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KGW files: NASA astronauts visit Oregon lava beds that emulate the moon's surface

Before the first Apollo flight, 19 astronauts visited the Newberry Crater area.

The lava beds of central Oregon were thought to emulate conditions on the surface of the moon.

Before the first Apollo flight, 19 astronauts visited the Newberry Crater area. We don't know which astronauts were in the group.

This is a raw film so there are silent sections, as well as the natural sound of the engineers explaining to the astronauts what they should look for as they begin their descent to the lunar surface.

There is a shot of a depiction of what they thought the moon's surface looked like. It was very Flash Gordon – we hadn’t been there yet so we didn’t know!

Keep an eye out towards the end for then KGW reporter/anchor Ivan Smith, signing off "from Newberry Crater above Paulina Lake."

KGW asked Portlanders in July 1969 about the moon landing.

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