STS-1 25th Anniversary

This is one of those projects that broadcast designers dream of... big.... important.... and a long deadline.

On April 12, 2006 NASA celebrated the 25th Anniversary of STS-1, the first space shuttle flight.

In January 2006 I was given the task of creating a dramatic piece that would highlight aspects of the space shuttle program.... Design, Training, John Young (commander), Bob Crippen (pilot)), The Flight, and Legacy.

In addition to being shown on NASA Television on April 12th, to commemorate the shuttle's anniversary, it was later to be shown on the IMAX screen at the National Air and Space Museum. So from the get go I had to create something dramatic, and incorporate a "wow" factor into my design. The piece was to be called STS-1 The Boldest Test Flight in History.

Given that this was the first space shuttle ever designed, I took the "design" aspect and created a blue print pattern for the background. I also wanted to create a world in which the viewer moves from subject to subject. Since the work would eventually be viewed on a screen 5 stories high... I wanted a real sense of movement in the animation... part animation... part thrill ride.

The camera follows a line from the main title and moves to a subject title.... and then once a video on that subject is seen, moves on to the next. I have always loved Adobe After Effects, and wanted to use its 3D camera... this project was the perfect vehicle for that.

The piece opens with the shuttle on the pad and go through a review of the shuttle program. Using the actual STS-1 launch audio, my graphic shuttle takes off and reveals the title at the end of the countdown.

Of the 6 subjects presented, I would take 3 (John Young, Bob Crippen and Legacy) and the editor Andrew Gelfman would take 3 (Design, Training, and The Flight). I had to design the project so that he, as an editor, could simply drop their work into appropriate sections of the world I created. At each title graphic I created a chromo key wipe so the editors could insert their work. One of the biggest challenges was creating the Legacy section. I took the patch of every shuttle mission up until then and animated them, in their flight order, coming from the first mission's patch. The music for the whole piece was composed by Willie Lewis.

The complexity of the project was immense. I feel I was successful in creating a world that took the viewer on a ride to each of the space shuttle's subjects in an interesting, entertaining and informative manner.

Mark R. Hailey
Art Director, NASA Television

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• mrhailey
• NASA
• sts-1
• columbia
• young
• crippen
• launch
• ksc
• shuttle
• tvspace
• hailey

[252300]

what song i the one that you put on the shuttle blue papers?

[mrhailey]

Willie Lewis composed that score. Willie is a talented composer that has scored many of the show Opens for NASA Television

[ingareinar007]

Tasty editing, not too many pieces going too fast like I see often today. Many videos "hurts" my eyes. And the subject here is just.. wow! I could never do that, but I`d love to go with the KC-135! Man that would be fun!

[goat60804]

Where can I find an audio clip of the STS-1 launch (mainly the count down portion)?

[Gelf13]

Well, the graphics are all right, I guess...

...but the editing RAWKS! ;-)

[252300]

thanks but what exactlly is the name?