NOVA (1974)

Episode Overview

In this gripping narrative, Apollo astronauts and engineers share the untold story behind Apollo 8, the inaugural crewed mission to the moon. Following the tragic Apollo 1 fire during a pre-launch rehearsal, NASA faced turmoil and the looming threat of Soviet dominance in the space race. In a bold move, they transformed Apollo 8 from a mission aimed at orbiting Earth to an audacious journey to the moon, employing untested technologies. A half-century later, the brave astronauts and engineers reflect on the innovative engineering triumphs that made this monumental achievement possible.