
May 5, 1961, Astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. pilots the Freedom 7 capsule to become the first American in space. Covering 300 miles and lasting just 15 minutes, this suborbital flight etched Shepard's name in our collective minds.
Runtime: 28 minEpisode 2: Friendship 7: John Glenn
On February 20, 1962, Astronaut John Glenn pilots the Friendship 7 and becomes the first American to orbit the Earth. Relive launch footage from Cape Canaveral, including the exhilarating moments of re-entry, landing and recovery.
Runtime: 58 minEpisode 3: Proud Conquest: Gemini VII and VI
On December 15, 1965, NASA achieves a rendezvous in Earth orbit with two piloted spacecraft. Gemini 7, with Command Pilot Frank F. Borman II and Pilot James A. Lovell Jr., already in space for more than 10 days, meets with Gemini 6, guided by Command Pilot Walter M. Schirra and Pilot Thomas P. Stafford.
Runtime: 29 minEpisode 4: Apollo 8 Debrief
On December 21, 1968, Apollo 8 blasts into space aboard a Saturn V rocket with Mission Commander Borman, Command Module Pilot Lovell and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders. Their mission: to embark on the first flight around the Moon, preparing for those who would later land on its surface.
Runtime: 27 minEpisode 5: The Flight of Apollo 11
Apollo 11, with Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin, becomes the first mission to land humans on the Moon on July 20, 1969. The daring mission fulfilled President John F. Kennedy's goal expressed in his thrilling 1961 speech, "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth."
Runtime: 28 minEpisode 6: NASA FILM HIGHLIGHTS: Four Days of Gemini 4
A brief clip of Ed White - the first American to take a spacewalk as he exits the craft into space for the first time.
Runtime: 7 minEpisode 7: Michael Collins: Astronaut
Interview from NASA's Archives: Michael Collins, Astronaut.
Runtime: 4 minEpisode 8: Joe Kosmo: Space Suit Engineer / Designer
Interview from NASA's Archives: Joe Kosmo, Space Suit Engineer/Designer.
Runtime: 2 minEpisode 9: Mercury Training
Mission Clip: Mercury Training
Runtime: 3 minEpisode 10: Ed White's Extravehicular Activity
Mission Clip: Gemini 4
Runtime: 3 minEpisode 11: Gemini 6 and 7 Rendezvous
Mission Clip: Gemini 6 and 7
Runtime: 2 minEpisode 12: Gemini 8 Docking with Agena
Mission Clip: Gemini 8
Runtime: 1 minEpisode 13: Gemini 9 Docking Attempt
Mission Clip: Gemini 9
Runtime: 1 minEpisode 14: NASA FILM HIGHLIGHTS: Apollo 13: Houston, We've Got A Problem
Highlights from the NASA film: Apollo 13: Houston, We've Got A Problem
Runtime: 9 minEpisode 15: Al Bean: Astronaut
Interview from NASA's Archives: Al Bean, Astronaut
Runtime: 3 minEpisode 16: Gene Kranz: Flight Director
Interview from NASA's Archives: Gene Kranz, Flight Director
Runtime: 5 minEpisode 17: Apollo 8: Launch & Stage Separation Sequences
Mission Clip: Apollo 8 Launch & Stage Separation Sequences
Runtime: 2 minEpisode 18: Apollo 8: Lunar & Earth Orbit
Mission Clip: Apollo 8 Lunar & Earth Orbit
Runtime: 2 minEpisode 19: Apollo 9: LM in Earth Orbit
Mission Clip: Apollo 9 LM in Earth Orbit
Runtime: 1 minEpisode 20: Apollo 11: Astronauts Return & Parade
Mission Clip: Apollo 11 Astronauts Return & Parade
Runtime: 2 minEpisode 21: Apollo 16: Rover Test Drive
Mission Clip: Apollo 16 Rover Test Drive
Runtime: 2 minEpisode 22: Apollo 17: Night Launch
Mission Clip: Apollo 17 Night Launch
Runtime: 1 minEpisode 23: NASA FILM HIGHLIGHTS: Skylab: The First 40 Days
Highlights from the NASA Film: Skylab: The 40 First Days
Runtime: 8 minEpisode 24: Shannon Lucid: Astronaut
Interview from NASA's Archives: Shannon Lucid, Astronaut
Runtime: 3 minEpisode 25: James Crocker: Aerospace Engineer
Interview from NASA's Archives: James Crocker, Aerospace Engineer
Runtime: 2 minEpisode 26: Skylab Tour
Mission Clip: Skylab Tour
Runtime: 2 minEpisode 27: Skylab Zero Gravity
Mission Clip: Skylab Zero Gravity
Runtime: 2 minEpisode 28: Shuttle STS-1 Launch
Mission Clip: Shuttle STS-1 Launch
Runtime: 2 minEpisode 29: Shuttle STS-1 Landing
Mission Clip: Shuttle STS-1 Landing
Runtime: 1 minEpisode 30: Shuttle STS-31 Hubble Deployment
Mission Clip: Shuttle STS-31 Hubble Deployment
Runtime: 1 minEpisode 31: Shuttle STS-61 Hubble Repair
Mission Clip: Shuttle STS-61 Hubble Repair
Runtime: 1 min
Season 1 (2008)
No overview available.
6 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: Ordinary Supermen
2008-06-08NASA selects seven men to become the first astronauts. They're all test pilots, prepared to risk their lives. No one has ever survived a vertical launch on top of a rocket, but it's the only way they know to put an astronaut into earth orbit. NASA and America's first astronauts, the Mercury Seven, are on a journey into the unknown. Six of the men ride into space, each launch taking NASA further forward in their quest to conquer space.
Runtime: 48 minEpisode 2: Friends and Rivals
2008-06-08Nine new astronauts arrive at NASA - their mission, to test all the procedures required to land men on the moon and bring them safely back to earth. Each Gemini mission launches two men into space, leading to some of NASA's greatest moments - Ed White's spacewalk, the first orbital rendezvous of Gemini 6 and 7, and Neil Armstrong's first space docking.
Runtime: 49 minEpisode 3: Landing the Eagle
2008-06-15The Apollo program is set to achieve the ultimate prize of the Space Race, landing men on the moon. But a fire breaks out in the pressurized capsule of Apollo 1, resulting in the deaths of three beloved astronauts. However, NASA rebounds, launching men into deep space and landing Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon.
Runtime: 51 minEpisode 4: The Explorers
2008-06-15Apollo 13 puts the astronauts to the ultimate test, returning a damaged spacecraft back safely to earth. Apollo 17 sends man for the longest mission yet to the surface of the moon, but it's the last lunar mission for generations. Now, it's time for a new phase in the program. Converting an unused Saturn V rocket, NASA launches Skylab, America's first space-station.
Runtime: 49 minEpisode 5: The Shuttle
2008-06-22For its first 20 years, NASA launches capsules carrying a maximum of three people. But new requirements for a bigger cargo bay prompt a breakthrough in spacecraft design. The development of the re-usable shuttle leads to a revolutionary approach to space travel. Meanwhile, the pioneers of NASA's manned programs are leading the way into the modern era of the space-age.
Runtime: 48 minEpisode 6: Home In Space
2008-06-22One of the most complex instruments ever built, the Hubble Space Telescope is expected to transform our understanding of the Universe. But once it is in orbit NASA discovers a serious problem, a defective main mirror. NASA sends a team of astronauts to fix the problem in its greatest and highest profile mission since the Apollo era. It gives NASA the confidence to begin construction on the International Space Station.
Runtime: 49 min
