HISTORY� puts viewers in the cockpit alongside the crew of Apollo 11 at the moment when man first lands on the Moon � one of humanity's most stunning achievements and a moment when the world changed forever�

MOONSHOT Premieres on the 40th Anniversary Monday, July 20 at 8pm ET on HISTORY�

New York, June 5, 2009� When a U.S. astronaut stepped onto the lunar surface it was one of the most chronicled events in history� the spectacular "giant leap for mankind" that signaled the conquest of a new frontier and cemented America's place at the forefront of human achievement. Forty years after the breathtaking mission that changed the world, HISTORY� tells the story of Apollo 11 from the perspective of the three very different, and very strong personalities that made up its intrepid crew, in MOONSHOT, a two-hour special premiering Monday, July 20 at 8pm ET on HISTORY.

MOONSHOT brings viewers on the journey of three astronauts� Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins� from their first days as trainees to their eight-day flight to the Moon and back. The astronauts are portrayed through scenes depicting life in space-age America. Egos clash and interpersonal dramas flare in the run-up to the historic mission as crew members size each other up, challenge each other's judgment, and argue about who will take the first step on the Moon. Yet, despite their competitive nature, the astronauts forge a bond of trust when they realize they have nobody to count on in space but themselves. The compelling dramatization of the Apollo 11 flight is combined with original NASA archival footage converted to High Definition, news footage from around the world�including the iconic former CBS correspondent Walter Cronkite� mission transcripts, background interviews and other source materials.

Beyond the action on the ground, MOONSHOT brings to life the awe-inspiring mission that captivated the world from blast-off to splash down. Dramatizations offer a glimpse of white-knuckle moments, such as the lunar module's close encounter with space trash and a switch malfunction that could have stranded the crew on the Moon forever. Re-creations also include exhilarating experiences that few humans will ever know� an Earthrise, touching down on the Moon and stepping onto the lunar surface. Using accurate versions of the spacecraft and contemporary audio from Mission Control, MOONSHOT carries viewers into the heart of the action, where only three men have been closer.

MOONSHOT is produced for HISTORY by Dangerous Films. Executive Producers for Dangerous Films are Richard Dale and Juliette Howell. Directed by Richard Dale. Executive producer for HISTORY is Susan Werbe. Daniel Lapaine plays Neil Armstrong, James Marsters plays Buzz Aldrin, Andrew Lincoln plays Michael Collins and Anna Maxwell-Martin plays Janet Armstrong.

HISTORY� and HISTORY HD� are the leading destinations for revealing, award-winning original non-fiction series and event-driven specials that connect history with viewers in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. Programming covers a diverse variety of historical genres ranging from military history to contemporary history, technology to natural history, as well as science, archaeology and pop culture. Among the network's program offerings are hit series such as Ax Men, Battle 360, The Universe, Cities of The Underworld and Ice Road Truckers, as well as acclaimed specials including 102 Minutes That Changed America, King, Life After People, 1968 with Tom Brokaw, Nostradamus: 2012 and Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed. HISTORY has earned four Peabody Awards, four Primetime Emmy� Awards, 12 News & Documentary Emmy� Awards and received the prestigious Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network's Save Our History� campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. Take a Veteran to School Day is the network's latest initiative connecting America's schools and communities with veterans from all wars. The HISTORY web site, located at www.history.com, is the definitive historical online source that delivers entertaining and informative content featuring broadband video, interactive timelines, maps, games, podcasts and more.