Western Union International - prep for Apollo 11

Format: 16mm

Archive ID: 0754

Notes: Western Union International - prep for Apollo 11 to send satelite pictures of the recovery via the USS Hornet.

Tags: #16mm #archival

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Shotlist & Visual Analysis

The still shows the USS Hornet, an aircraft carrier, prominently displayed against a clear blue sky. Various antennas and structures are visible on its deck, highlighting its technological capabilities. The context involves preparation by Western Union International to send satellite images of the Apollo 11 recovery operation, showcasing the ship's role in a significant historic event.

00:00:06.039 — The still shows the USS Hornet, an aircraft carrier, prominently displayed against a clear blue sky. Various antennas and structures are visible on its deck, highlighting its technological capabilities. The context involves preparation by Western Union International to send satellite images of the Apollo 11 recovery operation, showcasing the ship's role in a significant historic event.

The still depicts personnel working on a piece of equipment, likely related to satellite communication, on the deck of the USS Hornet. Two individuals are engaged in a hands-on task, focusing on setting up or repairing a device used for transmitting images, particularly associated with the Apollo 11 recovery. The scene captures the high-stakes environment surrounding the historic mission and the collaboration necessary for successful satellite operations.

00:00:21.822 — The still depicts personnel working on a piece of equipment, likely related to satellite communication, on the deck of the USS Hornet. Two individuals are engaged in a hands-on task, focusing on setting up or repairing a device used for transmitting images, particularly associated with the Apollo 11 recovery. The scene captures the high-stakes environment surrounding the historic mission and the collaboration necessary for successful satellite operations.

The still captures a scene of individuals preparing equipment for the Apollo 11 mission, specifically related to Western Union International. Workers are seen lifting a large blue tarp or cover, likely concealing satellite technology intended to send images from the USS Hornet. The focus on teamwork and logistics highlights the effort involved in post-mission recovery and communication operations.

00:00:27.828 — The still captures a scene of individuals preparing equipment for the Apollo 11 mission, specifically related to Western Union International. Workers are seen lifting a large blue tarp or cover, likely concealing satellite technology intended to send images from the USS Hornet. The focus on teamwork and logistics highlights the effort involved in post-mission recovery and communication operations.

The still captures a moment during the preparation for the Apollo 11 mission, showing a worker handling equipment covered with a blue tarp. The focus is on the physical labor involved in setting up communication technology, likely antennas or satellite components, highlighting the logistical efforts by Western Union International to transmit satellite images of the recovery operation from the USS Hornet. The scene reflects the urgency and importance of communications in the context of the historic moon landing.

00:00:31.098 — The still captures a moment during the preparation for the Apollo 11 mission, showing a worker handling equipment covered with a blue tarp. The focus is on the physical labor involved in setting up communication technology, likely antennas or satellite components, highlighting the logistical efforts by Western Union International to transmit satellite images of the recovery operation from the USS Hornet. The scene reflects the urgency and importance of communications in the context of the historic moon landing.

The still from 'Western Union International - prep for Apollo 11' features a group of sailors wearing matching light blue uniforms and white hats. They appear engaged and attentive, likely in anticipation of the satellite transmission process related to Apollo 11's recovery operation via the USS Hornet. Their expressions convey a sense of pride and focus, reflecting the significance of the event.

00:01:15.976 — The still from 'Western Union International - prep for Apollo 11' features a group of sailors wearing matching light blue uniforms and white hats. They appear engaged and attentive, likely in anticipation of the satellite transmission process related to Apollo 11's recovery operation via the USS Hornet. Their expressions convey a sense of pride and focus, reflecting the significance of the event.

The still depicts a large satellite dish or antenna pointed skyward, likely part of the communication equipment used by Western Union International. It showcases the preparations for transmitting images of the Apollo 11 recovery operation via the USS Hornet, highlighting the technological setup essential for real-time communication during the historic mission. The scene is characterized by a cloudy sky, suggesting the operational conditions during the launch or recovery process.

00:01:33.994 — The still depicts a large satellite dish or antenna pointed skyward, likely part of the communication equipment used by Western Union International. It showcases the preparations for transmitting images of the Apollo 11 recovery operation via the USS Hornet, highlighting the technological setup essential for real-time communication during the historic mission. The scene is characterized by a cloudy sky, suggesting the operational conditions during the launch or recovery process.

Film Transcript / Subtitles

What will make it possible for you to see the Apollo 11 splashdown and recovery telecast live and in color on July 24th? You're looking at the most important part of it, the antenna of the world's first and only mobile color TV Earth Station. Built and operated for Western Union International by the Space Systems Center of General Electric, this new small Earth Station is a marvel of engineering technology. Here you see the unit being assembled on the deck of the prime recovery vessel, the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. The key to the unit's portability is its antenna that folds and unfolds like an umbrella, so that it can be transported anywhere in the world for on-the-spot live TV news transmission. This unit, by the way, is just a miniature of the many permanent Earth stations now operating around the world using satellite communications. Once the antenna is assembled, it's carefully protected by a plastic air pressurized radome so that it can operate in any weather. But it's what happens under this plastic bubble that really counts. From television cameras aboard the carrier, color TV signals are fed into a special transmitter. These signals are, in turn, aimed by the antenna unit in a pencil-thin beam to a tiny satellite hovering more than 22,000 miles in outer space. From the satellite, the signals are bounced back to Earth, where they're picked up and relayed to the TV stations around the world. Sound complicated? Yes. But the first such system was created by Western Union International and General Electric to make sure that you see all the Apollo recovery broadcasts. July 24th, the day the Earth takes a deep breath, and you'll see it all live and in color from the decks of the USS Hornet.