Apollo 11 Moon Landing
It’s been the subject of countless songs, books, movies—and a whole slew of new television programs and documentaries.
So in case you’ve been under a moonrock, the momentous 50th anniversary of mankind’s first visit to the moon happens next week.
As the world watched, Apollo 11’s three astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins blasted off July 16, 1969 and reached Earth’s moon four days later.
For those wanting to immerse themselves in the history of the glorious achievement, here are some of the programs about the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.
Although some have already aired, you may be able to catch them streaming.
“American Experience: Chasing the Moon,” PBS
The three-part, six-hour documentary examines the space race from the Soviet Union’s Sputnik launches to the landing at Tranquility Base, putting all the key events into societal context.
“Apollo’s Moon Shot,” Smithsonian Channel
Six episodes airing on Sunday nights chronicle all the Apollo missions through the final one in 1974, with commentary from experts at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum
“Apollo: Missions to the Moon,” National Geographic Channel
This two-hour documentary dissects all the Apollo missions, from the first, involving the tragic launch pad fire deaths of astronauts Roger Chaffee, Virgil (Gus) Grissom and Edward White, through number 17. It features synchronization of 30-track audio from mission control.
“The Day We Walked on the Moon,” Smithsonian Channel
Astronaut Michael Collins, doctor of astrophysics (and Queen guitarist) Brian May along with a host of old NASA hands are among the talking heads in a documentary focusing on the landing itself.
This “Nova” documentary examines what’s actually on the moon, including minerals and underground ice water, along with plans for a more permanent lunar presence.
“Moon Landing: The Lost Tapes,” History, 9 p.m., July 14
The hour-long film features exclusive and rarely seen or heard audio and video including the Apollo 11 astronauts talking to Life magazine before and after their flight.
“8 Days: To the Moon and Back,” PBS, 9 p.m., July 17
In live-read style, actors dressed in spacesuits lip-synch the actual audio from the Apollo 11 cockpit and landing module.
“NASA’s Giant Leaps: Past and Future – Celebrating Apollo 50th As We Go Forward to the Moon,” Science Channel, live from 1-3 p.m. ET July 19
Adam Savage hosts this live broadcast from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum during its three-day outdoor festival celebrating the moon landing. It will feature live reports from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the newly-restored Apollo mission control room at Johnson Space Center in Houston and the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
This documentary looks at various lunar phenomena and influences including eclipses, tides and super moons.
“Apollo 11,” CNN, 6 and 8 p.m., July 20
This stunning feature-length documentary uses recently discovered large-format film to put you right in the middle of the countdown with Mission Control– and with the astronauts on their round-trip voyage.
“Apollo: The Forgotten Films,” Discovery, 8 p.m. July 20, Science Channel (encore) 7 p.m. July 21
Footage from NASA Research Centers, The National Archives and news reports are the sources for a remarkable behind the scenes account of how engineers, scientists and astronauts worked tirelessly to send the first human beings to Earth’s moon.
“Confessions from Space: Apollo,” Discovery, 10 p.m. July 20
This one-hour special hosted by The Explorers Club features Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins and Charlie Duke (Apollo 16), who share insights, experiences, and stories of the greatest adventure mankind has ever undertaken.
