Once Upon a Time in Space - Season 1 - Eps 2: The Russian Thing
After the Soviet Union’s fall, the Mir space station remains a symbol of a vanished era, but Russia’s space program struggles to survive. The US worries that Russian rocket scientists with sensitive nuclear expertise could be recruited by rogue states. In response, the Shuttle-Mir Program is launched: American astronauts train in Russia and live aboard Mir, providing crucial funding to Russia’s space agency and giving NASA essential long-duration flight experience. Yet disaster strikes when a deadly fire erupts, followed by a cargo ship collision that sends Mir spinning out of control. Featuring rare personal archive footage from Russia’s Star City, this offers a unique glimpse into early cooperation between two global powers.
About Once Upon a Time in Space
Title: Once Upon a Time in Space
First Air Date: 2025-10-27
Last Air Date: 2025-10-27
Status: Returning Series
Rating: 7/10 (from 1 votes)
Language: EN
Seasons: 1
Total Episodes: 4
Network: BBC Two
Genres: Documentary
Production Companies: KEO Films, The Open University
Synopsis
The human story of space exploration using unique, unexpected archive, present-day footage and first-hand testimony from around the world. This series will connect the past with the present and examine what the consequences are for the future of humankind as we once again head into space.
