November 17, 2011 (Washington D.C.) In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Smithsonian Institution, an exclusive screening of the film” Orphans of Apollo” will show in the National Air and Space Museum’s Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater on Friday, November 18 at 8:00 pm.
“ORPHANS OF APOLLO” is the award winning documentary that has been called the “greatest space story never told.” The film tells the extraordinary true story of a small group of entrepreneurs who felt, ‘orphaned’ by President Nixon’s decision to end the NASA Apollo Moon program and the subsequent years of nominal space activity. This band of brothers took matters into their own hands, and commandeered the Russian Mir Space Station, behind the backs of NASA and the US government. The rebellious, yet pioneering efforts has been credited with launching the new commercial Space Revolution. This is the remarkable untold story of the greatest secret in the new space race.
This dramatic tale chronicles the adventure of the boldest business plan the Earth has ever seen. ‘MirCorp’, the entrepreneurial company ’s vision to transform the Russian space station into an outpost for what was intended to be the first phase of a trillion dollar business. The project was to include mining of asteroids, gravity free laboratories, a space ‘hotel’, and a research facility. MirCorp was the ultimate start-up company, and unlike anything the universe had ever seen.
Join this band of rebels out to change the course of history in space, as they board a private jet, fly to Russia, negotiate one of the most remarkable business deals of the final frontier. Follow this diverse group as they pioneer their way through this new business of space. Listen to the management team as they struggle with issues of branding, finance, technology, and engage in the ultimate slugfest with the most powerful governments and bureaucrats.
“ORPHANS OF APOLLO” is an intimate and compelling epic which eloquently communicates the real origins of the private commercial new space revolution. Now for the first, and possibly the last, time, “ORPHANS OF APOLLO” combines archival material from original NASA film footage, Russian archival footage, personal footage, IMAX footage, with interviews and or footage with key players including Tom Clancy, Elon Musk, Richard Branson, Rick Tumlinson, Walt Anderson, Gus Gardellini, Jeff Manber, and others.
Free Radical Productions has made the documentary film, “ORPHANS OF APOLLO,” available on DVD or streaming at Amazon @
Quotes
“…will become…an underground classic at entrepreneurial programs. It captures that feeling of events rushing ahead of you as you try to figure out how to make it work, a seductive feeling beloved by entrepreneurs, and when they start hitting their stride,” Out of the Cradle: Movie Review.
“A fascinating account of how a small group of American space entrepreneurs challenged the government…”Dr. Roger Launius, National Air and Space MuseumWashington D.C. , and “a fast moving chronicle of an action packed, amazing true story” according to George Whitesides, Former, Chief of Staff, NASA.
About Free Radical Productions
First time documentary filmmaker Michael Potter, who is one degree of separation from many of the key players in this remarkable and historic epic, is an expert on international technology and business. Potter has published extensively on technology policy issues. He worked together with key figure in “Orphans of Apollo” Walt Anderson in creating a publicly traded pan-European telecommunications company. Potter previously worked on the 13 part WGBH Series, “War & Peace in the Nuclear Age.” He is a graduate of the London School of Economics.
Free Radical Productions is a privately held production company headed by Michael Potter. Potter is Executive Producer of the upcoming film, “The University” The production documenting the Singularity University an its goal of inspiring students to positively impact 1 billion people in the next decade. Free Radical Productions + 1 (310) 990-8803
Orphans of Apollo 