'Once Upon a Time in Space': A New PBS Documentary Takes You Behind the Scenes of Space Exploration

A brand-new documentary series is coming to PBS that tells the real stories of people who have traveled to space. Called "Once Upon a Time in Space," the show is four episodes long and will begin airing on July 14, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET. It is also available on the PBS app and PBS.org. The series arrives just as people around the world are celebrating the Artemis 2 mission, which recently sent four astronauts into space.

The documentary was directed by James Bluemel and his filmmaking team. These are the same people who made the award-winning series "Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland" and "Once Upon a Time in Iraq." The new series looks at the bond between astronauts who leave Earth and the team of workers who stay behind to support them. It also explores what it is like for families waiting at home while their loved ones travel through the dangers of outer space.

Each of the four episodes covers an important period in the history of space travel. The series starts with the early days of the Space Shuttle program and goes all the way to modern-day commercial spaceflight, where private companies now send people to space. It also covers the Russian space station Mir, which played a big role in space history. "Moving beyond scientific achievement, the series examines the personal experiences of astronauts, cosmonauts, ground-based participants, and the loved ones left on Earth," says the official description.

The show uses real interviews and rare archival footage — old photos and videos that most people have never seen before. These materials help paint a full picture of what space exploration is really like for the people involved. Viewers will hear stories of bravery, deep friendship, and heartbreaking tragedy. All of these stories are set against a world that was changing quickly, both politically and technologically.

Here is the schedule for all four episodes. Episode 1, called "America First," airs Tuesday, July 14. Episode 2, "The Russian Thing," airs July 21. Episode 3, "Politics Always Wins," airs July 28. Episode 4, "Friends Forever," wraps up the series on August 4. All episodes air on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET.

The documentary features a large group of real space explorers and experts. NASA astronauts in the series include Charlie Bolden, Anna Lee Fisher, Bill Fisher, Michael Foale, Jerry Linenger, Mike Mullane, Dan Tani, and Terry Virts. Russian cosmonauts Sergei Zalyotin and Alexander "Sasha" Lazutkin also share their stories. They are joined by NASA officials, aerospace engineers, and many family members who explain what life was like while their relatives were in space.

"Once Upon a Time in Space" was made with help from the BBC, the famous British broadcasting company. It was first shown in the United Kingdom last fall. Now it is making its U.S. debut on PBS. Whether you are a space fan or just curious about what it takes to leave the planet, this series promises to be both exciting and deeply personal.