Narrated by Tom Brokaw, this documentary chronicles the life of a great American, Dr. James Van Allen, Professor-Emeritus of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Iowa.   Dr. Van Allen was the first U.S. scientist in space and discovered the radiation belts surrounding the earth that bear his name. Through his enormous contributions and history‑making experiences, the documentary explores an era of U.S. history heretofore seldom and incompletely seen, explained, or exposed. For the first time, interviews with Van Allen and his associates, those who lived the events, provide a rare behind‑the‑scenes look at the development of the U.S. space program and, quite surprisingly, a first‑heard account of what were some of the most top‑secret government activities and events during the early days of the Cold War and the "race for space."

The documentary reveals that the U.S. could have been first in space, why we were not, and how fortuitous decisions by Dr. Van Allen, coupled with inter‑agency intrigue within the U.S. rocket development program, resulted in the U.S. successfully entering the space age with the launch of the first U.S. satellite, Explorer I, with James Van Allen's scientific instrument on board.

Additionally, the documentary utilizes early post World War II historical footage of U.S. rocket development and rare footage of 1950's/60's era rocket development and space program activities, including recently declassified and never‑before‑publicly seen government film footage, to assist in telling the James A. Van Allen story.

Finally, the documentary relates the history of Van Allen's flights to the outer planets as well as his space odyssey via Pioneer 10. Launched in 1972 to explore Jupiter, the Pioneer 10 spacecraft, is now billions of miles from earth.

Click HERE to watch a preview.

Margot Livesey grew up in the Scottish Highlands and received a B.A. in English and Philosophy at the University of York in England.  Her first book, a collection of stories called Learning By Heart, was published by Penguin Canada in 1986.  Since then Margot has published six novels: Homework, Criminals, The Missing World, Eva Moves the Furniture, Banishing Verona and The House on Fortune Street.

Margot has taught at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, Tufts University, and a number of prestigious writing programs around the world.  She lives with her husband, a painter, in Cambridge, MA.

Author Alice Sebold says, "Every novel of Margot Livesey's is, for her readers, a joyous discovery.  Her work radiates with compassion and intelligence and always, deliciously, a mystery."

(Debut)

In this episode: the University of Iowa takes on sustainability. From building and planning, to renewable energy...to living, learning and working for the future. "Iowa Magazine: Sustainability" explores the University of Iowa's response to the defining challenge of our time.

Coach Todd Lickliter's squad hosts the Michigan Wolverines in this Big Ten Conference match-up. Michigan hosted the Hawkeyes in Ann Arbor on January 30, 2010.