Race to the stars

The stories of pioneering astronauts who journeyed into space

- SEAN MARLAND

More than 65 years since the Soviet Union's Sputnik triggered a space race with the USA, the world is entering a new era of exploration with billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos competing for dominance and predicting that millions of people will be living in space by 2045.

This week, BAFTA-winning filmmaker James Bluemel takes a look back at mankind's journey towards the stars. Featuring archive footage and interviews with astronauts, the first episode of the four-part series focuses on those who were selected by NASA to be astronauts in 1978 – many of whom were civilians with no military experience.

Here are three of their stories...

ANNA FISHER

In 1978, NASA hired their most diverse group of astronauts to date. Among them were six women - the first in the space agency's history.