DESTINATION SPACE:
A National Geographic EXPLORER Television Event on Sunday, June 18, Only on CNBC
Co-Produced with Newsweek Productions

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 22, 2000)—A prediction: Our children’s children will be traveling in space just as easily as we fly today from New York to Los Angeles. Hard to believe?

Meet today’s visionaries who dream of tomorrow’s space adventures on National Geographic EXPLORER’s two-hour television event, “Destination Space,” premiering on Sunday, June 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT only on CNBC.

Co-produced with Newsweek Productions, this special edition of National Geographic EXPLORER goes beyond today’s rockets and space shuttles to a time in the not-so-distant future when people will be living on the moon, mining asteroids, vacationing on Mars and exploring planets and stars beyond our galaxy. Sponsored by The Boeing Company, “Destination Space,” launches viewers into the next era of space exploration.

“National Geographic is known for its exploration of the earth’s past and diffusing that knowledge throughout the world,” states David Royle, executive producer of National Geographic EXPLORER. “In this special presentation of EXPLORER, we plunge into the future when exploration will reach new heights beyond the stars, the moon and even the Milky Way. Today space pioneers, who dream of humans living in space, are taking the first steps in making that dream a reality.”

“We’re excited to be working with National Geographic on this extraordinary special edition, and we look forward to future projects with them,” said Newsweek Productions’ President Patrick Butler.

“Destination Space,” revisits the triumphs and the tragedies of early space exploration that have shaped the course of today’s space program. Venturing into the unknown is always dangerous and risky. Space exploration is no exception as attested by American astronaut Michael Foale. Foale recounts his harrowing experience aboard the Russian space station Mir when a supply ship crashed into it, sending the damaged station spiraling in space and endangering the crew.

Despite the high risks, private companies and entrepreneurs are leading today’s space exploration, creating a new “space race.” Who is going to be the first to offer the experience of space to everyone? Launching commercial satellites is now a highly competitive multi-billion dollar industry, with companies all around the world vying for a share of the business. Others have set their sights on reusable spacecraft for regular space flights. EXPLORER profiles one innovative airplane designer, Burt Rutan, whose Voyager was the first aircraft to fly around the world without stopping or refueling. One of his latest aircraft designs, the Proteus, could carry a small space vehicle to an altitude of 11 miles (18 kilometers) where it could be launched into orbit.

Another space flight advocate, Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, seeks to spark the public’s imagination by offering zero-gravity airplane rides and establishing a $10 million reusable spacecraft design competition. He also inspires the younger generation with another competition, the “Eggs Prize.” Students in the St. Louis area must design a water-powered rocket to launch and then carry its passenger—an egg—safely back to earth. The team whose egg does not crack upon landing wins the competition.

What is our future in space? National Geographic EXPLORER investigates several of countless possibilities in “Destination Space,” from bold spacecraft designs to lunar colonies to mining asteroids for water. As we enter the next era of space travel, space is just not for astronauts anymore. For more information, check out www.nationalgeographic.com.

Building on its reputation for remarkable visual and compelling stories, National Geographic Television (NGT) augments its award-winning documentary production with new prime time drama, large-format and feature film programming, as well as international broadcast and video distribution. NGT is partnered with NBC and Fox Entertainment to grow the National Geographic Channels worldwide, currently operating in 60 countries and reaching over 50 million households. National Geographic will launch a Channel in the U.S. in the second half of 2000. At present, NGT’s programming can be seen in the U.S. on CNBC and PBS networks as well as through syndication and home video. NGT programming can be seen internationally through video distribution and broadcast syndication in more then 100 different outlets in some 90 territories.

Newsweek Productions is the television arm of Newsweek Inc., that develops and produces a variety of programming such as the award-winning weekly PBS series “HealthWeek,” and the 1998 PBS documentary “John Glenn, American Hero.” Newsweek Productions also provides programming for the Health Network and is producing a one-hour special, “e-Planet: A Cyberday,” for CNBC.

Backed by a remarkable 50-year heritage of pioneering space achievements, The Boeing Company continues today as the leader in space science and technology. Boeing space programs include innovative launch systems, commercial development of space, construction of the International Space Station, and space-based communications and services. Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company, with customers in 145 countries and manufacturing operations in the United States, Canada and Australia. Boeing and its subsidiaries have 192,000 employees worldwide.

CNBC is the recognized global leader in televised business news, providing real-time financial market coverage and business information to more than 150 million homes worldwide, with significant viewership out of the home by professional and individual investors throughout the business day. In the U.S. alone, CNBC is distributed to more than 71 million households, providing business news as a joint service of its parent, NBC, and Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal. CNBC viewers can manage their individual investment portfolios, and gain additional in-depth information from on air reports, by accessing CNBC.com on the Worldwide Web. In primetime, CNBC provides broad-based news, talk and entertainment programming. Weekends feature entertainment and talk programming.

Media Contacts:

Terry Smith /National Geographic
Tel: +1 202 775 6146

Eileen Campion / Dera & Associates
Tel: +1 212 966 4600

Jan Angilella / Newsweek Productions
Tel: +1 212 445 5638

Anne Eisele / The Boeing Company
Tel: +1 562 797 1022

Learn more in our Space Bytes and Space Timeline.