If you don’t know Spacevidcast.com, you should! Tonight’s show featured Michael Potter and Orphans of Apollo. Hosts Cariann and Benjamin learned things they never knew!
Orphans on The Space Show
Posted in Intelligence on May 26, 2009 by RobinBroadcast 1162 (Special Edition) Aired on May 25th, 2009
From Dr. David Livingston, The Space Show:
Michael Potter returned to The Space Show for updates regarding his excellent documentary film, “Orphans of Apollo.” You can learn more about the film and purchase your copy of it which I recommend by visiting www.orphansofapollo.com. Michael told us the story of a group of rebel entrepreneurs who almost bought the Russian Mir Space Station to use it for commercial purposes. Its an inspiring and exciting story with lessons to be learned that are playing a role in guiding today’s space entrepreneurs. During the show, one of the business participants in the Mir purchase featured in the film, Gus Gardellini, called in and added stories and detail to enhance the story told in this excellent documentary film. Gus also told us about his book on the subject being written and asked for feedback and possible NASA/Mir information so if you have such information, please send your note to themirbook@gmail.com. One of the important things driven home by Michael Potter during this show and in the film was the leadership required for this project. He also talked about the importance of the Band of Brothers management style. We also talked about national security issues because the Mir entrepreneurs wanted to use 1950’s technology including the electrodynamics tether. You will certainly want to hear what he had to say about this subject and export control. As this show unfolds, you will hear why this story is still relevant and important today and why many say that this story is the greatest space story never told. I urge you to see this film or order it from the above website.
Would you like to buy a space station?
Posted in Intelligence on May 25, 2009 by RobinOrphans of Apollo is now available on DVD at
www.OrphansofApollo.com
A behind-the-scenes documentary on the unsuccessful effort to turn Russia’s Mir space station into a money-making operation serves as a cautionary tale for the private sector’s present-day space ambitions.
– Alan Boyle, Cosmic Log, MSNBC
To many in the entrepreneurial NewSpace community, Walt Anderson is something of a folk hero. A self-made multimillionaire who built his fortune in the telecom industry, he invested much of that wealth in a variety of space ventures in the 1990s, from Rotary Rocket to LunaCorp. His highest-profile venture, though, was an audacious plan to take over the Russian space station Mir — which was being abandoned by the Russian space agency so it could focus on the International Space Station — and turn it into a commercial outpost in orbit.
Potter’s film is at its finest as it recounts the negotiations that with Russian space officials over commercial use of a station built by Soviet socialists. In addition to recollections from Gardellini, Tumlinson, Manber and others, there is rare video clips shot during trips to Moscow and negotiating sessions. It’s a nice behind-the-curtain look into how international deals get done. Potter does a good job of getting you caught up in the excitement of the quest.
Sacramento International Film Fest March 30
Posted in Intelligence with tags Apollo, documentary, Mir, orphans apollo Mir, Space Station Mir on March 22, 2009 by RobinOrphans of Apollo featured at 4:30 on Monday March 30, at the 24th Street Theater. Tickets on sale at the Sacramento International Film Festival page here.
What happened 8 Years ago
Posted in Intelligence with tags 2001, Mir, NASA, space station on March 22, 2009 by RobinGoogle this: March 23, 2001 Mir space station
According to YouTube user Evi1D0c, there was a plan.
“This was a media that NASA creative, to show the [simulated] intentional deorbit (reentry to Earth) of the aging and abandonded: MIR Russian Space Station.”
Screening Feb. 27 in DC
Posted in Intelligence on February 17, 2009 by Robin[ripped from the pages of FaceBook Group Orphans of Apollo]
“Orphans of Apollo” Screening Washington D.C. — ISU Fundraiser
An Exclusive Director’s Presentation of the Award Winning Film
Hosted by George Washington University, International Space University, Arthur C Clarke Foundation
Friday, February 27, 2009 5:00pm – 7:45pm
George Washington University, Jack Morton Auditorium
805 21st St. N.W
Washington, DC
$250 “Event Sponsor” (3 tickets Included)
$100 “Scholarship Booster” (2 tickets Included)
** Please pay in advance with PayPal to isu.nao.pp@isu.isunet.edu
$25 General Admission; $15 Student
RSVP michael.freeradical@gmail.com Read more »
More about NASA Ames sneak preview
Posted in Intelligence on October 22, 2008 by mirforpeaceThe nice guys at NASA Ames Research Center mailed back the camera — and the pictures were still on it! Check out the Flickr photostream for evidence of NASA hospitality.
Michael’s notes for his talk before the movie: Read more »
Bend Film Fest
Posted in Intelligence with tags orphans apollo Mir on October 10, 2008 by RobinSpace Frontier Foundation Vision of the Future Winner
Orphans of Apollo Selected Documentary at Bend Film Festival
NYACK, New York – October 10, 2008
Orphans of Apollo, winner of the Space Frontier Foundation’s Vision of the Future 2008, makes its public debut this weekend at Bend Film Festival. Director Michael Potter will be available for a question and answer session, after the screening Saturday, October 11, 2:00 p.m.
Orphans of Apollo, created by first-time filmmaker/producer Michael Potter, was honored with the Space Frontier Foundation’s Vision of the Future Award on July 20, 2008, the 39th anniversary of the first Apollo Moon landing. The award was presented after a private screening for attendees at the Foundation’s annual conference, NewSpace 2008. Orphans of Apollo is the extraordinary true story of MirCorp, a rebel group of entrepreneurs who commandeered the Russian Mir space station-by leasing it from the Russian government. The film documents the pioneering efforts of bold men who fought to open space for all humanity and launched the New Space Revolution.
Read more »
Orphans of Apollo sneaked at NASA Ames
Posted in Intelligence with tags Apollo, NASA, Orphans, Space Station Mir on October 7, 2008 by RobinNASA Ames Research Center hosted a sneak preview at the Ames auditorium last Friday. Introducing the movie, Center Director Pete Worden said he could confirm some of the facts in Orphans of Apollo, but the opinions expressed are entirely those of the speakers.
Michael noted that it was October 3 in California, but already October 4 in Russia — the 51st anniversary of Sputnik. October 4 is NASA’s 50th birthday and the fourth anniversary of SpaceShipOne’s X Prize-winning flight, so it was a fitting day to show this movie about a rebel band of space entrepreneurs and the Russian Mir space station to our friends at NASA.
Some Ames employees, contractors and interns we talked to after the screening said they had never heard about MirCorp’s attempt to save the the Mir, and are now curious to know more about the story.
We took photos — including a nice shot of student intern David Gomez in a pirate-themed t-shirt standing by the movie poster — but the camera was seized by NASA security. Just kidding! Some nice guys at Ames found the camera on a conference room table and mailed it back. Evidence will be posted on Flickr soon.
