Neil Armstrong Walks on the Moon
On July 20, 1969, at 10:56 p.m. EDT, American astronaut Neil Armstrong, 240,000 miles from Earth, communicates with Mission Control as he takes "one small step" off the Eagle landing module and onto the moon.
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Neil Armstrong Walks on the Moon
Neil Armstrong Walks on the MoonAudio Clip (4:19)
Audio Clip (4:19)
On July 20, 1969, at 10:56 p.m. EDT, American astronaut Neil Armstrong, 240,000 miles from Earth, communicates with Mission Control as he takes "one small step" off the Eagle landing module and onto the moon.
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Christmas Eve Broadcast to Earth
Christmas Eve Broadcast to EarthAudio Clip (0:36)
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On December 24, 1968, astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders entered into lunar orbit aboard the Apollo 8 spacecraft. That evening, in a live radio and television transmission, Borman reads a passage from the Book of Genesis.
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Apollo 1 Tragedy
Apollo 1 TragedyAudio Clip (0:41)
Audio Clip (0:41)
At a press conference the day after the January 27, 1967, Apollo 1 accident, a NASA spokesperson explains the cause of the flash fire that broke out inside the cabin of the spacecraft during a launch pad test. The vehicle was being prepared for the first piloted space flight. The tragedy ended in the deaths of all three astronauts on board: Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom, Lt. Col. Edward H. White and Roger B. Chaffee.
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Ford Phones Apollo Astronauts
Ford Phones Apollo AstronautsAudio Clip (8:14)
Audio Clip (8:14)
On July 17, 1975, President Gerald Ford speaks by telephone to the Apollo astronauts following their rendezvous and docking with the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. This was the first joint orbital mission between the two superpowers, and it helped pave the way for further cooperation in the exploration of space.
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First American Woman in Space
First American Woman in SpaceAudio Clip (0:50)
Audio Clip (0:50)
Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space when the shuttle Challenger takes off on June 18, 1983. The historical moment is noted in communication just after liftoff.
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First Space Shuttle Launched
First Space Shuttle LaunchedAudio Clip (3:00)
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On April 12, 1981, NASA launched the world's first reusable manned spacecraft. In the minutes before takeoff, Kennedy Space Center launch control communicates with astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen as they prepare to take Columbia on its first test flight into space and back.
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Monkeys Travel to Space
Monkeys Travel to SpaceAudio Clip (2:00)
Audio Clip (2:00)
On May 28, 1959, in an experiment that would lead the way to manned space flight, the United States launched two monkeys to an altitude of 300 miles. A Voice of America news report details the travels of the two primates who survived the space flight and were the first in history to return safely to Earth.
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Voyager Spacecraft 30 Years Later
Voyager Spacecraft 30 Years LaterAudio Clip (1:12)
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As the twin Voyager spacecraft prepare to embark on an extended mission to explore interstellar space in 2006, project scientist Ed Stone of California Institute of Technology recaps the major discoveries the Voyagers have made since their launch in 1977.
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Viking 1 Lands on Mars
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Audio Clip (0:20)
On July 20, 1976, NASA's Viking 1 becomes the first spacecraft to send back detailed pictures from the surface of Mars. A NASA control room recording captures the excitement of the moment.
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George W. Bush on the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
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On February 1, 2003, the space shuttle Columbia was 16 minutes away from touchdown after completing its 28th mission when a damaged heat protection tile caused the shuttle to incinerate, killing all seven crew members. Later that day, President George W. Bush informs the nation about the terrible disaster.
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John Glenn Orbits the Earth
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Footage of John Glenn's historic orbit around the Earth on Friendship 7.
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One Small Step...
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Compare existing footage with newly restored video of Neil Armstrong's historic first steps off of the lunar module and onto the surface of the moon. From NASA.
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The Apollo 11 Plaque
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See existing footage alongside newly restored video of Neil Armstrong reading the commemorative plaque affixed to the lunar module. From NASA.
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Ask Steve: The Space Program
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In this video clip from Ask Steve, the reason for Americans interest in the Space Program was explored. It is explained that competition, and the technological wonder of the space race were some of the reasons for the Americans interest.
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Apollo 11 Moonwalk Montage
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See the highlights of the July 20, 1969 Apollo 11 moonwalk in newly restored raw footage. From NASA.
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Buzz Aldrin Sets Foot on the Moon
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Compare existing footage with newly restored video of Buzz Aldrin descending the lunar module ladder. From NASA.
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The Universe: Dark Future of the Sun
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It's the apocalyptic finale of our galactic neighborhood. Sizzling clues hint at our own sun's violent demise and the precarious prospects for planet Earth.
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The Universe: Mercury and Venus - The Inner Planets
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Scorched by their proximity to the sun, Mercury and Venus are hostile worlds, prime examples of planets gone awry. Do they serve as a warning for ominous scenarios that might someday threaten Earth?
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The Universe: Extreme Energy
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Electrical, thermal, kinetic and magnetic are just a few forms of energy that keep our universe in perfect equilibrium.
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The Universe: Mars - The New Evidence
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In the last few years, the red planet has revealed many new clues indicating that life may have once existed there and may even exist there today.
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