NASA to Stream Live Programming on Netflix

(UPI) – NASA announced plans to begin live streaming content on Netflix, featuring rocket launches, astronaut missions, and real-time views of Earth from the International Space Station, aimed at reaching as many viewers as possible.

Through its platform, NASA+ has managed to connect with a global audience exceeding 700 million. The service will still be accessible for free via the NASA website and app.

“The National Aerospace Act of 1958 emphasizes the importance of sharing space exploration stories with the widest audience,” stated Rebecca Silmons, general manager of NASA+ at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, DC.

“Together, we are dedicated to inspiring a new generation and promoting a golden age of innovation and exploration, all from the comfort of our homes or the convenience of our mobile devices,” Sirmons added.

Historically, NASA’s grainy footage of the first Apollo Moon Landing in 1969 drew 650 million viewers globally. The agency is now preparing to showcase the Artemis Moon mission using several high-resolution cameras. Artemis II, which will send its crew around the moon, is set for release in April 2026, while Artemis III, aimed at landing on the moon, is scheduled for mid-2027.

“I want to be part of the Moon Mission, but if I can’t, I’ll be glued to the TV for sure. I’m following almost everything that comes out,” Artemis astronaut Scott Tingle shared with UPI in 2021.

He commented, “There’s a significant opportunity here to stream much of this through NASA TV. I don’t think the organization will miss out on that chance if it’s technically feasible.”

Netflix has been exploring space-themed content for several years. In 2021, it released a five-part documentary series about SpaceX, including the Inspiration4 mission, which documented everything from training to landing.

That same year, the Russian space agency Roscosmos produced full-length feature films aboard the International Space Station, highlighting the increasing commercialization of space travel.

In 2020, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted about actor Tom Cruise’s planned trip to the space station for a film, though no date has been set; the project is still in development. The aim is for Cruise to be the first civilian to film outside the ISS.

“As competition with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin lowers launch costs, we can expect more movies and videos to be filmed in space,” noted a cinematographer from IMAX while speaking to UPI.