@@literalantifaterrorist4673 I'm sceptical about it being fake, due to the lack of advanced editing software back then. I doubt they could get the lighting so good and the focus to seamlessly transition into the background like that, if it was a green screen. Besides, you can conveniently track a rocket at that distance by just moving the eyes upwards, no need for any head motion.
@Jake - truth. And going by the soft-stop to the action, it wasn't cranked to the end of the lens or to a moveable Hard-stop, it was done to a mark on the focus ring or Follow-Focus wheel.
Funnily enough the Titan 3E rocket seen launching here is only powered by the solid fuel side boosters at launch. The center core engine is air lit and only ignites 10 seconds before booster burnout. This means that unlike a chemical rocket startup, which takes over a day if you count the cooling and flushing of the engine bell with gas, the launch could basically happen at any time because solid boosters are just ignited with what is essentially a big firecracker at the top which flings flame down the hole in the center, over the fuel. The core propellants of the first and second stages of this rocket also use very storable Hypergolic propellants, which ignite on contact and do not need refrigeration. The only time sensitive thing here is the upper stage and the launch window. But if you just want to go up and get into a parking orbit, it can happen at any time because even though the Centaur 3rd stage uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, which need to be constantly topped off due to boiloff, the launch pad provides that anyways. TL;DR: this particular rocket uses very easily storable and ignitable propellants, meaning that this is one of few rockets where it could launch immediately with the single push of the button, so kid you wasn’t that far off theoretically.
@@judet2992 Also solid rocket motors reach full thrust in a second or less(!), unlike liquid rocket engines which often require several seconds(usually before the countdown's over) to reach full thrust before liftoff- something James Burke & his team was spared from taken into account of!
They certainly had the line rehearsed over and over and over, with him always able to see a countdown clock so he knew his timing perfectly, rehearsing several times the morning of the launch to be sure all of the equipment was working etc. And the actual launch would be a satellite launch, which having grown up in Cocoa Beach FL and able to watch the launches literally from my backyard (literally, the sound once it arrived many seconds later would still shake the windows of the house), were happening a couple of times a year during that period. You would definitely not want to miss your window, but then again, you might set it up once early during production and if you got it then, great, if not you might have another window late in production, and if you missed all of the windows, well ... you just scrap the idea and put in something not nearly as dramatic. Definitely a great show, and I remember watching it on first run and seeing this shot from the show. Mr. Burke had a foundational influence on my interest in science and engineering.
There is actually a countdown which the button presser follows. It's usually from ten to one, and then the ignition command. So the button presser wasn't really paying attention to this narrator. The narrator timed his speech to match the countdown, which I believe, was hear distant at the time of the filming.
That line “The Rocket to the Moon or Moscow” literally sent shivers down my spine because during that time it was obviously during the Cold War Space Race, no one knew where it would go until it went
@@nate567987 They have nuclear weapons silos across the country. If they were going to attack somewhere they would launch just about everything. You need to overwhelm the enemy's missile defenses. Launching one in an extremely expensive rocket way too large for a single nuclear payload makes no sense.
NASA never had nukes and nukes weren't launched from places like Cape Canaveral. If you saw missiles taking to the skies from Montana, Wyoming or North Dakota then you know that world affairs were on a wee bit of a downward spiral... :P This is one of the reasons that ICBM tests are done from Vandenberg in California - to stop the mass brown trouser moments and mass panic from the locals in the mid west as well as having the missile plop into the ocean should there be a failure.
It's even more impressive when you consider the fact that the pilot had to open the choke, turn the keys in the ignition and get the gas pedal to exactly the right spot to get the thing started bang on cue, all while squinting out of the window for the signal, with the kids fighting in the back and his co-pilot fumbling the directions even with the map light on.
@Mo Swagy Human bodies shut down due to accumulated damage that can't be repaired as cells grow less and less capable of division every time they divide and continuously as they get exposed to oxygen, sunlight and many, MANY other factors. Billions of Bits of your DNA are being damaged as we speak, and a few of those repairs are imperfect leading to cells that need to perform apoptosis in order for you not to get cancer or cells that can no longer perform their tasks optimally, and these inefficiencies mount up. Waste products, from proteins, through minerals, to many other things, are going to accumulate in parts of your body, (including the brain) and eventually cause irreparable damage . So, sure, a healthy lifestyle can certainly help make you live longer and at a higher level of comfort, but those muscles and bones are going to atrophy and those internal organs are going to slowly start failing, regardless of what you do, unless you can add new stem cells and fix the genetic and epigenetic damage, as well as remove the buildup of waste products.
This blows me away every time I see it. The fact that the cameraman wasn’t tempted to follow the rocket up, but allowed it to exit the frame… just perfect.
Yes! I thought that too. I suspect many a present-day cameraman would have had his zoom finger twitching too. But to just let it leave shot then go for the close-up is magnificent.
Also the fact that the guy himself didn't follow the rocket by not looking up, and the fact they later admitted it was a separate shot altogether, and the fact so many people to this day think it was an actual shot.... But hey, don't let it ruin your entertainment.
The single best end to any TV episode, never to be topped. The educational aspect (great explanations!), the build-up, the timing, the visuals, the direction, the dichotomy between science and war. Gives me shivers.
The funny thing is, he started out with an MA from Oxford in English, then involved himself in teaching it in Italy before a chance event there made him get a job with the BBC back home in England. He has no 'official' scientific training!
"Destination moon or moscow" sums up humanity nearly perfectly. Greatest species with each breakthrough moving both towards scientific advancements and utter obliteration
@@SandorSoptei How does that remotely change my point? I didn't say it was a surprising statement, but an ominous one. And yes, it is just that. To think even in our televised entertainment we were not-so-casually implying readiness and willingness toward nuclear armageddon.
I remember seeing an interview with him and the person asking him the question asked him " how was that shot perfectly timed?" He said " I just saw the count down clock and we waited until minus 10 seconds to start recording".
According to my very accurate One-Mississippi method of counting-down time, it seems like he stepped into the shot right at the 10" mark. My guess is that they rehearsed the timing a few times. But with all that said, it's a magnificent piece of production.
Too bad internet didn't exist back then. Imagine somebody in Moscow watching this being broadcasted live on youtube and hearing that last line. He'll be like "Hold up, wut?"
In an interview, James Burke revealed that the producer wanted this exact shot, so they made rehearse his lines so well that the distance to the marker was made at the exact moment at T = 0 (lift-off.)
That's no surprise at all to me but it still took some poise to make it appear natural, un-rehearsed and not even rushed! Especially as those countdowns sometimes pause...
But it's clearly not a single shot. The walking past the rocket and then the launch shot were not done in a single shot - they could easily have been days, weeks or months apart.
I used to love Connections as a kid. Intelligent TV which was not dumbed down for the lowest common denominator. It would never get air time these days.
I grew up watching the great Raymond Baxter as well as James Burke, Judith Hann, William Woollard _et al_ showing us how to science. I'm sure that is in no small part why I went into aero engineering (who can forget Spitfire pilot, Raymond Baxter's narration of Concorde's first flights?). Little wonder that I'm also drawn to Tom Scott. Call out too to Jay Foreman.
Tom Scott and Veritasium feel like the successors to Burke's legacy. Great storytelling to get across interesting information about... Anything. Tom does nail the timing of shots like this sometimes as well.
The thing about a good presenter is even if he missed the launch by a second. You wouldn’t notice. He’d improvised in the moment. Perfect timing. Excellent work.
James Burke & Graham Hancock, have to somehow be from the same tribe. You know that one which is both utterly honest & correct & do not forget this guy... 1:00 Man thinks 'cause he rules the earth he can do with it as he please And if things don't change soon, he will Oh, man has invented his doom First step was touching the moon. ~Bob Dylan song: "License To Kill" album: "Infidels" (1983)
@@soldtobediers you just made up some nonsense about tribes then quote some lyrics from dylan's heroin addict drunk ass and call it facts. "Sold to be Diers can be stubborn & annoying to everybody"
@@fiachramacaodha1260 When we are young we generally estimate an opinion by the size of the person that holds it, but later we find that is an uncertain rule, for we realize that there are times when a hornet's opinion disturbs us more than an emperor's.
When he said "the moon or Moscow," that hit me right in the thinks. The same technology can either destroy our civilization or extend it to the stars. It's up to us.
One of the greatest shows ever put on television. I got to meet and have dinner with Mr. Burke. It was at a university academic function that I wrangled myself into. We spoke for almost an hour until he realized I was just a fan of the show and not an actual faculty member he was supposed to be schmoozing. He was pleasantly surprised.
I had breakfast with Mr. Burke, Ukiah Ca. He came in to the restaurant with a producer an took a table next to ours, I was the only one to recognize him, had a great conversation, producer was glad they were recognized while many in the restaurant were listening in. This happened around 1985-6. I consider him to be a fine teacher.
i think what's particularly impressive is how calm and collected he sounded even after he nailed the timing. my heart would've been beating out of my chest with sheer pride.
I can't help but be blown away, not just by his impeccable timing, but by his choice of words. The clear implication that this scientific development could be used to further us as well as to destroy us gives me the chills.
@@MrLeGeNdCast "And from the tree of knowledge of good and of evil you shall not eat from it, because in the day that you will eat from it, you will die the death.”
Just like sharp rocks, bronze bars, agriculture, books, democracy, explosives, fossil fuels, ai, the internet, social media, cloning, etc, etc. It is the nature of all tech and innovation: what will we do with it? We decide whether to do good things, bad things, and/or sex things.
@@antondelacruz9362 judging by Human nature over the last several thousand years, we'll do a lot of good things, some horrible bad things, and yes some sex things. Seems pretty basic to me, our blueprint eh?
As nicely timed as the second shot was, what I really appreciated was the initial shot of him walking around the rocket to then reveal the one ready for launch followed by the reveal of the huge NASA building.
By the time this episode had been made, Apollo was dead and buried, and NASA was getting ready for the shuttle. The rocket shown being launched in the second shot was a Titan III, while the one in the first shot was a surplus Saturn V NASA never got to use.
As a young person James Burke opened up a world of interest which is still with me 50 years later. What a gift to be able to present ideas so clearly. Thank you for posting this.
The 70s... when presenters were presenters. And guess what - Burke wasn't even a 'space expert', he just had a superb manner and swotted up on his subject.
Don't worry, he's still at it - some kid is has done loads of interviews with him. Sadly they only get 100 views, you can add to them! ua-cam.com/video/yNMcz-szA_k/v-deo.html&ab_channel=arlohajdu
@@StephenASmithESPN Richard Attenborourgh & James Burke ruled the UK in the 70's with their science shows, but people obviously like monkeys more than inventors so the former is globally famous and the latter is not.
Narrator: My line takes 13 seconds so I'll start when the countdown announcer gets to 14. Not rocket science. Well done for not screwing it up, but it's not like they pulled out the slide rules and calculated the angle of trajectory of light from the moon and divided by pi.
I'd guess he practiced this particular line a dozen of times. Scene begins exactly 13 seconds before the lift off, so once they saw the countdown hit 13, they started recording and it went on the spot!
@@calebbetteridge5749 it’s an older name for Beijing, the capital of China. The name in Chinese has been the same for centuries, but the way the name was transliterated into the Roman alphabet changed from “Peking” to “Beijing” just after the Communist takeover in 1949. It took a few decades for the change to become common usage in English, though, so this 70s program still refers to the city by the older name.
What makes this incredible is that the rocket flew not one second too long or too early. If there’s a definition for “perfect timing” it is this clip right here!
@@ohaiadit Practice, practice, practice. Would have been great to see a 10min behind the scenes for this shot, talking about coming up with the idea, working with NASA for access, rehearsals, weather delays (it's Florida), etc.
@@dondumitru7093 They could have just been listening to a radio with the launch countdown, with someone signaling him, counting down with flash cards, a mobile teleprompter, or just with their fingers.
I do the same thing when stopped at a traffic light. If you point agressively at a red light, it eventually turns green. He has obviously mastered this, I hope to make it to this level someday
Oh another practitioner of our great art. Personally I execute before being stopped… driving slower using our power to switch the light to green, after which, celebrating in glory racing away. Let us continue our training leaving others around us in awe. As the first master of our creed named Oogway said: “there are no accidents”
James Burke was the best TV science presenter ever. His series "Connections" was superb. I'm sure he was part of the reason (along with Thunderbirds) that I became an engineer.
He even timed the last two sentences where he took a noticeable pause at 00:52 which gave the feeling that it was winding down, and there was no urgency of anything about to happen. Everyone had to be on their game... correct exposure for film (no LCD to check), no dolly/tram malfunctions (the camera would have been huge and heavy), the audio guy needed to not mess up in any way, etc etc. Brilliant film making.
It's from a time where 'auto' was short for automobile. Not the button on the camera, the DJ mixer, photoshop or lawn mower. Craftsmanship, a term that unfortunately won't land you a job anymore.
Everything up to the point at 0:45 could have been shot either before or after the launch. What get's me is there's no way the sound of the rocket is live, because from that distance there would have been a delay of several seconds before they heard it.
I was SO addicted to this AMAZING SHOW in the 80s I couldn't get enough! Burke had a unique way of explaining science in layman's terms and making it fun, interesting and even humourous at times. Most important though was the facts that were layed out in a timely manner that made it "connect" in your head. It just "clicked"! And I always got so excited for a new episode no matter what it was about. It just seemed to be about everything in a span of a few hundred years sometimes.
"Connections" was one of the greatest TV shows in history. It actually had a big impact on my life as a kid. I really wish there would be someone to take up the mantle and do a modern day version.
Same. My sister, brother and I would binge on that show as kids/teens. I still rewatch it today and with my knowledge gained through life (mid '30s now) I see even more so how connected everything is. Wonderful cat, Mr. Burke is.
Isn't that crazy?! He mentioned Moscow and Peking like it was nothing much to it. Just wow. And than these "civilized" people are talking about peace and f***ing democracy. Hypocrites! I'm from Russia. I wouldn't imagine saying the same thing about London or Washington. Wtf?!
@@bravehotsauce cold war mentality breeds xenophobia towards Russians I've actually been to ruusia expecting to get shot but your very nice people brutally honest too I like that shared a few drinks
This is awesome! In addition to the awesome timing of the reporter and producer, props to the camera crew for finding a place with the perfect angle plus lens choice for creating the perfect compression to keep the reporter and rocket in frame. Also, bonus points to the focus puller for nailing the focus pull as the rocket launched
This is from the series "Connections" which is absolutely brilliant. In this short scene, he connects the invention of the thermous to the launching of a giant rocket. Even if you are not a history buff or a science geek, he presents the stories in an entertaining and invormative manner. And if you ARE a history buff or a science geek, well, then this is your cup of tea!
I remember the series from first broadcast. He had a way of drawing you in and you almost came to the correct conclusion at the same time he revealed it. A history of science and experimentation for everyone in easily digestible parts.
@@drachefly He had in front of him a big display of the countdown clock. TV presenters do this for a living, The script would have been rehearsed 20 times to get the timing second perfect. Actually quite simple for a professional.
Yeah, it was a little awkward for the production crew when they had to ask NASA to turn the rocket around and land it for another take, but it was totally worth it in the end. Five more takes and they finally got it right.
James Burke & Graham Hancock, have to somehow be from the same tribe. You know that one which is both utterly honest & correct & do not forget this guy... 1:00 Man thinks 'cause he rules the earth he can do with it as he please And if things don't change soon, he will Oh, man has invented his doom First step was touching the moon. ~Bob Dylan song: "License To Kill" album: "Infidels" (1983)
Very cool. For those two young to remember James Burke (at nearly 90 years of age, I'm assuming he's no longer producing content), imagine the coolest history and science content you have ever seen on UA-cam, and quadruple its coolness. He is/was magnificent.
I remember him sitting with Patrick Moore and others in the BBC studio, waiting as Apollo 13 re-entered the atmosphere. He had his fingers crossed, and the relief was palpable when the radio crackled into life.
No need to worry it was all staged to make going to the moon more dangerous so they got people to watch and in turn got more funding those people are not silly
@@bifteki2214 OK everyone. Let’s test your mental acuity… Your mission?…Take a deep breath and move on. Can you resist interacting with conspiracy theorists? This is a test. We will be watching 😁🔫💀🤘
"The Day the Universe Changed," "Connections" & Connections 2, all great series. Formative for me. Will always appreciate all who worked on them to make them so valuable.
@@MrDogfish83 Difficult: Burke is such a terrific storyteller, and his creative interest is such a unique hybrid of history and lay-explanation (with particularly entertaining lilts of biting social comment salted through), that anything else will probably get at least a cautionary review for its quality as a comp. Just know that the first two -- Connections and The Day The Universe Changed -- are both extremely dated now. They're still incredibly entertaining, but you'll be surprised anew at how much things have moved on from the technological perspective of the late 70s and early 80s.
To be fair, though - that looked like a Titan rocket with 2 solid rocket boosters. When the countdown hits zero, those solids light almost instantaneously.
Another good one is James Dingley on Atomic Frontier. Here is an amazing 7 minute one shot: ua-cam.com/video/aLf4k5sna9U/v-deo.html&ab_channel=AtomicFrontier
@@aarorissanen930 They asked Tom Scott to give a Royal Institution lecture a couple of years back (A decent one which he delivered on the danger of AI in social media), which in the UK is the way of saying _you've made it_ in science communication.
I like to think that as he is standing there with his back to the camera he's thinking "OH MY GOODNESS, I NAILED IT! I CANT BELIEVE THAT JUST HAPPENED!"
Lol...would've been hilarious if he then drew his hand towards his mouth as he makes his hand into a "gun" and blows, all smooth like 😆 in the classic "nailed it" move 😜
There's a literal streaming service solely focused on this kind of content It's called curiosity stream It's from the original creators of discovery Channel, and the premise is to stay true to science without corporate bs getting in the way Worth checking it out
@@Tacdelio I mean, USSR isn't around anymore and Russia can barely take Ukraine. China is also at 6% the LCT perf of the US with their DF series (even with HSLV) and inventory size, any preemptive or retaliatory would be an exchange disparity of about (1.3B : 44M) I was a USAF 2W2 on assignment outside of my AFSC on avionics systems at LAAFB working on these very systems for 8 of my 14 years
"Connections" was, in my mind, the single best educational series ever made. After that comes "The Day the Universe Changed." If you do nothing more than watch those two series and grasp the contents, you will have a much better understanding of science and the world around us.
Unfortunately science isn't a meta system.... although it for some reason seems to think it is. Science is like a dumb child going around breaking stuff that it doesn't understand until it does... and only then, the things that it can see.
@@adambane1719 Not really true. Science is the PROCESS we use to discover the truth about reality. It provides a method to understand and make predictions about how things work. Science itself doesn't make statements about anything. The findings from doing studies/experiments using the scientific method informs us about reality.
@@ScienceNotFaith only about the things that are measureable, what it can see...science is unfortunately now the "new religion" unfortunately. Scientism (Atheism) It continuously makes claims on the "after life" and the existence of a "higher being". When it cant even explain intuition. Everything is a convenient "coincidence" with science. The Big Bang is its greatest ludicrousy... and claims everything that science is against. A fantasy magic type moment. Science essentially says "just give us one free miracle, and we'll explain the rest".
@@adambane1719 Your response is not only incredibly illogical but really stupid as well. Science doesn't make claims as you suggest. It's a METHOD of figuring out what is real. The term 'atheist' concerns one and only one question - do you believe a god exists. THAT'S IT! It is not a religion - that's just stupid to say - any more than non-belief in fairies is a religion. You're trying to conflate "There is no god" with "I don't have evidence convincing me that a god exists, therefore I don't believe one does." As for claims of an afterlife, etc, it's not the atheists who make those claims, it's the religious who do. You are profoundly confused my friend.
I loved this man . During the Apollo missions an 11 year old me sent him a letter begging for one of the spacecraft models they used in their TV presentations. I actually received a signed reply from the BBC (but unfortunately, no model) 🙂
@@elizabethcatlion7015 so you really think as he's walking over and the camera cuts out then the next scene is playing out that the wind just stopped blowing? Everything just got studio quiet because what? Mother nature didn't want to ruin his money shot? Also I can tell you have never have been to Cape Canaveral to watch a launch. You would know it takes a good while from the time you see the launch til the time you hear it. Not damn near instantly.
“Destination, the Moon or Moscow. The planets or Peking(Beijing).” Brilliant way of reminding us that science can be used both for discovery and destruction.
He helped me to get over the loss of my ventriloquist dummy running away when a Christmas pudding was delivered from Collins Street bakery in Texas in 1932 🏃🏻👈
He’s got to either be the oldest man who ever lived, or he had just aged extremely poorly. Edit: now that I’m rewatching this, he actually doesn’t even look that old here, it’s just his hairline that gives the overall impression of advanced age. I looked it up, he would have been 42 here, which at first was shocking to me, but looking at just his face, he doesn’t look old at all. It’s incredible how much a receding hairline alone can age someone.
No modern editing software, just impeccable timing. One chance, nailed it.
I'm skeptical. He doesn't track the rocket as it goes up, just keeps his head stationary.
edit: nvm it's real
@@literalantifaterrorist4673 I'm sceptical about it being fake, due to the lack of advanced editing software back then. I doubt they could get the lighting so good and the focus to seamlessly transition into the background like that, if it was a green screen.
Besides, you can conveniently track a rocket at that distance by just moving the eyes upwards, no need for any head motion.
then again who cares, its a good shot fake or not
Looks like a composite to me. He's roto'd out.
@@literalantifaterrorist4673 you don’t have to move your head up to look up
The most high stakes pull focus that camera operator will ever do.
Jake Richardson lol exactly!
At that distance, he probably just cranked it to the "infinity"-setting.
@@Happymali10 Nope, would have been out of focus even using the far setting. He had to pull the shot -perfectly-
@Jake - truth.
And going by the soft-stop to the action, it wasn't cranked to the end of the lens or to a moveable Hard-stop, it was done to a mark on the focus ring or Follow-Focus wheel.
May well have had a focus puller/assistant for just that, not uncommon(esp if you have a budget and a shot you only get one take on lol)
Love how he casually points at a rocket launch like he was showing us an everyday occurrence.
fax
because its not that impressive, some of you are very ignorant
@@kevina3673 how is it not impressive? 💀 LL wannabe cool guy over here🤣
@@kevina3673 bro you are subbed to 5 minute crafts you should have no rights
with spacex rocket launches. It almost feels like an every day occurance
I remember seeing this as a kid and we just assumed James Burke was so famous that they waited for him to point before they pressed the launch button.
Funnily enough the Titan 3E rocket seen launching here is only powered by the solid fuel side boosters at launch. The center core engine is air lit and only ignites 10 seconds before booster burnout. This means that unlike a chemical rocket startup, which takes over a day if you count the cooling and flushing of the engine bell with gas, the launch could basically happen at any time because solid boosters are just ignited with what is essentially a big firecracker at the top which flings flame down the hole in the center, over the fuel. The core propellants of the first and second stages of this rocket also use very storable Hypergolic propellants, which ignite on contact and do not need refrigeration. The only time sensitive thing here is the upper stage and the launch window. But if you just want to go up and get into a parking orbit, it can happen at any time because even though the Centaur 3rd stage uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, which need to be constantly topped off due to boiloff, the launch pad provides that anyways.
TL;DR: this particular rocket uses very easily storable and ignitable propellants, meaning that this is one of few rockets where it could launch immediately with the single push of the button, so kid you wasn’t that far off theoretically.
@@judet2992 Also solid rocket motors reach full thrust in a second or less(!), unlike liquid rocket engines which often require several seconds(usually before the countdown's over) to reach full thrust before liftoff- something James Burke & his team was spared from taken into account of!
Psalms 19:1
@@Zelchinho how does this relate?
@@judet2992 Some people just need to crowbar the bible into every fucking thing they interact with.
A supremely professional presenter, at the pinnacle of his career, doing an absolute blinder of a one-off event. Mr. Burke, sir, we applaud you.
I was surprised to find out that he's still alive. The government should ask him to sort out COVID, he'd make short work of it.
Just a pity the up-loader is rubbish and uploaded in the wrong ratio, amateur or what!!
Lol ""one-off"" there are multiple rocket that launched since then
Yeah pretty crazy that was the only launch that year.
@@URProductions Governments must love you then...
The fact that he managed to stay so calm despite the time pressure is impressive. This definitely deserves the title you gave it.
@@ronnieturner6820 speak English
@@appleman29 good 1 profesor
@@sem_skywalker I think I also sawed the remo control in his pockit
They certainly had the line rehearsed over and over and over, with him always able to see a countdown clock so he knew his timing perfectly, rehearsing several times the morning of the launch to be sure all of the equipment was working etc.
And the actual launch would be a satellite launch, which having grown up in Cocoa Beach FL and able to watch the launches literally from my backyard (literally, the sound once it arrived many seconds later would still shake the windows of the house), were happening a couple of times a year during that period. You would definitely not want to miss your window, but then again, you might set it up once early during production and if you got it then, great, if not you might have another window late in production, and if you missed all of the windows, well ... you just scrap the idea and put in something not nearly as dramatic.
Definitely a great show, and I remember watching it on first run and seeing this shot from the show. Mr. Burke had a foundational influence on my interest in science and engineering.
@@dondumitru7093 don wat is this for n wats happenin here? I wus scard to ask cuz ppl like the apple guy bully me but idc nemor
The eyesight of the technician who pushed the launch button when he saw the pointed finger was amazing.
Lmfao
Good job the astronaut didn't have the handbrake on.
dude probably squinting like his life depended on it
There is actually a countdown which the button presser follows. It's usually from ten to one, and then the ignition command. So the button presser wasn't really paying attention to this narrator. The narrator timed his speech to match the countdown, which I believe, was hear distant at the time of the filming.
@@PirateReviewer R/woosh
That line “The Rocket to the Moon or Moscow” literally sent shivers down my spine because during that time it was obviously during the Cold War Space Race, no one knew where it would go until it went
Are you suggesting NASA would just launch a nuke during a publicly scheduled event?
@@nichan008it’s the us
@@nate567987 They have nuclear weapons silos across the country. If they were going to attack somewhere they would launch just about everything. You need to overwhelm the enemy's missile defenses. Launching one in an extremely expensive rocket way too large for a single nuclear payload makes no sense.
NASA never had nukes and nukes weren't launched from places like Cape Canaveral.
If you saw missiles taking to the skies from Montana, Wyoming or North Dakota then you know that world affairs were on a wee bit of a downward spiral... :P This is one of the reasons that ICBM tests are done from Vandenberg in California - to stop the mass brown trouser moments and mass panic from the locals in the mid west as well as having the missile plop into the ocean should there be a failure.
@@nichan008in fact, the rocket that was launched on that take, is a bigger brother of the heaviest ICBM on the USAF's fleet: The Titan 2.
I can’t believe they were able to afford an actual rocket launch just for that shot, incredible.
@@alliecuake7728 pretty sure they were joking
@@askvideos1 the sarcasm is either really really dry, or it's woossh.
I can't tell which.
Just can't.
Took them 3 takes I heard.
green screen
@@d3c0d3junky not in those days!
It's a little known fact that this launch had no countdown. Mission control simply waited for the hand gesture from James Burke.
It's even more impressive when you consider the fact that the pilot had to open the choke, turn the keys in the ignition and get the gas pedal to exactly the right spot to get the thing started bang on cue, all while squinting out of the window for the signal, with the kids fighting in the back and his co-pilot fumbling the directions even with the map light on.
@@n_tas Heard in the transmission from the craft "Are we there yet?", "NO!", "Are we there yet?", "NO!" .... 😁
😂👍
😂😂😂
Best comment on 01 April!!! 😁
He had one shot. One opportunity. To seize everything he ever wanted. In one moment. And he captured it. He didn't let it slip.
Moms raviolli
@@snakex555 Thanks for the laugh. :)
@@snakex555 mamas linguini!
@@RSpracticalshooting No, It's Dad's spaghetti
Uncle’s pasta
0:58 I love how you can even hear the voice in the background say perfectly
This guy has earned the right to tell his grandkids the "Back in my day...."
Still a healthy 85 years old, James Burke is a television legend.....
@Mo Swagy
Human bodies shut down due to accumulated damage that can't be repaired as cells grow less and less capable of division every time they divide and continuously as they get exposed to oxygen, sunlight and many, MANY other factors.
Billions of Bits of your DNA are being damaged as we speak, and a few of those repairs are imperfect leading to cells that need to perform apoptosis in order for you not to get cancer or cells that can no longer perform their tasks optimally, and these inefficiencies mount up. Waste products, from proteins, through minerals, to many other things, are going to accumulate in parts of your body, (including the brain) and eventually cause irreparable damage .
So, sure, a healthy lifestyle can certainly help make you live longer and at a higher level of comfort, but those muscles and bones are going to atrophy and those internal organs are going to slowly start failing, regardless of what you do, unless you can add new stem cells and fix the genetic and epigenetic damage, as well as remove the buildup of waste products.
This dude is so cool that UA-cam shows what he did back in the days.
Physics wasn't invented yet
What?
At the end of each day, James Burke points at the sun and it sets for him.
lol
... don´t ever let him point at you 😉✌
Ummm. You can literally do that.
truly
James Burke is Mother Nature !! 😁
This blows me away every time I see it. The fact that the cameraman wasn’t tempted to follow the rocket up, but allowed it to exit the frame… just perfect.
Yes! I thought that too. I suspect many a present-day cameraman would have had his zoom finger twitching too. But to just let it leave shot then go for the close-up is magnificent.
You get blown away easy. Best stay away from heat sources...
there were probably so many others recording it. why bother XD
Also the fact that the guy himself didn't follow the rocket by not looking up, and the fact they later admitted it was a separate shot altogether, and the fact so many people to this day think it was an actual shot.... But hey, don't let it ruin your entertainment.
@@containsthestrange3902 that's why nobody invites you to parties.
The single best end to any TV episode, never to be topped. The educational aspect (great explanations!), the build-up, the timing, the visuals, the direction, the dichotomy between science and war. Gives me shivers.
James Burke almost single-handedly got me into science, technology and space. Magnificent presenter.
The funny thing is, he started out with an MA from Oxford in English, then involved himself in teaching it in Italy before a chance event there made him get a job with the BBC back home in England. He has no 'official' scientific training!
Him and Carl Sagan
How'd he get you into space bro?
Shame he only almost got you there, what did you get into instead?
E
This is great. You can tell how much he inspires people like Tom Scott.
Tom who?
@@ZoeyTheGSP a human
Tom Scott has a really fun, informative, and entertaining channel!
@@ZoeyTheGSP some youtuber probably
@@ZoeyTheGSP mad cause bad
The timing, how calm he presented this. Truly magical.
It was very nice of the wind to stop blowing for the shot as well
One of my indelible memories of childhood, James Burke talking space and Patrick Moore the moon
you can hear the countdown bruh
@@Magrafo_ you can literally hear 7...6... at 0:52
@@pierdolecfabrykasp.zoo.8776 2nd shot
Burke deserved an Emmy Award for this. Him and his camera crew.
I can only imagine the guy's smile as he stares at the rocket, knowing he absolutely nailed the timing
I believe I can see him grin in a circle...
Idk guys. Burke is an absolute professional. For him this is just another tuesday.
Stop reminding me that Silksong isn't out yet 😢
“Oh shit the camera was off”
On a previous take the cameraman was heard to say, “Ready any time you are”.
"Destination moon or moscow" sums up humanity nearly perfectly. Greatest species with each breakthrough moving both towards scientific advancements and utter obliteration
Right? As cool as this video is, those last 2 lines are ominous as fuck all.
@@erin79 Jeah that was confusing but also to be expected.....
"Planets or Peking" he still predicted the greatest rival countries to the west.
@@erin79 not really. this was at the height of the cold war.
@@SandorSoptei How does that remotely change my point? I didn't say it was a surprising statement, but an ominous one.
And yes, it is just that. To think even in our televised entertainment we were not-so-casually implying readiness and willingness toward nuclear armageddon.
I remember seeing an interview with him and the person asking him the question asked him " how was that shot perfectly timed?" He said " I just saw the count down clock and we waited until minus 10 seconds to start recording".
And there was an assistant doing the count down with his fingers that Burke could se so Burke could time it perfectly.
As Tom Scott would say "One Take!"
That’s gangster.
According to my very accurate One-Mississippi method of counting-down time, it seems like he stepped into the shot right at the 10" mark. My guess is that they rehearsed the timing a few times. But with all that said, it's a magnificent piece of production.
Like so much in life, it's simple when you hear how it's done, but he had the idea first.
Too bad internet didn't exist back then. Imagine somebody in Moscow watching this being broadcasted live on youtube and hearing that last line. He'll be like "Hold up, wut?"
They would probably have spies to know about it anyway.
"Падажжи, какого ху...?"
The most correct translation of what a person in Moscow would say.
''Destination: Venera, or Washington.''
In an interview, James Burke revealed that the producer wanted this exact shot, so they made rehearse his lines so well that the distance to the marker was made at the exact moment at T = 0 (lift-off.)
I was wondering how they nailed this
Shhhhh, don't ruin it.
Ill just pretend he has the perfect timing
That's no surprise at all to me but it still took some poise to make it appear natural, un-rehearsed and not even rushed!
Especially as those countdowns sometimes pause...
But it's clearly not a single shot. The walking past the rocket and then the launch shot were not done in a single shot - they could easily have been days, weeks or months apart.
@@legshakermaker1968 oh yeah there’s nobody claiming that - but the launch shot is perfectly timed
40 years old, and Connections is still one of the best science documentaries ever produced.
It's excellent, but I'd say that The Day the Universe Changed is Burke's best series by far.
Scientism more like.
Indeed it is!!
Agreed. I didn't think Connections II did as well though. It was less "connected."
@@jetuber one of my all time favourites!
"Houston, we got the hand signal"
"Mission, Go. I repeat, it's a go."
_spits drink_
"Let's go, boys"
(them duke boys are it again) YEEEEEEEEEEEHAWWWWWWWWWWWWW
*YEET* to the moon.
lol
@@SpikeHead-Cactus Computer says no. Heading to Moscow.
Randy Marsh sips coffee nonchalant.
No hyperbole no fancy editing just a fella who explained it pure and simple
God tier super power: when you point at something and say "that" it launches into space
Q: If you had a superpower what would it be?
@@bowxfire5275 That
@@bowxfire5275 Uhh dude you forgot this was youtube not r/askreddit
@@ryanstothert2889 😂
@@ryanstothert2889 but you don't have Hands
"What are you waiting for? Liftoff liftoff!!! Go already!"
"We don't go until James burke says so"
Haha! Yup, best comment.
The bell don't dismiss you, I do.
James Burke: a quiet icon of science communication, human behaviour and philosophy. And still with us too.
And an institution in dry wit.
I've just realized he was born exactly the same day as me, only 40 years earlier 🤭🤭🤭. God to know.
"Or is he?" 😁
I thank mr. Burke for all his TV work and his special "Connections" series. A series that still radiates knowledge today.
(sigh) There is no other.
Totally agree I still remember his fabulous Apollo coverage He explained it all !!
I used to love Connections as a kid. Intelligent TV which was not dumbed down for the lowest common denominator. It would never get air time these days.
Too true.
It's hard to believe that the BBC actually broadcast intelligent TV once upon a time.
When he looked towards the rocket he probably smiled and said in his mind “Yes, I did it!”
Twist: James Burke is Tom Scott's real father.
@@jsmith498 "YES! ONE TAKE! ONE TAKE!"
When he looked, he'd already felt that the rocket launch had started.
Also, perhaps, 'that damn camera better have been rolling!' 😅
@@Andy009Duncan Yeaaa 😂
this gives me immense tom scott vibes.
really shows how much his style is influenced by these classic tv presentors
I grew up watching the great Raymond Baxter as well as James Burke, Judith Hann, William Woollard _et al_ showing us how to science. I'm sure that is in no small part why I went into aero engineering (who can forget Spitfire pilot, Raymond Baxter's narration of Concorde's first flights?). Little wonder that I'm also drawn to Tom Scott. Call out too to Jay Foreman.
Tom Scott and Veritasium feel like the successors to Burke's legacy. Great storytelling to get across interesting information about... Anything. Tom does nail the timing of shots like this sometimes as well.
It's the walk and talk...
It’s the funny red shirt
To quote Gary Brannon in the new technical difficulties episode "Take that James Burke"
The thing about a good presenter is even if he missed the launch by a second. You wouldn’t notice. He’d improvised in the moment. Perfect timing. Excellent work.
James Burke & Graham Hancock, have to somehow be from the same tribe.
You know that one which is both utterly honest & correct & do not forget this guy...
1:00
Man thinks 'cause he rules the earth he can do with it as he please
And if things don't change soon, he will
Oh, man has invented his doom
First step was touching the moon.
~Bob Dylan song: "License To Kill"
album: "Infidels" (1983)
@@soldtobediers what the hell are you talking about
@@magic_potato1375 Just the facts. ''Facts can be stubborn & annoying things to some.''
@@soldtobediers you just made up some nonsense about tribes then quote some lyrics from dylan's heroin addict drunk ass and call it facts. "Sold to be Diers can be stubborn & annoying to everybody"
@@fiachramacaodha1260 When we are young we generally estimate an opinion by the size of the person that holds it, but later we find that is an uncertain rule, for we realize that there are times when a hornet's opinion disturbs us more than an emperor's.
Every once in a while the algorithm just throws you a banger.
This show is so incredibly good, the whole series is worth watching.
@O.G Autistler LMAOO
@O.G Autistler Connections(1978) that's what they wrote in description
and this is what i find
ua-cam.com/video/XetplHcM7aQ/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/4G6e4TaJxkI/v-deo.html
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What's the name of that series? I've never known about this guy.
What series bro
Perfect send-off message at the end - “EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY…” These guys are legends! 😂
Represents America perfectly
@@spartes4024 he's British
@@etherealhawk thx
@@etherealhawk so was america at one point
Thats the name of the episode it was in. Its a great series ('connections').
When he said "the moon or Moscow," that hit me right in the thinks. The same technology can either destroy our civilization or extend it to the stars. It's up to us.
We will always find extraordinary, technologically advanced, and mind-blowing ways to end lives efficiently.
@@fuego3974 yeah to either live efficiently or destroy it efficiently
Good luck sending a rocket to Moscow, you bastards
Why not both?
Right everyone talking about the point but Im over here thinking about those last two lines
I will never get bored of this video. James Burke is a legend.
One of the greatest shows ever put on television. I got to meet and have dinner with Mr. Burke. It was at a university academic function that I wrangled myself into. We spoke for almost an hour until he realized I was just a fan of the show and not an actual faculty member he was supposed to be schmoozing. He was pleasantly surprised.
@Karl with a K i wish
@Karl with a K i wish
@Karl with a K they wish
I had breakfast with Mr. Burke, Ukiah Ca. He came in to the restaurant with a producer an took a table next to ours, I was the only one to recognize him, had a great conversation, producer was glad they were recognized while many in the restaurant were listening in. This happened around 1985-6. I consider him to be a fine teacher.
@Karl with a K Uh, “nerd fests”???
You sound bitter about your cognitive limitations.
i think what's particularly impressive is how calm and collected he sounded even after he nailed the timing. my heart would've been beating out of my chest with sheer pride.
he was looking at the rocket, maybe he was crying of happiness, we will never know
Well, the destination line was recorded after the fact, but his body language doesn't give anything away at all! Quite still.
A large dark patch was probably forming at the front of his trousers
just bri'ish stuffs
It’s cut? Listen to the audio
I can't help but be blown away, not just by his impeccable timing, but by his choice of words. The clear implication that this scientific development could be used to further us as well as to destroy us gives me the chills.
It's our death note, but we just haven't decided when to post the date
@@MrLeGeNdCast "And from the tree of knowledge of good and of evil you shall not eat from it, because in the day that you will eat from it, you will die the death.”
@@MrLeGeNdCast Or to get us away to the other planets, away from people like you 😝
Just like sharp rocks, bronze bars, agriculture, books, democracy, explosives, fossil fuels, ai, the internet, social media, cloning, etc, etc.
It is the nature of all tech and innovation: what will we do with it? We decide whether to do good things, bad things, and/or sex things.
@@antondelacruz9362 judging by Human nature over the last several thousand years, we'll do a lot of good things, some horrible bad things, and yes some sex things.
Seems pretty basic to me, our blueprint eh?
"Destination The moon or Moscow"😭😭 1:10
This would be a totally different world if that rocket was heading for Moscow or Peking
Та за шо
As nicely timed as the second shot was, what I really appreciated was the initial shot of him walking around the rocket to then reveal the one ready for launch followed by the reveal of the huge NASA building.
By the time this episode had been made, Apollo was dead and buried, and NASA was getting ready for the shuttle. The rocket shown being launched in the second shot was a Titan III, while the one in the first shot was a surplus Saturn V NASA never got to use.
First rocket was a beast
@@Trainlover1995 ok?
Post Apollo but, there is still a Saturn V launch umbilical tower in the background. I wonder what year that was.
@@rcktpilot not sure on the year, but I wonder if this is the same rocket they currently have on display at the Saturn V center?
As a young person James Burke opened up a world of interest which is still with me 50 years later. What a gift to be able to present ideas so clearly. Thank you for posting this.
Same here, I just shared this with my son. We were so lucky. Even with Carl Sagan.
The 70s... when presenters were presenters. And guess what - Burke wasn't even a 'space expert', he just had a superb manner and swotted up on his subject.
Don't worry, he's still at it - some kid is has done loads of interviews with him. Sadly they only get 100 views, you can add to them!
ua-cam.com/video/yNMcz-szA_k/v-deo.html&ab_channel=arlohajdu
I never heard of James Burke may I ask how you first originally came to know about him?
@@StephenASmithESPN Richard Attenborourgh & James Burke ruled the UK in the 70's with their science shows, but people obviously like monkeys more than inventors so the former is globally famous and the latter is not.
0:57 - “He pointed! That’s the signal boys! launch! Launch! LAUNCHHHH!”
ahahahah XD
underrated comment xD
LAAUUUNNNCHHHHH!!!!!
@@xyihhz4262 - like the rebel soldier at the end of Rogue One 😂
"you're gonna looove this park" -Gatorland
I’ve seen this dozens of times over the years on UA-cam… doesn’t get old.
This is, in fact, the greatest shot in television. Dude had one shot at pulling this off, and he nailed it.
Just like he nailed your mom, in front of a green screen😮
cameraman: dang it forgot to press record, bring it back down
@@tee228”shit, hold up, lens cap was on.”
Narrator: My line takes 13 seconds so I'll start when the countdown announcer gets to 14.
Not rocket science. Well done for not screwing it up, but it's not like they pulled out the slide rules and calculated the angle of trajectory of light from the moon and divided by pi.
@@ScottieMacF it's not that it's hard to pull off, but he couldn't flub his lines at all or it gets ruined.
I'd guess he practiced this particular line a dozen of times. Scene begins exactly 13 seconds before the lift off, so once they saw the countdown hit 13, they started recording and it went on the spot!
Right lmao, it's not that impressive. These things are methodically timed.
The value of rehearsal.
Or they might have the countdown timer behind the camera, soJames can adjust the narrative and point at the right time.
errr no - it's called Tell a Vision for a reason.
@@Stuart.Branson. Please explain, I'd like to know.
"The Moon, or Moscow. The planets, or Peking."
The chill of imminent doom or wonderous scientific discovery just ran down my spine...
I was wondering what the last part was, what’s Peking?
@@calebbetteridge5749 it’s an older name for Beijing, the capital of China.
The name in Chinese has been the same for centuries, but the way the name was transliterated into the Roman alphabet changed from “Peking” to “Beijing” just after the Communist takeover in 1949.
It took a few decades for the change to become common usage in English, though, so this 70s program still refers to the city by the older name.
@@peterhunt4818 aha dooope thank you
It's also the German name for Beijing.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED
"Destination the moon or moscow , the planets or peking"
Damn such a badass line there.
I think it is superficial line because they also have good stuff to send towards us.
Connections was an incredible series. Still is. Everyone should watch it.
where can I watch it?
@@dealerovski82 UA-cam
@@dreampal1877 The first four episodes, anyway. The remaining 6 aren't in YT.
It's the ONLY set of VHS tapes I still own!
The destinations where funny, sad and sacry when he mention citys
What makes this incredible is that the rocket flew not one second too long or too early. If there’s a definition for “perfect timing” it is this clip right here!
Its fake
@@zeldzamezeeslak6082 it isn't fake, lol, he just timed it very well.
@@zeldzamezeeslak6082 as much as you want to believe it's fake, it's flawless production planning and execution.
@@ohaiadit Practice, practice, practice. Would have been great to see a 10min behind the scenes for this shot, talking about coming up with the idea, working with NASA for access, rehearsals, weather delays (it's Florida), etc.
@@dondumitru7093 They could have just been listening to a radio with the launch countdown, with someone signaling him, counting down with flash cards, a mobile teleprompter, or just with their fingers.
I do the same thing when stopped at a traffic light. If you point agressively at a red light, it eventually turns green. He has obviously mastered this, I hope to make it to this level someday
If you use both hands, it works mor e effectively. If you have passengers, get them to join in too.
Many hands make light work...
Oh another practitioner of our great art. Personally I execute before being stopped… driving slower using our power to switch the light to green, after which, celebrating in glory racing away. Let us continue our training leaving others around us in awe. As the first master of our creed named Oogway said: “there are no accidents”
If you snap your fingers (sometimes) the light will turn green
LOL!
It just requires a blood sacrifice
They must have rehearsed this dozens and dozens of times to make sure they get the timing and framing perfectly. Well done 👏
Legend has it they launched seventeen rockets that day just to get the timing right.
@@jondunmore4268 welcomee
James Burke was the best TV science presenter ever. His series "Connections" was superb. I'm sure he was part of the reason (along with Thunderbirds) that I became an engineer.
lol
h...h....have you built TB2 yet?
You are not alone Thunderbirds, inspired me to be an engineer too.
You must be Joe King
And the opening 15 minutes of the first ever episode are a 9/11 conspiracy theorist's dream.
He even timed the last two sentences where he took a noticeable pause at 00:52 which gave the feeling that it was winding down, and there was no urgency of anything about to happen. Everyone had to be on their game... correct exposure for film (no LCD to check), no dolly/tram malfunctions (the camera would have been huge and heavy), the audio guy needed to not mess up in any way, etc etc. Brilliant film making.
It's from a time where 'auto' was short for automobile. Not the button on the camera, the DJ mixer, photoshop or lawn mower. Craftsmanship, a term that unfortunately won't land you a job anymore.
Everything up to the point at 0:45 could have been shot either before or after the launch.
What get's me is there's no way the sound of the rocket is live, because from that distance there would have been a delay of several seconds before they heard it.
Not to mention the little focus rack they did when he turned around
I'm sure they had a big timer behind the camera for him to see
@@HaydenLau. exactly what i was thinking
James Burke is a legend. He made science so interesting for everyone in the 80s. Kids and adults.
And still going strong at a healthy 86 years old.
Indeed, and science wasn't his background. I heard him say in a relatively recent interview that his credentials lay in journalism.
Just released the fourth season of Connections in November 2023.
He was a guest on this week’s episode of the ologies podcast!!
@@currentlevelofadulting5273 Cool. I’ll look that up. Thank you. 😊
I was SO addicted to this AMAZING SHOW in the 80s I couldn't get enough!
Burke had a unique way of explaining science in layman's terms and making it fun, interesting and even humourous at times. Most important though was the facts that were layed out in a timely manner that made it "connect" in your head. It just "clicked"! And I always got so excited for a new episode no matter what it was about. It just seemed to be about everything in a span of a few hundred years sometimes.
"Connections" was one of the greatest TV shows in history. It actually had a big impact on my life as a kid. I really wish there would be someone to take up the mantle and do a modern day version.
There is, his name is Tom Scott, all the kids are online these days.
Can't do it. Showing connections between things limits your ability to redefine them. Redefinition is the primary modern strategy of societal control.
@@justinkennedy3004 Always some dickhead ruining the thread
Same. My sister, brother and I would binge on that show as kids/teens. I still rewatch it today and with my knowledge gained through life (mid '30s now) I see even more so how connected everything is. Wonderful cat, Mr. Burke is.
@@kawaiilotus lol I was just thinking 'This sounds like Tom Scott'.
that man was imprisoned after this episode, the US government believed he had the ability to launch any missile just by pointing his finger
he pioneered Kevin Mitnick's "give me access to a fixed line telephone and I'll start the WWIII" terror
Given that he’s Jewish this is pretty antisemitic
Nailed this comment!
Fr?
@@pukpuk-lw3bbNo 😭
The timing on that was absolutely incredible
And are we gonna ignore the fact that he said destination the moon or MOSCOW?
Moscow 😢
Isn't that crazy?! He mentioned Moscow and Peking like it was nothing much to it. Just wow. And than these "civilized" people are talking about peace and f***ing democracy. Hypocrites! I'm from Russia. I wouldn't imagine saying the same thing about London or Washington. Wtf?!
@@bravehotsauce it was the cold war give it a fucking rest
Its not your war anymore it's Putin's war
@@amirordibi1348 it doesn't make it a less chilling statement cause men and women with this mentality are now sitting in the governments.
@@bravehotsauce cold war mentality breeds xenophobia towards Russians I've actually been to ruusia expecting to get shot but your very nice people brutally honest too I like that shared a few drinks
This is awesome! In addition to the awesome timing of the reporter and producer, props to the camera crew for finding a place with the perfect angle plus lens choice for creating the perfect compression to keep the reporter and rocket in frame. Also, bonus points to the focus puller for nailing the focus pull as the rocket launched
This is from the series "Connections" which is absolutely brilliant. In this short scene, he connects the invention of the thermous to the launching of a giant rocket. Even if you are not a history buff or a science geek, he presents the stories in an entertaining and invormative manner. And if you ARE a history buff or a science geek, well, then this is your cup of tea!
Season One is on UA-cam, and to be honest, season 3 was the one that had anything out of date: A TV guide with Star Trek Voyager on the front.
Thank you. I look one look at season one playlist and it looks incredible already. Any idea where can we find season two and three?
🤗 I'm just happy that I got to have a lunch box AND a ninja turtle thermos.....
I think you meant to say "this is your thermos of tea"
I remember the series from first broadcast.
He had a way of drawing you in and you almost came to the correct conclusion at the same time he revealed it.
A history of science and experimentation for everyone in easily digestible parts.
one take... one launch...
Millions of dollars was spent on that one launch and he nailed the timing -what a hero.
Fake explanation: They had a bunch of other teams filming the same script, offset by a few seconds. His was just the one that was right.
@@drachefly What so they cloned James Burke for each team?
@@drachefly He had in front of him a big display of the countdown clock. TV presenters do this for a living, The script would have been rehearsed 20 times to get the timing second perfect. Actually quite simple for a professional.
@@addisonmartin3700 that was the audition for doing the show 😂😂😂
@@imsoaring this is so obvious, why cannot people get that xd
I still find myself watching this clip over and over and I'm not even in the television or space industry. Perfection has no bounds for appreciation.
If they'd gone 3 seconds earlier, James would have made them land the rocket and start over.
Can you just shut up
You should find the whole series Fascinating.
He walks into frame...10, 9. 8. 7. SMH
I'm pretty sure you meant to say "Appreciation has no bounds for perfection".
0:38 never in my life i expected that to be as huge as that
Yeah, the Saturn V was GIGANTIC.
Connections was, by far, one of the best written and produced shows on television. The BBC and you, Mr. Burke, are absolute legends.
But I’m non-binary
I watched reruns of this show religiously as a kid. Absolutely loved it.
Loved that show - blew my mind as a kid.
@@Mster_JYou are now Mr. Burke.
@@Mster_J You can be non-binary, but you can't be non-Burke.
This could have been the greatest blooper of all time, imagine getting that wrong!!!! Instead he absolutely nailed it, more people should see this!
Yeah, it was a little awkward for the production crew when they had to ask NASA to turn the rocket around and land it for another take, but it was totally worth it in the end. Five more takes and they finally got it right.
his producer was too competent and the rehearsals were too precise for that to be possible
James Burke & Graham Hancock, have to somehow be from the same tribe.
You know that one which is both utterly honest & correct & do not forget this guy...
1:00
Man thinks 'cause he rules the earth he can do with it as he please
And if things don't change soon, he will
Oh, man has invented his doom
First step was touching the moon.
~Bob Dylan song: "License To Kill"
album: "Infidels" (1983)
"Oh, bloody hell! When is the next launch?!!"
@@kevinsager5054 Now THAT literally made me laugh out loud! I could see that happening on Monty Python, or Benny Hill! 🤣🤣🤣
Very cool. For those two young to remember James Burke (at nearly 90 years of age, I'm assuming he's no longer producing content), imagine the coolest history and science content you have ever seen on UA-cam, and quadruple its coolness. He is/was magnificent.
Thank you for sharing! About to turn 21 and never heard of the name.
Boring i think Markiplier is cooler tbh ratio + L
@@黒上悠子ちゃんネル You really thought about this comment and said “this will tell him 🥸” lmao
Why couldn't he. My Dad rode motorcycle till 96.
There’s no way he surpasses vsauce doe right
perhaps the most impressive part of this is how he doesn't jump around in excitement at how he nailed that shot
This whole series is brilliant even now, over 40 years later.
Burke did several of them, too. The very first Connections seems very relevant to today, as well.
He was a nazi German scientist very high level nazi
40? Wow
I feel like these types of shots are how we ended up with folks like Tom Scott! Brilliant and informative, with just a touch of movie magic. 👌
You've watched... this?
ua-cam.com/video/mUF4afxMpQk/v-deo.html
Didn't Tom also do a video about the vast shot on television?
I think the first Tom Scott video I ever saw was him and his buddy dropping the drum, etc. off of a cliff. UA-cam was a different place back then
@@matthewmosier8439 2 drums and a cymbal .... :X
@@joehodgy Yep, that's the one.
I remember him sitting with Patrick Moore and others in the BBC studio, waiting as Apollo 13 re-entered the atmosphere. He had his fingers crossed, and the relief was palpable when the radio crackled into life.
No need to worry it was all staged to make going to the moon more dangerous so they got people to watch and in turn got more funding those people are not silly
LMAO thinking that they not only went to the moon but that they returned
@@bifteki2214 OK everyone. Let’s test your mental acuity…
Your mission?…Take a deep breath and move on. Can you resist interacting with conspiracy theorists?
This is a test.
We will be watching
😁🔫💀🤘
@@hullinstruments lol
@@bifteki2214 lmao thinking the moon exists
James Burke was a brilliant broadcaster/educator. I watched him a lot in the 70s
I'm getting serious Tom Scott vibes form this gentlemen.
Extremely. Maybe Tom emulates him - good choice if so.
True that
form
Forgot about tom thanks for reminding me!
Tom Scott comes from a long lineage of the strongest nerd genes the scientific community is aware of.
"The Day the Universe Changed," "Connections" & Connections 2, all great series. Formative for me. Will always appreciate all who worked on them to make them so valuable.
Did you know that there's a Connections 3 ?
Never heard of these series hope I can find them…any others to also recommend?
@@MrDogfish83 Difficult: Burke is such a terrific storyteller, and his creative interest is such a unique hybrid of history and lay-explanation (with particularly entertaining lilts of biting social comment salted through), that anything else will probably get at least a cautionary review for its quality as a comp. Just know that the first two -- Connections and The Day The Universe Changed -- are both extremely dated now. They're still incredibly entertaining, but you'll be surprised anew at how much things have moved on from the technological perspective of the late 70s and early 80s.
@@CinemaDemocratica u
@@CinemaDemocratica I’d rather watch dated stuff like this for the presentation quality and style than anything created now.
Incredible. It's not just about watching the countdown time, the actual engine ignition can be slightly longer than at the 'zero' of the countdown.
very underrated comment
To be fair, though - that looked like a Titan rocket with 2 solid rocket boosters. When the countdown hits zero, those solids light almost instantaneously.
I don't hear the "zero"
@@anayarey the television host wasn't doing the countdown, that's handled by the people launching the rocket.
If the other commenter is right about those being SRBs then they’d light instantly
Perfect example of reversing the order of the shot. Well done!
Used to love watching James Burke, proper British presenter. Straight to the point, great explanations that anybody could understand.
Tom Scott is the modern equivalent!!
@@MotoGraham Yeah I must agree, Tom is doing good work. Has he been acknowledged in any way by Britain or globally?
@@aarorissanen930 I don’t know, but I hope so if not. He’s an excellent chap all round.
Another good one is James Dingley on Atomic Frontier. Here is an amazing 7 minute one shot: ua-cam.com/video/aLf4k5sna9U/v-deo.html&ab_channel=AtomicFrontier
@@aarorissanen930 They asked Tom Scott to give a Royal Institution lecture a couple of years back (A decent one which he delivered on the danger of AI in social media), which in the UK is the way of saying _you've made it_ in science communication.
I like to think that as he is standing there with his back to the camera he's thinking "OH MY GOODNESS, I NAILED IT! I CANT BELIEVE THAT JUST HAPPENED!"
"and it only took three takes!"
Umm rockets have a count down 😂
@@LlamaOates There could've been any kind of issue for a slight delay over that distance in '78. Nailed it!
Lol...would've been hilarious if he then drew his hand towards his mouth as he makes his hand into a "gun" and blows, all smooth like 😆 in the classic "nailed it" move 😜
@@phattjohnson you don't get it.
I loved this show so much. It's too bad we don't have more shows like this these days.
Check out Tom Scott here on UA-cam.
We have a show about the Kardashians. So it's not a total loss.
There's a literal streaming service solely focused on this kind of content
It's called curiosity stream
It's from the original creators of discovery Channel, and the premise is to stay true to science without corporate bs getting in the way
Worth checking it out
@@integratedhatespreader and what about Jersey Shore? Am I right or what?
Agreed 👍🏼
This production team has the kind of timing musicians dream about.
"Destination : the moon or Moscow". That got dark unexpectedly.
I mean, what second meaning could it possibly have? I see it as a threatening Russia and China. Don't you too?
@@dannatello6144 i see frightened babies trembling at the sight of grand power, if thats what you mean.
just being honest 😁
@@Tacdelio I mean, USSR isn't around anymore and Russia can barely take Ukraine. China is also at 6% the LCT perf of the US with their DF series (even with HSLV) and inventory size, any preemptive or retaliatory would be an exchange disparity of about (1.3B : 44M)
I was a USAF 2W2 on assignment outside of my AFSC on avionics systems at LAAFB working on these very systems for 8 of my 14 years
@@janus3555 i like ur funny words portal god
"Connections" was, in my mind, the single best educational series ever made. After that comes "The Day the Universe Changed." If you do nothing more than watch those two series and grasp the contents, you will have a much better understanding of science and the world around us.
Unfortunately science isn't a meta system.... although it for some reason seems to think it is.
Science is like a dumb child going around breaking stuff that it doesn't understand until it does... and only then, the things that it can see.
@@adambane1719 Not really true. Science is the PROCESS we use to discover the truth about reality. It provides a method to understand and make predictions about how things work. Science itself doesn't make statements about anything. The findings from doing studies/experiments using the scientific method informs us about reality.
@@ScienceNotFaith only about the things that are measureable, what it can see...science is unfortunately now the "new religion" unfortunately. Scientism (Atheism)
It continuously makes claims on the "after life" and the existence of a "higher being".
When it cant even explain intuition.
Everything is a convenient "coincidence" with science.
The Big Bang is its greatest ludicrousy...
and claims everything that science is against. A fantasy magic type moment.
Science essentially says "just give us one free miracle, and we'll explain the rest".
I was a young teenager when I watched Connections - changed my entire life for the good :-)
@@adambane1719 Your response is not only incredibly illogical but really stupid as well. Science doesn't make claims as you suggest. It's a METHOD of figuring out what is real. The term 'atheist' concerns one and only one question - do you believe a god exists. THAT'S IT! It is not a religion - that's just stupid to say - any more than non-belief in fairies is a religion. You're trying to conflate "There is no god" with "I don't have evidence convincing me that a god exists, therefore I don't believe one does." As for claims of an afterlife, etc, it's not the atheists who make those claims, it's the religious who do. You are profoundly confused my friend.
“Destination: the moon or Moscow.”
Love how it’s delivered in such an understated way.
It is a sick comment
@@husseinalkadi3725 what do you mean?
@@husseinalkadi3725 how so
Plantets or peking
Golden comment
"Destination The moon or moscow" is such an eloquent potrayal of human scientific ability and capability.
I loved this man . During the Apollo missions an 11 year old me sent him a letter begging for one of the spacecraft models they used in their TV presentations.
I actually received a signed reply from the BBC (but unfortunately, no model) 🙂
What was the reply
@@Madenity the answer was: "buy one"
@@seusstories hahahah
James Burke is still alive, so unless the lack of a model changed it, the "loved" shouldn't be past tense. 😉
@@joelsmith3473 It could be that they stopped loving James Burke because he didn't give them the rocket model.
“Destination: the moon.. or moscow, the planets, or peking”
Also the hardest line in television history
Looking like it will be both The Moon and Peking.
The greatest part isn't his timing, but the fact that he kept his composure after nailing it.
You realize that was green screened right?
@@bradsanders407 It wasn't.
@@elizabethcatlion7015 so you really think as he's walking over and the camera cuts out then the next scene is playing out that the wind just stopped blowing? Everything just got studio quiet because what? Mother nature didn't want to ruin his money shot? Also I can tell you have never have been to Cape Canaveral to watch a launch. You would know it takes a good while from the time you see the launch til the time you hear it. Not damn near instantly.
@@bradsanders407
You must be fun at parties.
@@bradsanders407 ok I've found a skeptic but I'm not in the mood to argue so gg whatever
Nicely done James Burke!
“Destination, the Moon or Moscow. The planets or Peking(Beijing).” Brilliant way of reminding us that science can be used both for discovery and destruction.
This man helped me get over the loss of my dad. And I can happily say James is still alive and in his mid eighties : )
what the f*** xD i feel truly terrible a random man on TV helped you recover from the loss of your own flesh and blood
Your Dad James ran away from home?
@@hiddenaether And everyone clapped!
He helped me to get over the loss of my ventriloquist dummy running away when a Christmas pudding was delivered from Collins Street bakery in Texas in 1932 🏃🏻👈
@@hiddenaether What, is it not clear to you that I knew him. My god people wtf is wrong with you
This video gets recommended every once in a while. And I watch it every time.
It would be considered rude not to.
Yep. Exactly what has just happened to me and I’ve watched it again.
My guy cooked an absolute conundrum
Man is the brofesstor
"He messed up the take, we're gonna have to restart the countdown."
I've seen all three series after stumbling upon this - absolutely brilliant. And James Burke is still going strong.
I'm about to... What a shot and what self control of everybody involved! Absolutely breathtaking
He’s got to either be the oldest man who ever lived, or he had just aged extremely poorly.
Edit: now that I’m rewatching this, he actually doesn’t even look that old here, it’s just his hairline that gives the overall impression of advanced age. I looked it up, he would have been 42 here, which at first was shocking to me, but looking at just his face, he doesn’t look old at all. It’s incredible how much a receding hairline alone can age someone.
I imagine Tom Scott has this man's poster on his bedroom wall.
Came here looking for this and wasn't disappointed.
No V sauce
So many layers to this. All amazing. Seeing this never gets old.