First Generation

From the earliest days of space exploration to humankind's latest endeavors, risk is always part of the equation. But for the pioneers who were the first to put NASA's unpredictable technology and unproven designs to the test, the dangers were greater. Witness the most traumatic early moments in America's race to space, from the unpredictable first flights of the X-15 to the successful failure of Mercury Redstone 4 to the Apollo 1 tragedy, and discover the stories of the brave astronauts and pilots who risked their lives with each takeoff.