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TVPGSpace Disasters44mSmithsonian Channel

Launching a spacecraft is hard, but U.S. and Soviet disasters show that getting safely back to Earth is even harder; engineers face huge challenges for a safe splashdown.

Launching a spacecraft is hard, but U.S. and Soviet disasters show that getting safely back to Earth is even harder; engineers face huge challenges for a safe splashdown.

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Space Disasters

"First Generation"

The U.S. and Soviet Union's early space programs face incredible engineering challenges, but catastrophic losses are converted into victories of engineering and the human spirit.

Space Disasters

"Fixing on the Fly"

Trouble-shooting in space can be a matter of life and death, from deep-space collisions to deadly chemical leaks; astronauts are forced to innovate to survive.

Space Disasters

"Failure at Re-Entry"

Launching a spacecraft is hard, but U.S. and Soviet disasters show that getting safely back to Earth is even harder; engineers face huge challenges for a safe splashdown.

Space Disasters

"The Human Factor"

There's no escaping human error, no matter how good the technology. A look at the tragedies and missteps in the attempt to conquer space - as well as the knowledge gained from these tragedies.

A tribute to the bold men and women who put their lives on the line in order to get a foothold in space, sometimes with disastrous results.
Genres: DocuseriesTV Series
Rating: TVPG
Playback: HD
1 seasons available on demand
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