Originally Posted by
netstruggler
I believe Neil Armstrong stepping off Apollo 11 onto the moon was broadcast live (other beliefs are available
)
...and I can remember watching what seemed to be interminable footage of the moon surface passing slowly underneath a spacecraft. That could have been from the orbiter rather than the landing module and I don't remember which mission it was but I'm sure it was live. It was too boring to be a documentary.
Either way it was 50 years ago now and was assuming we'd get to see some similar but less blurry footage.
I take ORAC's point about this being a commercial operation and I can see that there's much less general interest now so I guess it wasn't worth the candle.
The camera was attached to the side of the LEM. The astronauts pulled a lever to release it from its stowage. It dropped into position aimed at the ladder. That was broadcast 'live' via The Parks Observatory in Australia. The film The Dish is worth watching for this bit.