First Generation

Each new era of space exploration is built on the courage of those who came before. And as today’s visionaries set their sights on trips to Mars and colonies on the moon, we must pay a debt to the trailblazing pilots and engineers who risked it all to reach for the stars. Join us as we examine the heart-pounding missions and gut-wrenching catastrophes of NASA’s first decade of space flight, from the very first space plane—the X-15—to the lunar landing program, including the Apollo 1 tragedy, which nearly ended the dream of reaching the moon.