DISCOVERY CHANNEL TO PAY TRIBUTE TO SPACE PIONEER JOHN GLENN WITH SPECIAL BROADCAST OF 'WHEN WE LEFT EARTH: THE NASA MISSIONS'

Airing Sunday, December 11 at 9 AM ET/PT on the Discovery Channel

(LOS ANGELES) - John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth during the height of the space race. He was a pioneer, an aviation icon and American hero. Discovery Channel will pay tribute to Glenn with a special encore presentation of WHEN WE LEFT EARTH: THE NASA MISSIONS, on Sunday, December 11 at 9 AM ET/PT.

For 50 years, America has led the world in space exploration. Yet the boundless void that begins just 62 miles above us has been visited by no more than 500 people. WHEN WE LEFT EARTH: THE NASA MISSIONS is a stunning high-definition exploration from Discovery Channel that opens up space like never before.

The missions, the people and the triumphs of exploration are revealed in a depth of detail previously experienced only by Glenn and the other astronauts. The episode features interviews from Mercury and space shuttle astronauts including first-person accounts from Glenn and what it was like to be part of history. Be sure to check out his journey and tune in for this special encore presentation only on Discovery.

About Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 224 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the leader in global entertainment reaching 3 billion cumulative viewers in more than 220 countries and territories. Discovery satisfies curiosity, entertains and inspires viewers with high-quality content through global brands, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Animal Planet, Science and Turbo/Velocity, as well as U.S. joint venture network OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, and through the Discovery Digital Networks portfolio, including Seeker and SourceFed. Discovery owns Eurosport, the leading pan-regional sports entertainment destination across Europe and Asia-Pacific. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, through Discovery Education. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.