posted 07-12-2009 11:22 PM
"Orphans of Apollo" is the award winning documentary that has been called the "greatest space story never told." The film "Orphans of Apollo," tells the extraordinary true story of a small group of entrepreneurs who felt, 'orphaned' by President Nixon's decision to end the NASA Apollo Moon program and the subsequent years of nominal space activity. This band of brothers took matters into their own hands, and commandeered the Russian Mir Space Station, behind the backs of NASA and the US government. The rebellious, yet pioneering efforts has been credited with launching the new commercial Space Revolution. This is the remarkable untold story of the greatest secret in the new space race.
This dramatic tale chronicles the adventure of the boldest business plan the Earth has ever seen. 'MirCorp', the entrepreneurial company's vision to transform the Russian space station into an outpost for what was intended to be the first phase of a trillion dollar business. The project was to include mining of asteroids, gravity free laboratories, a space 'hotel', and a research facility. MirCorp was the ultimate start-up company, and unlike anything the universe had ever seen.
Join this band of rebels out to change the course of history in space, as they board a private jet, fly to Russia, negotiate one of the most remarkable business deals of the final frontier. Follow this diverse group as they pioneer their way through this new business of space. Listen to the management team as they struggle with issues of branding, finance, technology, and engage in the ultimate slugfest with the most powerful governments and bureaucrats.
"Orphans of Apollo" is an intimate and compelling epic which eloquently communicates the real origins of the private commercial new space revolution. Now for the first, and possibly the last, time, "Orphans of Apollo" combines archival material from original NASA film footage, Russian archival footage, personal footage, IMAX footage, with interviews and or footage with key players including Tom Clancy, Elon Musk, Richard Branson, Rick Tumlinson, Walt Anderson, Gus Gardellini, Jeff Manber, and others.