Spacecraft Films

Beautiful Saturn, courtesy of Cassini...

I started this piece a long time ago. It was the beginnings of some material on unmanned spacecraft. I took a little time and finished it tonight, so I'll share it. The imagery from Cassini is ablsolutely stunning.

 

The early, golden age of space exploration. Right up close...

Here's a piece from our Project Mercury set. An RCS test, out by Hangar "S" at the Cape. Back in those days, testing was done right up close, hydrogen peroxide thrusters at close range!

 

 

New X-15, XB-70 Combo Available...

Our X-15 set has been pretty popular of late. I suspect this is due to the release of the new book by Michelle Evans. There's another set we have that isn't very high profile, the XB-70 set that we originally did under our Aircraft Films label. We're making that set available along with the X-15 set, for just $5 more. It's a great deal on two excellent sets.

X-15 and XB-70 Combo

Apollo 16 2-DVD set available again...

I've received a number of requests over the years to make the shorter 2-DVD sets available for some of the later missions. I've made two of them available again... The Apollo 16 2-DVD Set and the Apollo 15 2-DVD Set. While these sets are shorter than the full 6-DVD collections on these missions, they are still packed full of highlights, with the Apollo 16 set coming in at over 5 hours.

And for some video today, from our Astronauts set, here's John Young:

 

Apollo 10 Lunar Module Staging

During last week's anniversary of Apollo 10 I found myself in a discussion about the lunar module staging incident - essentially a discussion of just how violent and how "out of control" the lunar module actually became.

There's film of this incident from inside the spacecraft and I made this little piece to examine the differing viewpoints of Cernan and Stafford, with the idea of sharing. In my narration I make a mistake on the date - it was May 22, not March 22. 

 

Lunar Module Cockpit Poster Offer... Just a Few Left...

We are offering the remaining lunar module cockpit posters at $1 plus shipping until supplies are gone. We have just a few left. Lunar Module Cockpit Poster

Plus right now 10% off storewide (15% off orders over $250) and free shipping for orders over $125 (use the discount code FREE inside the US and INTERNATIONAL outside the US)...

 

Conversion to wordpress, LM Poster Sale...

I'm working on a conversion of this blog to a wordpress site. I'm hoping to be able to transfer the entire contents, but if you see any disruptions, that's the reason.

I'm continuing the 10% off through Memorial Day weekend, and also, if you have a number of sets to add, I have put in a 15% off for orders over $250. And the free shipping holds for orders over $125.

I have a few LM Cockpit Posters left and have lowered the price to essentially cover shipping. They are listed at $1.00. If you'd like one, now's the time. When they are gone the poster will be converted into a cafepress poster, but I don't believe it will be the same full size poster. The ones we had printed are thicker, as well. The reason for this is simple - I'd like for the work to still be available, but it isn't one of our core pieces. 

For those in the states, have a great Memorial Day weekend and start of the summer. 

 

Development of the Lunar Module (1962-1969)

A few days ago I posted about a CGI model of an early lunar module concept, and recently took these models and freshened them up to create a new poster featuring the four major designs during the Grumman lunar module development. From their first 1962 proposal (which won the contract), through a version from 1963, 1965 and the final LM-5 configuration that landed upon the Moon in 1969.

I was interested in this piece myself, something of a color version of a photo that has been around for some time:

And the new version we've created:

If anyone is interested in one of these, they are available as a framed print and will be available as a poster soon, available here.

Monday morning video...

Here's a small piece we created for our First Landing app... (our apps are available in the Apple App store or through Spacecraft Apps.)

This is a visualization of the Apollo 11 landing. On our first landing app you'll see a simulation of the landing with key parameters (from PDI through landing) and be able to use the AGC to enter the keystrokes necessary to land. There's also information on the trajectory and LM-5. 

 

An Extra Today In Space History - The First Space Shuttle Landing

On the front page of our site today is our "Today in Space History" feature for April 14, 1965 - the topping out of the VAB. Containing some interesting timelapse footage from our upcoming Cape set, it is a peek at the 3rd disc of the set, which is entirely devoted to the creation and use of LC39.

But something else happened on this date in Space History that needs to be noted, and I'm posting it here and letting it play out a bit. The landing of STS-1. This piece is from an Edwards feed, and the master had the time code embedded. But it is worthwhile as an interesting look at the complete landing.

Sometimes I think Young and Crippen were so exhuberant after disembarking because they actually made it back ok. This mission, the first testing of a manned spacecraft without an unmanned flight before, put a great deal on the line. Enjoy.