Rocket Science (miniseries)

Episodes

Disc 1

• The Rocketeers — the history of the X series of aircraft, with emphasis on the Bell X-1 and on the North American X-15 spaceplanes, and on Chuck Yeager's role in breaking the sound barrier.
• The Last Empty Sky — the development of the rocket: 1920 to 1957. The episode mentions Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Hermann Oberth, Robert Goddard, Wernher von Braun, and Sergey Korolyov as the key figures in development of multistage liquid-fueled rockets.
• The High Ground — the first artificial satellite and the first humans in space. The episode mentions Soviet Sputnik program, the R-7 rocket, the American Vanguard, Redstone and Atlas rockets and the project Mercury.
• Mercury Rising — Project Mercury and first American astronauts.

  Disc 2

• Missiles to the Moon - John F. Kennedy issues the challenge. America prepares to compete with the Soviets by declaring a landing on the Moon before the end of the decade.
• The Learning Curve - NASA invents space travel with Project Gemini, learning docking, space walking and rendezvous.
• Go Fever - The disaster of Apollo 1 puts NASA on track for the Moon. Go Fever takes over.
• Ten Times Faster Than A Rifle Bullet - The birth of the Saturn V.

  Disc 3

• We Choose To Go To The Moon - The slow and painful birth of the first true spaceship and the Apollo 8 Christmas voyage around the Moon.
• Before This Decade is Out - Apollo 11 and the first steps on the Moon.
• The Universe Strikes Back - Apollo 11 had been a near miss. Apollo 12 and Apollo 13 were near disasters.
• The Last Man On The Moon - The era of the space cowboy comes to an end.

  Awards

Reception