James Burke takes us Inside the "Saturn V" Command Module (BBC Television)

[yuer2000]

Can somebody explain to me how the ship got back to earth? Is there a second set of engines and where are they located?

[patrick42h]

@yuer2000 The Saturn V had three stages to get the spacecraft into Earth orbit and onto the Moon. There was also a smaller engine on the back of the Service Module, the Service Propulsion System. It was used to perform course corrections en route, slow the spacecraft so it could enter lunar orbit, and then to leave lunar orbit after they cut the LM loose. The SPS is the small engine bell on the opposite side of the SM from the CM.

[sownzgr8]

What about those huge bulky space suits, boots and backpack? The astronauts wore them on the launch pad. This guy barely fits in without wearing anything. Anyone?

[Serpico261]

gosh what would i had gave to be on a mission like this

[RomelioSanzz]

What a so old-fashioned technology!!!, I wonder why today is so hard to return to the Moon?

[Enatbyte]

@RomelioSanzz Funding, and lack of competition from another country. During the Apollo program NASA got 4.4% of the federal budget, but now it only gets about half a percent.

[johnsenkenn]

And you people claim that they flew to the Moon in this thing, you people are a disgrace.

[Enatbyte]

@johnsenkenn Why wouldn't they be able to go to the moon in this? Please explain.

[Paulxo]

Genius

[NJRocks281]

seems bigger on the inside

[Scientior]

I guess it'd be like being shut up in a mobile home for a week.

[ApolloWasReal]

A minor nit: as the lunar module pilot, Buzz Aldrin would normally have sat in the right couch as Burke said. But Apollo 11 was an exception, and Aldrin took the center seat during launch. Collins rode the right seat and Armstrong, as commander, rode the left.

[JamesBurkeWeb]

I did not know that. Thanks!

[101southsideboy]

@ApolloWasReal why was buz in the center seat and mike in the right seat different for that mssion? when as you said the normal seating arrangement is ( left to right) cdr, cmp and lmp

[ApolloWasReal]

@101southsideboy Good question. At the moment I can only guess that either Buzz had originally trained to be a command module pilot or Mike Collins had trained to be a lunar module pilot, perhaps as the backup crew for Apollo 8, so they simply kept that arrangement because it was familiar to them.

[soberek]

@ApolloWasReal What was the reason for that? And why did that happened on 11 only?

[ApolloWasReal]

@soberek Good question; I really don't know the answer. It must have been due to Aldrin and/or Collins having originally trained for the CMP and LMP positions respectively, so they were used to sitting in those positions. I know that Collins was out of action with back surgery that caused him to miss Apollo 8 but he followed the usual 3-mission cycle and ended up on Apollo 11.

[beadymel]

On a totally unscientific note... I'm trying to track down the music that was used either during or leading into the TV space programmes during the Apollo mission. It was orchestral and quite haunting. If anyone can help.....

[JamesBurkeWeb]

I know of only 2 musical leads-in for the BBC coverage of the Apollo missions (namely Apollo 11 & 13). Some song by a new whiz-kid called "David Bowie". "Space Oddity" I think it was called ;) OK!!!

- JBW

P.S. I heard he was actually in the studio for the Apollo 11 moonshot but I have no confirmation on that.

The song *was* played several times during BBC coverage of both missions giving a rather large "boost", if you'll pardon the pun, to the then up-and-coming singer song-writer.

[beadymel]

Yes thanks for that, but it wasn't Space Oddity, which was incidentally the first album I ever owned. Maybe it was played on a different TV station during the missions. Oh well back to the drawing board. Thanks.

[JamesBurkeWeb]

No, I know. That's just the only one that I know of.

I guess I'm not much help here ;). Perhaps someone will upload those programmes and WMG will mute them (as usual) and maybe *then* then we can find out what it was!

- JBW

[Scientior]

@beadymel

It may be "Also sprach Zarathustra" by Richard Strauss. I seem to recall that being used in the BBC coverage.

[stevewater]

@Scientior

Thanks but it definitely wasn't, I know that piece well. Maybe it was just music of that time, that I associated with all the space programme acitivity. Oh well back to the drawing board.

[andyinfinland]

@beadymel Rather late to answer I think, but the music I believe you mean is Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss. Most commonly known as the theme from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

[beadymel]

@andyinfinland Thanks but again no. I know Also Sprach Zarethustra very well. It was a not a classical piece more contemporary but nevertheless orchestral.

[luvofcountry]

Great video, James.

Was that the Apollo 8 command module, now on display at the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago?

I'd donate a month's pay if they'd let me sit in the commander's couch for 15 minutes!

[JamesBurkeWeb]

Just so you know, the channel name is actually a mutation from the original "JamesBurkeFan" so I am not Mr. James Burke.

Although he mentioned a general contact email in that podcast interview I posted a couple weeks back. The interview can be found at stranova's website, under Podcasts. I think it's #27 or something.

Not sure. Message me for the precise link.

- JBW

[oswego22]

I assume that would've been Frank Borman's urine, James! ...

so tell me, what do you think the feasability is for a martian landing via the ares rocket / constellation program?

2030? 2040?

[gangwarden]

Love it! Great footage

[JamesBurkeWeb]

Ya, amazingly some of it actually survived. !!!BUT!!! ... I've been informed that a DVD of the BBC's coverage (or what's left of it) will be coming out soon. I've lost the link somehow... maybe I can find it in my mail.

- A

[armlesscorps]

I'd really like to see the coverage that the British public saw on the BBC around the same time the footage was broadcast of the first men on the moon, as in the exact thing they would have seen when turning on their tvs to watch the event, anyone know whereI can find that?

[GSWeb8]

Were these clips part of a feature presentation? If so is it available on DVD? Great stuff for those of us who love your work and love spaceflight and science! thanks so much.

[JamesBurkeWeb]

Nope. Just my own little feature thrown together from bits and pieces found on the net.

- JBW

P.S. You're welcome.

[JamesBurkeWeb]

You're very welcome!

[Monty22001]

Thanks so much for showing these!

[JamesBurkeWeb]

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