Ep 33. Star City, Moscow

In season 14, episode 33 of the popular documentary series, Modern Marvels, viewers are introduced to the incredible city of Star City in Moscow. This episode provides an in-depth understanding of the history, innovation, and technology behind Russia's pioneering space program. The episode sheds light on the Soviet Union's efforts to take the lead in the space race against the United States.

The episode opens with a glimpse of Star City and the training and living facilities built for cosmonauts. It then delves into the history of the Soviet space program, where viewers learn how the Soviet Union created a space program that put the first satellite and the first human into orbit. The documentary further explores how the Soviet Union was determined to push the limits of space exploration. They set an ambitious goal to take the first cosmonaut to the moon and bring them back to earth safely, ahead of their rivals, NASA.

Viewers are introduced to Yuri Gagarin, the first man to travel to space and Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to travel to space. The documentary provides fascinating insights into the rigorous training required by cosmonauts, including zero-gravity simulations, underwater training, and G-forces simulations. Such measures ensured that cosmonauts were not only mentally prepared for space travel, but physically fit and strong enough to withstand the harsh and challenging conditions of space flight.

The episode also sheds light on the facilities available to cosmonauts. Modern Marvels takes viewers on an exclusive tour of the living quarters of cosmonauts. These quarters resemble a small town, equipped with everything the cosmonaut needs to live comfortably. There are shops, restaurants, bars, gyms, libraries, cinemas, and even a small circus. The program also shows the suit-up procedure and examines the space suits themselves, the ships, the auxiliary equipment, and the overall infrastructure supporting human spaceflight.

Moreover, the episode explores the significance of Star City as the launch site for many of the Soviet Union's space missions. The program provides insight into how the former Soviet Union prepared its spaceships for launch and how cosmonauts got to the launch site. The Soviet Union believed that it was essential to ensure the safety of their cosmonauts at every stage of their journey.

The documentary also highlights the political implications of the Soviet Union's space program. In many ways, the space race was seen as an opportunity for the Soviet Union to assert itself as the dominant superpower in the world by showcasing its technological advancements. The Soviet Union created a narrative that painted the space program as a symbol of hope and progress for a Communist future.

In the end, the Modern Marvels episode on Star City, Moscow presents an insightful look into the innovation and technology behind one of the most significant achievements of the Soviet era. From the pioneering days of space flight to the preparations for manned missions to Mars, the documentary demonstrates the extraordinary lengths to which humans have gone in our quest to explore space. This episode captures the essence of what makes the Soviet Union's space program so remarkable, and why it is still a source of wonder and fascination to many around the world.