AllMovie

This documentary, part of the 20th Century With Mike Wallace series from CBS News and the History Channel, relives some of the highlights of the early history of NASA and the space program. Narrated by series host and CBS News correspondent Mike Wallace, this episode focuses on the Mercury Project, which featured the first historic space flight of Alan Shepherd and the other groundbreaking flight by John Glenn. 20th Century With Mike Wallace uses CBS News footage of early space missions and coverage, in addition to interviews with astronauts from this period in time to learn about what the early days of outer space exploration were all about. There are also interviews with reporters who covered these space flights and talks with historians who lend their insights about this era of early achievements by Americans and the Soviets.