Apollo Remastered

[Purple-haze]

Knowing how diverse our interests are, thought you might be interested in the above book. I have just received my copy, and IMHO it is outstanding. If you are into photography and/or space exploration I'm sure you will love it. Andy Saunders has spent 10 years examining and enhancing NASA's deep frozen negatives into digital masterpieces! 400 plus pages of excellence.

Regards Rog

 

[Focalplane]

As a long time resident of Houston (first word spoken from the surface of the moon!) I visited NASA many times, touching moon rock, seeing the various small capsules that were used and even buying tomatoes grown from seeds taken to the moon and brought back. I shall be buying a copy, so thank you for sharing!

 

[ICH60]

There seems to be a free preview online copy

Apollo Remastered

AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERDiscover space as you've never seen it before, with these awe-inspiring, breathtakingly restored images of our first missions to the Moon'The next best thing to being there' Charlie Duke, Apollo 16 astronautIn a frozen vault in Houston sits the original NASA...

www.google.co.uk

 

[Jordan]

seeing the various small capsules that were used

I've been to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is indeed amazing how small the Mercury, Gemini & Apollo capsules were!!

 

[michael080]

I've been to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is indeed amazing how small the Mercury, Gemini & Apollo capsules were!!

... and how huge yet flimsy the first stage of the Saturn V is.

Michael

 

[SimonT]

It is indeed amazing how small the Mercury, Gemini & Apollo capsules were!!

I thought terrifying was more appropriate.

Two cracking autobiographies to read are those of Michael Collins and Gene Krantz (Failure Is Not an Option).

 

[Focalplane]

I was also fortunate to meet Gene Cernan. He was made a director of the Canadian oil company Asamera and when I joined the company as Houston rep he suggested I have part of his office for my use. As I had just rented space elsewhere I declined. One room of his office suite was a museum for his experiences during the Apollo Program. He was larger than life and it was an honour to know him however briefly. Later in life he became a spokesman for America going back to the moon and beyond. He died a few years ago. It’s a good reason for me buying the book.

 

[Purple-haze]

Paul, what I will say is this is not a book for a half hour and then forget. I've already spent waaay to much time on it!!!

Regards Rog

 

[mickoo]

I've been to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is indeed amazing how small the Mercury, Gemini & Apollo capsules were!!

Likewise.



I paid extra to have dinner with an astronaut (forgotten his name right now), along with about 200 other guests.

I was struck by his command of humor, calmness and serenity, he visited every table and spent time with everyone as well as stage talks. The usual question was answered by a young child and the toilet "we leave nothing in space, if you think we're brave, go talk to the guys who have to empty the retention tank when we get back".

NASA has a very good site where ultra large detailed photos can be viewed and downloaded, also pop over to the Facebook mission control page, lots of good stuff comes up on there. Mission Control

By good fortune I have been able to witness a night shuttle launch (STS 128 Discovery) from Titusville 12 miles away across the water, the noise and shock wave is planet moving, far louder than Vulcans, F-16s or any other machine I've ever experienced, to visually see the shock wave ripping across the water toward you like some sort of movie effect is mind blowing.

I'll be adding the book to my library.

 

[Focalplane]

NASA also has an app for Apple TV. Some really useful information available including status reports of various NASA programs. Could be addictive!

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Apologies in advance for the non-Apollo diversion.

The NASA/JPL missions I do keep dipping into are the 1977 Voyager 1 and 2 since they are both now beyond the heliosphere in interstellar space and still returning - albeit minimal - data. Not bad for 1970's technology.

And of course the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes.

Diversion over

 

[Scale7JB]

I was lucky enough to go and see Apollo 11 (not 13) at the Waterloo Imax. Mind blowing all round.

I was going to go and see it a second time, but I got a funny look from the other half when i suggested so didn't go. Huge regret to this day...

JB.

 

[iak63]

Apologies in advance for the non-Apollo diversion.

The NASA/JPL missions I do keep dipping into are the 1977 Voyager 1 and 2 since they are both now beyond the heliosphere in interstellar space and still returning - albeit minimal - data. Not bad for 1970's technology.

And of course the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes.

Diversion over

Plenty of bang for the buck there...

As to this new book, it is an essential purchase for me.
Those days are precious for me, a wee bairn watching in wonder and awe.
Modern technology still can leave you stunned...

 

[mickoo]

I was lucky enough to go and see Apollo 11 (not 13) at the Waterloo Imax. Mind blowing all round.

I was going to go and see it a second time, but I got a funny look from the other half when i suggested so didn't go. Huge regret to this day...

JB.

I watched 'The Right Stuff', 'First Man' and 'Apollo 17' all on the flight out to the US a few years back, a perfect way to start a vacation Can't recall when I watched Apollo 11, think I need another NASA TV binge week

Back to the night launch, in the villa they had the NASA TV station on channel, by the time I'd driven the 45 or so miles back, Challenger was into it's forth orbit and the crew were settling in for a bit to eat. It became an evening ritual to tune in and see what was going on and catch up with the days events.

Just as an aside and linked to my very active USN carrier anorak, a lot of the helo's used to pick up astronauts and capsules were coded with modex 66, earlier ones were not but it became a mythical symbol and lucky 66 was applied to many later ones.

Recovery support operations are as fascinating as the launches, mostly aircraft carriers and of course the isolation caravan had to be loaded before as well.

 

[mickoo]

Apologies in advance for the non-Apollo diversion.

The NASA/JPL missions I do keep dipping into are the 1977 Voyager 1 and 2 since they are both now beyond the heliosphere in interstellar space and still returning - albeit minimal - data. Not bad for 1970's technology.

And of course the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes.

Diversion over

There's a replica (I believe) of the Hubble telescope in the Atlantis museum at Kennedy Space Centre.



The star of course is Atlantis, wheeled from it's last landing straight into the exhibition (after removal of sensitive and important equipment).



It has not been treated or cleaned so the patina of space and re entry is still all there to see, each tile is unique and coded as such.



The aircraft is close, almost within touching reach, I lent over and nearly touched it and a polite voice behind said 'please don't do that sir'. I asked if anyone had actually touched it, no was the simple reply, the oils from their fingers will damage the tiles, none of the tile have been touched by bare flesh, always gloved.

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

I watched 'The Right Stuff', 'First Man' and 'Apollo 17' all on the flight out to the US a few years back, a perfect way to start a vacation Can't recall when I watched Apollo 11, think I need another NASA TV binge week

I haven't seen these films but have seen Apollo 13. Like Titanic we all know the ending but Apollo 13 is an enthralling film (I think so anyway).

 

[Scale7JB]

I watched 'The Right Stuff', 'First Man' and 'Apollo 17' all on the flight out to the US a few years back, a perfect way to start a vacation Can't recall when I watched Apollo 11, think I need another NASA TV binge week

Back to the night launch, in the villa they had the NASA TV station on channel, by the time I'd driven the 80 or so miles back, Challenger was into it's forth orbit and the crew were settling in for a bit to eat. It became an evening ritual to tune in and see what was going on and catch up with the days events.

Just as an aside and linked to my very active USN carrier anorak, a lot of the helo's used to pick up astronauts and capsules were coded with modex 66, earlier ones were not but it became a mythical symbol and lucky 66 was applied to many later ones.

Recovery support operations are as fascinating as the launches, mostly aircraft carriers and of course the isolation caravan had to be loaded before as well.

Just to check I meant this one..

..on the largest screen in Europe.

JB.

 

[Osgood]

As a long time resident of Houston (first word spoken from the surface of the moon!) I visited NASA many times, touching moon rock, seeing the various small capsules that were used and even buying tomatoes grown from seeds taken to the moon and brought back. I shall be buying a copy, so thank you for sharing!

View attachment 170277

Hang on, hang on - you’re not that Paul, are you?

 

[ICH60]

I can recommend the "13 mins to the Moon" pod cast from the BBC World Service

BBC World Service - 13 Minutes to the Moon, Season 1: The Apollo 11 story

How the first moon landing was saved. The story of the people who made Apollo 11 happen

www.bbc.co.uk

They did a second series about Apollo 13
If you haven't hear them they are well worth listening too, lots of information.

Ian

 

[Focalplane]

No, just an ornery Texan! Incidentally, the land for NASA Clear Lake aka Houston was donated to the government by Exxon. As there is no chance of oil being found on the moon that was a truly philanthropic gesture.