Watch Trailer For ‘Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo’ Out Friday, April 14
As the world watched the outcome of the Apollo space missions, crowded around televisions and radios, the heroes of NASA – the controllers and support teams inside Mission Control – clenched their fists and sweated every detail through each liftoff and descent. Now, the compelling untold story behind this extraordinary team comes to life in the new film “Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo,” which will arrive in select theaters across the U.S. and VOD on April 14.
Gravitas Ventures has secured worldwide rights from Haviland Digital to the compelling untold story behind this extraordinary team, told with unprecedented access to archival footage and stories from the men who lived it, including creator of Mission Control, Dr. Chris Kraft, retired NASA Flight Directors Gene Kranz (portrayed by Ed Harris in "Apollo 13"), Glynn Lunney and Gerry Griffin. Also appearing are Flight Dynamics Officer Jerry Bostick, Flight Controller John Aaron, iconic astronaut Captain James Lovell (played by Tom Hanks in "Apollo 13"), and moonwalkers Charlie Duke and the late Captain Gene Cernan.
Mission Control was at the very heart of the Apollo program and its heroes were born against a backdrop of economic turmoil and global conflict. Some came from a rural lifestyle unchanged since the 19th century. Others grew up in a gritty, blue-collar America of mines and smoke stacks. They ranged from students straight out of college, to soldiers toughened by military service. Yet, from such ordinary beginnings, an extraordinary team was born. They set out on what JFK called "the most hazardous, dangerous, and greatest adventure upon which mankind has ever embarked." Through the team's testimony and the supporting voices of Spollo astronauts and modern NASA leaders, "Mission Control" explores their journey from the faltering start of the program to Mercury and Gemini missions, the tragic Apollo 1 fire and the glories of the Moon landings. This was achieved through a team whose average age was around 27 years old.
"Mission Control" was directed by David Fairhead and produced by Keith Havilland and Gareth Dodds. The three men came to the story of "Mission Control" after their work on "The Last Man on the Moon," which bowed at SXSW in 2015 and told the tale of Astronaut Gene Cernan. Crenan, who flew three times in space and twice to the Moon, passed away in January 2017.