For anyone old enough to remember, July 20 1969 will be a day indelibly etched on their memory. Ever since Eagle landed on the moon and Armstrong and Aldrin made one giant leap for mankind, astronauts have become celebrities. However, launching a successful space mission requires a huge team of people. The pilots are just the figureheads. Most of the life and death decisions are made back on Earth. That’s where mission control comes in.
Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo is the new documentary from David Fairhead. After Project Mercury, the Apollo program was established with the aim of beating the USSR in the Space Race. Fairhead uses interviews with those responsible for mission control during this time, charting their entrance into NASA to the nearly disastrous Apollo 13 mission. Archive footage and photographs are mixed with their anecdotes and insights.
The message that Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo drives home is about the importance of team work. We’re now beginning to be told the stories behind these triumphs and tragedies, and the background is fascinating. Using rare footage and audio clips, Fairhead manages to turn their tales into a suspenseful drama. Even though the outcomes are history, you find yourself on the edge of your seat.
Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo is available On Demand from 14th April
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