APOLLO 13 LEAD FLIGHT DIRECTOR GENE KRANZ, NASA ASTRONAUT ...
Neil Armstrong); and recent author of “Failure is Not an Option;” Gene Kranz is ...
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
Contact: Melanie Goetz 303-‐798-‐0601 (
[email protected])
HUGHES & STUART, DENVER, WINS INTERNATIONAL AURORA GOLD AND NATIONAL TELLY AWARD FOR “ENERGY-‐EFFICIENCY: THIS PLANET AND BEYOND” DVD APOLLO 13 LEAD FLIGHT DIRECTOR GENE KRANZ, NASA ASTRONAUT PAM MELROY STAR -‐Denver, CO Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient; the second most popular space hero of all time (after Neil Armstrong); and recent author of “Failure is Not an Option;” Gene Kranz is most known for having been the Lead Flight Director of Apollo 13 during a 34-‐year career with NASA that encompassed 100 other space missions. He and NASA astronaut Pam Melroy recently hosted a public educational DVD on energy efficiency produced by Hughes & Stuart of Denver. Melanie Goetz, President of Hughes & Stuart, announced the video has just been recognized with two major video awards for public education and outreach honoring environmental awareness. For the second year in a row, Hughes & Stuart won an international award of excellence by The Aurora Awards competition and the agency has also just received confirmation of a national Telly award for the same video as well. The DVD, filmed near the Johnson Space Center in Houston, provides detailed, rarely seen images and explanation of energy use in space and its direct correlation of four key resources (insulation, heating, cooling, and lighting) describing how use of these efficient technologies impact everyday human earth environments. Hughes & Stuart producer Esty Atlas and Lockheed Martin videographer Leif Heimbold punctuate the educational video with historical footage of the actual Apollo 13 energy crisis from NASA mission control in 1970, ABC TV News Breaking News Reports, as well as scenes from the Ron Howard movie starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Ed Harris (Oscar-‐nominated for portraying Kranz’s character in the 1995 film documentary). During the actual crisis, two fuel cells were lost which launched an instantaneous race against the clock to save the astronaut’s lives. A shocking fact: “The amount of energy used to return the astronauts safely to earth would today power a coffee pot,” said Kranz. Astronaut Pam Melroy also unveils the next generation of space flight: The Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. Both explain why proper insulation, heating, cooling, and lighting in everyday home and work environments on earth is even more important to practice in today’s energy-‐dependent world.
John Karas, Vice President and General Manager, Human Spaceflight, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company/Colorado said, “"Lockheed Martin is proud of this award recognizing the similarities between energy conservation on Earth and in Human Space Flight. This video highlights the fact that the investments the United States makes in Space Exploration has direct benefits to the quality of life here on Earth." “It’s quite unusual for a local public outreach agency to assemble such powerful and inspiring heroes to help educate students, residents, and business owners about the importance of energy efficiency. Last year, we asked Lockheed Martin, a major Colorado employer to give us a high level example of resource efficiency from outer space which resulted in our water conservation video for Douglas County that received prominent critical acclaim. This year, we saw an even greater need to educate and re-‐energize a larger public audience in how critical energy resources are learned by human space flight in which the most adverse conditions rely on having the most efficient technologies,” said Goetz. She added, “We are once again thrilled to be singled out for our excellence in ‘creativity, content effectiveness, and technical execution’ by our highest industry peers in an internationally-‐judged competition from a global field of entries, but more importantly, we hope the inspiration from these locally produced videos provide a far-‐reaching, beneficial environmental impact in all of our communities regarding very timely issues.” The winning energy video can be viewed at: www.HughesStuart.com and downloaded at no cost for teacher/academic student educational use. Xcel Energy is distributing the video free at public events and festivals throughout Colorado. The video is customizable for other energy companies across the country to broaden awareness of this important message. Learn more online or call Hughes & Stuart. FOOTNOTE: Apollo 13 was the seventh manned mission in the American Apollo space program and the third intended to land on the Moon. The craft was successfully launched toward the Moon, but the landing had to be aborted after an oxygen tank ruptured, severely damaging the spacecraft's electrical system. The mission was launched on April 11, 1970 at 13:13 CST. Two days later, an explosion crippled the service module upon which the Command Module depended. To conserve its batteries and the oxygen needed for the last hours of flight, the crew instead used the Lunar Module's resources as a "lifeboat" during the return trip to Earth. Despite great physical hardship conditions caused by limited power, loss of cabin heat, shortage of potable water and the critical need to jury-‐rig the carbon dioxide removal system, the crew returned safely to Earth on April 17. NASA called the mission a "successful failure".
