Space History Footage In HD

The Discovery Channel has done a deal with NASA to enhance old film footage from the space program up to the standards of HD. Discovery will air, in HD, a 6-part special called "When We Left Earth," beginning June 8. Judging by the trailer it should be pretty spectacular, a good introduction to the wonders of space exploration for a new generation. After the show airs, NASA gets the improved footage for their archives.

Comments

Commercial venture for the greater good

[BearRanger]

It's so rare to see a public-private venture in media/entertainment that ultimately benefits everyone. I doubt if most of us would have a chance to peruse the NASA archives otherwise. And the US taxpayer gets historically significant data upgraded to a modern, longer lasting medium for free. A win-win all around.

Trailer

[Anonymous Coward]

Why is the trailer in postage stamp size if it's promoting an HD film?

What Does That Mean?

[LuYu]

NASA gets the improved footage for their archives.

What does this mean? Is it not NASA's footage to begin with? Are you telling me that the Discovery Channel's people went back in time and refilmed the Apollo missions and created some sort of copyrighted work?

On top of this, the statement seems to imply that the Discovery Channel is being gracious by returning the footage to NASA. This is as if you borrow my shirt and imply that because you washed it, it is now yours and that you are doing me a favour by returning it to me.

It is nice to know the Discovery Channel is so gracious. :-/

Re:What Does That Mean?

[NeverVotedBush]

Maybe I don't understand what you are asking, because this all seems pretty clear to me.

Basically Discovery Channel, in return for access to all of the materials, will give NASA one or more copies of the final work.

NASA could do all of the restoration themselves but it would be very costly and I doubt, in this time of BushCo budget cuts, that NASA has the spare change to pay for the restoration.

This agreement allows both parties to benefit - a nice result.

Obviously nobody went back in time. DC used their extensive A/V resources to restore the NASA footage.

Re:What Does That Mean?

[LuYu]

So, derivatives of copyrighted works remain copyrighted, but derivatives of Public Domain works do not remain in the Public Domain.

I think the Public is getting ripped off.

Re:What Does That Mean?

[Richard_at_work]

How is the public getting ripped off? Someone is spending time, money and effort to take the same source anyone else can and enhance it - why should that added time, money and effort then be freely available to anyone else? Everyone has access to the same original version, so get your own copy and do the enhancement yourself, there is absolutely nothing stopping you making that investment and even releasing if you wish.

Sorry...

[jd]

They blew the special effects budget on the new Doctor Who story, "The Doctor's Daughter".

restoration or enhancement

[Iamthecheese]

Imagine if the archaeologists of the 18th century didn't just keep pottery, but "enhanced it" by making it closer to what they imagined it would have looked like originally. Well some of them did. And destroyed information in the process.
 
It is impossible to restore lost information. Color can be corrected to what is probably was, lines can be completed, etc, but thats entirely new, best guess, information, and covers up the real information that was there before it. They should store the originals for longer term storage with the highest possible digital resolution, just as they are. If they want to enhanse things for a more attractive picture, fine, but don't store it for posterity. Posterity will be very angry.