Included Content:

On Guard! The Story of SAGE

Length: 12 Minutes | Produced:1956

On Guard! The Story of SAGE is the amazing tale of a wacky precursor to the Star Wars nuclear defense plan. SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) was the first computer system used for American air defense during the Cold War. SAGE was built to prevent enemy bombers from coming unnoticed into US airspace. Images of children playing or sleeping punctuate the reasons for such tight security. The computer is astonishingly huge by modern standards, taking up two floors of IBMs SAGE building, and containing 56,000 electron tubes. The computer is shown being maintained by well-dressed workers as though it were the queen in a beehive. A veritable museum of old technology, the film contains priceless images of vintage electronics. On Guard! The Story of SAGE is a fun and informative classic film that deserves to be seen.

The Race To Space Chronological Newsreel Collection

Length: 57 Minutes | Produced:1933-1965

30 Newsreels spanning from November 22, 1933 to June 21, 1965, placed in a chronological timeline. Some of the newsreels included are: Chimp in Space, New Moon, Kennedy Space Tour, Cosmonauts in Space, Space Race, Space Projects, Space Secrets and many more!

Way Stations in Space

Length: 12 Minutes | Produced:1960

Way Stations in Space explores the importance of space travel and explains how way stations, or space platforms, are critical for future space travel. In order to travel to space and leave the Earths atmosphere, a great amount of energy and fuel is required. However, after arriving in space, very little energy is required, which makes exploring distant galaxies much easier. Way stations will act as homes, research centers and refueling centers as space exploration expands. Another important addition to space travel will be the building of facilities on the moon. The moon is very close to the Earth, being only 240,000 miles away, and can also greatly help in the furthering of space research; which will hopefully lead to travel to Mars. There is much that we do not know about space. Outside our own galaxy may be an earthlike planet that we can learn much from. What is known for certain though is that space is the frontier of the future.

Trailblazer in Space

Length: 12 Minutes | Produced:1961

Trailblazer in Space tells the story of Ham the Chimp and two other chimpanzees who were part of the pioneering Mercury Redstone space program. The program conducted tests on space flight before it was deemed safe for humans. The film documents Ham the Astrochimps January 31, 1961 journey, as he is strapped into place inside an MR-2 Project Mercury rocket, given banana pellets to keep him happy, and then shot up into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida for an 18-minute ride to history.

Preparation of Food: Stone Age to Space Age

Length: 12 Minutes | Produced:1970

Preparation of Food: Stone Age to Space Age, made by Litton Industries, a manufacturer of consumer electronics and a defense contractor, captures the wonders of new cooking technology, namely, the microwave and quartz ovens. It includes some footage of a primitive New Guinea tribal people who still use fire to cook, then moves on to steam and electric cooking, but the film hits its stride when it talks about the wonder of cooking without heat! Behind the scenes, NASA cooks in their kitchens using these new ovens. The film makes some bold claims about what can be successfully cooked in microwaves, including lobster and cupcakes, but this footage, especially that of NASA, is interesting.

Race To Space Chronological Newsreel Collection

Length: 57 Minutes | Produced:1933-1965

30 Newsreels spanning from November 22, 1933 to June 21, 1965, placed in a chronological timeline. Newsreels included are Chimp in Space, New Moon, Kennedy Space Tour, Cosmonauts in Space, Space Race, Space Projects, Space Secrets and much much more. Watch as history unfolds!