captain slow

You wouldn't think a guy nicknamed Captain Slow by his co-hosts on Top Gear would have a deep-seeded fascination with journeying to the Moon.

But super car presenter James May (right) has held a childhood dream to experience how it feels to fly to the edge of space in the upcoming BBC America special, James May on the Moon.

According to a Beeb press release, the special follows May as he connects with the astronauts who ventured into space, as well as the engineers and mechanics who built the vehicles that took them there.

And, in keeping with that Top Gear spirit, May takes a virtual test drive in those vintage space vehicles -- recreating the tests and journeys of the original space pioneers.