Moonwalk Series

First episode shows the preparation on the night before and the day of the launch of Apollo 11. Shots of the crowds waiting to view the launch help convey the excitement that accompanied the launch. The launch and ascent are shown, followed by views of the congratulations in the control room and a brief salute to Robert Goddard, the father of modern rocketry. Released 1970.

Second episode shows the procedures Apollo operators used in order to make sure the astronauts would be able to survive in outer space, namely testing man's limitations and preferences (atmospheric pressure, temperature range, breathing gas, acceleration protection) and adapting the Columbia Module to account for these limitations. This show explains the function of the different stages of the moon rocket, i.e., how the stages separate and what becomes of them. We pick up the moonwalk story by looking back at some of the old classic space films that were a Hollywood perspective on future space travel.

Third episode opens with various shots of the natural environment of the earth, after which we hear communications with the astronauts on board the Apollo 11 spacecraft, including the news of the day. Views of the approach to the moon, the descent to the lunar surface, and the landing, including the statement, "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has Landed." are included. This is followed by the descent down the ladder to the surface of the moon by Neil Armstrong and the now famous words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Various shots of crowds watching around the world are shown, followed by the descent down the ladder by Buzz Aldrin, and the planting of the American Flag. There are views of the astronauts moving around the lunar surface which are followed by a series of still shots of this historic occasion.

Fourth episode opens with Michael Collins in the Command Module, Columbia. It then shows the flight of the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) and the rendezvous with Columbia. The reentry into the Earth's atmosphere, the parachutes deployment, followed by the splashdown is shown. Next we see shots of various parades welcoming the three astronauts home. Following these celebrations, we see the Lunar Receiving Lab, where the Lunar rocks are processed, and the various questions that science hopes to begin to answer about the moon, the development of the solar system and the evolution of life on earth, with the close examination of the rocks are asked.