Conference 7.286::space

    Is anyone else interested in seeing these?  If they were show at
    a facility convenient to 495, I'd be willing to chip in a buck or
    two for an after-work show, maybe a few times a year.  Sort of a
    Confab for space-noters.  - Chris

    Re .1
    
    Yes I'd be interested. Specially the early stuff. I never got to
    see none of the apollo stuff.
    
    Gil

    
    
    	I'll buy that.
    
    					Michael Gallant
    

    I'm sure I can be talked into something along those lines, especially
    if it is somewhere with a decent projection TV. That way I can watch
    them on a screen >20" :-)
    
    gary

I'd be interested too.  We have a video lab here in Hudson for making 
tapes of seminars, and they have a projection TV and a wide range of VCRs.
Shall I inquire?
/jlr

    Maybe we should wait until I actually get the first tapes before
    inquiring but that sounds good to me. 
    
    gary

    The Planatary Society offers selected ones and there cost are
    less.  I have recieved the same info in the mail and sent in
    for the tapes but as yet I have not received any. I just sent
    in about 1 week ago, 
    
    jb
    

    Care to enter some titles and prices? The only thing I have ever
    seen that listed things like this was some old NASA publications
    catalog and they were asking about $30 per documentary (some time
    ago, may have been on U-matic cartridges). At that rate $30 for
    a tape containing 3 such films is not too bad.
    
    gary

    I wonder if the 'America's Achievement' tapes are the same as Lewis
    Research 'History of Space Flight' series that was on a couple of
    years ago on CH 44. I have taped 'Training the Mercury Astronaut',
    'John Glenn's Flight (1 hr)', Apollo 14, and a few shuttle films
    on VHS.
    Does anyone remember 'The Space Movie'. It had severe continuity
    problems (was a mumble-jumble of NASA films), but was still good
    to watch. I have that on VHS also.

    It sounds to me like the old NASA programs that I used to watch
    back during Gemini and Apollo years at 6:00 or 6:30 on Saturday
    mornings.  At the time I found them quite informative, I was also
    quite young.
    
    						-Dave

    	While I found those old NASA short documentary films fascinating
    (I was younger, too) - especially for the pictures they showed which
    the news services usually never showed - I also found them rather
    lacking in more serious and intricate detail.
    
    	I realize most of these were short films, but on the longer
    ones (half-hour), they didn't do much more than gloss over the subject;
    it almost reminded me of how the Soviets give nothing but rosy views
    of their space events - whether they were succesful or not!  
    
    	I rarely see these films on TV anymore (the last one I saw was
    during Voyager 1's mission to Saturn in 1980).  Do they make these
    films anymore?
    
    	Larry
    

    NASA do still make the documentaries that run about 30 minutes each.
    They used to appear on Australian TV during long holds on the early
    shuttle missions. Just leave the VCR running! I haven't seen any
    of them since about STS-4 or 5, though. There used to be a doc for
    each mission but they may have stopped that after 'test' flights
    of the shuttle.
    
    There is also the Space Archive laser discs. The one on the repair
    of Solar Max is excellent (the others are very good too).
    
    gary

    	I guess I'm just an old "romantic" of NASA's early days, but
    I miss the times when orbiting Earth in a 6' x 9' capsule or exploring
    Tranquility Base was enough to "stop the presses" all day long.
    
    	The Space Shuttle is making space too commercial - let's get
    some EXPLORING back in our space veins!
    
    	Larry
    

    Actually, I think "commonplace" or "ordinary" are better words
    than "commercial", especially regarding the newsfolk deciding
    the "common public" just aren't interested in space anymore.
    (Remember the launch of STS-51L?  Even though the "space teacher"
    was aboard only CNN carried the launch live.)
    
    Yeah, I miss the "good old days" too.  I remember watching the
    live TV pics from the moon after the first lunar landing and
    being absolutely amazed that the sci-fi I was reading actually
    came true!  Boy, was that a feeling!
    
    Maybe the Soviets will have some good TV pics from Mars when they
    land there.  Sure wish it could be the U.S. ...
    

    	There is still a chance that you may be seeing pictures from
    Mars of the JOINT US-USSR manned Mars mission.
              
    	The Soviet Union recently stated it is interested in a such
    a space mission.
    
    	We (meaning the whole human race) definetely need an exciting
    space exploration event - one that is also BENEFICIAL to us as well;
    such as starting a permanently manned Mars base from the first mission.
    Numerous nations co-exist in peace in Antarctica, and on Mars -
    where the weather is even harsher, and help is at least 35 million
    miles more distant - cooperation should be even more prevalent.
    
    	Now THAT would be worth putting on video tape (at least)!
    	(Like how I came full circle on that one? :^))
    
    	Larry
    

    I have seen some of the MARs pic form the CCCP landing trys
    they were unbeliable, the ones I saw were 3d sections of the
    polar caps, these pic most likly are not advable to the general
    public
    
    I still have not receive my video, but agree that they will be a
    
    combo of old NASA films plus some new material as the add says
    
    about the joint CCCP/US MARS mission, that could happen sooner
    then expected, there is an unoffical (like the Halley Commet one)
    meeting between American Scientist and CCCP the goal is to bring
    back material samples from MARS, with the CCCP units providing
    transportation to and from MARS and the US design a lander to
    pick up material to bring back to the CCCP Mars orbitor to be
    shuttled home... sounds great... Like the old days of Apollo
    Soyuz link up
    
    jb
    

    	The joint Mars lander/soil-recoverer is a very hopeful and
    practical start for future cooperation, and serves as a fine example
    of what can be accomplished in space by these methods.
                                        
    	Let's just hope our two countries make it a reality.
    
    	Larry
    

    The first two tapes in the series have arrived. The contents are:
    
    Vol I
    New View of Space (1972, color, 28 min)
    Primarily a record of the uses of photography in the space program,
    this is a fun film to watch as it contains a lot of images from
    the NASA film archives. It won quite a few awards when released.
    
    Friendship 7 (1962, color, 58 min)
    The mission report for Glenn's flight.
    
    Vol II
    Apollo 8 - Go for TLI (1969, color, 22 min)
    Mission report for the first manned lunar orbit mission.
    
    The four days of Gemini 4 (1965, color, 28 min)
    Mission report for the second manned Gemini mission, including Ed
    White's spacewalk. Interesting background on spacesuit design.
    
    Mars - The search begins (1973, color, 29 min)
    Report on Mariner 9, with commentary by Carl Sagan (I think this
    was the first time I'd heard of him when I first saw this movie).
    
    Each tape has an intro by Jim Lovell, but you can fast forward through
    that (its not exactly dynamic) but everything is pure NASA documentary
    footage. I have only watched a couple of segments completely - New
    View of Space because I recall it as being very good and Gemini
    4 as it was the only one I had never seen. The quality of the tapes
    is quite good.
    
    If there is still interest in seeing these, maybe we can arrange
    to use a DEC facility somewhere that has at least a large monitor
    or preferably a projection video system and a Beta VCR. I will look
    into using Babbage in ZKO (and the Barco projection system) when
    I get back next week. Anywhere between Acton and ZKO is ok for me.
    
    gary

    I recieved the VHS format tapes.  If there's interest south of Acton
    I would be willing to bring the tapes to Hudson.  If JLR will inquire
    we'll see what we can do.  However in view of the fact that we are
    in the holiday season January might be as soon as possible.

    If anyone is interested in sending for the tapes it may be faster
    to call, I just got my reply back from the mailed in (late OCT)
    requesting I fill out another form about payment info. They said
    my tape will be sent when they receive the form back in late DEC
    
    thus via mail the first tape will not come for over 2 months, it
    looks like phone order was about 1/2 of that
    
    jb
    

    I purchased 'Seven Days In Space', and the view is tremendous!It
    reminded me of KSC's large screen movie (but not QUITE as big).
    It's a good value also, for $29.95, you get 88min!(I just can't
    see spending $59.95 for 1/2 hr) Quality is top-shelf also.
    
    List of order.
    
    Discovery rollout
    Launch (they show out the shuttle window,and how quickly the sky
      turns from blue to black!)
    Lots of inside stuff (they take you from flight deck to crew quarters
      and to air lock)
    Lots of outside stuff
    They launch satelites, and follow them out
    It goes back in time to watch the first time they used the MMU,
      which sets the stage for:
    Recovery of the two satelites
    Crew eating, exercising, working
    Return (glow of red out the front windows)
    
    This is from Halcyon Films and Video
    	         110 Beach Rd
                 Kings Point, NY 11024     $29.95 + #$3.00
    

    Is this a video copy of a NASA film or is it something they put
    together?
    
    What is it that costs $59.95 for a 1/2 hr tape? If you are referring
    to the videos in the base note, they are $29.95 for approx 90 minutes.
    
    gary

    It's NASA film but with a non-documentary look to it. I have several
    Lewis Research films (videos) etc., which are hard-line goverment
    films. 'Seven Days in Space' is fun to watch.

    The $59.95 videos are the kind I see in ASTRONOMY, with Apollo 11
    for 1/2 hr, etc., or the Voyager Missions video for $34.95 1/2hr.
    It seems that since the other videos (video store type) are coming
    down in price, the space videos are also. I am still considering
    the videos you ordered, but it's a lot for this time of year, and
    I have quite a few in my space-library so I would like to pick and
    choose.
    
    ernie

    
    If/when someone has a showing, please announce it in a new note.
    I bet a lot of people will forget to look back here (don't use
    'since').  - Chris

    if you are going to order the films best do it from the 800 number
    listed , I made the mistake in sending in the bingo card. That was
    in Sept, I just receive my first tapes  on the 21 of jan 87 almost
    4 months later, the big problem is that you have to pay for the
    tapes up front, and since I did not include a plastic number they
    sent me a bill in DEC and with the xmass mail it was slowed down
    
    
    I have only had a chance to see the first 1/2 of vol 1, but for
    the price it is a good deal
    
    has anyone see simular tapes on the CCCP man in space etc. ?
    jb
    

    The second set of tapes arrived yesterday.
    
    Vol 3
    
    Voyagers - mission report of the Voyager 1/2 Jupiter and Saturn
    encounters. Quite good, although they should have had a some footage
    of the Titan IIIE/Centaur launch.
    
    Gemini 8 - This is Houston, Flight. Mission report of Gemini 8.
    Since this was a abort from orbit, the film carries on a lot about
    how wonderful the contingency plans are etc. Interesting, but sort
    of reminded me of the old Soviet news releases after something had
    exploded in flight ('is glorious success, meeting all test objectives')
    
    Who's out there? 'A portrayal of a contemporary scientific conclusion
    that intelligent civilizations exist in the Universe' Haven't watched
    this yet.
    
    Vol 4
    
    Space Shuttle - A remarkable flying machine. STS-1 mission report.
    Good.
    
    Apollo 9: The Space Duet of Spider and Gumdrop. From memory this
    is fairly good (although I thought it was 'ballet', not 'duet')
    
    Jupiter Odyssey. Pioneer X mission report. Haven't seen yet.
    
    So far, so good although I already had two of these documentaries
    on tape.
    
    gary

    re .25
    
    I don't know about videos, but the USSR does release documentary
    films about various missions. In the past I have seen film on the
    early Vostoks, Lunakhod and the Luna sample return missions.
    
    gary

    I just got the next batch of videos. Vol 5 has
    
    	Apollo 11
    	Freedom 7
    	Gemini 12
    
    I'll type in the titles of Vol 6 later (don't remember them)
    
    The Freedom 7 doc is interesting... 30 minutes on a 15 minute flight.
    It includes a lot of background on the goodness of the space program
    and progress to date. It also has a long section on training, in
    a 'you are there style', and on testing the various components,
    test firings of the escape tower and lots of rocket stuff. The style
    reminded me a lot of 50s vintage SF movies. Well worth watching.
    
    gary

    Volume 6 has
    
    	Universe
    	Apollo 13: 'Houston... We've got a problem!'
    	Space Shuttle Columbia: The Second Flight
    
    The first film is something of a 'gee whiz' documentary on things
    that have been learned about the Universe via the space program
    (1976). Interesting that the other two both concern missions that
    were aborted.
    
    Volume 7 has
    
    	Four Rooms - Earth View (Skylab)
    	The Flight of Faith 7
    	Apollo 15: In the Mountains of the Moon
    
    The first one covers all of the Skylab missions. I haven't watched
    any of these yet.
    
    Volume 8 has
    
    	Apollo 16: Nothing so hidden
    	Planet Mars
    	Mission of Apollo-Soyuz
    
    The Mars film appears to be mostly about the Viking missions. I
    haven't watched these yet either (apart from the Soyuz launch sequence
    in the ASTP film).
    
    gary
    
    p.s. I happened to glance through a NASA catalog a few days ago.
    They charge $110 PER FILM for these things on video!!

    Prompted by the other note asking about these tapes, I will post
    the final installment.
    
    Vol 9
    
    Apollo 17: On the shoulders of giants
    Mercury: Exploration of a planet (Mariner 10)
    We deliver (STS-5,6,7,8)
    
    All good films. The shuttle film covers the first 'operational'
    flights.
    
    Vol 10
    
    The three films on this vol are overviews of the Mercury, Gemini
    and Apollo missions. They are ok but light on details. The Mercury
    one plays up the 'free world in space' aspect a bit too much, as
    do most of the Mercury films.
    
    The World was there (Mercury)
    Legacy of Gemini
    The Time of Apollo
    
    Overall, I am quite pleased with this series. If you want to own
    a bunch of NASA doc's, this is the cheapest way I know of other
    than taping off air. The quality of the transfers is pretty good
    and they use 'brand name' tape (Fuji on the Beta tapes). The cost
    works out at around $10 per 30 minute film. I had one tape destroy
    itself on first play which they replaced at no cost to me.
    
    I had seen nearly all of these, except the Mercury films, and the
    selection is close to what I would have picked. I would have had
    a few less 'overview' films though.
    
    They have recently started advertising again. It is the same series.
    They did not have plans to issue any new titles, as of two months
    ago.
    
    gary

    Since these are all from Nasa (funded by our tax dollars) does that
    mean they are in the public domain, or at least "permission to copy
    granted"?  If so, maybe some group of us would like to make a "joint"
    purchase and have a copy party?
    
    Burns
    

    if available from the GPO maybe their 25% discount applies. I plan
    to get these tapes but i want to check the available sources. 
    
    p.s. I tried DIR/TITLE and couldn't find this note.

    NASA do sell he videos inpdependantly, but last time I looked it
    was fairly expensive. Maybe something like $80 ea. I just remember
    being horrified when I saw the price. They may have brought them
    down to something reasonable now.
    
    The cheapest individual doc's I have seen were around $20 ea for
    a 30 minute tape. On that basis, and if you want lots of NASA films,
    the subscription is a good deal.
    
    As for copyright... the tapes have a copyright notice that specifically
    mentions the intros by Jim Lovell but only sort of implies a copyright
    on the NASA parts. I expect NASA owns that. I don't know what their
    policy is, but I suspect that 'non-profit' copying would not be
    prosecuted. Of course, I'm not a lawyer, your mileage may vary,
    do not remove this tag, etc, etc.
    
    There may even some official policy about material created by govt
    funded bodies like NASA, USIS, etc that allows the material to copied,
    broadcast or whatever.
    
    gary

    I beleive NASA policy is, it is all right to copy but you can not
    indicate NASA"s endorsement if used for advertising.