Nat Geo, C4 head for space

National Geographic Channel (NGC) and the UK’s Channel 4 (C4) will stage a two-hour broadcast live from space this March.

UK indie Arrow Media is producing a series of shows for the two broadcasters, which will be broadcast from the International Space Station (ISS) and Mission Control in Houston.

Two-hour special Live From Space will air on Nat Geo in 170 territories, C4 in the UK and be simulcast on NGC’s Spanish-language network in the US Nat Geo Mundo.

David Glover, head of specialist factual at C4, has also ordered two accompanying programmes – Astronauts: Living in Space which looks at what everyday life is like for the ISS astronauts, and Astronauts: Houston We Have a Problem (both working titles, 1×60′) which looks at the work of the crews on the ground to keep the mission on track.

The programmes will feature contributions from astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Koichi Wakata in space and Mike Massimino on the ground.

As well as shots of the earth, shooting stars and lightning storms from space, the main live broadcast will also feature insights into life as an astronaut on the space station, and never-before-broadcast experiments being carried out on board.

Viewers will be able to chat with the astronauts via online video links and have their faces beamed into space to join the conversation.

The live show premieres in March and coincides with the previously announced 13-part series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, a joint venture between Fox Broadcasting Company and NGC.

Arrow Media’s Tom Brisley is executive producer along with Al Berman, Sally Dixon and Madeleine Carter.