VERY few images or videos stand the test of time to be classed as truly iconic.
The 1969 Moon Landing, Vietnamese schoolgirl Phan Thi Kim Phuc running down the road with her clothes on fire in 1972 or tanks rolling into Tiananmen Square in 1989 are among the few.
But one shot that is approaching its half century has re-emerged and is being hailed by some as the greatest TV has ever seen.
The clip, made by scientist and historian James Burke for the 1978 BBC series Connections, has recently gone viral after resurfacing on social media.
Social media commenters have been praising the shot as a marvel of ‘old-school’ skill.
“No modern editing software, just impeccable timing. One chance, nailed it.” said one.
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“The fact that he managed to stay so calm despite the time pressure is impressive. This definitely deserves the title of The Greatest Shot In Television” said another.
Burke was reporting from Cape Canaveral on the launch of Voyager 2 back in August 1977, a NASA space probe sent to study the outer planets and interstellar space beyond the Sun’s heliosphere.
Burke who is now 86, takes a leisurely stroll past a distant motionless spaceship, while the Stars and Stripes waves gently in the background. Suddenly, he comes to a halt.
With a gleam in his eyes, he explains the wonders of combining hydrogen and oxygen within a confined space, setting them ablaze to create something remarkable.
“In this fascinating experiment,” he says with a hint of excitement, “when you mix hydrogen and oxygen, and ignite them, the result is something truly astonishing.”
As the words escape his lips, Burke swiftly pivots and directs his finger toward the distant horizon. Right on cue, a spaceship embarks on an extraordinary launch, providing a surreal backdrop for the momentous occasion.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime filming opportunity,” Burke reflects, the memories flooding back. “Destination: the moon, or Moscow,” he adds cryptically, suggesting the potential grandeur of the mission.
The scene gently fades out, leaving us to ponder the historical significance of Burke’s words and the awe-inspiring endeavours of space exploration that have forever shaped humanity’s journey into the unknown.
We also wonder if he’s completely mental getting that close to the rocket in the first place… and if he was later done for trespassing.
