Survival in the Skies

Every day, pilots and astronauts face life-or-death situations when they risk their lives to test the capabilities of physics and science. With limited time, harsh conditions and the pressure of survival, they must do everything they can to make it back on the ground safely. Survival in the Skies tells the stories behind incredible pieces of space and aviation technology, from the invention of the parachute to the development of space suits. The series features stories of the people who created these amazing breakthroughs and the men and women who relied on them when their survival hung in the balance.

They eject us from planes when disaster strikes. They gently guide us to Earth from thousands of feet in the air. They transport us with amazing speed and remarkable safety. And they keep us alive in the most extreme environments humans have ever explored. This series tells the stories behind the machines and devices that help us survive in the skies--space suits, parachutes, ejection seats, and jet engines--and how they evolved from humble beginnings to incredible instruments that have changed the world and lifted us to new heights.