The early years of the space race are recalled, including the Soviet launch of the Sputnik I satellite on Oct. 4, 1957; the failed U.S. attempt to launch a satellite eight weeks later; and the contributions to the American space program by Wernher von Braun, who had led Nazi Germany's rocket program. Also: comments from the National Air and Space Museum's Roger Launius and Michael Neufeld; and National Reconnaissance Office historian emeritus R. Cargill Hall.

NOVA Season 35 Episodes...

• s35e01 - Secrets Of The Samurai Sword
• s35e02 - Ghost In Your Genes
• s35e03 - Marathon Challenge
• s35e04 - Sputnik Declassified
• s35e05 - Judgment Day: Intelligent Design On Trial
• s35e06 - Master Of The Killer Ants
• s35e07 - Missing In MiG Alley
• s35e08 - Absolute Zero: The Conquest Of Cold (1)
• s35e09 - Absolute Zero: The Race For Absolute Zero (2)
• s35e10 - Secrets Of The Parthenon
• s35e11 - Astrospies
• s35e12 - Ape Genius
• s35e13 - The Four-Winged Dinosaur
• s35e14 - Cracking The Maya Code
• s35e15 - Car Of The Future
• s35e16 - A Walk To Beautiful
• s35e17 - Lord Of The Ants

NOVA Show Summary

Seen in more than 100 countries, NOVA is the most watched science based television series in the world and the most watched documentary series on PBS. It is also one of television's most acclaimed series, having won many major television awards, most of them many times over.