Smithsonian Channel Lines Up America’s Secret Space Heroes

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Smithsonian Channel has commissioned Arrow Media to produce the six-part series America’s Secret Space Heroes.

America’s Secret Space Heroes tells the stories of the last surviving engineers behind the most spectacular achievements in space exploration. The stories, some of which have never been told on-screen before, include the experiences of engineers who were challenged to create the world’s first reusable space vehicle, the Space Shuttle; the story of the engineers who paved the way for the most complex structure ever built in space, the International Space Station; and the inside story of the Hubble Space Telescope. Each episode features archive footage and reconstruction, as well as interviews with astronauts and engineers.

“Arrow has an extraordinary expertise in aviation and space, and they know how to capture the marvel in technology and the drama in moments of discovery,” says David Royle, the executive VP of programming and production at Smithsonian Channel. “In America’s Secret Space Heroes, they reveal the inside story of the geniuses who imagined and created the space program.”

Ash Potterton, executive producer at Arrow Media, added, “Unearthing incredible stories is in our DNA, and America’s Secret Space Heroes is a testament to this. As we embark on a bold new era of space exploration, it is important to shine a light on those who went before us and enabled humanity’s first tentative steps to the stars. By showcasing some of the most iconic stories and projects in space engineering history, we hope that viewers will be both fascinated and inspired.”

America’s Secret Space Heroes was commissioned by Chris Hoelzl and Royle at Smithsonian Channel. Arrow Media’s Tom Brisley serves as creative director, with Potterton executive producing. The series will be distributed internationally by TCB Media as Engineering Space. Off the Fence has the rights to distribute the series across the Caribbean and North, Central and South America.