Chasing the Moon, a film by Robert Stone, reimagines the race to the Moon for a new generation, upending much of the conventional mythology surrounding the effort. The three-part series recasts the Space Age as a fascinating stew of scientific innovation, political calculation, media spectacle, visionary impulses, and personal drama. Utilizing a visual feast of previously overlooked and lost archival material— much of which has never before been seen by the public— the film features a diverse cast of characters who played key roles in these historic events. This program featured advance clips of the series and a panel discussion from the experts involved, including:

• Roger Launius, former Associate Director for Collections and Curatorial Affairs at the Museum who has written or edited more than 30 books on aerospace history.

• Poppy Northcutt, a “mathematics whiz” who gained worldwide attention as the first woman to serve in the all-male bastion of NASA’s Mission Control at age 25.

• Robert Stone, a multi-award-winning, Oscar-nominated and Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker.

This event was for members of the Museum's National Air and Space Society and their guests.