|
Author
|
Topic: BBC Apollo anniversary programmming
|
rjb1elec
Member Posts: 212
From: Merseyside, England
Registered: Oct 2004
|
posted 06-13-2009 11:00 AM
   
I don't know if its been mentioned anywhere else on cS, so just in case see below. James May on the Moon, showing Sunday June 21st on BBC 2 at 9:00pmForty years since those first "small steps" were taken on the Moon, BBC Two and BBC Four take a voyage "out of this world" with a season of programming to celebrate this momentous historical event. The Season kicks off as James May takes a "giant leap" into space history to discover the stories of the heroes behind this historical event. James fulfils the childhood dream he has fantasised about experiencing since watching the Apollo landings from his family sitting room, when he flies to the edge of space. To get a taste of how it felt to be an Apollo astronaut, James experiences zero gravity on the infamous "Vomit Comet". He also endures the bone-crushing gravitational forces of a simulated launch in the massive Saturn V rocket, from an Air Force centrifuge chamber. James's most memorable experience is a rare and privileged flight 70,000 feet above Earth in a U-2 spy plane. Wearing a full space suit, James looks down onto the curvature of Earth and up into the blackness of space from the comfort of his cockpit. It is an experience which finally helps him understand how the Apollo astronauts felt as they looked back at Earth from the surface of the Moon. To add to his experience, James also visits some of the veterans of the space race. He meets Apollo 16's Charlie Duke, who gives James his verdict on the road-handling of the Lunar Rover; Alan Bean, who takes him for a spin in his 1969 Corvette, which also happens to be one of three matching cars driven by the Apollo 12 crew; and Apollo 17's Harrison Schmitt - one of the last men to visit the Moon - gives James a guided tour of a Saturn V rocket. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 06-13-2009 11:19 AM
Pity they couldn't have got someone more knowledgable and suitable like James Burke to present, rather than James "planes, trains and automobiles" May. |
spaceman
Member Posts: 1104
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002
|
posted 06-13-2009 01:37 PM
At least we are getting something with probably more to come. Is James Burke still alive? What about Peter Fairley? Did any of the old TV coverage survive over here? |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
|
posted 06-13-2009 01:47 PM
Peter Fairley died in 1998. Mentioning the passing on these pages of Paul Haney recently reminded me that they both worked on the ITN coverage of the moon landing. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 06-13-2009 04:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by spaceman:
Is James Burke still alive?
He's only 73(!) and continues to spread knowledge more than any other populist petrol-head. Check out the James Burke Institute for Innovation |
AstroAutos
Member Posts: 803
From: Co. Monaghan, Republic of Ireland
Registered: Mar 2009
|
posted 06-13-2009 04:23 PM
I for one am really looking forward to this programme.I know James May tends to be quite annoying but the show sounds like it's going to be brilliant from this preview and I can't wait! |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 06-13-2009 05:23 PM
Better May than Clarkson but it's a shame that so many programmes like this have to have a 'celebrity face' to front them rather than just having someone who really knows their stuff |
icarkie
Member Posts: 618
From: BURTON ON TRENT /England
Registered: Nov 2002
|
posted 06-14-2009 04:13 AM
I was going to say the same Paul  Better May then Clarkson lol. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 06-15-2009 01:57 PM
Looks like a fine series indeed.  |
paul.i.w
Member Posts: 65
From: UK
Registered: Feb 2006
|
posted 06-16-2009 04:43 AM
On the near horizon also is a two hour 'Sky at Night' special on Apollo 11, hosted by Patrick Moore (2330-0130 Sunday 21st on BBC4) and the first of a two part documentary 'NASA Triumph and Tragedy' on BBC2 (2100-2200 Wednesday 24th June).More to come I am sure! |
Space Possum
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
|
posted 06-16-2009 09:34 AM
I think James will do pretty good. It's too bad we probably won't get to see this on BBC America. I cringe when I think of how the US network dimwits will handle this anniversary here. They will probably just ignore it, which may be better than them messing it up. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
|
posted 06-16-2009 01:28 PM
Previous James May shows suggest he is a space fan. Should be good... and funny! |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 06-16-2009 03:29 PM
Saw a trailer for this on BBC2 today, it does look like it could be quite good, certainly sounds like he is a genuine enthusiast from what I saw |
paulushumungus
Member Posts: 466
From: Burton, Derbyshire, England
Registered: Oct 2005
|
posted 06-17-2009 09:50 AM
TV Viewing for next weekSunday 21st June 2009 BBC2 21.00 to 22.00 - James May on the Moon
BBC4 22.00 to 22.30 - James May at the edge of space
BBC4 22.30 to 23.30 - The history of travelling to the Moon
BBC4 23.30 to 01.30 - The Sky at Night, The first men on the Moon Wednesday 24th June 2009 BBC2 21.00 to 22.00 - NASA: Triumph and tragedy, Part 1 One small step
BBC2 22.00 to 22.30 - James Mays 20th Century, Blast off |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
|
posted 06-17-2009 07:52 PM
Give May a fair shake. He is a fan and he is sort of from the younger generation (a little older then I am) and was into similar stuff as I was when growing up. Granted Burke is the old man of BBC space coverage, but he got to play with the stuff of Apollo when it was still flying. James May did not. I think he can do justice to Apollo if given a chance. There is a lot more to James May then the silly stunts pulled on Top Gear (or any of the hosts for that matter as they all tend to have their real personas and then their professional ones).As for BBC America, I plan to write them to consider showing this. It doesn't hurt to ask anyway. |
icarkie
Member Posts: 618
From: BURTON ON TRENT /England
Registered: Nov 2002
|
posted 06-19-2009 12:51 PM
I was playing around on the BBC site today, for any of us and our overseas members (they might have been a link put up already I don't know) check out this. There is a nice interview 30 minutes (deleted from this Sunday's program) of Harrison Schmitt talking to James May plus some other interviews etc. |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 06-21-2009 04:41 PM
I thought the James May programme was quite good, shame that as a lot of the archive footage focused on the Apollo 11 mission that they weren't able to get one of the crew for an interview but still very watchable. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 06-22-2009 01:53 AM
Did anyone record the BBC Four extra episode on his preparations to fly the U-2 / TR-1? |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 06-22-2009 02:56 AM
I stuck it on the Sky+ but not got round to watching it yet. Pretty sure its due to be repeated at some point this week as well. |
Klaatu
Member Posts: 60
From: England
Registered: Sep 2007
|
posted 06-22-2009 11:25 AM
I really enjoyed the James May program about the U2 etc. I must admit he wouldn't have been my first choice for this... but as has already been said here he is a space enthusiast. I was amazed that they let him don a spacesuit without having his very long hair cut... but then again it mustn't be such a problem because the women shuttle astronauts do it too.Does anyone know if "The Sky at Night - Apollo Special" will be shown again soon? |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
|
posted 06-22-2009 12:44 PM
Had I been making the program and had I flown aboard a U2 to 70000 feet I expect would have waxed lyrical about the whole thing.On balance I thought the show was good but preferred the interviews with Charlie Duke, Jack Schmitt and Al Bean. I would have preferred more of them and Apollo in general and less of the U2 flight... but then maybe that is just me! |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 06-22-2009 01:19 PM
I did wonder if it would have been better served as two programmes, one a laymans history of Apollo and the other focusing on his U2 flight. I guess the only thing would have been When We Left the Earth covered Apollo in more detail than a one hour programme could have done. The interviews were fairly short as well, maybe they didn't have long with each Astronaut to fill a one hour program with?
|
spaceman
Member Posts: 1104
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002
|
posted 06-22-2009 03:10 PM
The "The Sky at Night - Apollo Special" is available now on BBC iplayer. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
|
posted 06-22-2009 06:07 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Paul23:
I did wonder if it would have been better served as two programmes, one a laymans history of Apollo and the other focusing on his U2 flight.
There was a second 30 minute program, straight after on BBC 4 that was all about the U2 flight.He exhibited pretty severe claustrophobia when trying the suit on for the first time and indeed asked the crew to stop filming; I was surprised they let he go up! |
icarkie
Member Posts: 618
From: BURTON ON TRENT /England
Registered: Nov 2002
|
posted 06-22-2009 11:04 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn:
On balance I thought the show was good but preferred the interviews with Charlie Duke, Jack Schmitt and Al Bean.
The link I posted on Friday shows a more in depth interview with Bean, Schmitt and Duke plus a few other links.
|
derek
Member Posts: 297
From: N.Ireland.
Registered: Jul 2002
|
posted 06-23-2009 03:02 AM
Well, I reached 80000 feet in a MIG-25 over Russia in 2003, I got no ejection seat training, they just stuck a g-suit and helmet on me, and that was that! James' view was very similar to mine - brought back a lot of memories, though I had just 2 minutes at the top! |
paulushumungus
Member Posts: 466
From: Burton, Derbyshire, England
Registered: Oct 2005
|
posted 06-23-2009 07:41 AM
TV Viewing for next week Wednesday 1st July 2009 BBC2 21.00 to 22.00 - NASA: Triumph and tragedy, Part 2 One giant leap
BBC2 22.00 to 22.30 - James May at the edge of space (also shown last week on BBC4) Thursday 2nd July 2009 BBC4 20.30 to 21.00 - The sky at Night, Studying the Moon |
nasamad
Member Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001
|
posted 06-23-2009 01:18 PM
Aaaargh, I managed to record everything except the last 30 minutes of the "Sky at Night - Night to Remember" as my Sky box went into standby as it had been on the same channel for so long (I was asleep by then).Did anyone record it who can burn it to disc(s) for me please? I can burn the other stuff to disc for you if you missed any of it to return the favour. |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 06-23-2009 01:31 PM
Am I right in thinking the Sky at Night programme was only half an hour long to start with? Even if the Sky box goes onto standby it should still record the programme. I always turn mine onto standby before going to bed and it still records anything that comes on after that. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 06-23-2009 03:50 PM
I quite enjoyed both the May programs. The start of his Apollo programme with the chase car burning onto the runway just feet behind a landing TR-1B was stunning. I suspect for most of us the astronaut interviews were nothing special but the follow up programme on the amazing U-2 was well worth it. |
nasamad
Member Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001
|
posted 06-23-2009 03:56 PM
Paul, the Sky ay Night-Apollo 11 A Night to Remember programme was 2 hours long and my Sky box had been on the BBC Four channel since the extra James May programme started.I know the programme was basically a reshowing of the 30th Anniversary programme but I had it on VHS then and that's worn out now! |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 06-23-2009 04:16 PM
Sorry about that, I misread my listings magazine! It does sound from t'other Paul's post though that they programme is due to be repeated though if you have no joy getting the discs from somewhere else (I missed the programe myself otherwise I'd do it for you!) |
AstroAutos
Member Posts: 803
From: Co. Monaghan, Republic of Ireland
Registered: Mar 2009
|
posted 06-23-2009 07:34 PM
I thought the whole thing was brilliant and James May did a lot better than I thought he would.The interviews with Duke, Schmitt and Bean were indeed far too short but his flight aboard the U-2 Spy plane made up for it -- breathtaking! I had never seen that particular 'Sky At Night' episode before but I have to say, I sat through the entire two hours non-stop, I honestly thought it was excellent. Am now looking forward to 'NASA: Triumph and Tragedy' on Wednesday on BBC2 - it should be good! |
Colin Anderton
Member Posts: 151
From: Great Britain
Registered: Jan 2005
|
posted 06-24-2009 05:03 AM
The Sky at Night special was the same programme that was broadcast two or three years ago, wasn't it? I missed it then, but made sure I got it on disc this time round!I'm so snowed under with digitising my audio collection at the moment (the computer I use for this is absolutely full), so I can't do anything at this time. But if anyone who missed it can't get a copy from elsewhere, I shall be happy to oblige in about three months. So even if it means a little wait, rest assured - you won't miss out. |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 06-24-2009 04:10 PM
Slightly different programme but part of the BBC's Space Season, did anybody see NASA: Triumph and Tragedy tonight?I thought it was quite good but felt very similar to NASA's Greatest Missions/When We Left Earth. Pretty much the same cast of interviewees with the excepting of Tom Stafford's inclusion. I think I'm right in saying the Neil Armstrong pieces were the ones used in the Discovery Channel's series. One thing I never quite get, Deke Slayton never seems to get mentioned on these sorts of things. I'm sure all the astronauts recognise his contributions, is it a case of the producers not involving him because he's not here to speak for himself any more? Not trying to be controversial or anything, just find it slightly surprising. |
AstroAutos
Member Posts: 803
From: Co. Monaghan, Republic of Ireland
Registered: Mar 2009
|
posted 06-24-2009 05:26 PM
I saw "NASA: Triumph and Tragedy" tonight on BBC2 and I thought it was absolutely brilliant!There were interviews with Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Gene Kranz, Chris Kraft, Jim Lovell, Frank Borman (and wife), Bill Anders (and wife), Jim McDivitt, Gene Cernan, Tom Stafford, John Young and Charlie Duke and each one was absolutely fantastic. There were in-depth look at Apollos 1, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 and I thought the Apollo 8 coverage was particularly good. Part 2 of this programme is on BBC2 next Wednesday at 21.00 so it too should be good - looking forward to it already! |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 06-24-2009 08:22 PM
These programmes have all been very welcome, but why are they being shown in June? I seem to remember the first landing on the Moon was in July... |
David Bryant
Member Posts: 986
From: Norfolk UK
Registered: Feb 2005
|
posted 06-25-2009 01:05 AM
Aaaaah: shame on you! You forgot to include the lovely Bruce McCandless in your list of interviewees!What an excellent programme: Chris Kraft and Gene Kranz both made fascinating contributions with, at times, chilling assessments of the chances of success. Yep: can't wait for part two! |
David Bryant
Member Posts: 986
From: Norfolk UK
Registered: Feb 2005
|
posted 06-25-2009 01:08 AM
quote:
Originally posted by gliderpilotuk:
Pity they couldn't have got someone more knowledgable and suitable like James Burke to present, rather than James "planes, trains and automobiles" May.
Hmmmmmm... At least James May got the CM seating order right, unlike Mr Burke last night! LOL! |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 06-25-2009 01:38 AM
I thought he got it wrong, I just assumed it was me being Mr Black-Thicky-Adder- Thicky! |
Topic Closed
advertisement