It's a great shot, sure, but that first bit looks like one take, and then the one with the rocket is another. The rocket thing is simple, before the launch you say the line and time how long it takes, then when the launch goes through, you time starting your line with the public countdown. You'll need luck that the countdown continues as planned, but this bit, unlike the launch, is not exactly rocket science....

It looks impressive, until you learn that's the tenth take, each time there was lunch, he was there with camera.

I'm so glad I paid my BBC licence. It was so worth it. Best money I ever spent.

"Destination the moon or moscow , the planets or peking" Damn such a badass line there.

Even more amazing when you realize that was the launch of Voyager

This is two shots…

I remember seeing this as a kid and we just assumed James Burke was so famous that they waited for him to point before they pressed the launch button.

Cheesy boring dumb

Interesting, how many unsuccessful takes they made and how many rockets were launched for this perfect shot....🤔

WOW

his right ear have the headphones and he can hear the countdown

you can hear 4 3 2 in the background xD

The moon or Russia. Meaning they fake it

no, no I AM pee king

Was this all one take? The cut before the rocket makes seem, and sound like a cut in. Still a great clip, no doubt, but I wonder if it was just a 20 second section that they started 10 seconds before the countdown.

Boiz its Moon or Moscow

Good Good Timing - Brian Wilson

man, James Burke looks FATTER than i remember...

Im guessing he was able to listen in on the control room (with permission) to be able to get that shot

Is this Tom Scott’s dad or something? 😂

We acing our chem exame now

That's Awesome! 👌

Yeah yeah great shot and all, but "the moon or Moscow, the planets or Peking"? No more cold wars. Militarism sucks, and scientists should work to further life, not nationalism and the military industrial complex

Eat, drink and be merry...

Man, this is incredible.

NEVER gets old !!!

There had to be an audio edit when the rocket launched, at that distance (usually 3 miles) the sound would have taken 15 seconds to reach the camera.

"Destination, the Moon, or Moscow" HAHA brilliant

Its not about muscle its about timing - father torque (fullthrottle)

Green screen 😂

This is indeed, the greatest shot of all time.

Liquid hydrogen and oxygen. Not in gaseous form lol.

And it was all fake.

plottwist: they filmed the same segment with 3 other moderators on different timings just to make sure (yes i just made that up, idk if they actually did)

Back in the days ppl look much older than today. I bet this dude was like 35.

This is the man who inspired Eminem to write Lose Yourself.

"Destination: The Moon...or Moscow, the planets...or Peking" XD

so cool

FAKE

“Whoops! Said the wrong line Bring the rocket back down will you? “😅

"The destination, the Moon... or Moscow." Perfect delivery.

Tom Scott moment

“Destination: the moon. Or Moscow. The planets. Or Peking.” Man’s out here just casually threatening intercontinental thermonuclear war.

On time

I think the rocket lying on the ground next to him is a Saturn V, in which case the fuel was kerosene and liquid oxygen.

How did he light the candle with his finger

People from other countries: the English are very understated Me: Wait a moment... James Burke: That Me: oh yes, I see now

YOU SEE, WE ARE NOT ON A SPINNING GLOBE, DUMMYS

Switchyards, anyone?

What about vfx. Because the camera didn't move.