From 1999.....Just watched it on cable for the first time. How did I ever miss this gem? Just a wonderful movie which I understand is based on fact, although I do not think the kid ever really got to meet Werner Von Braun at the science fair.

For those who may not know....it is the inspiring story of a teenage kid in a 1950's era West Va. coal mine town that becomes obsessed with rocketry after witnessing the Sputnik flyover one night. Check it out....it's worth your time.


Russ

I watched it twice.
Read the book too.

Agreed, that's a great movie, I've watched it a couple of times.

And they showed video of the real characters at the end of the movie. Good story behind the movie. Homer ended up working for NASA.

We had a rocket club in jr high (late 60's). One day a student layed a propulsion canister on the ground and let it rip. That thing went everywhere. Put a run in the teachers panty hose. That was the end of the rocket club.

it was a nice movie, something the entire family could watch and enjoy :tresbon:

Yes, an excellent movie and book :yes: True story!

The book title is "Rocket Boys" and the author is Homer Hickam.

BTW, Rocket Boys is an anagram of October Sky :naughty:

Yeah great movie ... One of those cry happy movies .... Like rudy

Agreed, awesome flick!

I liked the movie.
However, as a long time rocket hobbyist (from the 50's and still) I was a little bugged by the images of the launches. They did not get the launch or contrail right at all. But, maybe it was too hard to CG it and I doubt many people would know the difference.

BTW, there is a very good rocket school in Wyoming - here (http://www.space-rockets.com/ae101.html).

DH

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys1120/phys1120_fa07/images/404X1366.jpg

I have seen that 5 or 6 times in school, and it never gets old. The book's great, too.

Have to agree with everyone.saw it in the theater and bought the DVD.. the opening scenes of everyone watching the night sky for Sputnik captured the feeling for those of us who were around during that period.

I agree that it is a great movie...just saw it again on local broadcast TV. I found the book at the local resale shop for a $1.00 and it is in my current rotation of nighttime reading. I was lucky enough to grow up during the time of Mercury-Gemini-Apollo and watched the launches everytime they were on...my parents made sure I was awake when they walked on the moon for the first time. I blew up many a Estes rocket trying to get them to go higher than they were designed...sure miss those days!

Why cant you blow up rockets anymore?:D


I agree that it is a great movie...just saw it again on local broadcast TV. I found the book at the local resale shop for a $1.00 and it is in my current rotation of nighttime reading. I was lucky enough to grow up during the time of Mercury-Gemini-Apollo and watched the launches everytime they were on...my parents made sure I was awake when they walked on the moon for the first time. I blew up many a Estes rocket trying to get them to go higher than they were designed...sure miss those days!

I liked the movie.
However, as a long time rocket hobbyist (from the 50's and still) I was a little bugged by the images of the launches. They did not get the launch or contrail right at all. But, maybe it was too hard to CG it and I doubt many people would know the difference.

BTW, there is a very good rocket school in Wyoming - here (http://www.space-rockets.com/ae101.html).

DH

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys1120/phys1120_fa07/images/404X1366.jpg

Great movie and a great photo too!

Very good movie..... Will have to read the book someday....

I've seen the movie several times and would like to read the book.

When I was a scoutmaster, the uncle of one of my scouts was one of the "rocket boys." Mr. Carroll camped out with us at a Klondike Derby one year, and told lots of stories. IIRC, in the movie, he was "composited" with another character.

I watched it twice.
Read the book too.

I've seen the movie close to 10 times. I've read the book almost 5.
Great story. When I was a kid (5-10 years ago) I wanted to be an astronaut, still do.

The way things are going lately, you may need to move to China for the best space opportunities!

Did their recent moon probe enter moon orbit? I did not hear.

DH

The way things are going lately, you may need to move to China for the best space opportunities!

Did their recent moon probe enter moon orbit? I did not hear.

China probe in 2007, followed by Japan, then India. Have you seen HD pics from the Jap probe?

Earthrise Pic

http://www.space.com/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/img_display.php?pic=080414-kaguya-earthrise-02.jpg&cap=This+image+is+a+still+from+a+high-definition+April+5%2C+2007+video+of+the+Earth+risi ng+above+the+moon+as+seen+by+Japan%27s+Kaguya+luna r+orbiter.+The+probe+was+about+236%2C121+miles+%28 380%2C000+km%29+away+from+Earth+at+the+time.+Credi t%3A+JAXA%2FNHK.

Earthrise Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WfJT_0WKEM&feature=related