A Place Beyond the Sky - Part 1
Documentary stories detailing America's determination to put a man on the moon ahead of Soviet Russia, beginning with how the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 compelled the USA to join the Space Race.
On 4 October 1957, Soviet scientists launched Sputnik 1 - a beach ball-sized, radio-transmitting aluminium alloy sphere - into orbit. The satellite caused a sensation. Amid Cold War tensions, the Soviet Union鈥檚 accomplishment signalled a dramatic technological advantage and American felt it had little choice but to join the Space Race.
Then on 12 April 1961, the Soviets sealed their advantage when cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit the Earth. John F Kennedy, the newly elected president, was faced with the issue of how to respond. Two days later, he called a meeting to find an American space programme that would promise equally dramatic results. Rocket manufacturer, and former Nazi, Wernher von Braun, convinced Kennedy that the Americans could beat the Russians to the Moon before the decade was out and the Saturn programme was born.
A film By Robert Stone.
A Robert Stone Production for American Experience WGBH/PBS in association with Arte France.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Credit
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Stone |
Broadcasts
Featured in...
![]()
The Space Collection
A collection of programmes exploring space travel, science and distant planets.
![]()
成人快手 Four Space Season
A host of new and archive programmes to mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landings.
![]()
The Race for Space
A collection of programmes celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
