Part 2: • " BEHIND THE HEADLINES...
This 1964 NASA film, which aired as an hour-long TV special, discusses the "headline of tomorrow”-American astronauts landing on the Moon-and what is being done to make that happen. Animations show proposed plans for the Apollo mission, along with designs of the various components including lunar and command modules. It also describes NASA divisions, research, and early satellite and rocket programs. The film starts by explaining that the first man on the moon will be famous, and shows a parade of American flags and footage of the Mercury 7 astronauts homecoming. A newspaper headline from the Houston Chronicle: “Cooper Goes for 22 Orbits; Pilot’s Condition Ruled Excellent,” (0:45). Title page: “Behind the Headlines in Space” (1:23). Sign for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (1:42). The three main centers for NASA are shown: Kennedy Space Center in Florida (1:58), Marshall Space Flight Center (2:03), and Manned Spacecraft Center (now Johnson Space Center) in Houston (2:11). A simulated headline from The Houston Post: “U.S. Lands Men on Moon” (2:32). The film shows engineering and development work among 7 divisions at the Manned Spacecraft Center, including the Advanced Spacecraft Technology Division (3:04), which deals with the space environment. The Sun, Moon, Saturn, and galaxies are shown. Early satellites are shown, including the Explorer series (4:14) and the Pioneer series of deep space probes, which passed through Van Allen belts (4:29). A diagram of charged particles orbiting Earth (4:50) and a proposed spacecraft trajectory avoiding solar flares (5:30). Another NASA division, Space Radiation and Field specialists (5:45), who deal with radiation hazards. Drawings of solar telescopes to detect solar flares (6:30) and radiation shields on spacecraft (7:16). Another hazard to watch out for is space debris, shown at 8:15. Micrometeoroid specialists use a sand blaster and Plexiglass to investigate space visibility (8:38). An engineer examines a pit on glass from the MA 9 spacecraft (9:01). A Venus flytrap tool designed by the Dudley Observatory to collect and transport space samples (9:22). The film then discusses prior Project Mercury and Faith 7 experiments conducted with manned Earth orbit flights. Diagrams show beacons to investigate flashing light perception in space (10:35). A photo of the Earth’s horizon taken by astronaut Gordon Cooper Jr. (11:26). Other photographs from Mercury missions, including one of zodiacal light (11:39), one of Earth’s night airglow layer (11:47), and views from space over the Himalayas and Pacific islands (12:05). A model of the Saturn S-IV rocket (12:24). The film discusses potential information gained from probes and experiments, such as the composition of the moon’s surface. Lunar maria, craters, and simulated meteorite impacts are shown (13:13). Instruments for selenography, the scientific mapping of the moon, are shown (14:09). A model Ranger program spacecraft, designed to capture the first closeups of the moon’s surface (14:32). A Surveyor capsule at 14:45, designed to test the feasibility of soft moon landings. A simulated astronaut in a foil spacesuit mines rocks; scientists in the Lunar Resources Lab in the Advanced Spacecraft Technology Division aim to perfect techniques to extract lunar minerals (15:11). A simulation of the Mariner 2 flyby of Venus and Mariner B flyby of Mars (15:34). Blueprints of spacecraft design (16:14). The film explains decisions considered for the Apollo project, including environment, flight date, and trajectory. Animations of the project’s planned lunar orbit rendezvous, where a lunar module will dock with command and service modules, are shown (17:25). Historical drawings of command modules for previous manned missions (19:42). An Apollo 4 module (19:48). Animations of spacecraft design considerations, including radiation protection, reentry heat shields, and recovery systems. An early launch system test failure (21:28). An animation of a rotating space station laboratory (22;17). A proposed Mars excursion module (22:29). Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Administration Building sign (22:46). Technicians in the Propulsion and Power Division test a reaction control motor for potential Apollo use (23:04). The Clear Lake site near the Manned Aircraft Center, used for thermal testing (23:57). Technicians test solar simulators, solar cells, and fuel cells in the Energy Systems Lab (24:19).
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