Partially restored videos of Apollo 11 mission available

William Atkins
Friday, 17 July 2009 18:14

Science - Space

"NASA used a scan converter to optically and electronically adapt these images to a standard U.S. broadcast TV signal. The tracking stations converted the signals and transmitted them using microwave links, Intelsat communications satellites, and AT&T analog landlines to Mission Control in Houston. By the time the images appeared on international television, they were substantially degraded."

"At tracking stations in Australia and the United States, engineers recorded data beamed to Earth from the lunar module onto one-inch telemetry tapes. The tapes were recorded as a backup if the live transmission failed or if the Apollo Project needed the data later. Each tape contained 14 tracks of data, including bio-medical, voice, and other information; one channel was reserved for video."

NASA Television (check your local television listing) will provide a high-definition (HD) video feed of the Apollo footage hourly from 12 noon to 7 p.m. on July 16 and 17. Each feed is one hour.

For NASA TV streaming video, downlink, and schedule information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.

A copy of the newly restored scenes from the Apollo 11 restoration
effort can be found at: NASA Apollo 11 videos.

Additional information on the fortieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission is found at: http://www.nasa.gov/apollo40th