Narrated by Robert Means, “The Cape 1963” is a color, informational film highlighting the work of the Air Force Missile Test Center and events at Cape Canaveral during 1963 including missile testing and launches, construction of the Titan III launch facility, Major Gordon “Gordo” Cooper’s expedition in the Mercury-Atlas 9, as well as President John F. Kennedy’s final trip to Cape Canaveral on November 16th and the subsequent memorial service just days later, after he was assassinated. The complex would later be re-dedicates as the Kennedy Space Center in his honor.
Close-up rocket nozzles slowly rising off launch pad at Cape Canaveral (Cape Kennedy) (0:06). Credits (0:40). Narrator details history of “The Cape;” Footage of RTV-G-4 Bumper 8 launch July 1950; Aerial footage of Cape Canaveral facilities and different launch areas (0:56). Launch of Titan 2; Missile explodes in air (1:41). Launch of Martin Marietta SM-68B/LGM-25C Titan II (longest-serving ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) in the U.S. Air Force strategic arsenal) (2:11). Scientist operates long range camera tracking missile launch, footage switches to camera in space recording missile at stage II; Simulation of view seen by Gemini pilots (2:24). Satellites stationed along Atlantic missile range record telemetry data: various satellites, USNS General H. H. Arnold at sea covering areas without satellite stations (3:05). Nose cone of missile re-entering Earth’s atmosphere and speeding towards water (3:26). Perhaps Lockheed KC-130R collecting data cassettes in range of missile (3:46). Exterior Air Force Missile Test Center at Patrick Air Force Base; Missile display in front of building (4:05). Inside Patrick AFB scientists compiling, reviewing data on the Titan launch (4:14). Technicians working on perhaps Gemini SC-2 capsule (4:30). Lieutenant Colonel John G. Albert walks through Launch Complex 19, looks over systems before Titan launch of unmanned Gemini spacecraft (4:42). Model of Titan IIIE along bright orange iron work of launch station (5:12). Ballistic missile flight testing of Atlas rocket (General Electric; perhaps Mercury-Atlas 9) by 6555th Aerospace Test Group service rocket before launch; Close-up new type of nose cone (5:36). Boeing Minuteman I development and testing stage 1 and 2; Early test flight ending in massive explosion; Collecting data (7:21). Launch of Lockheed Corp. Polaris test missile from USNS Observation Island; Subsequent test launch from submarine – USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619) (8:45). Men from US Army’s Second Missile Battalion conduct testing on selective range Pershing Missile using mobile launcher and support equipment; Martin Company Pershing Missile launches (10:08). AGM-28 Hound Dog missile drops from B-52 plane (11:04). MACE missile team (11:29). Development of ASSET 1 (12:04). Air Force Thor; NASA Thor-Delta (12:41). Team of scientists from Cambridge University work on Blue Scout I; Launch of Blue Scout I (13:36). Small rockets used to study near space: “The Robin,” Nike-Cajun (US, UK, Canada joint radiation detection program), Nike Smoke (14:30). Air Force Major and aeronautics engineer L. Gordon Cooper suits up for Mercury-Atlas 9 flight; transferred to Cape in NASA transfer van for deployment from Launch Complex 14 (15:55). Ignition, launch of Mercury-Atlas 9; NBC, CBS, ABC-TV other press cameras set up and aimed towards sky to watch historic launch (18:19). Major General Leighton I. Davis (Commander of Atlantic Missile Range) observes launch (19:10). Mercury-Atlas 9 re-entry and recovery; USS Kearsarge near Midway Island in Pacific Ocean (19:19). Air Force astronauts/ space pilots attend traditional Air Force lunch at Officer’s Club at Patrick AFB; Eugene M. Zuckert speech on necessity of space program (20:13). Test launches of NASA Saturn booster for Apollo Program (20:50). Air Force 1 arrives, JFK’s Final Visit to Cape Canaveral 11.16.1963; President and Florida Senator Smathers visit different launch complexes, visit Saturn before boarding helicopter for aerial tour of launch areas (21:24). JFK welcomed aboard USNS Observation Island; Watches Polaris launch from USS Andrew Jackson (22:42). Flag at half mast; Officers and men of test center assembled for memorial services to honor JFK; Brigadier General Harry J. Sands Jr. speaks (24:17). Launch of Thor-Delta; Atlas-Centaur (25:28). President Lyndon B. Johnson announces renaming of Cape Canaveral to Cape Kennedy, Closing credits (26:00).
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
