Once Upon a Time in Space S01E02 · The Russian Thing

Overview

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.

Torrents

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Episodes

1. 1 1. America First2025-10-27 · 1h 1mIn the 1970s, America looks to its state-of-the-art, reusable Space Shuttle to reinvigorate its national space programme and meet the country’s military and commercial demands. For
2. 2 2. The Russian Thing2025-11-03 · 1h 5mAfter 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 scienti
3. 3 3. Politics Always Wins2025-11-10 · 59mIn 1996, NASA unveils its largest-ever team of astronauts: 44 individuals tasked with the colossal undertaking of building the International Space Station, piece by piece, in orbit
4. 4 4. Friends Forever2025-11-17 · 59mWith astronauts from over 14 different countries sharing their experiences - and the same spectacular view of Earth - aboard the ISS, a special sense of belonging and connection de