Truth Behind the Moon Landing

Look, “CIA’s Secret Space War” is a one‑off documentary episode that aired as part of the History Channel’s “Cold War Files” series. It’s narrated by veteran journalist Tom Brookes and stitches together declassified CIA dossiers, never‑before‑seen photographs and interviews with a former astronaut, a Soviet space historian and a retired intelligence officer. The premise is simple: the United States and the USSR weren’t just racing to the Moon – they were quietly waging a covert battle for dominance over orbit. The episode walks you through the hidden side of the Apollo programme, showing how the CIA allegedly planted listening devices on Soviet tracking stations and even tried to siphon telemetry from the Soviet Luna missions. It also uncovers a handful of “black‑ops” missions that never made it into the public record, like a 1968 attempt to photograph a secret Soviet space‑base from a high‑altitude balloon. All of this is presented with a tidy timeline, so you get the gist without the plot twists spilling over into spoilers. Honestly, it’s not a blockbuster thriller, but it’s surprisingly good for a TV documentary. If you liked the investigative vibe of “The Spy Who Went to Space” or the archival style of “Cold War” on Netflix, you’ll find this episode a solid, if a bit dated, addition. The pacing drags in the middle when the file‑reading gets heavy, and the CGI reenactments look a touch ropy by today’s standards, but the expert commentary is genuinely insightful and the revelations feel fresh. Rated PG‑13 – there’s some mild language, a few tense moments when the footage shows real‑time launch failures, and a handful of graphic images from declassified photos. First terrestrial broadcast was last Thursday on the History Channel, and it’s now streaming on their on‑demand service. If you can overlook the occasional sluggish bit, it’s a proper look at a hidden chapter of the space race worth a watch.