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16 Sunsets

The Dreamers

Season 1, Ep. 1

 It’s 1968 and humanity reaches the Moon, but back on Earth, NASA is fighting for its life. As Apollo 8 makes history, the space agency faces a crisis. With the Vietnam War raging, political assassinations and social unrest gripping America, public interest in space exploration is dwindling, even before Neil Armstrong takes that one giant leap for mankind. To survive, NASA gambles on a radical new program: the Space Shuttle - a reusable spacecraft promising a new era of spaceflight, but it comes at a cost – a Faustian bargain with the US military, that will reshape its dreams and NASA's destiny.


Ever wondered how the Space Shuttle came to be? Welcome to a new podcast series, 16 Sunsets. Host Kevin Fong takes you back to a pivotal moment in history, revealing the high-stakes drama behind the iconic program, as told by those who were there. Discover how NASA, facing oblivion, forged an unlikely alliance and changed the course of space exploration forever.


Featuring: John Aaron, Guy Faget, Max Faget, Gerry Griffin, Matthew Hersch, Jeff Hoffman, Chris Kraft, Jennifer Lavasseur, David Mindell, Tom Moser, Teasel Muir-Harmony. 


Credits: 

Written and presented by Dr Kevin Fong

Producers: Rami Tzabar and Andrew Luck-Baker with additional production by Dave Giles

Sound Design and Mixing: Richard Courtice

Music: Christian Lundberg, part of Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers Composer Collective

Additional Research by Kate Arkless-Gray

With special thanks to Sandra Johnson and Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre Oral History Project 

Executive Producers: Stuart Coxe, Kevin Fong, Rami Tzabar and Jago Lee

16 Sunsets is an Antica and TellTale Production 2024


Links:

Check out our website at https://sixteensunsets.com 

Instagram: @sixteen_sunsets

X: @16sunsets


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  • Introducing 16 Sunsets

    00:31||Season 1
    Get ready for "16 Sunsets," a thrilling 10-part podcast series that dives deep into the dramatic history of NASA's Space Shuttle program. Join award-winning storyteller Kevin Fong as he takes you on a journey from the audacious first flight of the Shuttle Columbia in 1981 to the incredible challenges faced by its engineers and astronauts. Featuring captivating music by Christian Lundberg from Hans Zimmer's Bleeding Fingers Composers' Collective, this series brings to life the inspiring tales of those who built and flew the Shuttle, exploring the political and cultural forces that shaped its inception. With over 40 exclusive interviews from NASA veterans and Fong’s personal insights as a witness to the Shuttle era, "16 Sunsets" reveals the human stories behind the missions and celebrates the spirit of innovation that defined a groundbreaking chapter in space exploration.
  • 16 Sunsets is on the Launchpad!

    21:30||Season 1, Ep. 0
    Buckle up for 16 Sunsets! 🚀 Join host Dr. Kevin Fong and executive producer Rami Tzabar in this pre-launch episode as they share the story behind this new podcast exploring the origin and history of the Space Shuttle, culminating in the daring first mission of Columbia in April 1981. Discover how this ambitious project took flight, who's along for the ride, and why Kevin's passion for space led him to tell this incredible story. Plus, get a sneak peek with exclusive clips from upcoming episodes and music by celebrated composer Christian Lundberg, from Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers composer collective.