Ep 5. Space Race

National Geographic's Explorer season 11 episode 5 titled "Space Race" takes viewers on a thrilling journey into the world of space exploration. This intriguing episode delves into what it takes for nations to compete in a race to the stars and what it means for the future of space travel.

The episode begins with a brief history of the early days of space exploration, when the United States and the Soviet Union battled to be the first nation to put a man in space. Viewers are taken to Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome, where they witness the launch of a Soyuz rocket. This serves as a reminder of just how far we've come in space exploration since the first manned spaceflight in 1961.

The episode then follows NASA's Journey to Mars program, which aims to put human beings on the red planet by the 2030s. Explorer crew members take a behind-the-scenes look at the program's cutting-edge technology, including the new Orion spacecraft. The episode also looks at the role that private space companies, such as Elon Musk's SpaceX, are playing in space exploration, and the impact they are having on traditional space agencies like NASA and Roscosmos.

The episode includes interviews with experts such as former NASA astronaut and director Charlie Bolden, who discuss the immense challenges that come with space exploration. Bolden shares his own experiences of space travel and gives insights into the future of space travel, including plans for putting humans on Mars.

Viewers get a fascinating look at the International Space Station (ISS), an orbiting laboratory that currently houses astronauts from different countries. The episode follows an astronaut as he performs maintenance tasks on the ISS, and viewers get a glimpse of the daily routine of life in space.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the ethical implications of space exploration. With the ambition to form colonies on Mars, the episode quotes experts that argue for the morality of such an ambition, while others criticize for the lack of care of Earth and its natural systems. This provides a thought-provoking conclusion to the episode that is sure to leave viewers pondering our place in the universe and what it takes to achieve great things.

In conclusion, National Geographic's Explorer season 11 episode 5, "Space Race," is a captivating and insightful exploration into the world of space travel. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the future of space.