Von Braun Documentary to Premiere on 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Lunar Landing at U.S. Space & Rocket CenterThe world premiere of Wernher von Braun, The Rocket Man will take place Monday, July 20, 2009, at 11:00 A.M., at the 3D theater in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Written by former Marshall Space Flight Center Public Affairs Specialist Edward Buckbee, who von Braun chose to become the first director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and produced by Alabama Tourism department Director Lee Sentell, the film covers four decades of von Braun's career and features rare footage and interviews recorded during the Saturn - Apollo era of the 1960's.
"This is an excellent and timely piece of work," says Larry Capps, the CEO of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. He adds, "We learn what it was like to work for von Braun during the height of the space race by the people who did just that."
Among those interviewed for the project are Dorette Schlidt who worked with von Braun in Germany; Bonnie Holmes, his secretary at Redstone Arsenal and MSFC for some 20 years; Ruth von Saurma, von Braun's international relations specialist; and former von Braun special assistant Frank Williams. All will be present at the Davidson Center for the premiere and will take part in a panel discussion immediately following the film.
Seating for the 11:00 A.M. premiere and panel discussion is by invitation only, however the documentary will be shown to the general public on July 20th only, in the Space Center's Discovery Theater in the main building, beginning at 1:00 P.M., with show times every 30 minutes for the remainder of the afternoon.
All of the participants are expected to be available for interviews prior to the film's premiere and immediately following the panel discussion.