Series synopsis
Space Race is a British documentary drama television series that premiered on BBC Two on September 14, 2005. It ended on October 5, 2005. It was created by Christopher Spencer, Mark Everest. It stars Richard Dillane, Steve Nicolson, Ravil Isyanov and Max Bollinger.
The untold true story behind the Cold War race to put man into space.
Premise
The untold true story behind the Cold War race to put man into space.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Richard Dillane as Wernher von Braun
- Steve Nicolson as Sergey Korolyov
- Ravil Isyanov as Valentin Glushko
- Max Bollinger as Russian Cosmonaut (voice)
Guest cast
- Stuart Bunce as Lev Gaidukov
- Nicholas Rowe as R. V. Jones
- Mariya Mironova as Nina Korolev
- Constantine Gregory as Khrushchev
- Mark Dexter as Staver
- David Barrass as Grottrup
- Stephen Greif as Colonel Toftoy
- Chris Robson as Dieter Huzel
- Rupert Wickham as Debus
- John Warnaby as Vasili Mishin
- Tim Woodward as Nedelin
- Oliver de la Fosse as Staver's Lieutenant
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 4 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 4 | September 14, 2005 | October 5, 2005 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Race for Rockets Race For Rockets, spans 1944-1949. We see Wernher von Braun's work on the V-2 for the Nazis during the last years of the Second World War, his surrender to American troops and his move to the USA. We see Sergei Korolev's release from the Gulag, and how he is set to work on Soviet rockets, first attempting to copy the V-2, then building a more efficient rocket of his own. |
September 14, 2005 |
| 2 |
Race for Satellites Race For Satellites, spans 1953-1958. As the Cold War intensifies, Korolev is asked to build a rocket capable of carrying a five-ton warhead to America - he designs and constructs the R-7 Semyorka, and is later allowed to use it to launch the first satellite, Sputnik 1. Meanwhile, von Braun struggles to persuade the US government to allow him to launch his own satellite - after Sputnik's launch and the failure of the US Navy to launch a Vanguard satellite, he is finally allowed to launch the first American satellite, Explorer 1. |
September 21, 2005 |
| 3 |
Race for a Space Man 1959-1961. Both the Americans and Soviets are planning manned space flight, and we see both sides preparing to do so with the development of the Vostok programme (Russia) and Project Mercury (USA). After difficulties and failures on both sides, the Soviets succeed in putting Yuri Gagarin into space first, with the Americans putting Alan Shepard up shortly afterwards. |
September 28, 2005 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC Two |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 14, 2005 |
| Last aired | October 5, 2005 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | Ended |