From the Earth to the Moon (1998)
HBO

Description

Hosted by executive producer Tom Hanks, this miniseries tackles the daunting challenge of chronicling the entire history of NASA's Apollo space program from 1961 to 1972.

Each of the twelve episodes is devoted to a crucial aspect of the Apollo program. The cumulative effect is a deep and thorough appreciation of NASA's monumental achievement. With the help of a superlative cast, consistent writing, and a stable of talented directors, Hanks has shared his infectious enthusiasm for space exploration and the inspiring power of conquering the final frontier.

NASA's complete participation in the production lends to its total authenticity, right down to the use of NASA equipment, launch locations, and even spacecraft.

Tags

Apollo, Gemini, Mercury

Collected reviews and ratings

10 The Digital Bits | Bill Hunt

No film or television project has quite so effectively captured the spirit of those heady days, as the Tom Hanks/HBO collaborative effort, From the Earth to the Moon. Certainly there have been better documents of the events themselves - the technical struggles, and the history of the time. But no program has so closely measured the human testament - the hundreds of thousands of Americans who made walking on the moon possible, and the often dramatic effect the effort had on their personal lives.
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10 digitallyobsessed.com | Dan Heaton

From the Earth to the Moon received a well-deserved Emmy award in 1998 for Best Miniseries and remains one of the standout television productions of the past 10 years. It tackles an extremely complex story and makes it understandable while retaining the historical accuracy needed to present Apollo effectively.
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10 collectspace.com | Rick Houston

This... this is what happens when those in charge care deeply about a project. From the first of its 12 episodes to the last, From The Earth To The Moon is very clearly a labor of love. After finishing work on Apollo 13, Tom Hanks and Imagine Entertainment heads Ron Howard and Brian Grazer weren't through with the history of the space program. Not by a long shot. Thank goodness for that.
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10 DVD Talk

From the Earth to the Moon is one of the finest things to ever air on television, and with the exception of Band of Brothers, is the greatest miniseries ever made. In every way, it captures the awe and wonder and struggle and triumph of mankind's journey to the moon. It is impossible to overstate the quality of this production, and it should be an essential piece of everyone's DVD library.
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9.5 DVD Verdict | Mike Pinsky

If you have not picked up this set yet, From the Earth to the Moon is both inspired history and great storytelling. I cannot imagine a child watching this and—if not actually being inspired to become an astronaut—not at least gaining a better appreciation for science, history, and America itself. The space race may have started out as a political maneuver, but it became a testament to human ingenuity.
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8.0 Space.com | Tariq Malik

The loss of astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee, who perished when a fire broke out inside their Apollo 1 capsule during a routine test, is particularly strong in the series' second episode given the somewhat recent 2003 Columbia accident which killed seven NASA astronauts and grounded the space agency for more than two years.
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