Space's Deepest Secrets Season 3 Episode 13 NASA's Legendary Missions

NASA's Legendary Missions is the thirteenth and final episode of the third season of Space's Deepest Secrets. The episode provides an insight into the first missions ever taken by NASA as well as those missions which proved monumental in facilitating various discoveries in space. The episode takes a journey through time, capturing the essence of NASA's historic expeditions beginning from the early 1960s.

Viewers will witness the birth of NASA's space programme with the launch of the Mercury capsule carrying astronaut Alan Shepard, serving as a substantial milestone in the race to space, spearheaded by the United States and the Soviet Union. The episode details the missions of two major space programmes, orbiting around different eras. Firstly, the Mercury and Gemini missions of the 1960s, and secondly, the Apollo missions which took place during the 1970s.

Recounting the evolution of the space programme, the episode looks into NASA's ambitions with these missions and how they were set to revolutionize space exploration. The primary objective of the Mercury programme was to put a human into space and retrieve them safely. The Gemini project, albeit brief, proved instrumental in a range of scientific advancements, paving the way for the Apollo program.

The Apollo program would eventually lead to NASA's most significant achievement thus far. The episode recalls how the space agency aimed to land an individual on the moon and bring them back to Earth, a goal which became a reality in 1969. This was accomplished through the launch of a Saturn V rocket, the most powerful rocket ever built, and the lunar module in which Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin descended onto the moon's surface.

In addition to the milestones achieved through NASA's manned missions, the episode highlights some of the valuable scientific discoveries that were made possible by NASA from a space observatory. This includes the launch of Hubble Telescope in 1990, which enabled us to look back at our universe's history and identify many other galaxies that existed billions of years ago. Additionally, the episode also showcases the hard work and dedication put towards the study of our nearest planetary neighbors, including Venus and Mars. The Mariner spacecraft made several trips to the planets in the 1960s and 70s, producing valuable scientific findings that have been fundamental in furthering our understanding of their composition and natural phenomena.

The episode also demonstrates the challenges posed in achieving their objectives and the innovation and bravery exhibited by some of NASA's most famed astronauts, including Astronaut Ed White, the first American to carry out a spacewalk testing the abilities of the suits that would enable them to work outside their spacecraft. Additionally, the episode details the Apollo 13 mission, a mission almost doomed for failure but ultimately landed safely on Earth, primarily as a result of NASA's quick thinking and ingenuity.

Finally, the episode revisits the role played by NASA's missions within popular culture, including the success of movies such as Apollo 13 and The Right Stuff. NASA's continued innovations were complemented by memorable moments within pop culture, helping keep people's attention focused on the endeavours taking place in space.

In conclusion, NASA's Legendary Missions is a captivating journey through NASA's early history detailing its achievements in manned and unmanned missions. It provides viewers with an in-depth understanding of the low chances of success faced by some missions, and the formidable obstacles encountered in achieving particular objectives.

It provides an exciting glimpse into NASA's ambitions for space, and how the agency has made it possible for us to know much more about the universe and our place within it. The episode creates a sense of awe and wonder, serving as a fitting tribute to NASA's contributions to space exploration, advancements in science, and its integral role in shaping our world today.