In keeping up with the recent anniversary of the launch of Apollo 6, I’m sharing this film from 1968 going over general operations at Kennedy Space Center, specifically in preparation for the Apollo 6 launch.
It’s produced more like a proper film than many of the other NASA films from the 60’s I’ve shown here. I believe it was actually shown in theaters during the buildup to the Apollo Lunar Landings. Whatever way people were to see it, now, 50 years later, it provides an interesting insight not only into Kennedy Space Center and Cape Kennedy / Canaveral Air Force Station operations in 1968, but also a slice of what tourism was like at the Cape in 1968.
Of course it comes with all random information tidbits you could expect to learn, but also amazing, rather unique views of SLA panels for the Saturn rockets in storage, Surveyor spacecraft in the final stages of testing, Apollo flight simulators, the massive Vehicle Assembly Building, including some of the topping out of the Apollo 6 launch vehicle, and of course, the Crawler-Transporter carrying the Launch Umbilical Tower and the Saturn V to Launch Pad 39-A.
The later half focuses on a Saturn V launch, using audio and video from Apollo 4 and for an incredible end effect, returning to focus on the odd fact that much of the KSC / CCAFS area is actually a wildlife preserve.
One which we have regularly launched rockets from for over 60 years. It makes ya think, or at least, it makes me think.