Silver Spring, MD — Coinciding with the 40th Anniversary of the first moon landing, Apollo 11: A Night to Remember debuts on DVD from Acorn Media on June 30, 2009. Unearthing rare, recently recovered archival footage from the BBC, this two-hour documentary compiles the sights, sounds, and electrifying drama of humanity’s first footsteps on the moon. Presented by famed astronomer Sir Patrick Moore (The Sky at Night), it follows the historic mission from launch, through dramatic moonwalk, to splashdown; covering the events as they happened from the launch pad in Cape Kennedy, mission control in Houston, and the BBC desk in London.

Available to U.S. audiences for the first time with its DVD release, Apollo 11 allows viewers to witness history as it happened and revisit the thrill of that momentous day ($24.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

Follow Apollo 11 astronauts from their preflight breakfast on July 16, 1969, to their splashdown in the Pacific eight days later. Share the suspense of countdown, the thunder of blastoff, the epic 218,096-mile flight—and, of course, Neil Armstrong’s “one giant leap for mankind.” Interspersed with this live coverage, BBC science reporter James Burke (Connections) provides helpful—and sometimes hilarious—demonstrations of spaceflight technology, including donning a space suit, touring the Apollo capsule, experiencing zero gravity, sliding down an escape chute, and even explaining how astronauts pee in space suits.

Now, relive what has been called “the greatest media event of all time,” delivered in the BBC’s inimitable style. Apollo 11: A Night to Remember premiered on BBC Four in February 2006 in the U.K. but has yet to air in the United States.

SPECIAL FEATURES: 17 min. episode from the program The Sky at Night and Sir Patrick Moore biography.

Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media distributes distinctive home video releases to the North American market with a special focus on the best of British television. Acorn’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.