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Author
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Topic: MOON LANDINGS
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Chris Quinn
Master Film Handler
Posts: 372
From: England, Bedfordshire.
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted January 13, 2007 12:07 PM
On July 20th 1969 I was 11 years old and watching the biggest event on TV that there has ever been. Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon, an achievement that was beyond comprehension only a few years earlier and thought by most to be impossible and ridicules. Six more expeditions were made five of which were successful, 1972 was the last time we ventured so far. The furthest that man has been in space since is a mere 1000 miles, nothing compared to the 248000 required to reach the moon.
Unfortunately over the years there has been conspiracy stories running round saying that it was all a hoax and that it was manufactured by NASA for political reasons. It was my 19 year old son who prompted me to write this, the moon landings came up in conversation and he looked at me and said, of course you know it was all a fake. I found it really sad to think that mans greatest achievement is thought of by my son as a fake and it turns out not to be just him, many of his generation are sceptical and find it difficult to believe that it happened at all.
Well if there are any sceptics under the age of 40 reading this, then the answer to this is very simple. In the 60s and 70s the USA and western Europe were in the grips of cold war with the USSR and there came times when in nearly turned in to full out nuclear war, thank god it didn’t as I would not be here to write this. If America had been stupid enough to create such an elaborate hoax, and made the biggest lie to the world, don’t you think the Russians would have made it there business to show the world that it had been a hoax. They had the technology as they had already landed probes on the moon,and before the moon landings by America were well ahead in the space race, they had even started there own Apollo program and were planning a landing for 1968! It would have been political suicide for America and complete madness for them to hoax it.
At last there may be an end in sight to all this, NASA have plans to send a probe to the moon in 2008, initially to look at craters, and to see if any new craters have been made on the old landing sites since they were last photographed, and as they can photo down to an object half a meter in length they say that they will pick up on the Apollo remains including the moon buggies. Hopefully this will be an end to the conspiracy theorists and the young people of today can be proud of what was achieved back in 1969.
Long live NASA.
Chris.
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The other half thinks i'm up to something. Shes right of course.
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Paul Adsett
Film God
Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted January 13, 2007 03:49 PM
If you visit the Kennedy Space Center here in Florida, you will leave with all doubt removed that Armstrong stepped onto the moon. To stand underneath a Saturn V rocket is about the most awesome thing you will ever experience, as is to actually touch a piece of rock brought back from the moon. It was the pinnacle of US engineering brilliance (and truly heroic men)to carry out those missions, and the thousands of people who had a part in it are mighty proud of it.
I agree that the space shuttle program has been a waste of 38 years and a whole lot of money, just to cruise around in earth orbit. The USA could have had a lunar base by now, and the US treasure being squandered in Iraq could fund a Mars mission, Universal health care, better schools........but don't get me going about George W. Bush ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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Stewart McSporran
Master Film Handler
Posts: 272
From: Glasgow, Scotland
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted January 13, 2007 05:22 PM
This subject really boils my blood.
It's a triumph of stupidity over evidence. I have looked into these claims in detail and there's not one that stands up to scientific scrutiny. I'm not going into any details here, and won't be drawn. There are plenty of sites and books on this subject.
A family friend of ours, a man of great integrity, was a Colonel in the US Airforce who worked on the X projects in the 1960s and was responsible (I can't recall how) for the Canaveral museum. He knew most of the astronauts, including the Apollo 11 crew, and he felt personally insulted by this issue.
What really angers me, and it's not just over the Apollo stuff, is the sheer willingness of vast numbers of people to uncritically accept nonsense. I was living in the US when the original Fox "documentary" about this was broadcast and was amazed at how quickly people wanted to throw away a great achievement.
It's the same attitude that says that aliens are responsible for microelectronics. "How could we think up something that smart without help?"
Should we all just abandon technology and go back to the caves?
Sorry, I'm getting cross now. Must have a G&T and calm down.
Stewart
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Paul Adsett
Film God
Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted January 13, 2007 06:19 PM
Hi Mike,
A special movie camera was designed by NASA, but I'm not sure what film guage it was. But it had to be as light as a feather, possibly made from Beryllium.
A visit to KSC is the most satisfying and inspiring day that any visitor to Florida can spend. When you sit in the Apollo spacecraft you suddenly realize how tiny and cramped it is- literally no elbow room, and you marvel at the heroism of the Lunar astranauts who spent about 10 days literally strapped in there - and I had claustraphobia after about 5 mins!
Truly an awesome and inspiring place to visit, and provides some much needed pride in being a citizen of the USA.
Graham, I have seen the movie 'The Dish', and as you say, it is great.
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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj
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Michael De Angelis
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1261
From: USA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted January 13, 2007 10:00 PM
Living on Long Island,
I personally met people
that worked on the Lunar Module.
It was contracted here in Bethpage,NY
by Grumman Aerospace.
The people that worked here were
genius, and their foresight,
imagination, persistence
and determination is what put
the space program in gear.
(re-edited by me from here down)
The love of this hobby for me
goes way back to 1969.
I watched The Castle Film Apollo 11
First men on the Moon at my
friend Ronnie's House. That was historic too.
Because you could watch it, rewind it,
and play it again in the marvel of
your own home.
Ronnie had a collection of silent version of Castle
film releases. He got me going with this hobby.
His specialty was Horror, and although
mine became collecting Laurel and Hardy, we would share
and project and have great times together.
It was difficult to earn money
as a young lad during those early Apollo days and
to save for my next Laurel & Hardy
Blackhawk silent version release of a sound
film. This was all because I could not
afford a sound projector and sound films.
I would later record the sound from the
Television and try to sync the
sound from my audio Tape recorder.
It was not perfect, but with some
skill I would practice syncing the
until it was correct.
In the end it was very
satisfying.
If I had the opportunity, I would take
out the 16 mm equivalent from the Public
Library, bring the print to school,
and record the sound using
the school projectors.
Eventually I introduced my collection to
two other friends and they too began
collecting Blackhawk Films.
The '69 Moon Landing Launched a great
many things, which for myself
I am very grateful.
Michael
[ January 14, 2007, 07:05 AM: Message edited by: Michael De Angelis ]
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Isn't it great that we can all communicate about this great
hobby that we love!
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