The Human Price of Apollo

Filmmaker Mike Marcucci chronicles the human story of the Apollo lunar module in his forthcoming documentary LM Builders. In this interview excerpt, former Grumman manager Lynn Radcliffe talks about the sacrifices made by the people who built the world's first moonships. Video: Mike Marcucci (2:33)

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Preview thumbnail for video'Space Panorama

Space Panorama is a sparkling recreation of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Standing behind a large black clothed table, accompanied by a narrator and music from Shostakovich's 10th Symphony, we explore this surface and the spaces above it using only hands, arms and upper torso to create a constantly entrancing documentary of the entire mission. (Performed by Andrew Dawson; Narrated by Gavin Robertson; Directed by Jos Houben)

Space Panorama (5:09)

Preview thumbnail for video'Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser

This animation, produced by manufacturer Sierra Nevada, shows Dream Chaser carrying out the mission it was designed for: taking off from Earth, flying to and docking with the International Space Station, and returning. Unlike the two other vehicles competing for the job of space shuttle successor, Dream Chaser has a shape similar to that of its forebear. However, its propulsion is different: Dream Chaser is launched on an Atlas V. On the way to the station, the two stages of the launcher gradually fall away, and from then on, Dream Chaser is powered by its hybrid engines. On the return trip, the vehicle would experience less that 1.5 Gs on reentry into Earth's atmosphere, and would glide to a landing on an airport runway.

Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser (4:01)

Preview thumbnail for video'STS-1: The First Shuttle Landing

Before John Young and Robert Crippen’s STS-1 mission in April 1981, no astronauts had ever landed a spaceship on a runway. In their postflight briefing, Young (the first voice in this clip) and pilot Crippen describe their first-time return of a shuttle from orbit, during which the vehicle executed a series of S-turns, or roll reversals, like a skier slaloming downhill to manage speed.

STS-1: The First Shuttle Landing (5:55)

Preview thumbnail for video'The moon landing was the television event of the decade.

The moon landing was the television event of the decade. (2:41)

Preview thumbnail for video'“Determination of Azimuth”

“Determination of Azimuth” (1:34)

Preview thumbnail for video'New Shepard’s First Flight

Blue Origin, the space company started by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2000, flew its suborbital New Shepard spaceship for the first time on April 29, from the company’s west Texas launch range. The test flight to an altitude of 307,000 feet was reportedly a success. Blue Origin plans eventually to use New Shepard for 12-minute tourist rides to space.

New Shepard’s First Flight (2:29)

Preview thumbnail for video'STS-31: Launching Hubble

One of the space shuttle’s great achievements was launching and periodically servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, the most powerful astronomical instrument in history. Here the crew of STS-31, starting with astronomer-turned-astronaut Steve Hawley, explains the delicate teamwork required to remove Hubble from the shuttle’s cargo bay and leave it in orbit.

STS-31: Launching Hubble (4:57)

Preview thumbnail for video'Triple Transit

Three of Jupiter's large moons (from left: Europa, Callisto, and Io) cross the face of the planet in this time-lapse view of Hubble Space Telescope images taken during a 42-minute stretch on January 24, 2015. Such triple transits are rarely seen. (Video: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team and G. Bacon - STScI/AURA)

Triple Transit (0:05)

Preview thumbnail for video'The X-37B Returns After Two Years

The X-37B Returns After Two Years (0:32)

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