Production Guide
Observations: Breakaway

Koenig enjoys the stewardess service.

Who left this big rock within the Disposal Area (which is otherwise flat and cleared of rocks)?

When Ouma shows Koenig the flight recording, the scene opens with a close up of the screen, on which reflections can be seen. Top right is the microphone. Bottom right is the square lens cover of the camera. On the left side near the top is the reflection of a lighting shroud. Standing alongside the camera is a man wearing glasses- it looks like Lee H Katzin. Thanks to David Penn.

Flashes of light illuminate the sky as Koenig flies to investigate Nuclear Disposal Area One. Which is surprising, as there are no clouds or atmosphere to reflect the light. Notice the black border between the mountains and sky. The foreground is not illuminated by the flashes, and the border doesn't match the mountain profile (especially on the right). This may be a matte shot (each half of the shot was filmed separately, with the other half masked by the matte). Normally shots were filmed by double-exposuring the film, without mattes.

The three Eagle models- 44inch, 22inch and 11inch - seen together. Notice the middle Eagle is missing the manoeuvring rockets on the front leg pod. Thanks to David Penn.

Notice there are floor mats to the front and side of the Command Desk. The mats are covering the start position of the camera, to the side of Koenig (protecting the floor tiles?).

As the explosion spreads to the Eagle, the wires holding it are briefly visible above. Also, for a few frames, you can just make out the top of a black screen curving along the top of the screen. Thanks to James. C

At the start of the Breakaway, Bergman falls onto his back, at the top of the steps...

In this shot he has turned onto his front...

Now he has turned face up again and dropped down one step (everyone else is in the same position)...

But in close up shots, he is back on the top of the steps.

During the breakaway, Alan Carter pursues and catches up with the Moon in his Eagle. He is not subject to the G-forces that press the Alphans to the floor of Moonbase Alpha. The Eagle would be dragged by the Moon's gravity (the same forces that tear apart the Space Dock), so the Eagle's engines need not match the acceleration of the breakaway explosion. The Eagles and Moonbase both have "artificial gravity", but the Eagle systems are smaller and stronger (they provide full gravity in space), and so can compensate better.