Apollo 11 40th Anniversary synopsis

APOLLO 11 40TH ANNIVERSARY
DRAFT SYNOPSIS

QUEST FOR THE MOON

Project Mercury
With an impetus forged by Cold War tensions, Project Mercury was the genesis of human spaceflight in the western world. This program recorded many notable firsts including Alan Shepherd’s first sub-orbital flight and John Glenn’s ascent to high Earth orbit.

Project Gemini
As the program matured, the Gemini project further stretched the boundaries of what was conceivable or possible for mankind. Spacewalks and the docking of spacecraft increased mission flexibility and confidence of astronauts, support crews and citizens alike.

Project Apollo
“The Eagle has landed”. Humankind’s first steps on an extraterrestrial body. The glories of Apollo 11 had an immeasurable impact on how we, as a species, view our universe and our place within it. Returning five times to the lunar surface, Project Apollo was the crowning achievement of the United States’ Space Program

Skylab
As the pioneer outpost in the “wild west” of space, Skylab proved that humans could work and live for expended periods of time in extra-planetary orbit. Many groundbreaking experiments were conducted aboard the “floating science lab”.

Apollo-Soyuz
The lone beacon of cooperative effort between Cold War foes. The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project highlighted that more could be achieved in space when working in unison rather than in opposition.

The Rocket-meisters
An article looking at the fathers of modern rocketry and of the NASA Space Program: Wernher Von Braun and former Kennedy Space Center director Kurt Debus

Kennedy Space Center
As the primary launch base for U.S.’ manned and unmanned space programs, Kennedy Space Center – at Florida’s Cape Canaveral ¬– has been the site for some of the Space Program’s most historic moments.

Johnson Space Center
The site of Mission Control, Johnson Space Center has been the “co-pilot” on all missions of the U.S. Space Program as well as being home to many of the astronauts and their training.

Profiles: NASA Centers
The other facilities that have each played integral roles are profiled here. To include: Langley Research Center, Goddard Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, The Jet Propulsion Lab etc.

The Odyssey of Apollo 11
A feature article detailing the events and personalities critical to the monumental landing of Apollo 11’s lunar module.

Buggy On The Moon
Allowing for an exponential increase in the mobility of astronauts, the Lunar Rover –which began service aboard Apollo 15 – opened up myriad opportunities in the brave new frontier.

The Lunar Machines
Standing at a height greater than the length of a football field, the Saturn V rocket is a precisely honed brute. 180 million horsepower are delivered at launch, sending its payload into low Earth orbit and making the vast reaches of space accessible. The Saturn V rocket is an amazing engineering feat and the cornerstone of the U.S.’ Space Program.

The Great Observer – Howard Benedict
An in-depth profile of Howard Benedict, the chief Associated Press aerospace writer for the first three decades of the space program. Benedict formed lasting friendships with many astronauts and support crew and was the source of much information for an enraptured public.

How T.V. Made It To The Moon
This feature will look at the technology that made it possible for the world to view, in near-real time, the amazing feats of Armstrong and Aldrin as they set foot on the lunar surface.


VOICES FROM THE MOON
Apollo 11 astronauts and support crew discuss the future and past of space exploration.


VOYAGE TO THE FUTURE
International Space Station
As construction of the international cooperative effort draws toward conclusion, we will examine the achievements and future plans for the project.

The Space Shuttle
With the final missions of the Space Shuttle scheduled for 2010, this article will look at the contingencies for bridging the space program until 2014 or 2015 when the Constellation Project reaches operational status.

Lessons of the Lenses – Space Photography
The photos taken during NASA missions are some of the most famous in history. This editorial will profile some of the photographers and the photographs they’ve taken.

The Russian Space Program
The Iron Curtain that once separated superpower nations has long been lifted. The Russian Space Program, one-time nemesis in the “Space Race” is now an ally. This article will look at the largely unheard history of Russian space exploration and how its development largely parallels that of America.

The European Space Agency
Without a useable launch vehicle after the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2010, much the responsibility for commuting astronauts to space will fall upon the European Space Agency. Examined in this article be the present and future plans for the ESA.

Training and Conditioning
The human body has evolved to survive in a world where gravity is a law above all else. As gravity is discarded, astronauts are subjected to conditions that require the utmost in physical and mental conditioning.

The Next Leap for Humankind – Constellation Project
A feature detailing the future plans of NASA: from Orion and Ares, to plans for manned missions to Mars and beyond.