ORLANDO, Fla. (July 6, 2026) — Few communities are more closely connected to America's journey into space than Central Florida.
For decades, residents have watched history lift off from the Space Coast, built careers that supported the nation's space program and passed those experiences from one generation to the next.
Beginning Tuesday, July 14, WUCF will bring that story home with Once Upon a Time in Space, a new four-part PBS documentary series exploring the people behind America's journey into space through the voices of astronauts, engineers, mission leaders and their families.
"For so many Central Floridians, space exploration isn't just history. It's personal," said Jennifer Cook, executive director of WUCF. "Many of our neighbors helped build this story, watched it unfold or passed those experiences down through their families. We're proud to bring this remarkable series to the community that helped make so much of it possible."
Produced by the award-winning team behind Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland and Once Upon a Time in Iraq, the four-part series features rare archival footage and firsthand accounts spanning the Cold War through today's commercial space era. The series explores not only the milestones of space exploration, but the people whose lives were forever shaped by them.
In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, Once Upon a Time in Space offers a reminder that some of our nation's most extraordinary stories were written right here in Central Florida.
For more than 60 years, public media has made stories like these freely available to communities across the country. In Central Florida, that mission carries special meaning because so much of America's space story unfolded here.
The premiere also comes as WUCF begins its second year without $2.5 million in annual state and federal funding for public media. Despite that loss, the station continues serving Central Florida through trusted PBS programming, local storytelling, educational resources for families, emergency communications and WUCF Jazz.
Continued support from viewers, members and community partners has allowed WUCF to maintain those services while preparing for the future.
"Because of our viewers, members and community partners, we're able to continue bringing programs like Once Upon a Time in Space to Central Florida," Cook said. "State and federal funding has not been restored, which makes community support more important than ever in ensuring these stories remain accessible to everyone."
Once Upon a Time in Space was produced in partnership with the BBC.
The series premieres on WUCF at 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, with new episodes airing weekly through Aug. 4. Episodes will also stream simultaneously on PBS.org and the PBS App.
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About WUCF: WUCF serves as the region's trusted source for educational programming, arts, culture and local storytelling. As Central Florida's only PBS affiliate and home for jazz, WUCF offers free, accessible content that enriches lives, fosters curiosity and strengthens the community. Guided by the mission "We Change Lives," WUCF is committed to connecting, inspiring and empowering audiences across all platforms. To explore WUCF's impact and programming, visit www.wucf.org.
Media Contact:
Christine Dellert Mullon
christine@sondersays.com
407.718.0199
