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\n\t\t\t\t\u2018Operation Space Station\u2019 is a captivating two-part documentary airing Nov. 5 and Nov. 12, detailing the most intense moments of the International Space Station\u2019s 25 years in orbit.\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAn astronaut aboard the departing Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-110 captured this close-up view of the International Space Station (ISS) during a 2002 flyaround, highlighting the station’s newly installed 27,000-pound S-zero truss. Credit: NASA\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
PBS’s NOVA will present “Operation Space Station,” a two-part special premiering November 5 and 12, documenting 25 years of continuous human habitation on the International Space Station (ISS) through its most challenging operational moments.
\nThe documentary features personal accounts from astronauts and Mission Control, blended with archival footage, to detail critical incidents including a toxic ammonia leak, a near-drowning during a spacewalk, and a software malfunction that led to uncontrolled station movement.
\nThe program emphasizes the monumental engineering achievements and international collaborative efforts that underpinned the ISS’s construction and sustained operation, highlighting innovative problem-solving in averting numerous potential disasters.
\n“Operation Space Station” also contextualizes the ISS’s significant legacy as a microgravity research facility fundamental to future human spaceflight endeavors, concluding with its scheduled 2030 decommissioning and planned transition to commercial space platforms.<\/p>\n
This month, PBS is giving viewers an inside look at the most dramatic and life-threatening moments from 25 years of continuous human presence in space. The new two-part NOVA special, Operation Space Station, premieres Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 9 p.m. EST and concludes Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 9 p.m. EST on PBS. It will also be available for streaming at pbs.org\/nova<\/a>, NOVA on YouTube<\/a>, and the PBS app.<\/p>\n The thrilling two-hour documentary highlights nearly three decades of the International Space Station (ISS) through the personal stories of the astronauts, engineers, and Mission Control insiders who lived it. The special marks the 25th anniversary of continuous human habitation on the ISS and reveals some of the more harrowing events that have taken place over the years. Astronauts share their accounts of a near-drowning during a spacewalk, a toxic ammonia leak, and the moment a software glitch sent the football-field-sized station backflipping out of control at 17,000 mph (27,360 km\/h).<\/p>\n Astronomy was lucky enough to receive a press screener of the first episode that turned out to be a nail-biting, cinematic experience \u2014 in classic NOVA style. From its opening scene, which dramatizes a dangerous ammonia leak, the film blends archival footage with intense, modern-day interviews. The result is a compelling story highlighting the daunting challenge of such an unprecedented project, along with the remarkable international cooperation that made it a reality. For anyone interested in the history of space exploration, it\u2019s a must-see.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s remarkable about the stories that Operation Space Station tells is the way they remind us that the potential for disaster is a constant companion for the astronauts and how time and again, through innovative ideas and productive collaboration, they averted disaster,\u201d said Chris Schmidt, NOVA Co-Executive Producer, in a press release. \u201cOver 25 years of continual habitation, not a single life was lost aboard the ISS. It\u2019s a testament to the courage and dedication of every astronaut and engineer.\u201d<\/p>\n A two-part thriller<\/p>\n The first episode, \u201cHigh-Risk Build,\u201d airing Nov. 5, explores the unprecedented engineering feat of constructing the station in orbit. It details the challenges faced during the process, including a dangerous toxic ammonia spray on one astronaut and the fallout from the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, which stalled the build for years.<\/p>\n \u201cScience and Survival,\u201d airing Nov. 12, documents the unexpected emergencies after the station was complete, including astronaut Luca Parmitano\u2019s helmet filling with water during a spacewalk and the software glitch that caused the entire station to spin out of control. This episode also looks ahead to the station\u2019s future.<\/p>\n The ISS: A legacy in orbit<\/p>\n