Spacecraft Films

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.

 

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:

 

Apollo 11 in 100 Seconds...

The human brain is a magnificent engine for visual processing. Even short one-second shots can reveal an incredible amount of information. This piece demonstrates just how quickly the brain can process and recall one of the most spectacular voyages of exploration in human history - the mission of Apollo 11. Here the first lunar landing mission is presented in 100 1-second increments. Take a minute and a half, and enjoy the voyage once again.

 

What goes up... must come down...

Something today from the incredibly cool department. F-1 engines recovered from the Atlantic Ocean by Bezos Expeditions. The details here.

And the "up" part of the mission:

 

The Robert Goddard Material on "Liftoff"

Since we began doing our "Today In Space History" feature for the front page, I've used several clips from the extensive material contained on Robert Goddard from our Liftoff DVD set. I've been asked by several customers the source.

As Goddard was conducting his experiments he documented them extensively through motion pictures, which is an aid to engineering and development. We found the Goddard material at the National Archives in College Park, where nearly all of the Archive's motion picture holdings are located.

I've told the story of the Liftoff set before, but to paraphrase I originally intended to make a DVD of rockets exploding, then decided to expand it. As a result I decided adding this Goddard material I had run across would make an interesting introduction to a set on launch vehicles.

Unfortunately for history, the camera ran out of film just before the first liquid fueled rocket launched, although we do have film immediately before and after the launch.

We transferred all of the Goddard stuff we could locate at the archives, and used nearly all of it for the Liftoff set. Several years ago Clark University expressed an interest in seeing how we had used the material, and we supplied several copies for their Goddard Library. The library has an extensive online library of Goddard documents that I recommend for those with an interest in finding out more.

Some of my favorite clips are not only the rockets, but the people (toasting a successful launch with milk) and the cars. We're looking at film here from nearly 100 years ago now, and Goddard's work is fascinating to watch (as is the extensive A-4/V-2 material on the Liftoff DVD Set.)