Space Shuttle: The Last Mission (4:55)
In 2011, NASA sent a space shuttle into space for the last time. Get all the facts on the history of the U.S. space shuttle program.
Videos (25)
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Space Shuttle: The Last Mission
Space Shuttle: The Last MissionVideo Clip (4:55)
Video Clip (4:55)
In 2011, NASA sent a space shuttle into space for the last time. Get all the facts on the history of the U.S. space shuttle program.
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The First Space Shuttle Flight
The First Space Shuttle FlightVideo Clip (3:22)
Video Clip (3:22)
On April 12, 1981, NASA launched the first space shuttle into orbit.
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Space: JFK's New Frontier
Space: JFK's New FrontierVideo Clip (3:55)
Video Clip (3:55)
On February 20, 1962, Colonel John Glenn became the first human to orbit the earth, launching the manned space program.
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The Space Race
The Space RaceVideo Clip (2:58)
Video Clip (2:58)
The U.S. competition with the U.S.S.R. for technological dominance spurred the U.S. on to the first-ever landing on the Moon.
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The Moon Hoax
The Moon HoaxVideo Clip (1:01)
Video Clip (1:01)
The moon was once believed to be inhabited by winged human beings and bouncing creatures. Timothy Dickinson tells us where this myth came from.
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Space Race: Cold War Front
Space Race: Cold War FrontVideo Clip (4:21)
Video Clip (4:21)
A brief look at the Space Race, set to "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf.
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Aldrin Explains Moment of Moon Landing
Aldrin Explains Moment of Moon LandingVideo Clip (2:52)
Video Clip (2:52)
In this Tech Effect video, brought to you by the History Channel, Buzz Aldrin talks about the moment when he landed on the moon with Neil Armstrong in Apollo 11. Aldrin says that they didn't have time to celebrate until later.
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Apollo 11 Moonwalk Montage
Apollo 11 Moonwalk MontageVideo Clip (2:00)
Video Clip (2:00)
See the highlights of the July 20, 1969 Apollo 11 moonwalk in newly restored raw footage. From NASA.
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Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster
Challenger Space Shuttle DisasterVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
See how one tiny mishap can spell disaster for one of the most complex machines ever engineered.
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Evolution of the Saturn V Rocket
Evolution of the Saturn V RocketVideo Clip (2:09)
Video Clip (2:09)
In this Tech Effect video, brought to you by the History Channel, Buzz Aldrin talks about the development of the Saturn V rocket. NASA developed the rocket in evolutionary stages, which was different than they had done with the previous rockets.
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Germans Test V-2 Rockets
Germans Test V-2 RocketsVideo Clip (2:50)
Video Clip (2:50)
In a History Uncut video, view footage of Germany's experimentation with V-2 rockets in the year 1942.
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Buzz Aldrin on Future of Space Exploration
Buzz Aldrin on Future of Space ExplorationVideo Clip (0:38)
Video Clip (0:38)
In this Tech Effect video, brought to you by the History Channel, Buzz Aldrin talks about the future of space exploration. He says that we need to maintain a space presence to compete with nations like China and that we need to go to Mars.
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Ask Steve: The Space Program
Ask Steve: The Space ProgramVideo Clip (1:34)
Video Clip (1:34)
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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How Russia Challenged the U.S. in the Space Race
How Russia Challenged the U.S. in the Space RaceVideo Clip (2:45)
Video Clip (2:45)
In this Tech Effect video, brought to you by the History Channel, Buzz Aldrin talks about how competition with the Soviets in the 1960s spurred the American development of the Saturn V rocket and created excitement around the space program.
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Rendezvous in Space
Rendezvous in SpaceVideo Clip (3:08)
Video Clip (3:08)
In this Tech Effect video, brought to you by the History Channel, Buzz Aldrin talks about how essential communication with Earth was during the early space missions he was on, including Gemini and Apollo.
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History Rewind: Chimp In Space
History Rewind: Chimp In SpaceVideo Clip (1:53)
Video Clip (1:53)
Rewind Breaking News The History Channel: This is the story of Ham, the first hominid to be launched into space. Ham the chimp is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida in a Project Mercury Redstone rocket.
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JFK Sets Goal for Man on Moon
JFK Sets Goal for Man on MoonVideo Clip (1:56)
Video Clip (1:56)
John F. Kennedy's sets the goal of the United States to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth.
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Aldrin's Favorite Moment on the Moon
Aldrin's Favorite Moment on the MoonVideo Clip (0:59)
Video Clip (0:59)
In this Tech Effect video, brought to you by the History Channel, Buzz Aldrin talks about his favorite moment from the Apollo 11 moon landing. His favorite moment is right after they landed before any pictures were taken.
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Difficulty of Landing on the Moon
Difficulty of Landing on the MoonVideo Clip (2:24)
Video Clip (2:24)
In this video clip from Tech Effect, Buzz Aldrin explains the difficulties they had landing on the lunar surface. After being distracted by computer alarms on board, the landing area appeared close to a crater and boulder field.
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Buzz Aldrin on Apollo's Effect on America
Buzz Aldrin on Apollo's Effect on AmericaVideo Clip (0:52)
Video Clip (0:52)
In this Tech Effect video, brought to you by the History Channel, Buzz Aldrin talks about the how the Apollo effort inspired America, created new jobs for engineers and scientists, and increased America's standing in the world.
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Atlantis Docking Mission, 1995
Atlantis Docking Mission, 1995Video Clip (1:47)
Video Clip (1:47)
In this History Uncut video clip, watch actual video footage of the Atlantis spacecraft's docking mission in June 1995. Listen and see the crew as they prepare to land and say goodbye to their spacecraft.
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Buzz Aldrin Tells How Space Suits Worked
Buzz Aldrin Tells How Space Suits WorkedVideo Clip (2:25)
Video Clip (2:25)
In this Tech Effect video, brought to you by the History Channel, Buzz Aldrin talks about the space suits they wore during their missions. He talks about how the suits used liquid cooled underwear and other advanced technologies.
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Space Station Arm
Space Station ArmVideo Clip (3:27)
Video Clip (3:27)
A brief look at the Canadarm 2, and its functionality at the International Space Station
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Hubble Telescope Troubles
Hubble Telescope TroublesVideo Clip (2:06)
Video Clip (2:06)
How could one of the most complex and expensive optical instruments ever built be near-sighted? See how astronauts became eye doctors to bring things into focus.
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The Satellite: Invention of War
The Satellite: Invention of WarVideo Clip (2:10)
Video Clip (2:10)
During the Cold War, the U.S. and the Soviet Union were in a military race on all fronts. However, it was the Russians who launched the first satellite, Sputnik.
Photo Galleries (2)
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Space Race
Space Race(13 Photos)
13 Photos
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John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy(20 Photos)
20 Photos
See pictures from the life and presidency of John F. Kennedy.
Speeches & Audio (17)
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NASA Introduces Mercury Astronauts
NASA Introduces Mercury AstronautsAudio Clip (0:56)
Audio Clip (0:56)
At a press conference in Washington, D.C., on April 9, 1959, NASA introduces the Mercury Seven to the public. The seven astronauts, selected from a pool of 508 military test pilots, were chosen for the newly formed Manned Space Program.
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Yuri Gagarin Is First Man in Space
Yuri Gagarin Is First Man in SpaceAudio Clip (1:06)
Audio Clip (1:06)
On April 12, 1961, aboard the spacecraft Vostok 1, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space. A melodramatic telling details Gagarin's historic flight.
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The First Space Flight by a Woman
The First Space Flight by a WomanAudio Clip (0:35)
Audio Clip (0:35)
Radio Moscow announces the historic flight of the first woman in outer space. On June 16, 1963, aboard Vostok 6, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova completed 48 orbits of Earth in 71 hours.
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Flight of Faith 7 Spacecraft
Flight of Faith 7 SpacecraftAudio Clip (2:04)
Audio Clip (2:04)
Thirty minutes into the Faith 7 spaceflight, a NASA spokesperson recaps the trajectory of the craft after it was launched into orbit just after 8:00 a.m. on May 16, 1963. On board was Gordon Cooper, who became the first American astronaut to spend over 24 hours in space.
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USSR Lands First Lunar Spacecraft
USSR Lands First Lunar SpacecraftAudio Clip (0:19)
Audio Clip (0:19)
With Cold War tensions on the rise, NASA's Werhner Von Braun announces the Soviet Union's moon landing, marking Russia's lead in the space race. On February 3, 1966, the unmanned Russian spacecraft Luna 9 touched down on the Ocean of Storms.
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Apollo 9 Completes Spacewalk
Apollo 9 Completes SpacewalkAudio Clip (0:48)
Audio Clip (0:48)
After Apollo 9's launch on March 3, 1969, the crew communicates with Mission Control from space. The Apollo 9 mission was a crucial test run for the Apollo 11 moon landing three months later.
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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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Apollo 13 Emergency Radio Transmission
Apollo 13 Emergency Radio TransmissionAudio Clip (0:12)
Audio Clip (0:12)
On April 13, 1970, James Lovell, Jr., John Swigert, Jr., and Fred Haise, Jr., were en route to the Moon aboard Apollo 13 when disaster struck 200,000 miles from earth.
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Final Apollo Mission Leaves Moon
Final Apollo Mission Leaves MoonAudio Clip (1:25)
Audio Clip (1:25)
In December 1972, Apollo 17 communicates with Mission Control on the final trip to the moon, marking the end of the Apollo lunar landing program.
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John Glenn Returns to Space
John Glenn Returns to SpaceAudio Clip (0:46)
Audio Clip (0:46)
On October 29, 1998, the NASA Mission Control countdown of the launch of space shuttle Discovery remarks on the historic return to space by crew member John Glenn. Four decades earlier, Glenn had been the first American to orbit Earth.
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U.S. and Soviets Link Up in Space
U.S. and Soviets Link Up in SpaceAudio Clip (1:34)
Audio Clip (1:34)
U.N. Secretary General Kurt Waldheim congratulates the American and Soviet astronauts for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. On July 17, 1975, Commanders Thomas P. Safford and Aleksei Leonov shook hands in space.
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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 Space Shuttle Launched
First Space Shuttle LaunchedAudio Clip (3:00)
Audio Clip (3:00)
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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George W. Bush on the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
George W. Bush on the Space Shuttle Columbia DisasterAudio Clip (3:15)
Audio Clip (3:15)
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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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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First American Woman in Space
First American Woman in SpaceAudio Clip (0:49)
Audio Clip (0:49)
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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Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster
Columbia Space Shuttle DisasterAudio Clip (0:31)
Audio Clip (0:31)
On February 1, 2003, the space shuttle Columbia was returning from its 28th mission when, 16 minutes to touchdown, the shuttle incinerated and broke apart over Texas. Communication between the Columbia crew and Mission Control captures the last moments of the flight.
Interactives (2)
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Interactive Universe
Interactive UniverseInteractive
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Facts about the Universe
Facts about the UniverseInteractive
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