BASIC PHYSICS OF SPACE FLIGHT, Reel 2

Year Published: 1976

Creator: USSR

Description: This is reel 2 of "Basic Physics of Space Flight", a black-and-white documentary style Russian language film from 1976 sheds light on the USSR's manned space program. Specifically, the film talks about the basic physics of space flight, beginning with the theories of Russian rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and the work of Soviet aerospace engineer Sergei Korolev. The film features footage of what appears to be a mission control center (MCC) just outside of Moscow in Kaliningrad, the launch of a Soyuz spacecraft, and some Soviet cosmonauts (astronauts) in orbit. Soyuz is a series of spacecraft which has been in service since the 1960s, originally made as part of the Soviet Space Program’s manned lunar missions. Film opens, flight engineers wear headsets and monitor screens in mission control center (MCC) just outside of Moscow in Kaliningrad (0:08). Computer-generated image of Russian rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, transitions to computer-generated image of what appears to be Soviet aerospace engineer Sergei Korolev (0:20). Camera pans body of Soyuz spacecraft and launch vehicle at what could perhaps be Baikonur Space Center, Kazakhstan (0:24). Smoke dramatically fills screen as spacecraft prepares for take off (0:55). Illustrated excerpts from Jules Verne’s science-function novel “From the Earth to the Moon” (1865); Fictional Baltimore Gun Club and creation of projectile (1:05). Mathematical formula and calculations for necessary speeds of projectile (1:50). Another shot of Soyuz spacecraft and launch vehicle as it blasts off (2:19). Footage switches to inside mission control center (MCC) where men watch take off from monitor on large screen (2:44). Spacecraft moves towards space’s orbit (2:53). Graph charts changes to spacecraft’s speed (3:15). Footage of separation of second stage and transition to free flight phase (3:34). Selection of optimal launch trajectory and corresponding diagram (4:03). Aerial view of individual monitors and work stations at mission control center (MCC) (4:49). Soyuz spacecraft in orbit; Footage of rapprochement with space station (5:02). Scene from silent film reflecting wonders of space, the fine line between fantasy and reality (perhaps Yakov Protazanov’s “Aelita” (1924)) (5:26). POV inside space station, impact of weightlessness on cosmonauts as they carry out daily tasks like exercising while in space (5:52). Tsiolkovsky rocket equation (6:28). Teenage boys, likely part of youth space camp or development program, work on scaled model spacecrafts (6:42). Soviet cosmonaut Vyacheslav Zudov speaks to youth at Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow (7:14). Closing credits (7:28). Film ends (7:31).

Complete Record: This is reel 2 of "Basic Physics of Space Flight", a black-and-white documentary style Russian language film from 1976 sheds light on the USSR's manned space program. Specifically, the film talks about the basic physics of space flight, beginning with the theories of Russian rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and the work of Soviet aerospace engineer Sergei Korolev. The film features footage of what appears to be a mission control center (MCC) just outside of Moscow in Kaliningrad, the launch of a Soyuz spacecraft, and some Soviet cosmonauts (astronauts) in orbit. Soyuz is a series of spacecraft which has been in service since the 1960s, originally made as part of the Soviet Space Program’s manned lunar missions. Film opens, flight engineers wear headsets and monitor screens in mission control center (MCC) just outside of Moscow in Kaliningrad (0:08). Computer-generated image of Russian rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, transitions to computer-generated image of what appears to be Soviet aerospace engineer Sergei Korolev (0:20). Camera pans body of Soyuz spacecraft and launch vehicle at what could perhaps be Baikonur Space Center, Kazakhstan (0:24). Smoke dramatically fills screen as spacecraft prepares for take off (0:55). Illustrated excerpts from Jules Verne’s science-function novel “From the Earth to the Moon” (1865); Fictional Baltimore Gun Club and creation of projectile (1:05). Mathematical formula and calculations for necessary speeds of projectile (1:50). Another shot of Soyuz spacecraft and launch vehicle as it blasts off (2:19). Footage switches to inside mission control center (MCC) where men watch take off from monitor on large screen (2:44). Spacecraft moves towards space’s orbit (2:53). Graph charts changes to spacecraft’s speed (3:15). Footage of separation of second stage and transition to free flight phase (3:34). Selection of optimal launch trajectory and corresponding diagram (4:03). Aerial view of individual monitors and work stations at mission control center (MCC) (4:49). Soyuz spacecraft in orbit; Footage of rapprochement with space station (5:02). Scene from silent film reflecting wonders of space, the fine line between fantasy and reality (perhaps Yakov Protazanov’s “Aelita” (1924)) (5:26). POV inside space station, impact of weightlessness on cosmonauts as they carry out daily tasks like exercising while in space (5:52). Tsiolkovsky rocket equation (6:28). Teenage boys, likely part of youth space camp or development program, work on scaled model spacecrafts (6:42). Soviet cosmonaut Vyacheslav Zudov speaks to youth at Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow (7:14). Closing credits (7:28). Film ends (7:31).