Peachy in Space: Former NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino To Anchor Science Channel’s Primetime Coverage Of The Great American Eclipse On Monday, August 21 At 9 PM Series The Planets, Premiering The Following Evening, Tuesday, August 22 at 10 PM
Former NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino, a veteran of two missions to the Hubble Space Telescope and four space walks, will host Science Channel’s GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE special airing Monday, August 21 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. In addition, Massimino will serve as guide to the definitive series on our closest neighbors in the solar system, THE PLANETS, premiering Tuesday, August 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
“Mike Massimino is a true hero of space exploration having risked his life to fix the Hubble Space Telescope,” said Marc Etkind, General Manager, Science Channel. “His dedication to furthering our understanding of the universe make him the perfect guide to take our viewers through the once-in-a-lifetime Great American Eclipse and to the farthest reaches of the galaxy in The Planets.”
“Even as a child staring into the sky, I was fascinated withwhat’s out there,” added Massimino.”And I’m excited to be sharing my lifelong passion for space exploration with Science Channel viewers.”
On, August 21, for the first time in 99 years a total solar eclipse will span the continental United States, the path of totality stretching from Oregon to South Carolina. Science Channel will be on the ground to capture the excitement with live coverage starting at 12 p.m. ET from Madras, Oregon and will continue throughout the day from other locations along the eclipse’s path. Science Channel will also be airing an eclipse preview special on Sunday, August 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. A Great American Eclipse wrap-up special airing Monday, August 21 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, featuring same-day eclipse footage, will be hosted Massimino. Massimino will anchor the network’s coverage from Charleston, South Carolina, one of the last land-based sites to see the eclipse.
Great American Eclipse will spotlight the NASA WB-57 eclipse project, which will observe the eclipse with two high speed fighter jets, each carrying infrared and visible light cameras taking high definition video. Also featured will be the Eclipse Ballooning Project, which will send high altitude balloons up in the air from about 25 locations across the total eclipse path, sending live video and images to NASA. This has never been done live, and certainly not across an entire continent.
Each of the eight, hour-long episodes of The Planets will take an in-depth look at Venus, Mars, the newly discovered Planet 9, Exoplanets and others. The series kicks off with an episode on Jupiter, which will look at recent discoveries by NASA’s Juno mission that reveal new secrets about this strange world that is more akin to a star than a planet. As scientists uncover what lies beneath Jupiter’s violent storms, our understanding of the solar system could change forever.
An astronaut, the first person to tweet from space, and now a New York Times bestselling author, Mike Massimino grew up a working class kid whose seemingly unreachable dream of becoming an astronaut and going to space was realized in an unlikely journey that was driven by determination and commitment and realized with hard work and humor. After two missions to the Hubble Space Telescope and four space walks to make critical repairs to the telescope, Mike is now the Senior Space Advisor to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, a Columbia University professor, an author, a media personality, and an in-demand speaker for audiences seeking a unique perspective on teamwork, innovation, and leadership from a down to earth spaceman.
About Science Channel
Science Channel, a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications, is the home of all things science around the clock, including series such as THROUGH THE WORMHOLE WITH MORGAN FREEMAN, OUTRAGEOUS ACTS OF SCIENCE, WHAT ON EARTH?, HOW THE UNIVERSE WORKS, UNEARTHED, and HOW IT’S MADE. Science Channel’s programming also includes daily news updates with SCIENCE PRESENTS DNEWS and timely, expert-driven specials covering breaking science news and discoveries. Science Channel is the premiere TV, digital and social community for those with a passion for science, space, technology, archeology, and engineering, providing immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment across all Science Channel assets including: Science Channel television network, available inmore than 72 million homes in the U.S; complimentary Video On Demand offering; SCI Go app allowing viewers to catch up on full episodes of their favorite shows anytime; deep video, interactive storytelling and virtual reality at www.sciencechannel.com; and conversations on Science Channel’s popular social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat via @ScienceChannel.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world’s #1 pay-TV programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. For 30 years Discovery has been dedicated to satisfying curiosity and entertaining viewers with high-quality content through its global television brands, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery and Science, as well as U.S. joint venture network OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Discovery controls Eurosport, the leading pan-regional sports entertainment destination across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, through Discovery Education, and a digital leader with a diversified online portfolio, including Discovery Digital Networks. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
