Ep 4. 1968

The show "From The Earth to The Moon" is a historical miniseries that explores the United States' journey to landing on the moon. The series is produced by Tom Hanks and ran for one season in 1998 on HBO.

Season 1 episode 4, titled "1968", examines the year of significant cultural and political changes, including the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. Against this backdrop, NASA continues to work towards their goal of landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

The episode features interviews with real-life astronauts, scientists, and engineers involved in the Apollo program. These interviews provide insightful commentary on the timeline leading up to the first moon landing and the difficulties the team faced in achieving their goal.

The episode details the launch of Apollo 7, the first manned mission of the Apollo program, which took place in October of 1968. This mission tested the spacecraft's systems and crew capabilities in low Earth orbit. The highlight of the episode is the extensively covered the Apollo 8 mission, which took place during the Christmas season of 1968, when the U.S was still in a state of shock and despair due to the events of the year.

Apollo 8 was a groundbreaking mission as it was the first time humans left Earth's orbit and travelled to the moon. The episode does a good job of emphasizing the emotional nature of the mission and how it provided a sense of hope during a difficult time for the country.

The show also delves into the technical and logistical challenges faced by the mission, including issues with the spacecraft's propulsion system and fuel. The astronauts, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders also discuss their own experiences during the mission, including the feeling of isolation being the first humans in history to leave Earth's orbit and travel to another celestial body.

Throughout the episode, the show explores not just the technical elements of the missions but also the political and cultural climate that surrounded them. For example, the show highlights the debate over spending of taxpayers' money on the space program during a time of civil unrest and social change.

The episode concludes with a moving moment as the Apollo 8 crew reads the opening passages from the Bible's Book of Genesis. This moment symbolized how the mission provided people with a sense of hope in turbulent times and how the astronauts viewed their journey as much more than just a scientific mission.

Overall, "1968" is a well-crafted episode that tells a compelling story of one of the most significant years in American history, and how the Apollo program offered a beacon hope and a triumphant moment amidst those difficult times. The show's unique blend of technical detail, historical context, and personal interviews make it a fascinating exploration of NASA's landmark missions.