Nat Geo Sets Premiere Date for Apollo: Missions to the Moon

National Geographic, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing, is kicking off its Space Week programming event with the documentary feature Apollo: Missions to the Moon.

The two-hour doc, executive produced and directed by Tom Jennings (Challenger Disaster: Lost Tapes, Diana: In Her Own Words), is set to premiere on Sunday, July 7, at 9 p.m. and air globally in 172 countries and 43 languages. Apollo: Missions to the Moon will combine more than 500 hours of footage, 800 hours of audio, 10,000 photos and first-person storytelling to take viewers behind the scenes. The account will span the full extent of NASA’s Apollo Space Program.

Jennings said: “Beyond audio and footage of the brave astronauts, Apollo: Missions to the Moon creates a tapestry of the collective sights and sounds that brings us back to the golden age of space. Apollo: Missions to the Moon unveils what was happening not only on the ground at mission control but also in the homes of the families and friends who stood by as their loved ones took to the skies. The whole world stopped for a moment to rejoice and take pride in the boundless sense of courage and optimism that Apollo made possible.”

Geoff Daniels, executive VP of global unscripted entertainment at National Geographic, added: “Apollo: Missions to the Moon is not just a show; it’s an experience. It’s filled with intimate, exquisite moments that put you on the edge of your seat and reveal the human face of heroism at a time when our country—and the world—was deeply divided. Apollo renewed our purpose and passion for space exploration, which is deeply woven into our human DNA and at the core of National Geographic. Now, 50 years later, this film could not be more relevant; it reminds us what we can achieve together and has the power to transform us all.”

Nat Geo’s special Space Week programming block will also feature such relevant titles as Explorer: Journey to Europa, The Armstrong Tapes, Challenger Disaster: The Final Mission, Mars: Inside SpaceX, Apollo: Back to the Moon, Hubble’s Amazing Journey, Mission Pluto and Beyond and Mission Saturn: Inside the Rings.