‘Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo’, An Awe-Inspiring NASA Documentary, Is Now On Netflix

While true crime documentaries may be all the rage right now, sometimes, it can be nice to take a break from murder and instead bask in the beauty of history’s finest moments. Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo, an engrossing, riveting documentary about the team who put a man on the moon, offers the perfect escape from all this madness. Combining archival footage, interviews, and stunning VFX recreations, the film chronicles the hard work of the men who worked in Mission Control, the lives of astronauts they sent to space, and their efforts to save the crew of Apollo 13. Sound interesting? Well, you’re in luck. This beautiful documentary is now streaming on Netflix – and it boasts a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Mission Control wastes no time in plunging you into the tensest moments of this team’s tenure; the rescue of the stranded Apollo 13 crew. After a brief brush with this near-tragedy, we are brought back to present day Mission Control, where flight directors joke about the fact that they always have to use the film Apollo 13 to describe their job to other people. Jokes aside, however, they are quick to admit what a massive amount of respect they have for the men who gave their all to bring that crew home, and all the work they did to get us into space in the first place. This is where the story begins.

Aided by a sweeping score, breathtaking imagery, and stirring testimony from the team who saw their tireless work come to life, Mission Control never loses momentum. You may even want to keep a box of tissues handy – tears are a very real possibility here. It’s just that heartrending and inspiring. It’s about time these heroes were sung their praises, and this documentary manages to do that without ever coming off as self-congratulatory or one-sided.

There’s something rather poignant about Mission Control worth mentioning; the film is bookended by present-day female NASA employees. Flight Directors Courtenay McMillan and Ginger Kerrick introduce us to the modern Mission Control and describe their jobs and what being a part of NASA means to them, and it’s nothing short of moving. This stunning illustration of just how far we come could not be a better way to frame Mission Control; NASA has always been looking towards the future, and the inclusion of women in a narrative long-dominated by men only speaks to their long-standing commitment to advancement – in space, on earth, and in the workplace.

Stream Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo on Netflix