Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight, April 7 Premiere CNN Original Series

CNN is set to premiere a four-part series titled “Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight” on April 7th. Co-produced by BBC and Mindhouse Productions, the series delves into the tragic 2003 Space Shuttle disaster, offering exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage.

The first two episodes of the series will air on Sunday, April 7th at 9PM ET/PT, with the final two episodes following on Sunday, April 14th at the same time.

Columbia was the first Space Shuttle to launch and redefined space travel. It took off like a rocket, landed like a plane, and was reusable – making routine space flight a reality. The series aims to tell the dramatic story of Columbia’s final mission in great detail. It starts months before the troubled launch and takes viewers through all sixteen days in orbit. Finally, it concludes with an investigation into the tragic loss of seven astronauts’ lives.

The series weaves together intimate footage filmed by the astronauts themselves inside the orbiter. It also includes exclusive testimony from family members of the crew and key players at NASA who have never spoken before. Journalists who covered the story on-site also contribute their insights.

Amy Entelis, Executive Vice President of Talent for CNN Worldwide expressed her excitement about this project: “This chapter in the Space Shuttle Program captured the nation’s attention… Our viewers have long been fascinated by stories of space exploration…”

The series provides access to previously unseen footage and findings from NASA’s archives. It serves as both a definitive account of this national tragedy and an inside look at one of America’s most iconic institutions.

By reflecting on financial pressures and complacency within NASA’s culture during that time period, “Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight” highlights how these factors may have contributed to events that led to disaster.

It also explores broader themes related to space travel today: its challenges and inherent dangers. The series aims to shed light on the legacy of the Space Shuttle era and its continued relevance in contemporary discussions surrounding space exploration.

Executive producers for “Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight” include Emma Tutty and Emma Whitehead for Mindhouse, as well as Amy Entelis and Lyle Gamm for CNN Original Series.

The series will be available to stream live on April 7th for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN connected TV, and mobile apps. Starting from April 8th, it will also be available on demand for pay TV subscribers via the same platforms, as well as Cable Operator Platforms.