From Mercury to Gemini, from Apollo to Curiosity, NASA's giant leaps in engineering and science over the last 60 years have been nothing short of astronomical. Blast off on a celestial voyage as we explore the first half-century of the Space Age. Celebrate the triumphs, lament the tragedies, and learn how modern engineers are using the past as a blueprint, refining yesterday's technologies in hopes of sending humans off to Mars and beyond. (Source: Smithsonian Channel)
Episode Info
A mission to Mars may seem like the stuff of science fiction, but NASA is working to make it a reality. But one big question remains: can the human body withstand this 34-million-mile odyssey? See how modern science is preparing today's astronauts for our next adventures into the deadly void of outer space. The experiences of our first astronauts are helping engineers create new technology to overcome the biggest obstacle to long-term space travel: our human bodies.