Author Topic: New Apollo 11 documentary coming soon (Read 36294 times)

mike robel · « **Reply #80 on:** 03/09/2019 02:32 am »

My wife and I just got back. It was almost as good as me watching it leave in July of 68. It also makes me sad. It has taken us longer to get back to US manned launchers delivering astronauts to space than it did to get to the moon almost from scratch. We seem to have left our boldness somewhere.

While waiting in the concession line, there was a guy from Space X in front of me. I congratulated him on recent events and told him you all were doing good work. It's impressive to see from here. Not quite a Saturn V but cool. Especially double stick landings.

gtae07 · « **Reply #81 on:** 03/09/2019 10:51 am »

The nearest showing is 600 miles away

Guess I'll be waiting for the home version...

OxCartMark · « **Reply #82 on:** 03/10/2019 01:11 am »

Quote from: joema on 03/07/2019 08:59 pm

I had the same reaction. The very brief TLI shot was nothing like this ground-based TLI shot of Apollo 8 from a telescope: https://airandspace.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/callout_half/public/images/editoral-stories/thumbnails/Apollo%208%20TLI%20-3.jpg?itok=3o2Cv-xN

It was much more detailed and apparently shot from beneath/behind the S-IVB. There was no sign of atmospheric distortion, so it must have been shot from another spacecraft. I don't think it was a recreation as the filmmakers seemed consistent on using only period material.

I don't remember the ground track at TLI, but if it was over Hawaii it's theoretically possible the Air Force ARPA Midcourse Optical Station (which was active then) could have imaged it using large telescopes at over 10,000 ft. However adaptive optics did not exist then so I doubt it was from this source: https://www.darpa.mil/about-us/timeline/amos

There is a similar shot obtained during Apollo 9. Maybe it was that: https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-g7kvt6s/0/47324c1e/X3/i-g7kvt6s-X3.jpg

I came across some information on this in a NYT article on this film -

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/08/movies/apollo11-documentary.html

Quote

Miller was focused on keeping the re-creation as to-the-minute as possible. “We did have kind of our own mission rules,” he explained. “We said, if it didn’t happen on that day at that specific time, we’re not using it.”

But he occasionally broke from that purist approach. To show a solar corona phenomenon that the astronauts speak of, Miller said, he used a shot from Apollo 12. During the moments showing the translunar injection maneuver — the propulsive push that sent Apollo 11 toward the moon — Miller used a shot from Apollo 8. He hopes to document these liberties and other aspects of the filmmaking process in a production journal.

-----

later ed/add: Wait, if we're talking about the shot where the 3rd stage moves away from the top of the 2nd with 3 ullage motors and fires its engine when ~200 feet away (is that what you're talking about?) that wouldn't be TLI but rather the first firing of the 3rd stage to finish off getting to orbit. In that shot that I'm thinking of the camera is clearly in the top of the 2nd stage because you can see the inside of the cylinder (ribs & skin etc.) in the shot. And the camera would have been ejected for sea recovery.

What I'm thinking of is shown in the first seconds of these:

ed/add #2: This story of how TLI was recorded from the ground in Hawaii - https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/photographing-apollo-8s-orbit-toward-moon

Oersted · « **Reply #83 on:** 03/10/2019 10:07 am »

I must applaud Miller's commitment to stick to genuine Apollo 11 footage except on the rare occasions where he is obliged to use footage from other Apollo missions to show a specific event. So refreshing in today's "anything goes"-environment, where documentarists bend all rules for effect.

ehb · « **Reply #84 on:** 03/10/2019 02:08 pm »

I see at both Smithsonian Air & Space IMAXs https://airandspace.si.edu/theater-type/lockheed-martin-imax-theater and https://airandspace.si.edu/theater-type/airbus-imax-theater they are continuing to show it and in full length. I hope they continue at least one of them until I get a chance to get to DC later this spring. I'll extend my visit to make time for this.

joema · « **Reply #85 on:** 03/10/2019 08:28 pm »

Quote from: OxCartMark on 03/10/2019 01:11 am

NYT: "During the moments showing the translunar injection maneuver — the propulsive push that sent Apollo 11 toward the moon — Miller used a shot from Apollo 8..."

....later ed/add: Wait, if we're talking about the shot where the 3rd stage moves away from the top of the 2nd with 3 ullage motors and fires its engine when ~200 feet away (is that what you're talking about?) that wouldn't be TLI but rather the first firing of the 3rd stage to finish off getting to orbit....

In the movie it was a very quick shot -- less than 2 sec, maybe 1.5 sec. It was shaking, unstabilized footage of the S-IVB firing as viewed from below and behind. It looked unlike any of the separation shots from the S-II I've seen. It was very close -- I was actually shocked to see it. Had it not been such a stringent documentary I'd have said it was faked.

It had to be taken from space, as it was very detailed and clear with no atmospheric distortion. The only camera in space to take such a shot was on Apollo 9 where the astronauts photographed the S-IVB re-ignition. The movie version looked roughly like this but more detailed and shaking a lot: https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-g7kvt6s/0/47324c1e/X3/i-g7kvt6s-X3.jpg

In the Apollo 9 air/ground transcript, Jim McDivitt estimated they were only 1,000 ft (!!) away from the S-IVB when it ignited. They shot about 10 sec of 16mm film of that process. The shot in the movie must have been this. I don't think there was any other opportunity on any mission. The NYT statement about Apollo 8 must have meant Apollo 9. On Apollo 8 the S-IVB J-2 engine never re-ignited after separation from the CSM.

OxCartMark · « **Reply #86 on:** 03/11/2019 12:27 am »

I don't recall the scene in the movie but I get what you are saying and not what I was pointing to above.

Seems like I recall hearing of someone setting their CSM insanely close behind when it fired and maybe the 1000' you cite is it. That seems the only possible explanation.

IanO · « **Reply #87 on:** 03/11/2019 04:39 am »

Just saw it at a local theatre with our rocketry club. An outstanding documentary! I'm glad someone pointed out the editing, for it was indeed very well crafted. This deserves to win all the documentary awards this year. A true labor of love. I am so, so happy this rare footage was not lost to the ravages of time.

cebri · « **Reply #88 on:** 03/11/2019 10:17 am »

Still no news about whether we'll be able to watch it in IMAX here in the EU.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #89 on:** 03/11/2019 09:13 pm »

A note re: 65mm film footage used in Apollo 11:

Be on the look-out for the LC-39 A/B/C "traffic light" that many NSF members love. It appears early in the film, during the crawler transport to the pad.

(The 39C portion of the sign is cropped out.

It was already obsolete by the summer of '69.)

Silmfeanor · « **Reply #90 on:** 03/14/2019 06:42 pm »

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/14/opinion/apollo-11-documentary-neil-armstrong.html

I thought it appropriate to link this review and opinion piece.

Looking forward to catching a glimpse of this movie when it shows in Europe!

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #91 on:** 03/15/2019 08:19 pm »

Brief video about the making of the film:

Oersted · « **Reply #92 on:** 03/21/2019 06:35 pm »

Quote from: cebri on 03/11/2019 10:17 am

Still no news about whether we'll be able to watch it in IMAX here in the EU.

I wrote a message to my local IMAX theatre and heavily enveighed on them to get it. If enough people do the same maybe the will do it!

JohnF · « **Reply #93 on:** 03/23/2019 11:07 am »

Saw it last night, went into it with curious/low expectation, after the let down of "First Man", came away very impressed, this will be known as THE movie on Apollo 11, the editing is very good, sounds are great, 70mm film great, and Walter Cronkite !, it takes you back to that July, the movie is spot on. if you can't see it in theaters for sure buy the Blu Ray/4K.

RedLineTrain · « **Reply #94 on:** 03/24/2019 02:41 am »

Yes, this will be the definitive Apollo 11 documentary. And well deserved. A little bit to please everyone, but substantive for those demanding such stuff. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Saw it at the Air & Space Museum Dulles. A good crowd, but not quite sold out. They are still playing it once a day.

Blackstar · « **Reply #95 on:** 03/24/2019 12:13 pm »

https://messagecanada.ca/2019/03/22/ben-feists-giant-leap-from-advertising-to-nasa-and-the-red-carpet-at-sundance/?fbclid=IwAR3fMULsx5jhgvyV9oqX-RM-ADKAZBMTJpBeyLdPjO46_Yn6GcsjCLbQqQM

Wicky · « **Reply #96 on:** 03/25/2019 02:35 pm »

UK showing at the Science Museum, London

To coincide with the anniversary of this extraordinary moment, we will be screening Apollo 11: First Steps at our IMAX Cinema from 17 May 2019.

This thrilling 45-minute cinematic experience showcases the real-life moments of the Moon landing using never-before-seen 70mm footage and audio recordings from NASA's vaults.

https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/apollo-11-first-steps

Oersted · « **Reply #97 on:** 03/25/2019 05:01 pm »

...Aargh, it is the 45-minute version...

Mark K · « **Reply #98 on:** 03/25/2019 05:20 pm »

Quote from: Wicky on 03/25/2019 02:35 pm

UK showing at the Science Museum, London

To coincide with the anniversary of this extraordinary moment, we will be screening Apollo 11: First Steps at our IMAX Cinema from 17 May 2019.

This thrilling 45-minute cinematic experience showcases the real-life moments of the Moon landing using never-before-seen 70mm footage and audio recordings from NASA's vaults.

https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/apollo-11-first-steps

45 minute means it is the edited one. Too bad. the full one didn't feel like there was much filler in it. But I am sure it will be good!

OxCartMark · « **Reply #99 on:** 03/25/2019 10:13 pm »

Quote from: joema on 03/07/2019 08:59 pm

I had the same reaction. The very brief TLI shot was nothing like this ground-based TLI shot of Apollo 8 from a telescope: https://airandspace.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/callout_half/public/images/editoral-stories/thumbnails/Apollo%208%20TLI%20-3.jpg?itok=3o2Cv-xN

It was much more detailed and apparently shot from beneath/behind the S-IVB. There was no sign of atmospheric distortion, so it must have been shot from another spacecraft. I don't think it was a recreation as the filmmakers seemed consistent on using only period material.

Scott Manley dug fairly deeply into this and here's the answer -

Apparently he reads here.