Apollo 11 lifts off from Earth, fulfilling but also waking us from a longtime science-fiction dream. In the finale of “Moonrise,” we find ourselves on the moon.

The Dark Moon

“Truer, but also darker.” This is the real origin story behind America’s decision to go to the moon. The story we learn starts with Sputnik, then President Kennedy’s challenge, and ends with triumph: an American flag on the lunar surface. But in the 50 years that have passed since the moon landing, as presidential documents have been declassified and secret programs have been revealed, a wilder story has begun to emerge. “Moonrise,” a new Washington Post narrative mini-series, digs into the nuclear arms race of the Cold War, the transformation of American society and politics, and even the birth of science fiction, to unearth what really drove us to the moon. Join host Lillian Cunningham (of the Presidential and Constitutional podcasts) as she uncovers a story that has so much to reveal about America -- and about the dreams and nightmares of being human on this Earth.

Share The Dark Moon

Sign up to save your podcasts

The Dark Moon

The Dark Moon

More shows like Moonrise

Science Friday

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Radiolab

This American Life

Fresh Air

the memory palace

99% Invisible

Scene on Radio

The New Yorker Radio Hour

Presidential

Capehart

Sidebar

Constitutional

Radio Atlantic

Slow Burn

Capital Weather Gang

Post Reports

Throughline

Canary: The Washington Post Investigates

Please, Go On with James Hohmann

Broken Doors

The 7

Field Trip

The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop

Try This

Impromptu

The Campaign Moment

The Sports Moment