"In a unique, unprecedented collaboration, Discovery Channel set out to tell the story of humankind's greatest adventure by sourcing, restoring and transferring to crystal clear high definition over 150 hours of never before seen original mission footage from NASA's own film vaults, film that in many cases was dangerously close to complete deterioration.
"The result was Discovery Channel's WHEN WE LEFT EARTH: THE NASA MISSIONS, the first time our country's entire 50-year history of space exploration has been documented on film. This six-part landmark special series spans the early quest to put a man in space, to the historic moon landings, to the first un-tethered space walk, this is how the space age came of age.
"Series producers assembled former and current astronauts, flight directors and NASA personnel to talk on camera about their incredible careers. WHEN WE LEFT EARTH features interviews with John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth and, in a rare television interview Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the moon.
"From Mercury to Gemini to Apollo to Skylab and ultimately the Shuttle missions, these poignant remembrances and stirring narration by award-winning actor Gary Sinise are woven in with the newly transferred HD archival footage making history come alive.
"'Without a doubt, WHEN WE LEFT EARTH, Discovery's astounding six-part series, is the best and most important telling of one of the best and most important accomplishments of the 20th century,' raved Linda Stasi in The New York Post. 'With appearances by all the living astronauts and footage of all the missions, this series is practically mandatory family viewing. It will remind you what we can do when we set our minds high enough. Literally.'
"Last May, at a special Capitol Hill ceremony, former Senator John Glenn (D-OH), current Senator, one time Shuttle astronaut and Chairman of the Space, Aeronautics, and Related Sciences Subcommittee Bill Nelson (D-FL) and NASA Administrator Michael Griffin together unveiled the now, all-HD NASA archive created exclusively by Discovery Channel in making WHEN WE LEFT EARTH.
"The archive is now available permanently for scholars, filmmakers and the general public so that future generations may study and learn of these Herculean efforts and hopefully be inspired to add their own chapter to a continuing story of human grit, unbridled optimism and scientific innovation.
"The Peabody Awards' only judging criteria is excellence, which directly aligns with the mission and story of WHEN WE LEFT ARTH. Discovery Channel documented humankind's greatest adventure, while saving NASA's footage from degradation and making it available to the public. We hope you will agree that WHEN WE LEFT EARTH goes to the core of not just Discovery's mission to provide the highest quality programming, but, indeed, television's obligation to illuminate, inspire and engage."--2008 Peabody Awards entry form.
This is episode 1, Ordinary Superman..
"NASA selects seven men to become the country's first astronauts, ushering in a bold new space age. They are all test pilots who understand the enormous risks, bu no one has attempted a vertical launch on top of a rocket. NASA and the Mercury Seven embark on a bold journey into the unknown. With the unproven rocket technology NASA is employing, the risks are high. No one knows what the outcome will be, or if the rigorous training hours will prepare them for travel exceeding 17,000 miles per hour on a converted intercontinental ballistic missile. Follow each astronaut helping to launch NASA further on its quest to conquer space."--synopsis taken from accompanying brochure.
Corporate Producers: Discovery Channel (Firm) | Dangerous Films
Persons Appearing: Gary Sinise (Narrator)
Broadcast Date: June 8, 2008
