Search - Apollo 13: The Real Story on DVD

The Most Complete Record Of The Apollo 13 Mission Ever!

David Von Pein | Mooresville, Indiana; USA | 06/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Apollo 13: The Real Story" is an information-packed 3-Disc DVD set produced by "Spacecraft Films" (a division of "Red Pepper Creative, Inc." of Charlotte, North Carolina).*

* = Not to be confused with the 1995 Universal Studios' theatrical motion picture starring Tom Hanks.

You won't find a more detailed and thorough account of the remarkable and nearly-tragic voyage of Apollo 13 than what is presented in this handsome set of DVDs -- that fact is for certain. Why? Because EVERY single scrap of available TV and film footage of the Apollo 13 mission is placed onto these three Digital Discs.

Such as........

>> The complete TV transmissions and onboard film from the nearly one-week-long Apollo 13 mission (April 11 to April 17, 1970).

>> Coverage of the spacecraft's rollout, along with footage of: suit-up, launch, recovery, extensive Mission Control footage during the days following the accident, and footage of world reaction to the successful homecoming of the crew.

>> Exclusive commentary by Sy Liebergot, Apollo 13's lead "EECOM" (Electrical, Environmental, and Communications) Flight Controller. Plus additional commentary by Dave Mohr, Propulsion Designer and Engineer.

>> More than 12 full hours of material.

Plus, this DVD collection contains two informative documentary programs as well, which give a very good overview of the events that transpired before, during, and after the Apollo 13 flight.

One of the two documentaries was produced by NASA; while the other one was created for this DVD release by the folks at "Spacecraft Films", and was written and produced by Mark Gray. 100% of that program's video footage is comprised of original NASA video (TV and film). Lots of vintage archival Apollo XIII images are shown during that 43-minute documentary, which was put together in 2004 and is narrated quite capably by Linda Emond. A very pleasing and appropriate musical score also accompanies this "Main Program" located on Disc #1 of this set.

You can give your DVD Player's "Angle" button a good workout during the "Launch" segment located on Disc 1. Six separate angles of the Apollo XIII thunderous launch can be viewed and toggled through via the "angle" DVD feature on your remote control. There's even a 7th "composite angle" option, which places all six of the launch viewpoints on screen at the same time.

The "Launch" section also sports a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround audio track, plus a DD 2.0 Commentary Track as well.

This DVD set is fascinating from start to finish, with good-quality digitally-remastered video footage throughout; and very good audio quality as well. The Menu designs are first-rate and classy too. A very well-done (and fitting) piano music score plays whenever any Menu is on screen. Plus: Each Sub-Menu includes a "Play All" option for continuous playback of all the material/programs that are featured on that portion of the disc.

Each of the three discs is single-sided and sports unique 'Apollo 13'-related disc art. A 4-page booklet is also included in this package, with detailed info on all the TV and film footage that can be found on each disc. One of the discs features a great-looking picture of Apollo 13 on the launch pad. A larger version of this same gorgeous pre-launch photo graces the front of the enclosed booklet as well.


Following is a detailed listing of the material that can be found within this 3-Disc DVD compilation .................

DISC 1:

>> "Apollo 13: The Real Story" -- An original "Spacecraft Films" documentary constructed from the television, film, and audio record detailing the Apollo 13 mission, what was planned and how it unfolded. Provides an overview to the detailed material in this three-disc DVD set. (43 minutes long; Eight Chapter Stops included.)

>> Geology Training -- Footage of Apollo 13 Astronauts Jim Lovell and Fred Haise undergoing Lunar EVA geology training in Hawaii. Audio from pre-flight interview with Jim Lovell.

>> EVA Training -- Lovell and Haise training for their Lunar EVA. Audio description of the planned lunar surface activities. Silent film footage.

>> Crew Training -- Includes simulator work; plus LLTV (Lunar Landing Training Vehicle) work with Jim Lovell and T-38s with Lovell and Haise. Audio from air-to-ground during construction of the Lithium Hydroxide canister fix after the accident.

>> Equipment Checkout -- Checkout with the prime crew of the EVA equipment and the LM (Lunar Module). Includes LM leg deployment checks. Silent footage.

>> Saturn V Erection -- Stacking of the launch vehicle in the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building). Audio is commentary by propulsion engineer Dave Mohr, discussing the S-II "engine-out" anomaly during the Apollo 13 launch.

>> Rollout -- Transfer of the launch vehicle from the VAB to Pad 39A. Natural sound of crawler transporter.

>> Launch Day -- Coverage of the traditional pre-launch breakfast, suit-up, and walk to the transfer van. Audio from flight director loop before launch.

>> Launch -- Multi-angle coverage of the launch of Apollo 13, at 1:13 PM on the afternoon of Saturday, April 11, 1970. Audio from public affairs officer, air-to-ground, and flight director loop. Flight director loop and air-to-ground audio continues to orbit. Second audio track features commentary by Dave Mohr, propulsion engineer.

>> Television Transmission #1 -- A short time after launch, while the spacecraft was still in Earth orbit, the crew's first television broadcast was made, showing views of the Earth from orbit.

>> Television Transmission #2 -- Transposition and Docking. TV transmission and 16mm data acquisition camera coverage of the transposition and docking maneuver.


DISC 2:

>> Television Transmission #3 -- Features TV transmission from inside the Command Module on the way to the moon.

>> Television Transmission #4 -- Features TV transmission just before the accident.

>> Mission Control -- Coverage from Mission Control just before and just after the accident. Includes Mission Control footage as the wives of the astronauts arrive for the television transmission, Mission Control during the television broadcast, and immediately after the accident. Audio is commentary from Sy Liebergot.

>> Midnight Press Conference -- April 13-14 press conference outlining what was currently known about the mission and return.

>> Mission Control -- Coverage from Mission Control from during the flight home.

>> April 15 Press Conference -- Includes preparation for the "burn" as the Apollo 13 spacecraft comes around the moon. Conference also includes information on the progress of the Lithium Hydroxide canister solution, and also includes questions from the press.

>> April 16 Press Conference -- Deke Slayton answers questions about plans for the Apollo 13 entry and recovery, and the current status of the spacecraft and the crew.

>> Entry at Mission Control -- Extensive April 17 coverage from inside Mission Control, beginning at 140:20 GET (Ground Elapsed Time) through entry. Audio is commentary from Sy Liebergot.

>> Aboard Apollo 13 -- 16mm data acquisition footage from inside "Odyssey" (Command Module) and "Aquarius" (Lunar Module). -- NOTE: This section of the DVD is the section that contains the "real-time" audio from Apollo 13 and Mission Control before and after the accident. Absolutely fascinating stuff here, as the Flight Controllers grapple with the problems they're seeing on their computer screens and attempt to troubleshoot the difficulties in various ways. A very lengthy real-time audio section following the accident is included here, which is very nearly worth the price of this fabulous DVD collection all by itself (IMHO).

>> Mission Timeline -- Extensive timeline of mission events and the timeline of the accident and voyage home.


DISC 3:

>> Service Module Separation -- 16mm data acquisition and 70mm still images of the Service Module after separation, showing damage to the SM spacecraft. Audio is air-to-ground.

>> Recovery -- Including operations surrounding the spacecraft's tension-filled atmosphere re-entry and footage from the carrier deck, including MOCR (Mission Operations Control Room) footage.

>> Medal Presentation -- Presentation of the "Presidential Medal Of Freedom" to the Apollo 13 astronauts at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on April 18, 1970.

>> World Reaction -- Footage from around the world showing the reaction to the Apollo 13 mission.

>> Post-Flight Press Conference -- From April 21, 1970.

>> Review Board Press Conference -- Initial press conference concerning the setup of the Apollo 13 review board.

>> Review Board Findings -- Extensive detail of the findings of the review board and their recommendations for changes for continued flight, including film shot during oxygen tank testing to re-create the accident.

>> Retrospective -- 1995 Johnson Space Center symposium, marking the 25th anniversary of the Apollo 13 mission.

>> "Houston, We've Got A Problem" -- Vintage 1970s-era NASA-produced film documenting the flight of Apollo 13.

--------------------------------------------

Final "APOLLO 13: THE REAL STORY" Thoughts.........

This amazingly-comprehensive, in-depth, and well-put-together multi-disc DVD set will appeal to anyone with an interest in America's space program and, in my own opinion, can be regarded as a prized "collector's item" by those who enjoy video and DVD material of this nature.

If you want to see and hear every tiny little detail about the near-tragic Apollo 13 aborted moon mission, then this package of DVDs is the package to get."

You are back to 1970 Apollo 13 days

Laurenc SVITOK | Bratislava Slovakia | 11/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This compilation is perfectly put together and with all related "surface" events like MOCR coverages,press conferrences, public reactions it simply brings the atmosphere of those hectic days back from the first alarm to the really whole world relief after successful splashdown. Who experienced the Apollo 13 flight 34 years ago "live" like I did is simply back in 1970!
I have one comment however - I fully understand that TV coverage is making the atmosphere and spirit of actuality of this particular mission where really whole world was there through TV, but, the TV quality was not the best one that time and I am missing the film coverage of the splashdown and recovery. This would show this final moment in much better quality than TV. It is ironic to say that the TV coverage from Apollo 13 onboard was much better than the surface TV coverage of landing with many disturbancies. If you look at film recovery footages from Gemini missions and compare it to TV coverages from Apollo flights you see the difference. If I could recommend anything I would add recovery films into each flight material definitely.
Besides of this the material is excellent, valuable and a must in each space fan library."

As It Happened - Really

Patrick Gleeson | Limerick Ireland | 12/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Spacecraft Films have done it again. Time after time they bring a depth of coverage to the Apollo lunar missions that noboby else can match.
For me the TV transmissions are the real bonus. While I agree with Laurenc that film archive quality is supierior to TV in the 1960's/70's, television is how we witnessed the Apollo miracle 'As It Happened' - live.
I think everyone's heart skipped a beat when finally the 'chutes of Apollo 13 opened live on TV.
This 3 disc set has it all - the press conferences and mission control film before and after the accident. Audio commentaries by NASA personnell, and of course all the onboard film and TV.
There's even a close look at the famous photo of the stricken CM taken just before re-entry, with the air-to-ground audio.

Highly recommended."

This is very cool...

William Vasco | Columbus, Ohio | 12/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having seen just about everything out there on space, when I saw this set I was unsure whether or not there was anything new to be said about Apollo 13. I was pleasantly surprised.

I was 11 when Apollo 13 happened, and I felt even closer to the whole thing because Jim Lovell was my favorite astronaut (I met him when I was younger and he signed a picture for me). The set opens with a documentary that gets reasonably technical about what happened - but I like that. You get the technical stuff and it still brings out the emotion, too. Some of the best things I liked about the set was seeing the press conferences - knowing that they don't know the outcome yet - and seeing the concern on everyone's faces. Watching the TV just before the explosion was also good, as well as the commentary by EECOM Sy Liebergot (played by Clint Howard in the Apollo 13 movie) over the mission control footage.

As usual the material all looked great on DVD, and there were some other extras that were interesting. It's also fun to watch it and watch the Apollo 13 movie - you can specifically see little parts that were lifted directly and other parts that were completely different.

"