Eyes in the Sky

Today on Far Future Horizons we celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Space Age. 


On October 4^th, 1957 Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, was launched and humanity entered the Space Age. 

To mark the occasion we will focus our attention on those ever present orbital sentinels and eyes in the sky that have become the indispensable tools of our technological civilization – the artificial satellite. Earth observation satellites continually monitor our world’s weather, environment and human activity (both civilian and military). Telecommunication satellites are the nerve cells of the twenty-first century’s telecommunications network.

Since October 4^th, 1957, with the launching of Sputnik I, satellites have transformed our world into a global village. As we enter the second phase of the Space Age we can expect satellites to play an ever increasing role in serving and maintaining human civilization in the areas of long term weather forecasting, global surveillance and perhaps even in controlling the world’s weather and climate.

To explore the role of the artificial satellite in our modern world we look back in time to the dawn of the space age with two very informative documentaries: Disney's Eyes in Outer Space (1959) and NOVA's Sputnik Declassified.

The entire collection of Walt Disney Treasures - Tomorrow Land: Disney in Space and Beyond is available on DVD from Amazon.com.

NOVA's Sputnik Declassified can be purchased on DVD from PBS Home video.

The Futurism of Walt Disney

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." ~ Walt Disney

"When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do." ~ Walt Disney

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." ~ Walt Disney

"If you can dream it, you can do it." ~ Walt Disney

Today on Far Future Horizons we are proud to present “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow: The Futurism of Walt Disney” a documentary that is a tribute to the creative genius and futuristic vision of Walt Disney.

Walt Disney's Our Friend the Atom

Our Friend the Atom is a rare Walt Disney Science series from 1957 describing the advent of the Nuclear Age. Dr. Heinz Haber, a noted scientist in the field of atomic energy, hosts this look at the possibility of an exciting new power source. 

He starts by comparing atomic energy to a genie in a bottle, both of which capable of doing both good and evil, and it is up to humankind to develop safe controls over this largely unexplored science.

Remember to take this is in context of the times. Little was known of the problems that would ensue in the future , so it's a very optimistic look at nuclear energy, which was very much typical of Walt Disney himself.

The Spaceships of Walt Disney - Mars and Beyond

Today on Far Future Horizons we present the final episode of Walt Disney’s exciting “Man in Space” series.

Mars and Beyond was the third featurette instalment of Walt Disney's highly acclaimed Disneyland television Tomorrowland specials of Man in Space which aired on December 4, 1957.

The Spaceships of Walt Disney - Man and the Moon

Today on Far Future Horizons we present the second installment of  Walt Disney’s acclaimed television series Man in Space  depicting the human future in space.

Man and the Moon was the second featurette installment of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland specials of Man in Space, which originally aired on December 28, 1955. It was directed by Disney animator Ward Kimball, and is about the Moon. It begins with a humorous look with Man’s fascination with the Moon through animation. This segment features the Moon’s usage in everything from William Shakespeare and children’s nursery rhymes to lunar superstitions and scientific research. Then Kimball comes on with some information on the moon, supplemented by graphics. Kimball then introduces Dr. Wernher Von Braun, who discusses plans for a trip around the moon.

The Spaceships of Walt Disney - Man in Space

Today on Far Future Horizons we present Walt Disney’s acclaimed television series Man in Space which first aired in 1955 depicting humanity's future in space.

Man in Space is an episode of Disneyland which originally aired on March 9, 1955. It was directed by Disney animator Ward Kimball. Later, it was edited into a featurette to play in theatres, accompanying Davy Crockett and the River Pirates. This Disneyland episode (set in Tomorrow land), was narrated partly by Kimball and also by such famed scientists as Dr. Willy Ley, Dr. Heinz Haber, Dr. Wernher von Braun and Dick Tufeld. 

The show talks briefly about the lighthearted history of rockets and is followed by discussions of satellites, a practical look (through humorous animation) at what spacemen will have to face in a rocket (both physically and psychologically, such as momentum, weightlessness, radiation, even space sickness) and a rocket takeoff into space.