Apollo missions film

[chunkolini]

I have just watched this

A gorgeous film about the Apollo missions.
For All Mankind.
All original footage, no commentary apart from astronauts discussing their experiences, very relaxed and human. Some amusing shots of the Space Men having a laugh in space.
And amazing footage from mission control, lovely informal film showing the tension, eg Gene Krantz Flight controller's pimpy shoes marching up and down and some great pen twiddling by some guy. And some awful haggard faces. Fabulous film. Sound track by Brian Eno as well.
The shots of the Lunar Module on it's way down are remarkable. To guys in their mid fifties essential viewing, makes me go all soppy. Younger folk watch and be amazed.
I was seven years old when this happened; it wrecked my life.
Any Apollo deniers out there? meet you in the carpark; spud guns at dawn.

 

[Wallace]

I was nearly 4.5yrs old but remember being woken up to watch with Ma & Pa and older brother and sister, only my sister left now. I'm currently high as a kite on Hoppy Hen, fibreglass resin and a c e t o n e man, think I'm gonna have to watch it again in the morning!

 

[Rrunnach]

Our first trip to Florida, we were fortunate to witness a shuttle launch from CoCoa Beach. I can vividly recall every moment, as if the launch happened yesterday. On one of our many returns after to Florida, one year we decided to visit Kennedy Space Centre, shuttle program was still on-going.

During the tour, there are many Apollo artifacts on view, one particular artifact, Apollo something engine, left me pondering. Some of the welded component parts of engine were absolutely sheeeeeite and, I am being sincere!!

Brave men, who did what they did.

My son witnessed a night time launch, whole sky lit up and, our villa at the time, was miles from KSC.

 

[marlinspike]

I remember staying up or being woken up to watch it as a child too.

There's a very good book called Moondust where a writer interviews some of the early astronauts. Incredible bravery and an amazing feat. I had some Apollo mission stickers on my bike as a child - probably from chewing gum - and wish I had them now. The graphics on the Apollo mission badges are beautiful.

 

[daleyd]

There is a made for TV movie about Apollo 11 - before you skip past because it says "made for tv!!" its actually rather excellent and the music soundtrack really captures the time.

It used to be on youtube but I cant seem to find it, if I do I'll post a linky..

 

[chunkolini]

I have Moondust among my many nerdy space books.
A Man on The Moon by Andy Chaikin is probably the best of the bunch. it runs through all of the Apollo missions chronologically, each one building on the previous mission and manages to avoid tedious repetition.
I love this stuff. A criminal waste of money. But if we did not do this we would still be living in caves

 

[Keith 66]

I saw that film at Snape maltings on a big screen 5 years ago with Brian eno's soundtrack performed live by a band called Icebreaker.
Fabulous night out & there must have been some grit blowing round as quite a few people got some in their eyes.

 

[Bullet2012]

Does anyone have a link to the full version ?

 

[pedrobedro]

It surprised me that 12 people have walked on the Moon but only 3 of them are remembered with any regularity.
Apollo 11, 1969, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins
Apollo 12, 1969, Charles (Pete) Conrad, , Alan Bean, Richard Francis Gordon
Apollo 14, 1971, Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, Stuart Roosa
Apollo 15, 1971, David Scott, James Irwin, Alfred Worden
Apollo 16, 1972, John Young, Charles Duke, Thomas Mattingly
Apollo 17, 1972, Eugene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, Ronald Evans

Apollo 13 did not land due to a mechanical problem that nearly killed the crew. The 3rd man listed in each mission did not walk on the Moon, but instead stayed in orbit around the Moon in the command module while the other two landed in the lunar module.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

It surprised me that 12 people have walked on the Moon but only 3 of them are remembered with any regularity.
Apollo 11, 1969, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins
Apollo 12, 1969, Charles (Pete) Conrad, , Alan Bean, Richard Francis Gordon
Apollo 14, 1971, Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, Stuart Roosa
Apollo 15, 1971, David Scott, James Irwin, Alfred Worden
Apollo 16, 1972, John Young, Charles Duke, Thomas Mattingly
Apollo 17, 1972, Eugene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, Ronald Evans

Apollo 13 did not land due to a mechanical problem that nearly killed the crew. The 3rd man listed in each mission did not walk on the Moon, but instead stayed in orbit around the Moon in the command module while the other two landed in the lunar module.

You missed out Wallace and Gromit!

 

[pedrobedro]

You missed out Wallace and Gromit!

I think that one really was faked. The shadows were wrong

 

[Wedg1e]

If they really went to the moon, why didn't they see either the Clangers or the Soup Dragon?

 

[Wedg1e]

The 3rd man listed in each mission did not walk on the Moon, but instead stayed in orbit around the Moon in the command module while the other two landed in the lunar module.

What a sickener. That would be like standing outside the door of Rachel Riley's bedroom and handing your mates a towel as they come out...

 

[Tobymonster]

From the Earth to the Moon is the TV series I think you mean. If it is then I recommend it as well, it's made by HBO and follows in the same docusoap theme of one of their other great titles 'Band of Brothers'. My favourite episode is the how Grumman manufactured the Lunar Lander and the trouble they had keeping it within the weight limit.

On another note, a good book to read is the Haynes Apollo 11 manual. It looks a bit gimmicky on the shelf at Halfords - something you won't buy yourself and expect it as a Christmas present but it is really good! It's not only about the moon landings but details the rockets, command module, lander and all the ancillary stuff like spacesuits, environmental control and navigation systems - with lots of photos and diagrams. Again taking the Lunar Lander chapter, the way the design started as something from a 1950's comic strip- lots of windows and seats with retractable legs - and ended up the way it did with its lop sided appearance, one use only crash landing pads and gold foil blankets is really informative.

As said before Moon Dust is a good read too, it's a bit more of a personal side to the guys after they came back from to the moon and how they readjusted back to normal life. The tales of them sitting at empty tables at Star Trek conventions only to be totally ignored by people wishing to shake hands of a Klingon is pretty sad. Of the 12 who walked on the moon I think there are 8 left. If you want to go even further back to the start of the space race, then I recommend Red Moon Rising, the story of Russian attempts to put Sputnik in orbit.

Love this stuff!

 

[lchris21]

yep another lunar nerd here...............

Another good one I've read - First Man, by James Hansen.

The life of the most famous astronaut, sadly the recently deceased, Armstrong.

 

[Wallace]

You missed out Wallace and Gromit!