View source for Nickelodeon Launch Box

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| genre         = Astronomy
| opentheme     = "Raiders of Fortune" by Network Music
| country       = United States
| language      = English
| num_seasons   = 1
| num_episodes  = 9
| producer      = Alexandra J. Bennett<ref>http://www.inbaseline.com/project.aspx?project_id=157261 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
| runtime       = 25-27 minutes
| company       = {{Plainlist|
* Nickelodeon Productions
* [[NASA]]
* [[Astronauts Memorial Foundation]]
}}
| network       = [[Nickelodeon]]
| first_aired   = {{Start date|1991|5|9}}
| last_aired    = {{End date|1994|3|11}}
| image         =
| director      = Andy Bamberger 
}}
'''''Nickelodeon Launch Box''''' is an educational television series that was produced jointly by [[Nickelodeon]], [[NASA]] and the [[Astronauts Memorial Foundation]]. It was meant to teach kids about space travel technology. As part of the [[Cable in the Classroom]] service, the show was intended to be taped by teachers and shown in the classroom. Each episode also included a teacher's portion before and after where ideas for lessons and other aides were discussed. The show was taped before a live studio audience at [[Nickelodeon Studios]] and made use of many sets for Nickelodeon shows such as ''[[What Would You Do? (game show)|What Would You Do?]]'' and ''[[Double Dare (1986 game show)|Double Dare]]''.

The show aired on [[Nickelodeon]] from May 9, 1991, to March 11, 1994, and continued in reruns often in early morning time slots right after [[Nick at Nite]] had finished (usually as part of [[Cable in the Classroom]]) until September 1, 2000.

==Episodes==
{{Episode table |background=#8A4500 |total_width=70 |overall=5 |title=30 |airdate=20 |episodes=

{{Episode List
 |EpisodeNumber = 1
 |RTitle = The Spectacular Spacesuit
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|5|9}}
 |ShortSummary=Astronaut Brad Prouty appears in a spacesuit and explains the way it works. Kids offer facts about the suit during a "Space Break." We review spacesuit fashions through the ages, look at spin-offs (firemen's suits) and answer kids' questions.
 |LineColor= 8A4500
}}
{{Episode List
 |EpisodeNumber = 2
 |RTitle = Living on the Space Shuttle
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|5|10}}
 |ShortSummary=We explore everyday life aboard the [[Space Shuttle]], including the food astronauts eat and the way they go to the bathroom. We also examine the effects of weightlessness.
 |LineColor= 8A4500
}}
{{Episode List
 |EpisodeNumber = 3
 |RTitle = Space Training
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1991|11|1}}
 |ShortSummary=We visit [[Space Camp (United States)|Space Camp]] at the [[Kennedy Space Center]] in Florida and review the training needed to become an astronaut. Special guest-star former Senator [[Jake Garn]] talks about his mission aboard the Space Shuttle and answers questions about space travel.
 |LineColor= 8A4500
}}
{{Episode List
 |EpisodeNumber = 4
 |RTitle = The Living Earth
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1992|5|29}}
 |ShortSummary=We look at the Earth from the outside and explain how satellites are used to study the planet. UCF adjunct professor Karen Musser demonstrates how to build a self-sustaining environment in a bio-bottle. We teach kids facts about the Earth by playing a game show.
 |LineColor= 8A4500
}}
{{Episode List
 |EpisodeNumber = 5
 |RTitle = Space Station
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1992|5|22}}
 |ShortSummary=The United States is getting closer to creating a permanently crewed space station in orbit. Dick Lyon of NASA is the special guest. UCF adjunct professor Karen Musser hosts the teacher's portion of the program.
 |LineColor= 8A4500
}}
{{Episode List
 |EpisodeNumber = 6
 |RTitle = Fantastic Forces
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1992|6|18}}
 |ShortSummary=Bob Sieck, the Launch Director of the Space Shuttle Program, is interviewed at the Kennedy Space Center. Coach Danny discusses Newton's Laws of Physics. Robin Marrella from Nickelodeon's ''Double Dare'' hosts the student's portion and UCF adjunct professor Karen Musser hosts the teacher's portion of the program.
 |LineColor= 8A4500
}}
{{Episode List
 |EpisodeNumber = 7
 |RTitle = The Inner Planets
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|3|11}}
 |ShortSummary=Prepare yourselves for an epic voyage to explore the depths of space...to travel with the intrepid crew of the U.S.S. StarGrazer who have been sent on a mission to explore Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and the Moon. Students don't have to leave their classroom to catch some incredible sights: from a giant volcano taller than [[Mount Everest]], to a planet that rotates backwards, to craters as big as Texas. [[Jason Zimbler]] of ''[[Clarissa Explains it All]]'' fame, will take viewers on an incredible adventure to explore the inner planets in this episode of ''Launch Box''.
 |LineColor= 8A4500
}}
{{Episode List
 |EpisodeNumber = 8
 |RTitle = The Outer Planets
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1993|11|26}}
 |ShortSummary=This episode of ''Launch Box'' takes kids on an incredible journey to the five farthest planets from the sun: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. These planets and their moons were visited by NASA's ''[[Voyager 1]]'' and ''[[Voyager 2]]'' and what they found were sights never seen before -- giant hurricanes bigger than Earth, a moon with active volcanoes and a whole planet tipped on its side -- all in the [[Solar System]]. Astronaut [[Michael J. McCulley|Mike McCulley]], the pilot on Space Shuttle Mission [[STS-34]], hosts the informative teacher's portion. From the fast-paced, high energy of host [[Phil Moore (actor)|Phil Moore]] to the challenging space games, you will not want to miss this ''Launch Box''.
 |LineColor= 8A4500
}}
{{Episode List
 |EpisodeNumber = 9
 |RTitle = Flight
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1994|2|4}}
 |ShortSummary=Have you or your students ever wondered how a plane that weighs several tons can fly as easily as a bird? Or how a plane can fly through a lightning storm, wind shear or a snowstorm and come out of it virtually untouched? In addition, what is on tap for the future of flight? 
 |LineColor= 8A4500
}}
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Former Nickelodeon original series}}
{{Educational Nickelodeon}}

[[Category:1990s Nickelodeon original programming]]
[[Category:Astronomy education television series]]
[[Category:1990s American children's television series]]
[[Category:1991 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1994 American television series endings]]
[[Category:Former joint ventures]]
[[Category:American children's education television series]]
[[Category:Television shows filmed in Florida]]


{{US-child-tv-prog-stub}}
{{NASA-stub}}