Chasing the Moon: American Experience anchors programming lineup marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing
Vegas PBS is announcing a celestial programming spectacle sure to excite any space enthusiast. A Summer of Space multi platform experience, anchored by the highly anticipated American Experience six-hour film Chasing the Moon, and including new science and history programs, will begin in July timed to the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Chasing the Moon, written, produced and directed by Academy Award nominee Robert Stone, premieres Monday-Wednesday, July 8-10, 9:00-11:00 p.m. The film tells the story of the space race, from its earliest beginnings to the monumental achievement of the first lunar landing in 1969.
In addition to Chasing the Moon, the Summer of Space lineup brings five new programs that cover different areas of space exploration combined with the best of PBS’ encore space-themed programming and PBS Digital Studios content. Antiques Roadshow kicks off the lineup on July 8 at 8:00 p.m., commemorating the 50th anniversary with the premiere of an all-new Out of This World special episode featuring stellar appraisals that include NASA memorabilia, space travel treasures, science fiction finds and more.
Viewers will take a unique journey with the crew of Apollo 11 for their eight-day, three-hour, 18-minute and 35-second mission in 8 Days: To the Moon and Back, a new documentary from BBC Studios, co-produced with PBS premiering July 17 at 9:00 p.m. Rare mission audio takes viewers inside the spacecraft on its historic journey. The film seamlessly blends this authentic mission audio, featuring candid conversations between Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins with newly shot studio footage, NASA and news archive, and stunning CGI recreation of the journey and landing to tell this amazing story in a riveting new way.
NOVA will present two new specials. On July 10 at 8:00 p.m., join the next generation of engineers who aim to take us Back to the Moon as a stepping stone for future human missions to Mars, the Asteroid Belt and beyond. On July 24 at 9:00 p.m., The Planets treats viewers to an up-close look at some faraway worlds, including the dark side of Pluto, an ancient Martian waterfall and the storm twice the size of Earth seen from high above Saturn, revealing how each of them has affected our own planet.
In the three-part Ancient Skies, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. beginning July 24, audiences will discover how centuries of knowledge, experimentation and engineering helped our ancestors explore outer space. Expert contributors and indigenous storytellers demystify astronomical myths with scientific explanations.
Summer of Space programs will stream following each broadcast and be available on all PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video App, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast. PBS station members can view episodes via Passport (contact Vegas PBS for details). Summer of Space classroom-ready materials will also be available for educators and students on PBS LearningMedia.
The Summer of Space interactive hub will be housed on PBS.org. Throughout the summer, viewers are invited to submit videos, photographs, audio recordings, or text entries about how they experienced the Apollo mission and/or about their interest in space exploration in general.
Encore Programs: Additional encore programs as part of PBS’ Summer of Space are included below:
Space Men: American Experience,Tuesday, July 9, 8:00 p.m.,Learn about Project Manhigh, which laid the groundwork for the U.S. space program.
A Year in Space,Wednesday, July 17 at 8 p.m., Follow astronaut Scott Kelly’s 12-month mission on the International Space Station.
Beyond a Year in Space,Tuesday, July 30 at 10 p.m, Meet the next generation of astronauts training to travel into deep space.
The Farthest – Voyager in Space,Wednesday, July 31 at 10 p.m., Learn how NASA’s Voyager mission revolutionized our understanding of distant planets.
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