Space Chronicles (Part 1)

About This Episode

You know the names: Sputnik, Apollo, JFK, LBJ, Gagarin, Laika, von Braun. You know the speeches: “…We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, …” But do you know the reality? Find out when astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews Prof. John Logsdon, an expert in the history of space exploration. You’ll learn Eisenhower’s secret reason for starting NASA, why JFK offered to explore space jointly with the Russians, and how “Operation Paperclip” helped us win the Space Race… and the Arms Race. Find out why the Apollo program ended early and why NASA retired the Space Shuttle but the Soyuz is still going strong. Plus Neil’s favorite moment in the US space program and a history lesson “through the lens of Chuck Nice.” And this is just Part 1.

In This Episode

• Host

  

  Neil deGrasse Tyson
  Astrophysicist

• Co-Host

  

  Chuck Nice
  Comedian

• Guest

  

  Dr. John Logsdon, Ph.D.
  Founder and Former Director, Space Policy Institute, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University

Episode Topics

• Apollo
• astrophysicist
• Eisenhower
• JFK
• John F. Kennedy
• Laika
• LBJ
• Lyndon Johnson
• NASA
• Neil deGrasse Tyson
• space exploration
• space program
• Space Race
• Space Shuttle
• Sputnik
• Yuri Gagarin