posted 11-02-2007 09:48 PM               

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Fifty years ago, the launch of Sputnik I stunned the globe and spurred a surge in science education and innovation that changed our world forever. But was Sputnik I really a shock to America's leaders, and how close was the U.S. to getting into space first? This Tuesday, join NOVA as we draw on previously classified documents to tell the real story behind the opening chapter in the space race in "Sputnik Declassified."

In "Sputnik Declassified," NOVA probes the prehistory of the Space Age, examining what makes Earth orbit so difficult to achieve; why the superpower rivalry in the wake of World War II made spaceflight attainable for the first time in history; and how a worldwide civilian science effort called the International Geophysical Year served as the occasion for both Sputnik I and the American response.

"Sputnik Declassified" will premiere Tuesday, November 6 at 8PM ET/PT on most PBS stations (check your local listings).

And for more Sputnik features, visit our companion website.

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