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October 9, 2002

Season 1

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01. 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.

October 9, 2002
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02. 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.

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03. 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.

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04. Mercury Rising

Project Mercury and first American astronauts.

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05. 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.

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06. The Learning Curve

NASA invents space travel with Project Gemini, learning docking, space walking and rendezvous.

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07. Go Fever

The disaster of Apollo 1 puts NASA on track for the Moon. Go Fever takes over.

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08. Ten Times Faster Than A Rifle Bullet

The birth of the Saturn V.

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09. 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.

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10. Before This Decade is Out

Apollo 11 and the first steps on the Moon.

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11. The Universe Strikes Back

Apollo 11 had been a near miss. Apollo 12 and Apollo 13 were near disasters.

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12. The Last Man On The Moon

The era of the space cowboy comes to an end.