When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions (2008)
Dangerous Films

Description

To celebrate 50 years of incredible achievements, the Discovery Channel has partnered with NASA to reveal the epic struggles, tragedies and triumphs in a bold chapter of human history. Along with the candid interviews of the people who made it happen, hundreds of hours of never-before-seen film footage from the NASA archives - including sequences on board the actual spacecraft in flight - have been carefully restored, edited and compiled for this landmark collection.

Tags

Apollo, Space station, NASA, Space shuttle, Gemini, Mercury

Editorial review

8.0 Documentary-Review.com | Larry H.

Despite claims about "never before seen footage" When We Left Earth does noe contain any new material a space enthusiast hasn't seen before. What this six part television series does offer however, is remastered audio and video from the NASA archives, making it the first space documentary to be broadcast in high definition. This will for many undoubtedly be reason enough to purchase this title. The documentary does not go into depth on any of the major space programs it covers, from Mercury to the Space shuttle, but is an excellent introduction to anyone with a casual interest in space exploration looking to learn more about the subject.

Collected reviews and ratings

10 New York Post | Linda Stasi

This series is not just breathtaking, but awe-inspiring and tear-inducing.
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10 The Digital Bits | Jeff Kleist

If you're a fan of history in general, and manned spaceflight in particular, Discovery and Image's new Blu-ray Disc release of the six-part When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions documentary series is very welcome indeed.
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9.2 digitallyobsessed.com | Dan Heaton

When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions is not the definitive chronicle of our space program's history, but it gives a strong overview. Both enthusiasts and novices should find something to enjoy within this six-part series.
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9.0 collectspace.com | Robert Pearlman

Astronauts of all eras have said that their photography did not do justice to the bold colors and stark blackness of space. Now, as some have seen "When We Left Earth," those opinions are changing.
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9.0 DVD Verdict | Jim Thomas

There are other documentaries out there that may go into more detail on a single flight, but nothing else out there - and I mean nothing - can match the sheer scope of When We Left Earth. It's a must for anyone interested in the space program, but it perhaps more important for the younger generations.
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9.0 DVD Talk | Randy Miller III

Spanning several decades and absolutely loaded with vintage photos and footage, The Discovery Channel's When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions is a no-brainer for those even casually interested in astronomy. Your overall appreciation of this detailed series may depend slightly on your age group, but make no mistake about it: this is a thoughtful and well-produced documentary from start to finish.
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8.0 Space.com | Robert Pearlman

Even if you were one of the hundreds of thousands who made the history on screen possible, or have seen every hour of the 'unseen' footage, there are ample reasons to not miss watching Discovery's "When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions" Indeed, you'll find yourself not wanting to leave the TV, let alone the planet.
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