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Author
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Topic: BBC and Apollo 11: Descent displays
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Gary Knapp
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posted 11-30-2003 06:59 PM
   
I watched Apollo 11 live on BBC television and would like something confirmed for me.As we listened to the interaction between crew and mission control I recall a row of numbers in the corner of the screen which represented Eagle's altitude. These numbers tumbled dramatically as the spacecraft descended, drawing gasps from all of us. The tension was lifted momentarily as my Uncle Frank, displaying a great sense of history in the making, said "Wouldn't it be terrible if they landed and loads of little green men ran out of the craters?" Well we all know what did happen but what I would like you to confirm for me is whether the T.V. transmission that you watched showed the altitude readings that I mentioned earlier? None of the people I have spoken to can remember. I would like to see a recording of this transmission again but it has never been shown again and it is possible that the BBC no longer has the tapes. I have done a bit of investigating and have found two interesting web sites covering this subject: I have not seen any of Spacecraft Films' DVDs yet but I understand that they use some original television coverage. Can anyone tell me if the altitude readings appear on any of these? |
spacecraft films
Member Posts: 802
From: Columbus, OH USA
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 11-30-2003 07:16 PM
Our DVDs do not contain the network broadcasts, only the original feeds that went out to the networks. I have never run across any TV feed that shows altitude measurements. |
dave
Member Posts: 414
From: Hinckley
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 12-01-2003 11:25 AM
As i remember it the numbers seen were 'time into the burn' (of the descent engine) and not the LM's height?? I am pretty sure during all those crucial engine burns the BBC displayed such counters? Vividly recall the night Apollo 13 rounded the moon and BBC-1 stayed on air all night to cover that as a good example? |
heng44
Member Posts: 3386
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 12-01-2003 11:43 AM
If these numbers were actually shown on-screen it was because the BBC superimposed them. I have that broadcast (the static B&W mission control shot) from the Dutch TV and it does not have the numbers. |
dave
Member Posts: 414
From: Hinckley
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 12-01-2003 12:32 PM
Somewhere I have a tape or tapes with transmissions shown to mark the 30th anniversary of Apollo 11, as I remember it C4 here in the UK recreated a nightlong show covering events as they happened? I can't recall what TV footage they used. And also I think that German satellite station that used to be on my old Astra analogue dish Bayern TV (?) showed their original 1969 broadcast, can anybody remember either broadcast? And didn't the BBC show daily Apollo 11 30th anniversary shows on a satellite channel with some original footage? I must dig for this! |
Dwight
Member Posts: 576
From: Germany
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted 12-20-2003 10:16 PM
The German TV station is BR (Bayerischer Rundfunk) and the play a programme every night called "Nightflight" which for the most part features Shuttle earthviews. However they also regular intersperse Apollo mission stuff in the as well. I am not sure which satellite system this channel is on, but I would venture to guess its either Astra, Eutelsat, or Hotbird. |
dave
Member Posts: 414
From: Hinckley
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 12-21-2003 07:19 PM
That's the one! Yes, it was on the old Astra analogue set up. They used to devote hours to live coverage of Ariane launches as well, maybe they still do? Ah, happy days, well nights really! Spent many a long night working with that on, classical music set to endless beautiful earth views from shuttle! |
Dwight
Member Posts: 576
From: Germany
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted 12-21-2003 07:58 PM
I just did a quick spot check with some colleagues here at CBC Broadcasting in Germany, and they think you can get BR on Astra 1H Digital. I get the channel at home, but never remember to have it on (or tape it) that late/early. |
Lunar_module_5
unregistered
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posted 10-04-2007 03:16 PM
I recorded the German Apollo 11 coverage that was broadcast on the old Astra satellite. It shows the live footage from the studio and from the MOCR during the landing. Thought this might help! |
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