Science and Nature

NOVA

NOVA brings you stories from the frontlines of science and engineering, answering the big questions of today and tomorrow, from how our ancestors lived, to whether parallel universes exist, to how technology will transform our lives. Visit the official website to watch full-length documentaries, or explore our world through short-form video, on our digital publication NOVA Next.

Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build

53m 40s

From ammonia leaks to Space Shuttle disasters to a spacewalk gone terribly wrong, astronauts and Mission Control insiders relive the most terrifying moments during construction of the International Space Station.

Episodes

  • Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build

    S52 E19 - 53m 40s

    From ammonia leaks to Space Shuttle disasters to a spacewalk gone terribly wrong, astronauts and Mission Control insiders relive the most terrifying moments during construction of the International Space Station.

  • Superfloods: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Superfloods

    S52 E18 - 53m 28s

    Recent deadly flash floods have wreaked havoc in the US and beyond. Explore why dangerous floods are on the rise and what can be done to protect more lives when they strike.

  • Ancient Desert Death Trap: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Ancient Desert Death Trap

    S52 E17 - 53m 21s

    Deep in the Arabian Desert lie thousands of enigmatic stone megastructures whose true form is visible only from the sky. Follow archaeologists as they decipher the mysterious remnants of a Stone Age culture and discover their true purpose.

  • Human: Building Empires: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Human: Building Empires

    S52 E16 - 53m 32s

    Discover how Homo sapiens transformed from nomads to empire builders. Witness the innovations – from animal domestication to writing – that revolutionized ancient life and shaped our modern world.

  • Human: Into the Americas: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Human: Into the Americas

    S52 E15 - 53m 25s

    Follow ancient humans’ perilous journey into the Americas, where a frigid Ice Age landscape, mammoths, and other fearsome beasts tested their resilience.

  • Human: Neanderthal Encounters: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Human: Neanderthal Encounters

    S52 E14 - 53m 27s

    For 400,000 years, Neanderthals thrived across frigid, Ice Age Europe. What happened when Homo sapiens arrived, and how did these encounters change our species – including our DNA – in ways still with us today?

  • Human: Journeys: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Human: Journeys

    S52 E13 - 53m 25s

    Follow Homo Sapiens as they venture across the world, farther than any other human species. See how they invented new tools to thrive in challenging environments – and meet the mysterious hobbit-like humans they may have encountered along the way.

  • Human: Origins: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Human: Origins

    S52 E12 - 53m 32s

    Where did humans come from, and what makes us unique? Discover the remarkable origins of Homo sapiens, and the crucial moments of innovation, communication, and ritual that set us on our path.

  • Ultimate Crash Test: Impact: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Ultimate Crash Test: Impact

    S52 E11 - 53m 27s

    Car safety experts just pulled off a first-of-its-kind remote controlled multi-vehicle pile up. Now investigators are put to the test as they analyze the data and look for insights into driver behavior and vehicle design.

  • Ultimate Crash Test: Countdown: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Ultimate Crash Test: Countdown

    S52 E10 - 53m 29s

    What really happens in a multi-vehicle pileup? A first-of-its-kind experiment aims to stage a high speed crash to gain new insights on car safety. But how can they create and study a complex collision without putting any lives in danger?

  • Critical Condition: Health in Black America: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Critical Condition: Health in Black America

    S52 E9 - 1h 36m

    Black Americans are nearly twice as likely to suffer from chronic diseases than Whites. Why? From false beliefs that permeate modern medicine to life experiences that can damage human cells, uncover the underlying causes of racial health disparities.

  • Secrets of the Forest: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Secrets of the Forest

    S52 E8 - 53m 41s

    Can forests help cool the planet? Follow scientists through spectacular landscapes as they study complex networks of trees, fungi, and creatures large and small – all in a quest to tackle the twin threats of climate change and species extinction.

Extras + Features

  • Operation Space Station: Science and Survival Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival Preview

    S52 E20 - 30s

    Witness life-or-death decisions 250 miles above Earth, as astronauts and Mission Control work together to survive moments of high danger on board humanity’s remarkable orbiting laboratory, the International Space Station.

  • Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build Preview

    S52 E19 - 30s

    From ammonia leaks to Space Shuttle disasters to a spacewalk gone terribly wrong, astronauts and Mission Control insiders relive the most terrifying moments during construction of the International Space Station.

  • Superfloods: Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Superfloods: Preview

    S52 E18 - 30s

    Recent deadly flash floods have wreaked havoc in the US and beyond. Explore why dangerous floods are on the rise and what can be done to protect more lives when they strike.

  • Ancient Desert Death Trap: Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Ancient Desert Death Trap: Preview

    S52 E17 - 30s

    Deep in the Arabian Desert lie thousands of enigmatic stone megastructures whose true form is visible only from the sky. Follow archaeologists as they decipher the mysterious remnants of a Stone Age culture and discover their true purpose.

  • Human: Building Empires Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Human: Building Empires Preview

    S52 E16 - 30s

    Discover how Homo sapiens transformed from nomads to empire builders. Witness the innovations – from animal domestication to writing – that revolutionized ancient life and shaped our modern world.

  • Human: Into the Americas Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Human: Into the Americas Preview

    S52 E15 - 30s

    Follow ancient humans’ perilous journey into the Americas, where a frigid Ice Age landscape, mammoths, and other fearsome beasts tested their resilience.

  • Human: Neanderthal Encounters Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Human: Neanderthal Encounters Preview

    S52 E14 - 30s

    For 400,000 years, Neanderthals thrived across frigid, Ice Age Europe. What happened when Homo sapiens arrived, and how did these encounters change our species – including our DNA – in ways still with us today?

  • Human: Journeys Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Human: Journeys Preview

    S52 E13 - 30s

    Follow Homo Sapiens as they venture across the world, farther than any other human species. See how they invented new tools to thrive in challenging environments – and meet the mysterious hobbit-like humans they may have encountered along the way.

  • Signs of Life on Mars? NASA's Discovery, Explained: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Signs of Life on Mars? NASA's Discovery, Explained

    S52 - 3m 38s

    Billions of years ago, Mars’ Jezero Crater held a lake fed by rivers that could have carried minerals and maybe even organic matter. On Earth, places like that are teeming with microbial life.

  • Human: Origins Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Human: Origins Preview

    S52 E12 - 30s

    Where did humans come from, and what makes us unique? Discover the remarkable origins of Homo sapiens, and the crucial moments of innovation, communication, and ritual that set us on our path.

Schedule

  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build

    Saturday
    Nov 8

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build

    Sunday
    Nov 9

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build

    Sunday
    Nov 9

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build

    Sunday
    Nov 9

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build

    Tuesday
    Nov 11

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build

    Wednesday
    Nov 12

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: High-Risk Build

    Wednesday
    Nov 12

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: Science and Survival: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

    Wednesday
    Nov 12

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: Science and Survival: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

    Wednesday
    Nov 12

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: Science and Survival: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

    Thursday
    Nov 13

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: Science and Survival: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

    Thursday
    Nov 13

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: Science and Survival: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

    Thursday
    Nov 13

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: Science and Survival: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

    Thursday
    Nov 13

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: Science and Survival: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

    Saturday
    Nov 15

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: Science and Survival: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

    Sunday
    Nov 16

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: Science and Survival: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

    Sunday
    Nov 16

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: Science and Survival: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

    Sunday
    Nov 16

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: Science and Survival: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

    Tuesday
    Nov 18

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: Science and Survival: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

    Wednesday
    Nov 19

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.
  • Image
    NOVA: Operation Space Station: Science and Survival: TVSS: Banner-L1

    NOVA

    Operation Space Station: Science and Survival

    Wednesday
    Nov 19

    1 Hour

    Terrifying moments of high danger on the International Space Station, when ingenuity and teamwork keep astronauts alive as they do remarkable science in space.

PBS PASSPORT

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA+ and PBS Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.

Similar Shows

Poster Image
Stellar: show-poster2x3

Stellar

Science and Nature