Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15367 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-05-01
• Formats: Color, Digital Sound, Dolby, Original recording remastered, Special Edition, NTSC
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 50 minutes

Amazon.com
This video from the wise Big Adventure series gives kids a great overview of the space program using simple graphics, a soundtrack featuring kids' questions, and plenty of footage not seen on TV. The film follows one space crew through selection, training, and flight, providing some amazing facts about the mass of the space shuttle. Often the video goes on too long about specifics--reentry tiles, or the specific scientific experiments on board--but overall this kind of documentary has rarely been handled better. For ages 5 and up, but 3-year-old fans of space exploration will be happy to view the pictures. Parenting Magazine named it one of 1998's best videos for kids. The Big Adventure series scans a number of fascinating subjects (airplanes, aquariums, and even renovations) and is a series to seek out. --Doug Thomas

From Parents' Choice®
In a superbly organized fashion, this video teaches everyone about the mysteries behind the space program - specifically, the topic of space shuttles. Viewers are treated to the multitude of tasks that are preparatory to the launch. Nothing is excluded, as we visit the astronauts in flight and witness the science experiments on board. The physics involved is reduced to understandable terms, with photos, charts, and animation. We meet the personalities involved, from the astronauts and Mission Control to the skilled technicians who check and recheck every piece of tile on the rocket's exterior. While many of the segments are visually stimulating for younger children, they will most likely get bored during the explanatory scenes. Older children will be fascinated by the facts and the amount of work that it takes to reach that thrilling countdown. There is also a segment on children at Space Camp, additional inspiration for interested youth. Family viewing is encouraged as adults will find no better introduction to this part of our space program. A 1998 Parents' Choice® Gold Award.

Reviewed by Yvonne Coleman, Parents' Choice® 1998

Customer Reviews

EDUCATIONAL & FUN!!!
As a preschool teacher for many years, I ordered this along with some others for our 'outer space' unit. It almost didn't get ordered because I thought it sounded too technical for 3 to 5 yr olds. Wow, what a surprise! It explains everything in extremely kid friendly terms, in an order that makes sense. It uses actual footage & computer animation, detailed enough but not scary. The kids want to watch it over & over. Preschoolers to adults will love this video. It's a keeper!

top notch video my son watches over & over
This video took my 3 and a half year old from a "trains-only" boy into the space age. While it would seem that much of the material is too technical for him, he loves picking up whatever can every time he watches it. He's probably watched the library loan video 20 times, so we're sure to buy it to have a favorite ready at any time.
It's educational and yet engaging enough that my other children and even other adults are sure to learn plenty, even if it's a repeated viewing.
I'm a stickler for videos that are fun or educational; this one's both!

viewer from east meadow
My 3 year old son loved this video. We had just watched ten days of the last space shuttle mission on the NASA Channel and he was hooked on rockets and the space shuttle. When he showed him the video he begged us to put it on. Two weeks later, we are still watching this video at least once a day. The video is narrated by a child, which I thought was great. I actually learned a lot from this tape. Why can't they put this on DVD? My little boy now talks about docking rings and booster rockets and mission control.