Discovery Science to cover The Great American total solar eclipse on 21 August with a TV special as well as tracking it on Facebook Live.

Discovery's Science Channel (StarSat 222) is ramping up coverage plans for the first total solar eclipse in 99 years to span the United States on 21 August.

It's not yet clear whether the Science Channel seen in South Africa and Africa, a European channel feed of Discovery Networks International's American subsidiary will be showing the same live coverage and programming, but some of the off-television content will be accessible by South African viewers.

On 21 August the Science Channel will broadcast the once-off, one-hour TV special, The Great American Eclipse (working title), that will include same-day footage of the total solar eclipse.

The Science Channel will be in Madras, Oregon in the United States and will be partnering with the Lowell Observatory on the Lowell Solar Eclipse Experience (lowellsolareclipse.com), as astronomers and educators narrate the eclipse as it happens.

Madras is considered by experts to be one of America's premier viewing spots, because of its location in the high desert of Central Oregon, typical weather patterns, and unobstructed views.

The Science Channel is planning to provide live footage from other prime viewing destinations across America including locations in Tennessee, Idaho, Nebraska, and South Carolina, as well as offering glimpses of the eclipse taken from the International Space Station.

"The Great American Eclipse is truly once-in-a-lifetime," says the Science Channel.

"With live coverage and a post-eclipse special, along with updates throughout the day on our digital and social platforms, Science Channel promises to be the destination for this mind-blowing experience."

The Science Channel has launched an eclipse micro-site on ScienceChannel.com that contains blog posts, photo galleries and an original eclipse companion guide video series.

Besides the TV special, on August 21, the Science Channel will Facebook Live the eclipse from Madras, capturing crowd reactions of the remarkable spectacle, and will offer live eclipse updates throughout the day.

The Great American Eclipse will be produced by Pioneer Productions with executive producers Thomas Viner, Stephen Marsh and Helen Williamson. Kyle McCabe will serve as  the executive producer for the Science Channel.