Browse Documentary. Space Exploration

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Walt Disney Treasures - Tomorrowland: Disney in Space and Beyond

Actor: Artist Not Provided
ASIN : B0000BWVAI
Sales Rank : 22049
Brand : Disney
Studio : Walt Disney Video
Region Code : 1
Format : Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 0786936224795
UPC : 786936224795
Release Date : December 18, 2004
Publisher : Walt Disney Video
Manufacturer : Walt Disney Video
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : Walt Disney Video
Running Time : 240

Description

Walt Disney was a true visionary, and his most far-reaching vision examined the future. During the 1950s, his investigation into space exploration and the wondrous opportunities and challenges of space travel not only came alive in several Disneyland TV shows, but helped create strong public support for The United States space program. Go back in time to the beginning of the future and enjoy four episodes and a theatrical short that delve into the mysteries of the universe and space travel -- "Man In Space," "Man And The Moon," "Mars And Beyond," "Eyes In Outer Space," and "Our Friend The Atom." You'll also get a rare look at Walt's last film, "EPCOT," in which he reveals his concepts and plans for the Disney World and EPCOT projects. Other not-to-be-missed features include a special interview with noted futurist and author Ray Bradbury. Featuring exclusive introductions by film historian Leonard Maltin, this is a timeless collection from generations past for generations to come.

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Before man ventured into space, Walt Disney took the nation there. This set of the Walt Disney Treasures consists of "Science Factual" shows that aired mostly in the 1950s. On the first disc, Ward Kimball, one of the company's ace animators, directs three 50-minute segments on space travel dealing with space flight, going to the moon, and going to Mars. A combination of lecture (by the tops in the field, including lead rocket designer Dr. Werner von Braun), animation, live-action segments, and models, the three segments are still relevant as they effortlessly teach such elements as why rockets are in stages, what is gravitational force, orbiting, air pressure, and even the psychological effects on the mind. It is impressive how easily these Tomorrowland features entertain audiences of all ages. Of course, some of the details are wrong, but the wonder is not, and the final segment--a most poetic survey about what life might be like on Mars--illustrates Disney animated magic at its best.

The second disc takes on weather reporting (including a James Bond-ish way of changing the weather), how satellites work, and the touchstone 1958 short "Our Friend the Atom," a staple of explaining the world of atomic energy. Shown for the first time in its entirety is an informative pitch for EPCOT. It's not a version of the theme park now in Florida, but Walt Disney's lyrical vision of a city of the future, a dream never realized with his death two months after filming in 1966. Leonard Maltin introduces each segment, putting it in historical context and noting some political incorrectness and oversights, like atomic energy having no downside. The programs still entertainingly show the promises of the future: humans on Mars seem so tangible, even though the space program lost its way in the forthcoming decades. --Doug Thomas

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Blue Planet (IMAX)

Actors: James Buchli, Toni Myers
ASIN : B00005BCKI
Sales Rank : 20464
Director : Ben Burtt
Brand : Warner Brothers
Studio : Imax
Region Code : 1
Format : Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9780790761060
ISBN : 0790761068
UPC : 794051801821
Release Date : December 12, 2001
Publisher : Imax
Manufacturer : Imax
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : Imax
Running Time : 40

Description

From the unique vantage point of 200 miles above Earth's surface, we see how natural forces - volcanoes, earthquakes and hurricanes - affect our world, and how a powerful new force - humankind - has begun to alter the face of the planet. From Amazon rain forests to Serengeti grasslands, Blue Planet inspires a new appreciation of life on Earth, our only home.

DVD Features:
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The IMAX film Blue Planet offers an eloquent reminder--and a cautionary warning--that the planet Earth is a delicate living organism, constantly reshaped and rejuvenated by the awesome forces of nature. The film targets a grade-school audience but will prove informative to anyone fascinated by our home planet's evolution. Hurricanes, glaciers, volcanoes, thunderstorms, asteroid impacts, undersea furnace vents, and earthquakes are all explored as a system of interconnected forces that ensure the planet's survival. The difference between this and other nature films is that the Earth's delicacy is emphasized by stunning views from space, filmed in the IMAX format by NASA astronauts in orbit 200 miles above the Earth's surface. With astonishing clarity, this orbital perspective supports the film's ultimate purpose: to reveal the awesome beauty of the Earth, and to emphasize that we, the custodians of this miraculous gift, are also the greatest threat to the planet's delicate health. Proof of man's destructive influence offers a sobering reminder that our responsibility toward nature is perpetual, essential, and routinely abused.

Blue Planet combines state-of-the-art sound and image, principally directed by Ben Burtt, the Oscar-winning sound designer whose credits include the original Star Wars trilogy. No home-theater system could do full justice to the film's technical achievement, but the sights and sounds of Blue Planet are awesome nonetheless, and it's impossible to overstate the importance of the film's message and its hopeful emphasis on the potentially wondrous future of our one and only home. --Jeff Shannon

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Stargaze - Hubble's View of the Universe

Actor: Ralph LaBarge
ASIN : B00004VWUF
Sales Rank : 28172
Studio : DVD International
Region Code : 1
Format : Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 0647715072627
UPC : 647715072627
Number Of Discs : 1
Release Date : December 19, 2000
Publisher : DVD International
Manufacturer : DVD International
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : DVD International
Running Time : 60

Description

"StarGaze" brings the beauty and majesty of the universe to your home theater, direct from the Hubble Space Telescope. With over an hour of the most incredible images of the universe you'll ever see, from gaseous clouds to more than 200 other astronomical objects, plus Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound music from popular new age group 2002, "StarGaze" will quickly become a favorite in your DVD collection.

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It looks like all that money NASA spent on the Hubble Space Telescope was worth it after all--at least from an aesthetic standpoint. Stargaze: Hubble's View of the Universe captivates the viewer with stunningly high-definition color images of galaxies, nebulae, and heavenly bodies closer to home. Each shot pans and lingers over the richly colored pictures as unobtrusive narration in English, French, German, or Spanish explains the history of the Hubble mission, its targets, and what we've learned so far. The music by 2002 is harmless and quiet, though viewers pathologically averse to New Age will scramble for the audio control. Including screensavers and Web features, Stargaze will keep spaceheads happy and entranced for hours, and convert the unbelievers. --Rob Lightner

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Roving Mars [Blu-ray]

Actors: Robert Manning, George Butler, Paul Newman, Steve Squyres, Dr. Charles Elachi
ASIN : B000PY311Q
Sales Rank : 27231
Director : George Butler
Brand : Buena Vista Home Video
Studio : Walt Disney Video
Region Code : 1
Format : AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen
Binding : Blu-ray
EAN : 0786936725490
UPC : 786936725490
Release Date : December 31, 2007
Publisher : Walt Disney Video
Manufacturer : Walt Disney Video
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : Walt Disney Video
Running Time : 40

Product description

Action. Drama. Anticipation. Exultation. Experience it all as you join the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity for an awe-inspiring journey to the surface of the mysterious red planet. Through the eyes of these two intrepid, death-defying rovers, and with NASA scientists and engineers at your side, you’ll see Mars in a way no one ever has before. You’ll feel what it is like to stand on the startling surface of the planet that’s intrigued mankind for eons. And you’ll uncover its ultimate mystery: Is there life on Mars? Roving Mars – it’s the ride of a lifetime.

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When you consider the odds against success, the achievements on glorious display in Roving Mars are almost miraculous. This excellent IMAX production follows the familiar IMAX format; at 40 minutes in length, it's not as wide-ranging as other documentaries might be, but in chronicling the design, launch, and successful landings of NASA's robotic Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, it offers an unprecedented level of visual splendor, highlighted by amazingly accurate computer-animated depictions of what really happened when the rovers arrived at their destination. Financed by Disney, and combining the talents of veteran IMAX director George Butler and top-ranking Hollywood producer Frank Marshall (best known for his frequent collaborations with Steven Spielberg), this celebration of science and technology begins with a raspy introduction narrated by Paul Newman (who had recently voiced the character of "Doc" in Disney/Pixar's Cars), then dives right into the formidable challenge of launching and landing the rovers on time and budget, with a looming deadline of optimal Mars/Earth orbital alignment occurring only once every 26 months.

At NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, we see highly skilled engineers addressing every challenge and every possible contingency, and project leader Steve Squyers serves as our informative host and enthusiastic populist for space exploration. After launching in June and July of 2003, the rovers traveled for seven months and 300 million miles to Mars, landing on the red planet in January 2004. Every aspect of the mission is covered in concise detail, and tension escalates as touch-down (achieved with the now-familiar "bouncing balloon" landing system) draws near. What's most remarkable, even to the crew at JPL, is that Spirit and Opportunity succeeded far beyond their mission expectations, becoming one of NASA's most triumphant achievements in interplanetary exploration. The photos, chemical analyses, and other data gathered on Mars were intended to prove the past existence of water on Mars (and hence the possibility of life), and in this and many other respects, Roving Mars stands as a breathtaking tribute to the men, women, and robots who've given us a greater understanding of the planetary system we call home. --Jeff Shannon

On the Disc
Roving Mars is accompanied by two excellent bonus features. First up is "Mars: Past, Present, and Future," a 25-minute "making of" featurette that provides additional educational detail about our closest planetary neighbor, along with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with key personnel at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Then comes the 50-minute featurette "Mars and Beyond," originally broadcast in 1957 as an episode of Walt Disney's popular Disneyland TV show. Typical of that series, it's a wildly imaginative, cleverly animated look at Mars and its significance in the history of mankind. Even after more than half a century, it's filled with scientific and speculative details that are sure to engage anyone's sense of wonder. --Jeff Shannon

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NOVA: Runaway Universe

Actor: Liev Schreiber
ASIN : B000GIXLLG
Sales Rank : 22509
Director : Alan Ritsko, Tom Lucas
Studio : WGBH Boston
Region Code : 1
Format : Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 0783421324299
UPC : 783421324299
Release Date : December 12, 2006
Publisher : WGBH Boston
Manufacturer : WGBH Boston
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : WGBH Boston
Running Time : 56

Description

Runaway Universe - presents the dramatic quest to unlock the secrets of the stars as two rival astronomy teams search for exploding stars, map gigantic cosmic patterns of galaxies, and grapple with the ultimate question: what is the fate of the universe? With the use of stunning three-dimensional cosmic simulations captured with revolutionary high-definition technology, NOVA presents the first attempt to explore the riddle of "dark energy"- the mysterious repulsive force that some scientists believe counteracts gravity. How big is the universe? What does a supernova look like? Was Einstein’s greatest blunder actually correct? Explore these questions and other fascinating mysteries of the universe with this thrilling intergalactic adventure.

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Roving Mars

Actors: Paul Newman, Stephen Squyres, Rob Manning (IV), Charles Elachi, Wayne Lee (II)
ASIN : B000FIMG40
Sales Rank : 19206
Director : George Butler (II)
Brand : Buena Vista Home Video
Studio : Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Region Code : 1
Format : AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 0786936292619
UPC : 786936292619
Release Date : December 31, 2007
Publisher : Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Manufacturer : Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Running Time : 40

Product Description

Experience it all as you join the mars rovers spirit and opportunity for an awe-inspiring journey to the surface of the mysterious red planet. Through the eyes of these two intrepid death-defying rovers and with nasa scientists and engineers at your side youll see mars in a way no one ever has before. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 07/31/2007 Run time: 40 minutes Rating: G

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On the DVD
Roving Mars is presented in both full-screen and widescreen formats, and is accompanied by two excellent bonus features. First up is "Mars: Past, Present, and Future," a 25-minute "making of" featurette that provides additional educational detail about our closest planetary neighbor, along with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with key personnel at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Then comes the 50-minute featurette "Mars and Beyond," originally broadcast in 1957 as an episode of Walt Disney's popular Disneyland TV show. Typical of that series, it's a wildly imaginative, cleverly animated look at Mars and its significance in the history of mankind. Even after more than half a century, it's filled with scientific and speculative details that are sure to engage anyone's sense of wonder. --Jeff Shannon

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The Dream Is Alive (IMAX)

Actors: Walter Cronkite, David Leestma, George Nelson, Sally Ride, Kathy Sullivan
ASIN : B00005BCKH
Sales Rank : 19558
Director : Graeme Ferguson
Brand : Warner Brothers
Studio : Imax
Region Code : 1
Format : Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9780790761046
ISBN : 0790761041
UPC : 794051801722
Release Date : December 12, 2001
Publisher : Imax
Manufacturer : Imax
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : Imax
Running Time : 37

Description

Journey into space alongside the astronauts on the space shuttle as they orbit around the Earth, floating as never before over the towering Andes, the boot of Italy, Egypt and the Nile. Witness firsthand a tension-filled satellite capture and repair and the historic first spacewalk by an American woman.

DVD Features:
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The best of the initial series of "made in space" IMAX films, The Dream Is Alive is a wonderful introduction to space travel for young and old alike. The national shuttle program was only four years old when this 35-minute documentary was released in 1985, and the film emphasizes the differences between the shuttle and conventional rockets. The opening shot of a shuttle returning to the Earth like a plane is an unmistakable difference. We follow two flight crews through training, rehearsals, and (mostly) the flight. The crystal-clear images of Earth do not have the same impact that they do in a large-format IMAX theater, but they are still a wonder to behold, especially with the effective narration by Walter Cronkite--for many the voice of America's heyday in space. Director Graeme Ferguson keeps the film streamlined and never preachy (unlike the companion film, Blue Planet). With a big assist from Star Wars sound designer Ben Burtt, The Dream Is Alive builds excitement through footage that includes three electrifying launches. The film was released a year before the Challenger disaster, and played in rotation after the accident as an emotional pull to return to the heavens. On that note, the film delivers the message that despite the risks, our future is in space. (For ages 5 and older.) --Doug Thomas

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Stargaze II - Visions of the Universe

Actor: Stargaze 2-Visions of the Universe
ASIN : B0001US5PQ
Sales Rank : 52299
Studio : DVD International
Region Code : 0
Format : Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Surround Sound, Widescreen, Digital Video Transfer, Digital Sound, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9781932556193
ISBN : 1932556192
UPC : 647715072924
Number Of Discs : 1
Release Date : December 11, 2004
Publisher : DVD International
Manufacturer : DVD International
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours
Label : DVD International
Running Time : 65

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Stargaze II doesn't deviate much from the previous Stargaze DVD, and that's a good thing. Galaxies, nebulae, and other astronomical elements simply float across the screen in brilliant clarity, fueled by New Age music by Opus 27. The images are mostly from the Hubble Space Telescope, along with some unique mosaics from several sources. The bigger your screen, the better for "plasma art" that could serve as the background at a party or a valentine to any star freak. You can even view the program in high definition if you have the right media set-up. Sometimes the images float in front of a wallpaper of stars that causes a 3-D effect or looks kinda hokey, depending on your point of view. You can find out what you are looking at by activating subtitles or by clicking a menu button that goes to a page-by-page detail about the subject and how the image was rendered. With literally out-of-this-world colors and textures, the beauty of the heavens is glorious to behold. Produced the same year Congress debates the fate of the Hubble (2004), this program serves record of the extraordinary worlds that are seen only by this workhorse satellite. Lobbyists may have no better weapon to use than the Stargaze DVDs. --Doug Thomas

Browse Space Exploration Online

Walt Disney Treasures - Tomorrowland: Disney in Space and Beyond

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Blue Planet (IMAX)

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Stargaze - Hubble's View of the Universe

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Roving Mars [Blu-ray]

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NOVA: Runaway Universe

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Roving Mars

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NASA: 50 Years of Space Exploration

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Nasa Collection-Volume 1

The Dream Is Alive (IMAX)

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Stargaze II - Visions of the Universe

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