Monday, April 16

History in HD: America in Space

Smithsonian Channel, 9pm EST

Follow the path of NASA’s development in 1958, and the birth of America’s space exploration.

*Be sure to watch Space Shuttle: Final Countdown on Smithsonian Channel April 22 at 8pm.

Tuesday, April 17

Journey to 10,000 BC

History Channel, 2pm EST

Discover the thrilling real story of life on earth in prehistoric times. Viewers will go back in time to when early humans are just starting to inhabit North America and huge climate fluctuations cause a mini-Ice Age. The saber tooth cat, the giant ground sloth and the woolly mammoth are suddenly becoming extinct. How does man survive? Travel to early archaeological sites in North America and watch as scientists uncover fossilized bones, ancient homes and weapons of stone. [From History Channel]

*Check out NOVA’s Ice Age special at http://video.pbs.org/video/2191520252

*H2’s Little Ice Age: Big Chill airs April 17 at 2pm

Weaponology: Spetsnaz

Military Channel, 2pm EST

Spetsnaz are Russia's elite fighting force. From counter terrorist strike squads to special operations experts spearheading the Red Army, these ultimate warriors strike hard and fast.

American Masters: Hoover Dam

PBS, Check Local Listings

Part of the American Masters Series: The 1930’s, this special explores how during the Great Depression, Americans were able to overcome the technical difficulties in order to build one of the greatest engineering works in history.

*Available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/hoover/

*View The 1930’s collection online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/collections/1930s/

Wednesday, April 18

Why Ships Sink

PBS, Check Local Listing

Twenty million passengers embark on cruises each year, vacationing in deluxe “floating cities” that offer everything from swimming pools to shopping malls to ice skating rinks. And the ships just keep getting bigger: The average cruise ship has doubled in size in just the last ten years. Some engineers fear that these towering behemoths are dangerously unstable, and the recent tragedy of the Costa Concordia has raised new questions about their safety. Now, NOVA brings together marine engineering and safety experts to reconstruct the events that led up to famous cruise disasters, including the ill-fated Concordia, the Sea Diamond, and the Oceanos. [From PBS]

*Is bigger always better?  Smithsonian takes an in-depth look at the biggest cruise ship ever built and its maiden voyage.  See the full episode online at http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/full-episodes.do#mighty-ships-oasis-of-the-seas

*Want more on sinking ships?  Check out Titanic’s Enduring Legacy with Len Goodman online at http://video.pbs.org/video/2221681214/

Thursday, April 19

America’s Hanger

Smithsonian Channel, 5pm EST

The famous aircraft of the first century of flight can only be seen at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, housed in Washington, DC, and in the Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia. Discover the inspirational stories and amazing aircraft of legendary pilots and daring astronauts, like Charles Lindbergh, Chuck Yeager, and Amelia Earhart. [From Smithsonian]

Friday, April 20

Decoding Christianity: Damned and Saved

Smithsonian Channel, 3pm EST

Watch as Smithsonian reveals how the concept of the afterlife has evolved through centuries.  The Christian concepts of the Original Sin, as well as explanations of Limbo and Purgatory are discussed.  The special also takes a look at how these concepts have influenced the world of art through the centuries.

*NatGeo has full episodes of Mysteries of the Bible available online at http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/national-geographic-channel/full-episodes/mysteries-of-the-bible-1

Sunday, April 22

World At War Marathon

Military Channel, 3pm EST

Frozen Planet Marathon

Discovery Channel, 1pm EST