Science fiction – Sputnik and the space race in the 1960s

The first Soviet space mission in 1957 launched a race into the future. In film and comics as well, science fiction and outer space became all the rage. The Soviet satellite "Sputnik" ushered in a new, futuristic age. For the next ten years, the future and its favorite setting, space, were more in vogue than ever before. This documentary takes a wry look into the fantastic future of the 1960s - one that is already deep in the past. On October 5, 1957, a radio signal sent America into profound shock and enthralled the world. The persistent beep of the Russian satellite "Sputnik 1" spread like wildfire around the globe. The Soviet Union had put the first ever man-made satellite into orbit around the Earth. The space age had begun. In the coming decade, the future - and its favorite setting, space - was in fashion like never before. Pneumatic space heroines appeared in science fiction comics and films and futuristic sounds conquered the dance floors. In September 1966, the future also began on German television: The launch of the seven-part science fiction series "Space Patrol - The Fantastic Adventures of the Orion Spaceship" made TV history. In short, the future had begun and was promising great things. Our documentary looks back at this utopian time between "Sputnik" and the US moon landing. How did human beings see the future - our present - half a century ago? And how did culture reflect this boundless enthusiasm for technology and optimistic belief in the future?

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