Now available on Disney+ and Hulu, The Space Race documentary highlights the journey of Black NASA astronauts who overcame racial injustice in their pursuit of space exploration. Directed by Emmy Award winner Diego Hurtado de Mendoza and Oscar nominee Lisa Cortés, the film blends personal stories with key moments in American history.
The documentary spans events from 1963 to 2020 and weaves individual triumphs with social and political challenges, illustrating the road Black pioneers had to travel in one of the most exclusive fields in science and technology.
NASA Legends Share Personal Accounts
Featured voices in the documentary include astronauts Leland Melvin, Guion Bluford, Charles Bolden, and Ed Dwight. Their firsthand accounts, paired with rare archival footage, reveal the emotional and professional toll of breaking barriers in space travel.
Ed Dwight was the first Black American to enter the Air Force astronaut training program from which NASA selected astronauts. Initially dismissing the offer as a joke, he changed his mind thanks to his mother’s encouragement. President John F. Kennedy personally supported his selection, but after Kennedy’s assassination, that support quickly vanished.
Despite never traveling to space, Dwight recognized his impact. During a panel at the 2024 Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, he reflected on how opening the conversation was his greatest contribution. “If I had gone into space and failed, I might have stopped the incredible progress that came later,” he said.
Legacy and the Next Generation of Explorers
Victor Glover, an astronaut who appears in the documentary, will become the first Black person to travel to the moon during NASA’s upcoming Artemis II mission. Speaking during the same TCA panel, Glover acknowledged the honor but noted the unfortunate reality of being a “first” in 2024. He stressed the need to ensure there is a second, a third, and many more.
Director Lisa Cortés emphasized the continuity of the story. “Everyone in this community looks back to Ed,” she said. “His spirit gives us the receipts of a narrative that was nearly erased.”
Cortés and de Mendoza used the film to connect past and present, showing how Dwight’s early efforts helped open doors for generations to follow. Their goal was to offer both recognition and a fuller view of NASA’s legacy through the eyes of those who lived it.
A Story of Resilience and Representation
The Space Race is more than a space documentary. It is a tribute to the resilience and vision of Black astronauts who helped shape the history of space exploration. Their journeys—marked by sacrifice, courage, and persistence—underscore how progress often begins with a single voice.
The film gives overdue recognition to the trailblazers who not only reached for the stars but changed the system that once held them back. With moving interviews and historical context, the documentary invites viewers to reflect on who gets to dream—and what it takes to turn those dreams into history.
Now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, The Space Race stands as a compelling reminder that the path to space was never walked alone.
