NOVA

Rise of the Rockets Preview

Preview: Season 46 Episode 5 | 29s

New technologies are making rockets cheaper and more powerful than ever before. As companies like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic make space more accessible, and NASA returns to crewed spaceflight, a new era of space exploration may be on the horizon.

Aired: 02/13/19

Rating: NR

Video has closed captioning.

Buy Now:

Watch Full Length

Problems Playing Video?

Closed Captioning

National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Draper. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS viewers.

More Extras From This Episode

Video thumbnail: NOVA How Do You Get a Rocket to Land Back on Earth?

NOVA

How Do You Get a Rocket to Land Back on Earth?

There's a reason why so few rockets are designed to come back to their launch sites.

Clip: S46 Ep5 | 2m 23s

How Do You Get a Rocket to Land Back on Earth?

Clip: S46 Ep5 | 2m 23s

See All Extras

More Episodes

Video thumbnail: NOVA Animal Espionage

NOVA

Animal Espionage

Camera technology is revolutionizing the study of animals—without them even noticing.

S46 Ep23 | 53m 29s

Animal Espionage

S46 Ep23 | 53m 29s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Violence Paradox

NOVA

The Violence Paradox

Is violence actually declining? If so, why? And can we build a more peaceful future?

S46 Ep22 | 1h 53m 22s

The Violence Paradox

S46 Ep22 | 1h 53m 22s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Decoding da Vinci

NOVA

Decoding da Vinci

Discover the science behind Leonardo da Vinci's masterpieces—and Mona Lisa's iconic smile.

S46 Ep21 | 53m 41s

Decoding da Vinci

S46 Ep21 | 53m 41s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Dead Sea Scroll DetectivesPassport

NOVA

Dead Sea Scroll Detectives

New technologies unravel the Dead Sea Scrolls’ mysteries and uncover million-dollar fakes.

S46 Ep20 | 53m 25s

Dead Sea Scroll Detectives

S46 Ep20 | 53m 25s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Look Who's DrivingPassport

NOVA

Look Who's Driving

As self-driving cars take to the streets, investigate how they work, and if they are safe.

S46 Ep19 | 53m 21s

Look Who's Driving

S46 Ep19 | 53m 21s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Why Bridges CollapsePassport

NOVA

Why Bridges Collapse

Can new engineering techniques help prevent deadly bridge collapses?

S46 Ep18 | 53m 9s

Why Bridges Collapse

S46 Ep18 | 53m 9s

Video thumbnail: NOVA Rise of the Mammals

NOVA

Rise of the Mammals

Amazing fossils reveal how mammals took over after an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs.

S46 Ep17 | 53m 17s

Rise of the Mammals

S46 Ep17 | 53m 17s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Planets: Ice WorldsPassport

NOVA

The Planets: Ice Worlds

Beyond icy worlds of Uranus and Neptune, Pluto dazzles with its mysterious ocean.

S46 Ep16 | 52m 48s

The Planets: Ice Worlds

S46 Ep16 | 52m 48s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Planets: SaturnPassport

NOVA

The Planets: Saturn

NASA's Cassini reveals the mysteries of Saturn's rings—and new hope for life on a moon.

S46 Ep15 | 53m 24s

The Planets: Saturn

S46 Ep15 | 53m 24s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Planets: JupiterPassport

NOVA

The Planets: Jupiter

Jupiter's massive gravitational force has made it a wrecking ball and a protector of Earth

S46 Ep14 | 53m 18s

The Planets: Jupiter

S46 Ep14 | 53m 18s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Planets: MarsPassport

NOVA

The Planets: Mars

Before it was a dry planet, Mars was a wet world that may have hosted life.

S46 Ep13 | 53m 54s

The Planets: Mars

S46 Ep13 | 53m 54s

Video thumbnail: NOVA The Planets: Inner WorldsPassport

NOVA

The Planets: Inner Worlds

The rocky planets have similar origins, but only 1 supports life. Was it always this way?

S46 Ep12 | 53m 54s

The Planets: Inner Worlds

S46 Ep12 | 53m 54s

See All Episodes

You Might Also Like

Nature
SuperNature - Wild Flyers
Life from Above
Animal Babies: First Year on Earth
Secrets of the Dead
Eons