Beginning this summer, Netflix will start broadcasting live spacewalks, rocket launches, and footage from the International Space Station, thanks to a new partnership with NASA. The initiative aims to expand the audience for NASA+, leveraging the platform’s 700 million global subscribers.
Netflix’s vast catalog will soon offer a glimpse into life beyond Earth, at a time when more and more ultra-wealthy space tourists dream of spending somewhere literally out of this world, even if only for a few hours. Recently, NASA won an Emmy for its broadcast of the 2024 total solar eclipse.
The space agency launched its on-demand streaming service, NASA+, in 2023. Even after the partnership with Netflix begins, NASA+ will remain available for free and without ads via the agency’s website and dedicated app.
Additional details will be released closer to launch. “Sharing space exploration with the world has been part of our mission since 1958,” said Rebecca Sirmons, director of NASA+.
Netflix isn’t the only platform helping bring NASA’s content to streaming audiences. Earlier this year, the agency partnered with Amazon to bring NASA+ programming to Prime Video’s FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) channel. Expanding NASA+ across multiple platforms supports the agency’s broader mission to “more efficiently share its work,” said Wes Brown, acting associate administrator for NASA’s communications office, in a statement at the time.
Netflix’s move into space content aligns with its growing focus on live entertainment. In recent months, the platform has seen notable success in live sports, drawing 108 million viewers for the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match last year and nearly 65 million for two NFL games aired on Christmas Day. It’s also investing in live events such as award shows, comedy specials, and talk shows. The company is increasingly striking licensing deals with other livestreaming partners. Earlier this month, it announced a groundbreaking deal with French broadcaster TF1 to bring its channels and on-demand content to Netflix users in France by 2026.
