This show is a great comparative look at the US and Soviet space programs, starting with the very early stages of the soviet missile program. You could almost hear the groans of fear and paranoia in the US headlines, as they reported on the groundbreaking Soviet successes of Sputnik 1 & 2. As you'd expect from the title, you also get a look at the many Soviet failures that were not reported. Some real tragedies, and at least one act of Russian hubris that gives you some idea of the mindset of the times: a Russian space program big-wig is so confident in a new rocket engine that he seats himself in front of the blast walls, and gulag-wary engineers moved up to his position. They, and over a hundred others, die minutes later.
Playing on the History Channel
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