Disney Junior's MISSION FORCE ONE Soars to Season Highs

Following its debut in space, a first for a kids television series, the television premiere of "The Space Station Situation" episode of Disney Junior's "Mission Force One" (Monday, May 7 at 5:30 p.m. EDT) skyrocketed to new season highs, growing over its most-recent original telecast by 54% in Kids 2-5 (232,000/1.5 rating vs. 151,000/1.0 rating), 105% in Girls 2-5 (135,000/1.8 rating vs. 66,000/0.9 rating), 41% in Kids 2-8 (304,000/1.1 rating vs. 216,000/0.8 rating) and 78% in Girls 2-8 (174,000/1.3 rating vs. 98,000/0.7 rating).

Lauded for inspiring young viewer's imaginations about space, Science and technology, "Mission Force One," the latest chapter of acclaimed series "Miles from Tomorrowland," marked the first kids television premiere in space, when "The Space Station Situation" debuted to astronauts on board the International Space Station last month. The episode, which features an exact replica of the space station using NASA's original designs, was also shown at a private screening event at the nonprofit Space Center Houston, the official visitor center for NASA Johnson Space Center, before making its television debut.

In the episode, young adventurer Miles and his friends travel back in time to prevent the International Space Station from getting stuck in the future, with help from the astronauts on board. Revered space and Science figures voicing themselves include NASA astronauts Scott Kelly, Jeanette Epps and Yvonne Cagle; the European Space Agency's astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti from Italy; Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko; NASA space station flight director Holly Ridings; and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Randii Wessen, Diana Trujillo, Bobak Ferdowsi and Kevin Hand. Bill Nye recurs as Professor Rubicon and the episode also features GRAMMY® Award-winning, world-renowned banjo player Bela Fleck.

Photo Credit: Disney Junior