When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions Season 1 Episode 6 A Home in Space

A Home in Space is the sixth episode of the first season of When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions. This episode focuses on the challenges faced by astronauts as they work to make space their home.

The episode begins with the construction of the International Space Station. Viewers are taken through the early days of the station's assembly, starting with the arrival of the first module in 1998. We see some of the complicated procedures involved in putting the station together, including the installation of a massive solar array that provides power to the entire structure.

As the space station grows, the challenges for the astronauts who live there become more complex. We see clips of crew members as they struggle to adapt to the harsh conditions of life in space, where everything from sleeping to eating requires a completely new approach. We also learn about the various experiments being conducted on the station, which range from studying the effects of long-term spaceflight on the human body to developing new kinds of materials that can only be produced in the microgravity of space.

One of the key storylines in A Home in Space is the construction of a new kind of module that will house crew quarters and provide extra storage space. We learn about the challenges involved in designing and building such a complex structure, which will need to be delivered to the space station and assembled in orbit.

Another major focus of the episode is the partnership between NASA and the Russian space agency. We see examples of the kind of expertise and technology that the Russians bring to the table, including their Soyuz spacecraft, which has become a critical lifeline for American astronauts in the aftermath of the Space Shuttle program's retirement.

As the episode draws to a close, we see some of the incredible views that astronauts on the space station are treated to every day. From watching lightning storms dance across the planet's surface to seeing the aurora borealis from above, these moments help to remind us of the majesty of the universe we live in—and the incredible achievements of the men and women who have ventured into space.