When We Left Earth - The NASA Missions (4-Disc Set) [Blu-ray]

Although I haven't yet skimmed through the extra footage at all, the content used for the main features was excellent. Sure there are some flaws in the original media that shows through on the conversion but otherwise it's really excellent. What I found interesting was when the original footage changes from film to tape the quality of the images actually goes down so in some ways the original mercury shots of launches and the centre are actually better. This changes back once you get some better shuttle and space station footage.

I couldn't stop watching the series, was done in a couple of nights. It immediately is out on loan to a sequence of friends with Hi-Def. 4 months to completely re-write a mission and add a spacewalk not planned for a year, our projects these days can't agree on a title of the project for 4 months....

Get it!

only comes up to HD Quality on space shuttle disc.Most other material
rehash mostly seen before

This is a fantastic addition to any video library as it provides a concise, yet somewhat detailed, history of the American space program. The archival footage has been restored and presented in high definition with amazing clarity. Some shots are still a bit fuzzy and blurry, but that is to be expected when dealing with older film footage. For the most part, the images are surpisingly crisp and stunning, especially when you consider the age of the footage. This DVD scores well for history buffs and technical, space exploration, NASA, and HD enthusiasts alike. This beautifully preserves and presents an important piece of American history for all to relive and enjoy, or experience for the first time.

A good rememberance of past space flight.
I don't know if it is worth $40.00 for Blue ray. DVD would be fine.
Will probably watch it again though.

Here's why I like this set:

The image quality is (mostly - see below) very good. Even with the 16mm film source the extra resolution of Blu-Ray is apparent and some of the film is staggeringly effective. As has been stated in another review, the modern interviews are pristine.
The variety and scope of the clips is excellent. The makers have sourced every possible movie from private hands (cine films) and NASA and there's a great deal I've not seen despite 40 years of interest in the subject.
The narration is well written and appropriate. This feels like a story with narrative rather than a straightforward documentary.

Here's why I dislike this set and think it's a wasted opportunity:

Despite the quality of the film clips there are some that have clear and very obvious visible and not just minor anomalies but persistent great big black blobs in the same place on the screen. This 'dirt' persists across clips taken at varied times, even months apart and in very different locations, so it wasn't on the original film. That means, logically, that it's a projection fault and that it wasn't spotted during the HD transfer to Blu-Ray. that's VERY disappointing.
More importantly there's the issue of the music. I'm British and (until recently) our TV documentaries used the original audio soundtrack alone rather than additional music. If music was used then it was sparingly and appropriate and it certainly didn't get in the way of the original audio. During this presentation the music is near permanent. It never stops except for a few seconds here and there. It drowns out narration and more importantly it all but removes the original audio. Subtitles are provided for capcom recordings (voices to and from the spacecraft) but they wouldn't be needed if the infernal music would just shut up! Not only that but the music isn't of good quality and is stupidly over-blown, false drama in every moment. The scenes are dramatic enough, leave them alone please. In the extras there are standalone clips of the astronauts training (etc) and I though at least with these there'd be the original audio but no, the music is even worse and there's NO original audio at all. Shameful. I realize that this is the norm for American TV documentaries (Nothing personal, you make the best TV in the world on the whole) but it ruins the experience and should be resisted.

So, a very very good set partially spoiled by the music and some transfer anomalies. If you can cope with the music then don't let the anomalies put you off. It's probably the best NASA footage on Blu-Ray so far but it could have been the best full stop.