Apollo 15 - Man Must Explore (Extended Collector's Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Exploration at its greatest!
Review: Definitely, this set of 6 DVDs is for true Apollo hardcore fans. Almost every TV transmission is included, as well as all the photographic magazines used by the astronauts on the surface of the moon. Apollo 15 was the only lunar mission on which a site observation was made (by CDR Scott) on the surface of the moon by opening the docking hatch and standing on the ascent engine cover, so the pictures and audio are included too. The pre-flight videos are quite interesting, since they show some of the procedures performed to fine-tune the LM before the flight. One of them shows the reception of the LMÂ's descent stage at the Cape, with technicians unboxing and unzipping the module. The LRV (Rover) attaching procedure to the LM is also fully covered.
One of the things that amazed me is that on EVA2, on the "Back to LM" portion, both astronauts deploy the US flag while the Rover camera is watching at them. I have had for
years two pictures of LMP Jim Irwin standing at one side of the Rover while saluting to both Scott and the flag. In this pictures is obvious that the Rover remote-controlled camera from Houston is watching at the photographer, not at the subject as it happens on EVA2. After reviewing once and again the video and pictures AS15-92-12444 to AS15-92-12447 on magazine OO/92, I said to myself that, finally, I had found an obvious error and that every single Apollo flight was a hoax. But then, reviewing EVA3 and magazine TT/88 on chapter "Farewell to Hadley" I discovered that, indeed, CDR Scott takes the picture of LMP Irwin while the Rover camera is pointing at him. Picture is AS15-88-11865.
A weird thing I discovered and that should be explained is that on "Farewell to Hadley" the video shows both Scott and Irwin working on the Rover at one side of the LM; at 40:25 mins the Rover camera fails, and without audio interruption it works again some 200 m away from the LM at 41:20 mins on its final spot. So that means Scott drove the Rover off some 200 m, parked it and re-arranged the camera in just 55 seconds!!!
Another strange thing is that the sixth DVD shows the last transmission from the Rover, on 4th August 1971, more than 24 hours after they took off from the surface, but nothing is shown between the LM take off and this last show. Perhaps a little green man with horn-shaped nose and gloves started to dismantle the LM...
Anyway, this set of videos is worth every dollar I paid for and truly an outstanding document of one of the mankind's greatest adventures.

Rating:
Summary: This is incredible!
Review: I remember following the space program as a kid. I knew all the astronauts names, etc. I even locked myself in my closet in a kind of simulated spacecraft I'd whipped up with Christmas lights and what-not. I think Mom let me stay in there for about 3 hours, then I had to go to dinner.
This DVD has got to be a dream come true. Apollo 15, if I remember correctly, was one of the best photographed of all the moon missions, at least up to that time. And I also believe it was all color. This DVD, very simply put, has EVERYTHING. All the footage of everything that was filmed. And there was a LOT. 6 discs. Indulge yourself. I know I will ...

Rating:
Summary: Great DVD of the Greatest Apollo mission
Review: This is a fantastic and historically wonderful DVD of the famous Apollo 15 moon mission. It is literally ALL here -- everything the hardcore Apollo enthusiast would want. It is a labor of love and well worth owning.

I just wanted to add for the previous reviewer from Mexico: Scott and Irwin did deploy the American flag at the end of EVA 2 (the one that went to the flank of Hadley Delta and on which the famous Genesis Rock was found). On their return to the LM, they deployed the flag. However, Irwins camera had malfunctioned and Scott's camera was black and white only. So Scott decided that rather than have B/W photos of the red, white and blue, they would wait until the next day and have their color camera loaded.

So the famous color photos you have of Scott and then Irwin standing at the deployed flag were actually taken by the astronauts on the next day, at the beginning of EVA3. That is why the positioning of the Rover camera looks different -- because the flag deploy was on day two and the color photos of the astronauts with the flag was on day three.

Enjoy these marvelous DVDs of one of the Great Explorations of all time - Apollo 15

Rating:
Summary: Apollo amater histrorian
Review: This is an essential tool for every Apollo researcher. The complete downlink series has the entire TV footage , plus training and a few stills. You can appreciate every detail of the EVA's and the Rover routs. The deployment of the ASLEP, The troubles with the drill, and the famous episode of the Feather and the Hammer. The chapter sections are chronologically arranged, and subchapters allow you to review film magazine pictures, assembled moon landscape panoramas, and the separate 16 mm films. You get the pre-flight tests, suit-ups, multi angle launch views of the Saturn V rocket, mid flight downlinks, news conferences, splashdown recovery and even CM lunar survey film footage.
Spacecraft films have made a wonderful job. The set contain every footage of the mission, no the mix of several Apollo mission footage, generally trying to represent one entire flight. You have to acknowledge that in some part there is not Audio with out documental music, The voice are the original.
You will have over 12 hours of the Entire Apollo 15 Mission


Rating:
Summary: Fantastic! Give Us More!
Review: Truly fabulous. This is history at it's best and it's all here for the veiwing. Nothing like these sets (however they ARE for the "hardcore" fans). Along with these downlink DVDs the book "Exploring the Moon" by David Harland is as detailed (and more so because not everything was filmed)and is a great companion to these DVDs

Rating:
Summary: What we knew but never really saw
Review: Wow! The landing at Hadley was really the most spectacularly beautiful site in all the Apollo missions. This set shows all available footage (both video and 16mm) of the Apollo 15 landing and in full colour as well!

OK people who are interested enough in Apollo to sit through the complete downlink series may be few and far between, however, in all cases I have found myself compelled to watch. These missions really were the greatest moment in human history.

Spacecraftfilms have made these sets with so much passionate love about what's in them, that you'll be hard pressed to fault them. EVERYTHING is there. No curtailed mix of several Apollo mission footage generally trying to represent one landing, no cheesy music, no voice overs telling us what we can plainly see on the screen.

The chapter sections are chronoligically arranged, and subchapters allow you to review film magazine pictures, assembled moon landscape panoramas, and the seperate 16mm films. Not only the moon EVAs are there. You get the pre-flight tests, suit-ups, multi angle launch views of the Saturn V rocket, mid flight downlinks, news conferences, splashdown recovery and even CM lunar survey film footage.

Prepare a weekend of couch potatoe asorbtion with this (and the other Apollo Downlink sets). You will not be disspointed. Furthermore, the educational value of these sets cannot be overstated. WELL worth the moeny hands down.