Launch of Apollo 4 (NBC Audio)

The launch of Apollo 4 - November 9th 1967. This is the audio of the NBC TV coverage. The TV coverage from any of the major US Networks is very hard to come by, especially the CBS version and I only have this audio coverage of the NBC broadcast.

I have edited several video sequences together to show what it might have looked like on the day.

The first sequence through to 4:57 is taken from the Apollo 11 countdown. The coutdown thru liftoff thru to the sequence which shows staging is all Apollo 4 footage. The staging is again taken from the Apollo 11 launch. I hope this doesn't detract from the audio, but enhances what would have been seen that day.

The audio is not as dramatic as the CBS coverage, but it still tells it's own story. The audio is significant as it records the sound of the Saturn V as heard by the watcher around the Cape on the day (ie the noise of the F1's cannot be heard until past tower clear). As some have pointed out, this is a truer record of what it looked and sounded like.

Apollo 4 seems to be a highly regarded and sought after launch sequence. I will post the full NBC audio of the launch at a later date if people want me to. Until any of us can find the full video of the launch sequences for the US-TV networks this is as good as I can make it.

Apologies to the purists!

Thanx to Dwight and Kyle!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Apollo
• Saturn
• 1st
• 1967
• liftoff
• launch
• rocket
• NASA

[ThatAdelaideGuy]

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

[lunarmodule5]

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]

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!

[DrZooch]

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

[lunarmodule5]

@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)

[zellco321]

Another Gem Lunarmodule, Another Gem!

[lunarmodule5]

@zellco321 Thanks Z!

[eatingcatshit]

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.

[TheJediCharles]

@ThatAdelaideGuy

...and we were trying to beat the end of 1969. No such hurry existed with the shuttle.

[745917203views]

10,000 feet per second. Every second, it's about 2 miles further away, lol.

[altfactor]

@Rhubba I suspect that was Walter Cronkite of CBS.

[joachim2464]

@ThatAdelaideGuy this was a unmanned test of the rocket and had nothing to do with the apollo command module

[railfanatic844]

that is power, and not some bs excuse of power, but that is real power.

[jasmith101]

@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.