Spacecraft Films

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.

 

Rare Footage of What Happened on Apollo 13...

When I was producing the Apollo 13 set, I knew that footage existed of tests of the panel being blown off, done after the mission to determine the cause. But I couldn't find it anywhere. There were mentions of the tests in the Apollo 13 report, and I knew they would have been filmed.

Eventually I located one brief mention of this film, the tests having been done at the Langley Research Center. Despite several attempts by Langley to locate the footage, I noticed a strange entry in a report from Langley that showed film numbers, with no indication of what the film might be. But - the dates corresponded to the time frame for the testing for Apollo 13.

So, back to the National Archives. I was informed that the footage was at the archives, but the accession had not been fully processed. If I really wanted the footage they would see if they could locate it in one of the boxes from the accession. Well, of course I wanted it. I only hoped it was what I was looking for.

They found it, I had a film-to-tape transfer done, and it WAS exactly the footage I was after! Entire process? About 6 months beginning to end. And such is one of the many fun research tales in space history. Here are a few clips from the footage, on this, the anniversary of the explosion on Apollo 13. (The full footage is on our 3-DVD Apollo 13 set)

 

The Story of the Apollo 13 Live Color LUT Camera - April 11, 1970

During the course of creating our Live From The Moon documentary, we ran across lots of interesting stories, some of which didn't make the final cut (or only made it with a mention). Such is the case with the story of the Apollo 13 LUT camera.

Remembering that color television cameras at the time were heavy, large, and fragile, and putting one at the top of the LUT during a Saturn V launch might not be well considered, Stan Lebar at Westinghouse was asked if the color lunar TV camera could be used. After all, it was compact and designed to operate in a hostile environment. 

Apollo 13 was the only mission in which the launch was covered in color, live, from the LUT (Other launches were filmed, but not available during a live broadcast). Here's the story:

Live From The Moon is available in the United States exclusively from Spacecraft Films, on DVD and Blu-ray. It has aired in Japan (where it has also been released on DVD - in Japanese), the Middle East, and much of Europe. It has not been broadcast in the United States - we timed the infusion of reality TV very poorly.

Stan Lebar is no longer with us. He is missed. He was a great supporter of what we were doing with Live From the Moon, and I think of him often. I've long wanted to use some more of his stories, and I'm pleased to share them.

10% Off total order for a few more days... and closing out some titles.

Currently we're offering 10% off the total order, along with free shipping for orders over $125. We also have another discount available, 15% off for orders over $250, if you're interested in some of the larger combos. 

I've also been looking at inventory and am down to the last box on a few sets, such as Mission to the Moon, the MSC reports and Saturn 1 and 1B. I most likely will not be reprinting those sets, so if they're something you'd like to have, now's the time to get them.

We're currently shipping every day and working on the Apollo 11 and Shuttle preorders. In production is the Space Shuttle: First Flights set. We have two masters to complete on that set, and it will the next completed.

3-DVD X-15 Set

The subject of our X-15 set came up last night. X-15: The Edge of Space is a 3-DVD set that is packed with rare material on the X-15. From period documentaries to a very large number of the flights covered, to the accidents (and onboard cameras and analysis). It even contains a retrospective from among X-15 pilots. By far the most complete collection anywhere on the X-15. And our 10% off complete order and free shipping for orders over $125 is still in effect. Here's a look: