The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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This documentary starts with clips of the Freedom 7 mission, launched on May 5th 1961, during which Alan Sheppard became America's first man in space. Ten years later, Sheppard commands the Apollo 14 mission to the Fra Mauro region of the moon, launched by a Saturn 5 rocket on January 31st 1971.
The film contains highlights of the mission, including: launch and control room; in-flight footage of lunar probe docking with Kittihawk orbiter, successful on the 6th attempt; in-flight picture of the moon from the orbiter; Earth testing of the lunar module, and general shots of the monitoring of the mission; the lunar module descends, while 'abort' signal is registered on Earth; footage from module of landing [after computer is re-programmed to ignore the signal]; astronauts disembark onto surface of the Moon, American flag is pitched; erection of automated scientific laboratory; stills of astronauts exploring moon's surface; view from interior as module lifts off; in-flight footage of crew, zero gravity experiment
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