Watch Apollo: The Forgotten Films

In the late 1960s, the world was fixated on the groundbreaking achievements of NASA's Apollo program as it took humanity to the moon and back. But despite the incredible efforts and attention put into these missions, there were still countless moments that went unseen or undocumented by the public at large. That is where Apollo: The Forgotten Films comes in.

This documentary series, which premiered on Discovery in 2019, features a treasure trove of previously unseen footage and audio from the Apollo program. Narrated by legendary news anchor Walter Cronkite and featuring interviews with former astronaut Buzz Aldrin as well as archival recordings of President John F. Kennedy, the series provides a deeper dive into NASA's mission to put a man on the moon.

One of the key features of Apollo: The Forgotten Films is its use of footage that has never before been broadcast. While much of the video from the Apollo missions was made available to the public at the time, there were still thousands of hours of behind-the-scenes footage that was never shown. Using this newly released material, the series paints a vivid and detailed picture of the efforts that went into each mission, from preflight preparation to splashdown.

The series is broken up into six episodes, each of which focuses on a specific aspect of the Apollo missions. The first episode, for example, examines the early days of the program and the political and economic factors that led to its creation. Later episodes delve into the scientific experiments that were conducted on the moon, the hazards faced by astronauts during each mission, and the politics that surrounded the program as it neared its end.

Throughout the series, viewers are treated to a mix of new and old footage that illustrates the challenges and triumphs of each mission. There are shots of the lunar landscapes that were taken from the moon's surface, as well as candid moments between astronauts and NASA personnel that reveal the human side of these historic moments.

Though much of the documentary is focused on the technical details of the missions, there are also segments that explore the impact that the Apollo program had on society at large. One episode, for example, examines the way that the space program influenced fashion and popular culture in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Another looks at how the program inspired a generation of scientists and engineers who would go on to build the modern world.

Throughout the series, Cronkite provides his own insights and reflections on the program, drawing upon his own experiences as a journalist who covered many of the Apollo missions. His narration is informative and engaging, and provides a clear throughline for the series as a whole.

One of the highlights of Apollo: The Forgotten Films is the interviews with Aldrin, who served as the lunar module pilot for the Apollo 11 mission. His recollections of the mission provide fascinating insights into the challenges faced by the astronauts, as well as their emotions and reactions to the events unfolding around them.

The series also features archival recordings of President Kennedy, whose famous 1961 speech calling for a manned mission to the moon set the country on a course that would lead to the Apollo program. These recordings are a powerful reminder of the political and cultural context in which the program was created, and offer a glimpse into the mindset of the country at that time.

Overall, Apollo: The Forgotten Films is an engrossing and informative look at one of the greatest achievements in human history. Through its use of previously unseen footage, insightful interviews, and historical context, it offers a deeper understanding of the Apollo program and its impact on our world. Whether you are a space enthusiast or simply a fan of history, this documentary is not to be missed.

Apollo: The Forgotten Films is a series that ran for 1 seasons (1 episodes) between July 19, 2019 and on Discovery (US)