The Mark of Excellence (1968)

Produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, this government film stresses the life-or-death stakes of space exploration and the corresponding importance of quality control. To illustrate this, the film first compares the experience of NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong with that of oil well firefighter Red Adair. Then, the film turns to Armstrong himself, who explains what the Apollo program means to him. Speaking directly to the “Apollo team”—the laborers, technicians, and engineers working at plants across the country—the film finally highlights their crucial contributions to the space program and commends their commitment to excellence.