Fri, Nov 25, 1977
Text: Horizon investigates whether first contact with aliens has already occurred. The publication of 'Chariots of the Gods?' by Erich von Daniken is central to this documentary and some of von Daniken's claims of evidence of extra-terrestrial visitations, such as the Palenque slab, the Nazca lines, Easter Island Moai and the Great Pyramid of Giza are investigated and debunked by archaeologists including Thor Heyerdahl. It concludes that von Daniken's thesis relies on unrelated facts, false similarities and phony evidence. Available as a PBS' NOVA episode, released in 1978. U.S. narration by Don Wescott. This episode is actually a special and not included in this season. It's included because almost every other specials have been.
Sat, Dec 25, 1982
A history of space exploration starting from the dawn of the space age in 1957 with the launch of Sputnik to the Space Shuttle Columbia. Mainly using excerpts from newsreels and television programs the story covers Laika, Jupiter-C, Yuri Gagarin, Alan Shepard, John Glenn, Alexey Leonov, Edward White, Apollo 1, Vladimir Komarov, Apollo 8, Apollo 10, Apollo 11, Apollo 13, Apollo 17, Skylab, Salyut and Voyager 1. It includes interviews and broadcasts from Sir Bernard Lovell, James Burke, Frank Borman, Brian Aldiss, Hugh Trevor-Roper, Barbara Ward, Carl Sagan and Patrick Moore.
Fri, Dec 21, 1990
History of the Soviet space program, focusing on a 6-month-long mission in 1990 to the Mir space station. We observe the training of the two cosmonauts, the effects of their long absences on their families, their departure from the Baikonur cosmodrome, life on Mir, the emergency spacewalk required to fix their Soyuz spacecraft, the return to Earth, and their re-adjustment to Earth gravity.
Tue, Feb 14, 1995
Two year old Ben Crosland was born "twice". At only 24 weeks he was partially removed from his mother to undergo experimental surgery, and then returned to the womb. His life was saved. Pioneering research in foetal surgery can also transplant cells from one human foetus to another. Some believe that organ and limb transplants before birth might be possible. How far should we go to save a life?