When space missions fail, how does NASA save them from the brink of disaster?
This documentary examines the high-stakes problem-solving of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory during the 1990s. It highlights the ingenuity required to salvage iconic spacecraft that faced critical malfunctions shortly after launch.
In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was found to have a tiny defect that left it nearsighted, threatening its mission to capture clear images of the universe. JPL scientists and engineers devised a creative fix to restore its vision. This era was defined by a series of technical crises, including the Magellan spacecraft, which was built using spare parts, and the Galileo mission to Jupiter, which suffered a jammed communications antenna.
The documentary also covers the disappearance of the Mars Observer, which vanished just before entering orbit. These cases illustrate the persistent efforts of engineers working to recover machines sent into deep space, showcasing the resilience and technical problem-solving necessary to keep these missions alive.
