TO THE MOON
Your handy guide to specials celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11
T HIS year has, and will continue to be, one of celebrating big anniversaries — including the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, which launched astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins to the Moon.
On July 20, 1969, Armstrong became the first man in history to set foot on the Moon in, as he so famously put it, “one giant leap for mankind.” He was followed minutes later by Aldrin, as Collins orbited overhead.
Here’s a handy guide to the many television specials that will celebrate one of the mankind’s greatest achievements.
Monday, July 8: “The Armstrong Tapes” 9 p.m. on National Geographic
A one-hour documentary about Armstrong including interviews with his only authorized biographer, family, friends and archival audio interviews with Armstrong himself. “American Experience: Chasing the Moon” 9 p.m. on PBS
A film by Robert Stone which uses previously overlooked and lost archival material to tell the story of how the US raced the clock to land a man on the moon by 1969 amidst the backdrop of politics, science and media spectacle.
Wednesday, July 10 Sunday, July 14 “Moon Landing: The Lost Tapes” 10 p.m., History Channel
Contains newly uncovered footage, rare photographs and previously untelevised audio interviews with the Apollo 11 astronauts and the men manning the consoles at Mission Control in Houston.
Thursday, July 17 “8 Days: To the Moon and Back” 9 p.m., PBS
A documentary blending mission audio featuring conversations among the Apollo 11 astronauts with new footage, NASA archival footage and CGI to recreate the first moon landing.
Saturday, July 20 “NASA’s Giant Leaps: Past and Future” 1-3 p.m., Science Channel
Tied to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, this live special will focus on NASA’s past and its missions to return to the Moon. Will air from various locations around the US, including Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Complex’s Apollo/Saturn V center, the National Mall in Washington, DC and Neil Armstrong’s hometown in Ohio. “Apollo: The Forgotten Films” 8 p.m., Discovery
Features never-before-seen footage, in addition and archival material that tells the story of the engineers, scientists and astronauts worked to get a man on the Moon. Includes footage from NASA Research Centers, The National Archives and news reports of the time. “Moon Landing Live” 9 p.m., BBC America
Documentary featuring highquality NASA footage, extensive news broadcasts and live news footage from every corner of the globe to recreate the excitement and elation that surrounded the event. “Confessions from Space: Apollo” 10 p.m., Discovery
This event, hosted by The Explorers Club, features six Apollo astronauts — including Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and Charlie Duke — sharing insights, experiences and stories of their missions.