NASA to launch free streaming channel this week—here's what to watch

Astronomy lovers now have a platform where they can geek out all they want—and ad-free at that—as the streaming channel of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is blasting off this week.

Called NASA+, the civil space agency's new family-friendly streaming service is absolutely free, with no subscription needed, and wouldn't require you to keep on pressing any "Skip Ads" button or wait until they're done. It is set to launch on Nov. 8 (Eastern time)

NASA teased the launch of the platform last July but announced that it's now set for take-off on social media earlier this month.

NASA+, according to the space agency, will enable viewers to "gain access to the agency’s Emmy Award-winning live coverage and views into NASA’s missions through collections of original video series, including a handful of new series launching with the streaming service."

Through the channel, NASA aims to put "space on demand and at your fingertips," Marc Etkind, NASA's Office of Communications associate administrator, said in the press release.

“Transforming our digital presence will help us better tell the stories of how NASA explores the unknown in air and space, inspires through discovery, and innovates for the benefit of humanity," he continued.

This will be done through live coverage of launch events and missions, as well as original shows the agency is launching together with its streaming channel. Some of them have trailers for you to check out below. 

NASA Explorers

NASA Explorers will provide you with an inside look at how the organization's scientists, engineers, pioneers, and experts worked together in the agency's seven-year OSIRIS-REx mission. It shows how NASA "overcame seemingly impossible obstacles" as they fulfilled the mission's main goal of collecting a sample from asteroid 101955 Bennu and bringing the sample back to Earth.

Space Out

Skygazers would know that staring into the sky, especially during the night, could give anyone a sense of calm. But what if you can do it without having to step out of your house or use a telescope? 

NASA is then allowing you to indulge in the majestic glory of outer space in its show called Space Out. Here, viewers can "space out to relaxing music and ultra-high-definition visuals of the cosmos, from the surface of Mars to a Uranian sunset" which only the space agency can provide.

Other Worlds

Other Worlds offers the latest updates from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Described by NASA as " "the world's most powerful observatory," JWST was developed for 17 long years before it was launched in 2021. Now, the space observatory is famous for beaming back breathtaking imagery of outer space and Earth-like planets since last year.

NASA+ will be available for streaming on the NASA App, which you can download on both iOS and Android devices. It can also be streamed on Apple TV+ in the Philippines.