Space History

Produced by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), this video details planetary motion also known as orbital mechanics. It explains Kepler's and Newton's Laws plus important orbital mechanics terminology including perigee, apogee, eccentricity, orbital inclination, launch window. It is presented in an easy to understand manner and provides an excellent introduction to the important subject of orbital mechanics for students.

Produced in 1968 by the Department of Defense, this DVD shows the techniques and the equipment used to successful perform navigation on the Apollo lunar missions. It discusses the methods used in target positioning and target course calculations and examines the tools that were essential to gathering the information for accurate calculations. All in all, it is a fascinating look back at how complex tasks were performed with 19660's era technologies.

This is a fascinating collection of Space Shuttle Post Mission conferences as well as footage of the Challenger Disaster and two documentaries related to the Space Shuttle. This collection of 5 films is sure to please all Space Shuttle fans.

Space Shuttle: Mission to the Future was produced in 1981 takes you on a simulated flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia. This documentary shows the astronaut training in weightless environments, work sessions that they would perform on the shuttle and explores the international aspects of the shuttle program - including the European Space Agency (ESA) and emphasizes the international nature of the project by showing how the shuttle was made available to other countries for various space based research projects.

Springboard to Space: The Arnold Center Story was produced in 1965. It explores the story of the Arnold Center - the early epicenter of the U.S. effort to understand and solve the problems with space flight. It shows the giant network of wind tunnels they used to study aerodynamics as well as high altitude rocket test cells that were used to put missiles and spacecraft under the conditions they would experience outside our atmosphere. And it shows how they analyzed and used all that data to successfully move the space program forward.

The SR-71 was designed and built by the Lockheed Skunk Works, now the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. SR-71s are powered by two Pratt and Whitney J-58 axial-flow turbojets with afterburners, each producing 32,500 pounds of thrust. Studies have shown that less than 20 percent of the total thrust used to fly at Mach 3 is produced by the basic engine itself. The balance of the total thrust is produced by the unique design of the engine inlet and "moveable spike" system at the front of the engine nacelles and by the ejector nozzles at the exhaust which burn air compressed in the engine bypass system.

Star Identification (1942) was produced by the United States Navy Bureau of Aeronautics and Bureau of Naval Personnel to help train their soldiers in the ability to identify common stars in the nighttime sky. The film covers many of the major stars and constellations seen in the northern hemisphere. Note: Film has some background noise and occasional flicker.

Explore the history of the space suit developed by NASA. This fascinating historical film explores the development of the space suit for the hostile environment of space starting with the Mercury program and advancing to the Apollo space flight program. It also covers concepts for future space flight development. It is an amazing inside look at this critical life support system worn by the astronauts when they were in space and on the moon.

Produced by the Department of Defense in 1971, this DVD explores the Army's historical role in the exploration of both space and under the sea. The presentation shows many accomplishments made by the army during this period including its early contributions to the space program, technologies it used to map the moon and to develop more robust communications platforms. Additional, it examples the U.S. Army's extensive skill in underwater salvage operations.

Experience the early days of NASA's Mercury program by following the the selection of the seven astronauts that were selected for the Mercury Missions. See Glenn, Shepard, Slayton, Schirra, Grissom, Cooper and Carpenter undergo the rigorous training - both physical and psychological - to become the first Americans in space.

This film is a fascinating look at the selection and training of the original seven astronauts for the Project Mercury Missions: Lieutenant Malcolm S. (Scott) Carpenter, Captain Leroy G. (Gordon) Cooper, Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Captain Virgil I. (Gus) Grissom, Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Lieutenant Commander Alan Shepard, Captain Donald K. (Deke) Slayton.

The Development of the X-15 is a fascinating look at this remarkable aircraft. This film gives you an unprecedented inside view of its creation and early flights and is an excellent addition to any X-15 fan's collection.

Featuring the F-8, F-14, F-15, F-16, F-18, F-104 and F-111 Aircraft

Featuring the X-1, X2, X-3, X-5, X-15, X-24A, A-29, A31A, X-33, A-38, A-40A, X-43A/Hyper-X, X-45A, XB-70A and XV-15 Aircraft

Follow the history of NASA from John Glenn - one of its earliest and most famous adventurers - through its first successful decades on to the Space Shuttle and beyond. This two DVD collection contains 9 fascinating documentaries covering NASA history from the 1960's to the early 1980s.

This DVD presents the 30 minute film Space Shuttle: A remarkable Flying Machine. This film is an exploration of the first mission of the Columbia Space Shuttle from its preparation to its launch on April 12, 1981 with Crippen and Young to its landing at the Rogers Dry Lake Bed in California.

Space Age Railroad tells the story of the high speed test track research and development facility at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. It highlights advancements made in high speed rail since the first track run in 1950 and illustrates early monorail runs and the unique track features that make high speed possible. It also includes sections on rocket sleds and ejection seats employed during testing.

Titan III Rocket Research & Development For Today & Tomorrow was produced in 1967. The documentary explores the characteristics and capabilities of the Titan 3 spaceship launch vehicle and its various components. It also shows how this massive rocket assembly was assembled at Cape Kennedy as well as its launch preparation. Finally, it delves into its general purpose design which allows it to convey a variety of space vehicles into space.

To The Moon and Beyond is an 85 minute video exploring man's journey to the moon and beyond. It is made up of the following three films about NASA's exploration of space.

Toward the Unexplored was produced in 1967. The documentary explores the history of Murac Dry Lake at Edwards Air Force Base in California. This facility was used as a proving ground and research center since the earliest days of aviation research. The film shares experiments in rocketry as well as the famous X series airplanes, V-STOL and Fixed Wing aircraft. It also delves into the important work being done in missile development and the key role Edwards AFB provides to the United States Air Force's space research.