Space documentaries have become a favorite genre for enthusiasts in the age of online streaming platforms. Although not as many exist as other genres, space documentaries are always eagerly awaited by many loyal fans because of their state-of-the-art visuals and educational quality. Space documentary films have the advantage of highlighting the greatest achievements of mankind, so the audience will always be amazed when watching them.
Another advantage of space documentary films is that they broaden the audience’s insight into space, especially for those not as well-versed in the subject. Many documentary film viewers not only garner information on space exploration, but also the history and political reasons driving it.
To learn more about space sciences and exploration, here are some of the best space documentaries available for streaming now, as of August 2020.
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Apollo 11
Where to stream:
- Apple TV
- Hulu
- Fandango Now
- Vudu
Apollo 11 is a documentary space movie that was produced and directed by Todd Douglas Miller. Airing in 2019, it highlights the Apollo 11 mission of 1969, the first manned space flight mission to the Moon.
The Search for Life in Space
Where to stream:
- Netflix
The Search for Life in Space is a documentary science film about how we look for other life in outer space, such as on Mars, Jupiter, and other places where humans have not yet touched. The documentary then compares them to the most extreme conditions for life on Earth. The film aired in 2016 and was directed by Stephen Amezdroz.
Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo
Where to stream:
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime Video
- Apple TV
- Fandango Now
- Vudu
Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo is a historical documentary about the people who contributed to the launch of Apollo 11. They were the NASA workers who worked quietly in mission control. The film was directed by David Fairhead and aired in 2016.Â
Unacknowledged
Where to stream:
- Netflix
Unacknowledged is a historical documentary about the efforts in finding information about the existence of UFOs. The interesting thing about this film is the previously classified information explained quite clearly, such as CIA documents about UFOs, and Pentagon officials’ statements about UFOs. The film was directed by Michael Mazzola and aired in 2017.Â
Mercury 13
Where to stream:
- Netflix
Mercury 13 is a historical documentary film that aired in 2018. Mercury 13 tells about a privately funded program to train American women to become astronauts. This film is full of social messages about gender equality and gender discrimination that occurred in earlier times. The film was directed by Heather Walsh and David Sington.Â
The Last Man On The Moon
Where to stream:
- Netflix
The Last Man On The Moon is a documentary about Gene Cernan, an astronaut who was the last to set foot on the moon in 1972. The film is emotionally-driven, with Gene Cernan carrying out his mission to the Moon shadowed by his daughter’s love. This film was shown in 2017 based on the true story of Eugene ‘Gene’ Cernan.
A Year In Space
Where to stream:
- Netflix
A Year In Space follows the incredible mission of Scott Kelly, an astronaut who spent a year in space as part of an experiment with his twin brother (and fellow astronaut) Mark Kelly. NASA chose the Kelly twins to test the effects of long-term space travel on the human body. Scott Kelly was chosen to spend a year aboard the International Space Station, while Mark Kelly remained home. The documentary follows Scott on every step of the mission, including the effects this journey had on his family.
There is still much to be revealed about space through science. But our curiosity can be satiated with the abundance of space documentaries out there now.
Have you seen any of the documentaries on this list? Let us know which are your favorites, even if they’re not mentioned here! Stay tuned for more lists of the best space documentaries available for streaming. And if you’re looking for something more fantastical to watch this year, check out this list of the best sci-fi movies of 2020 so far.
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