Reaching for the Stars
The stars have always fueled humanity’s desire for knowledge. Space missions and sophisticated telescopes that reveal distant galaxies, black holes and exoplanets have enabled groundbreaking insights into fundamental phenomena. Physics, chemistry and biology have all benefited as a result. Many technological achievements can be traced back to developments in space travel. During the Cold War the Soviet Union and the United States sparred to claim milestones such as the first satellite in space and the first manned moon landing, but nowadays many teams work together on an international level. Key projects include research into earthlike celestial bodies, manned missions to Mars and the quest to find natural resources in space.
Order number 264898 (025-027),
Documentary, 03 x 30 min., Arabic, English, Spanish
(24 additional eps. available)
Episode synopses:
025
The History of the James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope delivers fascinating images from the depths of space – with unprecedented precision. Two decades of development have been devoted to this high-tech instrument, which collects new data on galaxies, stars and black holes 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. How did this milestone in space research become a reality?
026
Geology in Space
How do the interior and surface of Mars and Earth differ – and what does this reveal about their development? High-tech instruments such as seismographs as well as the scientific analysis of meteorites allow researchers to unravel the
mysteries of our solar system. We know more than ever about our planet’s past thanks to research in nearby deserts and distant planets.
027
Black Holes: The Frontier to Infinity
Black holes are one of the most mysterious phenomena in the universe. They’re formed when massive stars collapse at the end of their lives. With their enormous gravitational force, they suck in everything in their vicinity, even light. For a long time only suspected, now they’ve actually been detected in our galaxy. What do they tell us?
