What's our most underrated set?

There is a set that has never been as popular as it should have been; the 2-DVD Mission to the Moon set. Maybe it is because most of the set is in black and white, but I remember the day I found these programs at the National Archives (and I later found out even the reporter didn't have copies). They are a treasure-trove of unique views into the Apollo program. Want to tour the Grumman plant with Tom Kelly to see how the LM is made? Ok, let's go. Want to look into the fuel cells and see their actual construction and how they work? No problem. Want to see how the guidance computer works with the sextant and crew input? You've got it.

Below is a short clip from the show on "returning from the Moon" showing construction of the heat shield. I just love this stuff... I remember seeing a photo of someone shooting ablator into the honeycomb, but until I ran across these programs I'd never seen it like this.

All total there's over 5 hours of material. A 14:30 NASA film on the Saturn V and Apollo 4 (which I admittedly really included to give the set at least something in color), and then 9 half-hour programs including a look at the Ranger, Lunar Orbiter and Surveyor missions, food, the CSM (filmed at Downey), the computer (filmed at MIT), fuel cells (filmed at Pratt & Whitney), LM (filmed at Grumman), Space suits, space medicine and the heat shield (filmed at Avco). All created by MIT and NASA as part of the Science Reporter series. Great stuff.

 

Mission To The Moon on Spacecraft Films

And a quick ship update... making great progress through the Apollo 14, 15 and Space Shuttle sets. And we'll begin shipping the second space shuttle sets right after Thanksgiving. Have a great holiday week next week, everyone.

Comments

[Stefan Pettersson]

Hello ! thats one off mine favorites! best regards from Stefan in Gothenburg ,Sweden.

AND KEEP UP THE SUPER WORK YOU DO!!!

[Patrick Gleeson]

One of my favourite sets - a unique and exhaustive look at how the US planned to land on and explore the moon.