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Apollo 4 – First of the Big Shots (1967)

1967 · Short film · 30 min

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Synopsis

This NASA documentary depicts the preparation, launch, and recovery of the successful flight of the Apollo 4 Saturn V on November 9, 1967. In 1961 former U.S. Presidents John F. Kennedy proposed to land an astronaut on the moon by the end of the decade, with a safe return to Earth. All rocket stages of Apollo 4 were fully functional, and the unmanned test flight eventually became the Saturn V rocket, which took man to the moon. The film is written and directed by Cal Reed, edited by Bob Clarke, narrated by Marvin Miller, and photographed by Sid Brownlee, Dave Weeks, and Paul Hipp. People crossing the street (00:11). Apollo 4, also known as SA-501: the first uncrewed test flight of the Saturn V launch vehicle (00:28). Astronauts of the spacecraft group ‘Project Mercury’ (00:49). Views of NASA’s second human spaceflight program, ‘Project Gemini’ (00:55). Testing and inspection of the Saturn V launch vehicle (01:16). Apollo test flights launched (02:04). The heat shield and parachute landing system floating in the ocean (02:41). A sunset (02:50). The Project Mercury spaceship launched in 1963 (03:08). The Project Gemini spacecraft launched in 1966 (03:12). Apollo and Saturn I where the three astronauts manning the capsule tragically died in a fire (03:19). Apollo and Saturn V (03:26). “Apollo 4 – First of the Big Shots” title banner (04:15). Credentials (04:25). The 364-feet tall Apollo Saturn V (04:35). Views of the Apollo 4 rocket and Saturn launcher at the Kennedy Space…

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Details

Running time
30 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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