Buzz
If you've exhausted all the true crime documentaries about serial killers and quirky con artists, perhaps it's time to aim higher. These space documentaries, streaming on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, offer a thrilling journey into black holes, a look at future Mars settlers, and a chance to relive humanity's first steps on the moon—all from the comfort of your home without needing to put on socks.
1. Apollo 11 (2019)
Using digitally remastered archival footage and more than 11,000 hours of audio recordings, director Todd Douglas Miller’s Apollo 11 presents an astonishingly clear recounting of humanity's journey to the moon. Through the eyes of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, and the NASA team, viewers experience this historic moment in stunning HD, offering a new perspective on the real-time tension that mission control faced back in 1969.
2. Apollo: Missions to the Moon (2019)
Much like Apollo 11, Apollo: Missions to the Moon relies entirely on archival footage and audio from the early days of the space program. However, this documentary goes beyond the iconic moment of mankind's first steps on the moon. It chronicles the entire journey of the Apollo Program, from its triumphs to its tragedies, including the tragic loss of the Apollo 1 crew and the high-stakes drama of Apollo 13. Missions to the Moon
3. A Beautiful Planet (2016)
This stunning documentary makes it easier than ever to gaze at our beautiful blue planet from space. Originally released in IMAX, it features breathtaking footage of Earth’s photogenic landscape, providing a unique perspective on our planet.
4. Black Holes: The Edge of All We Know (2021)
Delve into one of the universe’s most mysterious phenomena with this documentary that offers an in-depth exploration of black holes.
5. A Year in Space (2015)
This docuseries explores the profound effects of space travel on the human body, providing a glimpse into the future of long-term space missions and the accommodations required for such journeys.
6. The Mars Generation (2017)
These aspiring astronauts are not just dreaming of reaching Mars—they’re taking active steps to get there. The Mars Generation follows the teenage participants at Space Camp as they undergo training, practice in mock spacecrafts, and participate in simulated deep-space missions (with simulated challenges), all to experience what it would be like to journey to the red planet. As these young individuals encounter their first taste of shuttle life, the documentary also highlights expert opinions on the current state of NASA, its successes and struggles, and the steps required to make Mars exploration a reality.
7. 14 Minutes From Earth (2016)
Google executive Alan Eustace makes a daring leap of faith, attempting to safely free-fall from the stratosphere in this heart-pounding adventure.
8. The Saturn V Story (2016)
Before the United States could realize its dreams of space exploration, it needed a vehicle that could take flight. The Saturn V rocket was the solution, propelling both the Apollo program and human ambition to new heights.
9. Built for Mars: The Perseverance Rover (2021)
What does it take to create a machine capable of space travel and surviving life on Mars? This documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of NASA's Perseverance rover development, offering a stunning look at the Martian landscape.
10. The Real Right Stuff (2020)
This documentary chronicles the Mercury 7 astronauts, using archival footage to tell the story of the courageous individuals who launched America's space program into the cosmos.
