On Saturday 30 May, after bad weather halted the first attempt a few days earlier, history was made when NASA launched the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The event marked the first crewed space mission to be launched into orbit from U.S. soil since 2011 and the first commercially built spacecraft, initiating a new era in human spaceflight.
With unprecedented access, Discovery documented the event, and now viewers will be able to experience this momentous occasion like never before with two 2-hour specials set to air next weekend.
Space Launch: America Returns To Space premiering Sunday 14 June at 8:30pm take viewers inside NASA and SpaceX’s joint mission to launch veteran astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station (ISS) on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
The coverage features appearances by global superstar Katy Perry, TV and Internet personality Adam Savage, former NASA engineer and YouTube sensation Mark Rober and more. It also includes expert insight by former astronauts Mike Massimino and Karen Nyberg; active astronauts Jessica Meir and K. Megan McArthur and; NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine as well as an interview with Astronaut Chris Cassidy from the International Space Station (ISS).
Having secured more access to the event that any other network, not only does Discovery take viewers inside this historic launch, but also showcases the incredible achievements of those who made it happen. Discovery spent over a year documenting SpaceX’s race to become the first private company to launch American astronauts into space.
In the lead up to the launch special on Sunday night, Discovery will air the 2-hour documentary, NASA & SpaceX: Journey To The Future on Saturday 13 June 8:30pm which charts the incredible journey to the launch. With unprecedented and exclusive access to NASA and the SpaceX headquarters, the documentary gives viewers a rare glimpse inside Launch Control and first-hand accounts from SpaceX Founder and Chief Engineer Elon Musk, Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. NASA & SpaceX: Journey To The Future reveals the behind-the-scenes action with the teams of SpaceX engineers, NASA employees and scientists as they fulfill the SpaceX mission to “fly, test, and fix” their way to the ISS – with the goal of eventually flying to the moon and to Mars.
Space Launch: America Returns To Space
Australian Premiere (1×120) – Stream or watch Sunday 14 June at 8:30pm on Discovery
NASA & SpaceX: Journey To The Future
Australian Premiere (1×120) – Stream or watch Saturday 13 June at 8:30pm on Discovery
Discovery is available on Foxtel & Fetch
