Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo (2017)

I could not attend the Houston screening of this film, but was happy to find it promptly streaming via this service. Mission Control is a must-see, if you appreciate the space program as a hallmark for humanity. Not only does this documentary showcase a half-dozen key personnel (esp. the indefatigable Gene Kranz) and astronauts who discuss their roles in the Apollo program's failure and success, but we see plenty of film footage from that era (where the engineers were all men, all smoking, all the time). The focus and professional rigor that NASA established at Mission Control (esp. after the loss of Apollo 1) set the stage for decades of human exploration in space (and the saving of Apollo 13), which I doubt can be matched by private commercial enterprise. This film has to be more than historic nostalgia; it needs to remind us of how high (literally) humanity can fly when we work together with drive and dedication. The world owes an incredible debt to the NASA family of astronauts, engineers, and everyone involved in Mission Control (as well as their families), for their sacrifice, and their service with distinction. Enjoy! 4.5 stars. (11-23-2017)