As hard as it is to believe that was me on that rocket! A little known secret was that it was in fact a manned mission. Well perhaps not manned since I'm not exactly human but I flew that birdie into the sky at amazing speeds! I was never credited for this feat but I can finally spill the secret to all of you on youtube! I know. It's amazing, but no need to thank or applaud me because I am humble.
The reason is that the Apollo 1 fire was a "fault" in the Apollo spacecraft, not the launch vehicle. The Saturn V launch vehicle development was somewhat seperated from the Apollo spacecraft Block 1/2 development and so could fly (with Block 1 spacecraft) before the block 2 were ready. The recovery after Challenger took time because it was a fault in the launch system and that had to be rectified. The delay after Columbia was due to all the new safe re-entry parameters were put in place.
And....the block 2 spacecraft was in development and was going to replace the Block 1 spacecraft after the 2 scheduled earth orbital flights. Block 2 was in development (some people think it only came about because of the Apollo 1 fire) because it was recognised that astronauts could not perform an EVA with the block 1 hatch. Ironic to think that if Apollo 1 had had a Block 2 Command Module the astronauts would probably have got out of the fire!
I agree with lunarmodule5 about the technical and engineering hurdles that needed to be resolved, but there are two deeper core reasons for the delay. Money and desire.
The Apollo budget was far larger because it wasn't just the science and the going there, it was part of the cold war to beat the Ruskies. With money, problems got solved quicker.
Second, a lot of the adventurous spirit that drove us back then has been lost. Not enough people care enough anymore.
Walter Cronkite was broadcasting live what he saw of this launch with the same enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning. It is a priceless moment in TV broadcasting. He chose not to use any restraint in his approach or in his tone.
The comment from David Brinkley was cute... "The rocket will go up or Florida will go down". That is similar to what I say during big rocket launches (usually high powered model ones, but I said it on Ares 1-X's test flight). "It will either be spectacular...or spectacular." ;)
The clip I saw of Apollo 4 was shown on British TV in the early 90s and it showed the TV studio being shaken apart with a terrified looking anchorman trying to continue broadcasting whilst bits from the ceiling was falling on him.
This is a good watch- but... it is a composit video. Example, B&W pad feed shows the base of the Saturn V up close- but the WRONG tail service masts are in place. Apollo 4 was the only Saturn V to use the clam-shell mast covers. Those covers proved to be a poor design as the shells were simply blown off at launch. From Apollo 6 on the tower-shelter masts were used. If you look closely at this video, you will see that the clam-shell masts are not in use. No matter, I Love your vids LM5
@DrZooch - Please see my comments on the description of this video - I explain what the footage is and why I have used it. Hope that helps !! (and for info to others - I always explain the footage in the description if it is not the original as I understand the need for accuracy)
Ok.....for those interested...I have listened back to the original audio recording of this launch from NBC and sure enough, Walter can be heard in the background!!! Great spot MightySaturn5 !
That was a pretty innovative idea to compile some footage from another flight to match the Apollo 4 audio. Yes, it's not the same as watching the actual flight, but it does give a good idea of what it was like.
@Ferrariman601 - Well, it might be the only way at the moment to use the audio that some people have - adding stock footage. At least this way people get to hear what went on, and can visualise to an extent. The good thing about the Apollo 4 launch is there is at least some footage available. When it comes to the early Gemini missions I might have to use stills!
Thanks for posting this Lunar, aside from the pre launch commentary it sounds like the NASA audio feed for the launch and later ...thought I even heard a little bit of ol Walter getting excited in the distance, anyway thanks again and have a great day.
@MightySaturn5 I will have to listen with headphones.....lol...I wonder if the CBS and NBC news trailers were close to each other and thats why the NBC crew didnt say much...they were listening to Walter rambling excitedly in the trailer next door....!!!
@lunarmodule5 -I was thinking the same thing! Being that the press corp were stunned it wouldn't suprise me that Walter was the only one that rebounded and started speaking again although even he was shocked into silence for 5-10 seconds, anyway thanks again and have a great day.
@lunarmodule5 I thought the reason we heard Walter's voice faintly in the background is because the launch video you spliced in is the one that you posted earlier with Walter's commentary and that somehow that audio was bleeding in. If Walter's voice is really on the NBC tape that is utterly amazing to me.
@lcs1956 - Hi - the footage hre was spliced seperately to the original Apollo 4 launch video I posted, so it is not a bleed off of Wlaters voice.....I will have a listen to the sequence again on the audio track and check for sure! It would be amazing if it is!
@lunarmodule5 The picture windows and the ceilings of both the NBC and CBS (and ABC for that matter) collapsed during the launch, so that's why you could hear Walter Cronkite in the background. I'm pretty sure that had both Cronkite and Roy Neal (NBC's onsite reporter at the Cape) been quiet for a stretch of time, you might have been able to hear ABC's Jules Bergman.
@MightySaturn5 - "it sounds like the NASA audio feed for the launch and later!....well, as far as I am aware this is the actual NBC transmission, I just dont think the NBC crew said as much as the CBS crew did....I will post the whole post launch audio at some point. The commentators definitely say more later on!
As hard as it is to believe that was me on that rocket! A little known secret was that it was in fact a manned mission. Well perhaps not manned since I'm not exactly human but I flew that birdie into the sky at amazing speeds! I was never credited for this feat but I can finally spill the secret to all of you on youtube! I know. It's amazing, but no need to thank or applaud me because I am humble.
eatingcatshit 1 month ago
10,000 feet per second. Every second, it's about 2 miles further away, lol.
745917203views 1 month ago
that is power, and not some bs excuse of power, but that is real power.
railfanatic844 3 months ago
Just over a year to get a spacecraft into the air after the death of astronauts, why did it take years for the Space Shuttle to get back into the air
ThatAdelaideGuy 4 months ago
The reason is that the Apollo 1 fire was a "fault" in the Apollo spacecraft, not the launch vehicle. The Saturn V launch vehicle development was somewhat seperated from the Apollo spacecraft Block 1/2 development and so could fly (with Block 1 spacecraft) before the block 2 were ready. The recovery after Challenger took time because it was a fault in the launch system and that had to be rectified. The delay after Columbia was due to all the new safe re-entry parameters were put in place.
lunarmodule5 4 months ago
And....the block 2 spacecraft was in development and was going to replace the Block 1 spacecraft after the 2 scheduled earth orbital flights. Block 2 was in development (some people think it only came about because of the Apollo 1 fire) because it was recognised that astronauts could not perform an EVA with the block 1 hatch. Ironic to think that if Apollo 1 had had a Block 2 Command Module the astronauts would probably have got out of the fire!
lunarmodule5 4 months ago
@ThatAdelaideGuy
I agree with lunarmodule5 about the technical and engineering hurdles that needed to be resolved, but there are two deeper core reasons for the delay. Money and desire.
The Apollo budget was far larger because it wasn't just the science and the going there, it was part of the cold war to beat the Ruskies. With money, problems got solved quicker.
Second, a lot of the adventurous spirit that drove us back then has been lost. Not enough people care enough anymore.
jasmith101 3 months ago
@ThatAdelaideGuy this was a unmanned test of the rocket and had nothing to do with the apollo command module
joachim2464 3 months ago
@ThatAdelaideGuy
...and we were trying to beat the end of 1969. No such hurry existed with the shuttle.
TheJediCharles 1 month ago
Walter Cronkite was broadcasting live what he saw of this launch with the same enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning. It is a priceless moment in TV broadcasting. He chose not to use any restraint in his approach or in his tone.
huskyjerk 7 months ago
The commentator from Houston is Paul Haney. If you listen closely you can hear the MOCR loop in the background at various points.
ceredigio 7 months ago
The comment from David Brinkley was cute... "The rocket will go up or Florida will go down". That is similar to what I say during big rocket launches (usually high powered model ones, but I said it on Ares 1-X's test flight). "It will either be spectacular...or spectacular." ;)
JMChladek 7 months ago
The clip I saw of Apollo 4 was shown on British TV in the early 90s and it showed the TV studio being shaken apart with a terrified looking anchorman trying to continue broadcasting whilst bits from the ceiling was falling on him.
Rhubba 10 months ago
@Rhubba I suspect that was Walter Cronkite of CBS.
altfactor 2 months ago
UPLOAD MORE!!! Pretty please. With sugar on top.
mlovmo 1 year ago
This is a good watch- but... it is a composit video. Example, B&W pad feed shows the base of the Saturn V up close- but the WRONG tail service masts are in place. Apollo 4 was the only Saturn V to use the clam-shell mast covers. Those covers proved to be a poor design as the shells were simply blown off at launch. From Apollo 6 on the tower-shelter masts were used. If you look closely at this video, you will see that the clam-shell masts are not in use. No matter, I Love your vids LM5
DrZooch 1 year ago 2
@DrZooch - Please see my comments on the description of this video - I explain what the footage is and why I have used it. Hope that helps !! (and for info to others - I always explain the footage in the description if it is not the original as I understand the need for accuracy)
lunarmodule5 1 year ago
6:29 Are the controller's cheering? If you were in the room can you confirm this.
I'm sure the N-1 controllers were cheering before it blew up.
vitoduval 1 year ago
@vitoduval You're damn right they were cheering!!!
19keel25 1 year ago
Too bad Bing Crosby didnt tape this, fortunately he did tape the NBC broadcast of the 1960 World Series game 7.
vitoduval 1 year ago
geez, i remember that music & v/o...
wiedep 1 year ago
Just after staging, near the end of this clip, I think I heard anchorman Frank McGee in the background enthuastically saying "Good!".
altfactor 1 year ago
Another Gem Lunarmodule, Another Gem!
zellco321 1 year ago
@zellco321 Thanks Z!
lunarmodule5 1 year ago
Ok.....for those interested...I have listened back to the original audio recording of this launch from NBC and sure enough, Walter can be heard in the background!!! Great spot MightySaturn5 !
lunarmodule5 1 year ago
Could you upload Apollo 2, 3, and 5?
EndeavourLaunch 1 year ago
@EndeavourLaunch - I am looking at getting some coverage of those flights..watch this space!
lunarmodule5 1 year ago
Good job, LEM5!
forbus56 1 year ago
@forbus56 - Thanx forbus - appreciated
lunarmodule5 1 year ago
Amazing find, lunarmodule5. Plus you got in the famous Gulf Oil Co. special events theme music everyone has been looking for. Great memories, thanks!
lcs1956 1 year ago
@lcs1956 Thanx for the comment - Have you asked Zellco if he has it on his footage?
lunarmodule5 1 year ago
That was a pretty innovative idea to compile some footage from another flight to match the Apollo 4 audio. Yes, it's not the same as watching the actual flight, but it does give a good idea of what it was like.
Ferrariman601 1 year ago
@Ferrariman601 - Well, it might be the only way at the moment to use the audio that some people have - adding stock footage. At least this way people get to hear what went on, and can visualise to an extent. The good thing about the Apollo 4 launch is there is at least some footage available. When it comes to the early Gemini missions I might have to use stills!
lunarmodule5 1 year ago
Thanks for posting this Lunar, aside from the pre launch commentary it sounds like the NASA audio feed for the launch and later ...thought I even heard a little bit of ol Walter getting excited in the distance, anyway thanks again and have a great day.
MightySaturn5 1 year ago
@MightySaturn5 I will have to listen with headphones.....lol...I wonder if the CBS and NBC news trailers were close to each other and thats why the NBC crew didnt say much...they were listening to Walter rambling excitedly in the trailer next door....!!!
lunarmodule5 1 year ago
@lunarmodule5 -I was thinking the same thing! Being that the press corp were stunned it wouldn't suprise me that Walter was the only one that rebounded and started speaking again although even he was shocked into silence for 5-10 seconds, anyway thanks again and have a great day.
MightySaturn5 1 year ago
@lunarmodule5 I thought the reason we heard Walter's voice faintly in the background is because the launch video you spliced in is the one that you posted earlier with Walter's commentary and that somehow that audio was bleeding in. If Walter's voice is really on the NBC tape that is utterly amazing to me.
lcs1956 1 year ago
@lcs1956 - Hi - the footage hre was spliced seperately to the original Apollo 4 launch video I posted, so it is not a bleed off of Wlaters voice.....I will have a listen to the sequence again on the audio track and check for sure! It would be amazing if it is!
lunarmodule5 1 year ago
@lunarmodule5 The picture windows and the ceilings of both the NBC and CBS (and ABC for that matter) collapsed during the launch, so that's why you could hear Walter Cronkite in the background. I'm pretty sure that had both Cronkite and Roy Neal (NBC's onsite reporter at the Cape) been quiet for a stretch of time, you might have been able to hear ABC's Jules Bergman.
altfactor 1 year ago
@MightySaturn5 - "it sounds like the NASA audio feed for the launch and later!....well, as far as I am aware this is the actual NBC transmission, I just dont think the NBC crew said as much as the CBS crew did....I will post the whole post launch audio at some point. The commentators definitely say more later on!
lunarmodule5 1 year ago