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1
00:00:01,902 --> 00:00:03,836
NICE!
2
00:00:03,838 --> 00:00:07,373
IF WE WENT FROM THE EARTH TO
THE MOON, WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE?
3
00:00:07,375 --> 00:00:09,842
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH AMERICA
CELEBRATES BEING THE FIRST
4
00:00:09,844 --> 00:00:11,143
TO SET FOOT ON THE MOON...
5
00:00:11,145 --> 00:00:13,579
Man: WE WOULD HAVE NEVER MET
KENNEDY'S DEADLINE
6
00:00:13,581 --> 00:00:15,948
OF REACHING THERE AND RETURNING
BY THE END OF THE DECADE.
7
00:00:15,950 --> 00:00:17,816
Narrator: ...CONSPIRACY
THEORISTS ARGUE
8
00:00:17,818 --> 00:00:20,119
THERE'S NO WAY
WE COULD HAVE DONE IT.
9
00:00:20,121 --> 00:00:21,787
IN '69,
WE LANDED ON THE MOON.
10
00:00:21,789 --> 00:00:23,822
NASA STANDS FOR
"NEVER A STRAIGHT ANSWER."
11
00:00:23,824 --> 00:00:28,027
COULD THIS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED IN
HOLLYWOOD WITH SPECIAL EFFECTS?
12
00:00:28,029 --> 00:00:31,897
AND THEY SAY THAT SCIENCE
IS ON THEIR SIDE.
13
00:00:31,899 --> 00:00:33,665
Man #2: Fire in the spacecraft.
14
00:00:33,667 --> 00:00:37,536
Narrator: GROUND ZERO OF THE
CONSPIRACY, THE APOLLO 1 FIRE.
15
00:00:37,538 --> 00:00:38,971
WAS IT SET ON PURPOSE?
16
00:00:38,973 --> 00:00:40,973
THERE'S NEVER BEEN
AN ADEQUATE EXPLANATION
17
00:00:40,975 --> 00:00:42,474
FOR HOW THE FIRE STARTED.
18
00:00:42,476 --> 00:00:44,643
OR PART OF A MASSIVE COVER-UP?
19
00:00:48,849 --> 00:00:51,450
WAS THE UNTIMELY DEATH
OF A SAFETY INSPECTOR
20
00:00:51,452 --> 00:00:53,419
WHO TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS
21
00:00:53,421 --> 00:00:56,321
PROOF THAT NASA WASN'T READY
TO LAND ON THE MOON?
22
00:00:56,323 --> 00:00:57,589
THINGS DON'T MAKE SENSE HERE.
23
00:00:57,591 --> 00:00:58,924
IS IT A COVER-UP OR NOT?
24
00:00:58,926 --> 00:01:01,427
Bara: IT RAISES THE BIGGER
CONSPIRACY QUESTION --
25
00:01:01,429 --> 00:01:03,595
WAS NASA REALLY READY
TO GO TO THE MOON?
26
00:01:03,597 --> 00:01:05,497
Narrator: A FORMER FBI AGENT,
27
00:01:05,499 --> 00:01:08,934
A CONSPIRACY THEORIST AND FORMER
AEROSPACE CONSULTANT,
28
00:01:08,936 --> 00:01:12,604
AND AN AMERICAN ASTRONAUT
ARE INVESTIGATING.
29
00:01:12,606 --> 00:01:15,607
-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
30
00:01:15,609 --> 00:01:18,610
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
31
00:01:18,612 --> 00:01:23,549
♪
32
00:01:23,551 --> 00:01:26,785
Jenkins:
WHEN CONSPIRACY THEORISTS CLAIM
WE NEVER LANDED ON THE MOON,
33
00:01:26,787 --> 00:01:29,088
A BIG PART OF THEIR ARGUMENT
IS THAT WE JUST DIDN'T
34
00:01:29,090 --> 00:01:31,490
HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY,
SO NASA FAKED IT.
35
00:01:31,492 --> 00:01:33,926
SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE STARTING
OUR INVESTIGATION,
36
00:01:33,928 --> 00:01:36,028
AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE SPACE RACE.
37
00:01:38,466 --> 00:01:40,466
SEPTEMBER 12, 1962.
38
00:01:40,468 --> 00:01:42,401
JOHN F. KENNEDY
MADE ONE OF THE MOST
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00:01:42,403 --> 00:01:44,503
FAMOUS SPEECHES
OF HIS PRESIDENCY.
40
00:01:44,505 --> 00:01:47,539
We choose to go to the Moon
in this decade
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00:01:47,541 --> 00:01:48,974
and do the other things.
42
00:01:48,976 --> 00:01:52,945
Not because they are easy,
but because they are hard.
43
00:01:52,947 --> 00:01:56,448
THE SOVIETS HAD ALREADY LAUNCHED
THE FIRST PERSON INTO SPACE.
44
00:01:56,450 --> 00:02:00,018
THE SPACE RACE WAS ON.
YEAH, AND WE WERE BEHIND.
45
00:02:00,020 --> 00:02:02,621
Bara: KENNEDY GAVE HIS "WE
CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON" SPEECH
46
00:02:02,623 --> 00:02:04,556
AT RICE UNIVERSITY
MORE THAN A YEAR
47
00:02:04,558 --> 00:02:07,359
AFTER THE SOVIETS PUT
THE FIRST MAN IN SPACE.
48
00:02:07,361 --> 00:02:12,197
WE HAVE VOWED THAT WE SHALL NOT
SEE IT GOVERNED
49
00:02:12,199 --> 00:02:14,700
BY A HOSTILE FLAG OF CONQUEST.
50
00:02:14,702 --> 00:02:17,402
HE WAS NEVER A PRESIDENT
WHO ROMANTICIZED SPACE
51
00:02:17,404 --> 00:02:19,638
AS THE GLORIOUS FINAL FRONTIER,
52
00:02:19,640 --> 00:02:22,407
BUT HE WAS AN INTENSE COLD
WARRIOR WHO WAS OBSESSED
53
00:02:22,409 --> 00:02:24,009
WITH BESTING THE SOVIETS.
54
00:02:24,011 --> 00:02:26,178
We shall not see space
55
00:02:26,180 --> 00:02:29,548
filled with weapons
of mass destruction,
56
00:02:29,550 --> 00:02:31,950
but with instruments
of knowledge.
57
00:02:31,952 --> 00:02:34,953
Bara: NASA'S CHALLENGES ONLY
BEGAN WITH JFK SETTING
58
00:02:34,955 --> 00:02:36,822
AN AGGRESSIVE TIME LINE
FOR A MOON LANDING.
59
00:02:36,824 --> 00:02:39,491
THEY DID NOT END THERE.
60
00:02:39,493 --> 00:02:43,061
FIGURING OUT HOW TO DESIGN AND
BUILD A ROCKET POWERFUL ENOUGH
61
00:02:43,063 --> 00:02:45,597
YET LIGHT ENOUGH TO SAFELY
CARRY A PAYLOAD
62
00:02:45,599 --> 00:02:49,801
THAT INCLUDED ASTRONAUTS ALL THE
WAY TO THE MOON WAS JOB ONE.
63
00:02:49,803 --> 00:02:52,104
THEN THEY NEED TO DEVELOP
THE TECHNOLOGY
64
00:02:52,106 --> 00:02:54,072
TO LAND ON THE LUNAR SURFACE
SAFELY.
65
00:02:54,074 --> 00:02:56,008
IT WAS A HUGE UNDERTAKING,
66
00:02:56,010 --> 00:02:58,343
EVEN CALCULATING THE AMOUNT
OF FUEL NECESSARY
67
00:02:58,345 --> 00:03:01,213
TO LEAVE THE MOON, TRAVEL NEARLY
A QUARTER OF A MILLION MILES
68
00:03:01,215 --> 00:03:03,916
THROUGH THE SUPER BURN OF
THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE,
69
00:03:03,918 --> 00:03:06,518
AND SOMEHOW, SPLASH DOWN SAFELY.
70
00:03:08,455 --> 00:03:11,390
THEY HAD NONE OF THIS FIGURED
OUT IN 1962.
71
00:03:11,392 --> 00:03:18,096
♪
72
00:03:18,098 --> 00:03:19,731
THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK
TO DO IF NASA WANTED
73
00:03:19,733 --> 00:03:22,301
TO GET A MAN ON THE MOON.
74
00:03:22,303 --> 00:03:24,136
GUYS,
I CAN TELL YOU THIS --
75
00:03:24,138 --> 00:03:27,072
IN MY OPINION,
AMERICA HAS NEVER DONE
76
00:03:27,074 --> 00:03:31,109
A BIGGER TECHNOLOGICAL QUEST
AS GOING TO THE MOON.
77
00:03:31,111 --> 00:03:33,912
Melvin: OKAY. SO THE TIMING
WAS VERY AMBITIOUS,
78
00:03:33,914 --> 00:03:35,781
BUT EVENTUALLY, WE DID IT.
79
00:03:35,783 --> 00:03:37,382
AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO PROUD
80
00:03:37,384 --> 00:03:40,752
OF MY NASA BROTHERS AND SISTERS
PULLING IT OFF.
81
00:03:40,754 --> 00:03:42,154
Bara: I'M JUST NOT BUYING IT.
82
00:03:42,156 --> 00:03:45,324
IN 1963, THE MOST POWERFUL
SUPER COMPUTERS IN THE WORLD
83
00:03:45,326 --> 00:03:46,692
TOOK UP ENTIRE ROOMS.
84
00:03:46,694 --> 00:03:48,727
IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN SUCH A
QUANTUM LEAP IN TECHNOLOGY
85
00:03:48,729 --> 00:03:50,495
TO MEET KENNEDY'S DEADLINE.
86
00:03:50,497 --> 00:03:52,931
Man: Ignition.
87
00:03:52,933 --> 00:03:56,435
Lift off.
88
00:03:56,437 --> 00:03:58,270
Good lift off, 8.
89
00:03:58,272 --> 00:04:01,473
LOOK, WE HAVE BEEN
BEHIND THE SOVIETS,
90
00:04:01,475 --> 00:04:03,775
BUT NASA WAS MAKING
A LOT OF PROGRESS.
91
00:04:03,777 --> 00:04:06,144
YOU HAVE THE SIX MANNED
MERCURY MISSIONS,
92
00:04:06,146 --> 00:04:10,182
19 GEMINI LAUNCHES, AND THEN
COMES THE APOLLO PROGRAM.
93
00:04:10,184 --> 00:04:12,517
THE APOLLO PROGRAM
WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING
94
00:04:12,519 --> 00:04:15,287
THAT AEROSPACE ENGINEERS
AT NASA HAD DONE BEFORE.
95
00:04:15,289 --> 00:04:18,156
NOT ONLY WAS IT THEIR FIRST
THREE-MAN MISSION,
96
00:04:18,158 --> 00:04:21,927
BUT ITS MAIN GOAL WAS TO GET
THEM TO LAND SAFELY ON THE MOON.
97
00:04:21,929 --> 00:04:25,564
Man: 1965, then, is a year
of training,
98
00:04:25,566 --> 00:04:30,669
fabrication, assembly,
and test for Project Apollo.
99
00:04:30,671 --> 00:04:34,306
Melvin:
AT ITS PEAK, NASA EMPLOYED CLOSE
TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE
100
00:04:34,308 --> 00:04:36,341
FOR THE APOLLO PROGRAM,
101
00:04:36,343 --> 00:04:39,911
AND REQUIRED THE HELP OF OVER
20,000 INDUSTRIAL FIRMS
102
00:04:39,913 --> 00:04:42,080
AND UNIVERSITIES TO HELP
WITH THE PROJECT.
103
00:04:42,082 --> 00:04:44,716
Man: Ignition.
104
00:04:44,718 --> 00:04:46,151
Lift off.
105
00:04:46,153 --> 00:04:48,220
Jenkins: AMERICA WAS HOOKED ON
THE SPACE PROGRAM,
106
00:04:48,222 --> 00:04:50,822
AND THE APOLLO PROJECT
SEEMED TOO BIG TO FAIL.
107
00:04:54,028 --> 00:04:56,561
BUT THEN IN JANUARY 1967,
108
00:04:56,563 --> 00:05:00,332
WEEKS BEFORE THE FIRST APOLLO
MISSION, TRAGEDY STRIKES.
109
00:05:00,334 --> 00:05:04,169
♪
110
00:05:04,171 --> 00:05:06,571
Herlihy: Apollo astronauts
Roger Chaffee, Edward White,
111
00:05:06,573 --> 00:05:08,540
and Gus Grissom lose their lives
112
00:05:08,542 --> 00:05:11,710
in a tragic flash fire aboard
their grounded space capsule.
113
00:05:11,712 --> 00:05:14,713
The entire three-man crew
was engulfed by flames.
114
00:05:14,715 --> 00:05:19,017
A blue-ribbon panel of space
experts is investigating.
115
00:05:19,019 --> 00:05:22,020
Jenkins: THE REVIEW-BOARD REPORT
CLAIMS COOLANT LEAKED
116
00:05:22,022 --> 00:05:25,857
ON LIVE FRAYED WIRES, CAUSING
A FIRE IN THE CAPSULE.
117
00:05:29,697 --> 00:05:31,797
Bara: IT'S ONE THING TO LOSE
ASTRONAUTS IN SPACE,
118
00:05:31,799 --> 00:05:33,398
BUT THIS WAS A TEST
ON THE GROUND.
119
00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:35,600
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH POLITICAL
PRESSURE TO GET TO THE MOON
120
00:05:35,602 --> 00:05:37,169
IN THE HEIGHT
OF THE SPACE RACE
121
00:05:37,171 --> 00:05:39,171
MIGHT HAVE LED NASA OFFICIALS
TO OVERLOOK
122
00:05:39,173 --> 00:05:42,574
SOME SAFETY CONCERNS IN FAVOR
OF BEATING RUSSIA TO THE MOON.
123
00:05:42,576 --> 00:05:46,144
THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS FROM
THE ASTRONAUTS THEMSELVES.
124
00:05:46,146 --> 00:05:48,747
THIS IS ACTUAL AUDIO
OF GUS GRISSOM,
125
00:05:48,749 --> 00:05:51,783
ONE OF THE THREE
APOLLO 1 ASTRONAUTS,
126
00:05:51,785 --> 00:05:54,186
DURING A TEST PRIOR TO THE FIRE.
127
00:05:54,188 --> 00:05:58,490
♪
128
00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:08,767
HOW CAN WE GET TO THE MOON
IF WE CAN'T EVEN TALK
129
00:06:08,769 --> 00:06:10,102
BETWEEN TWO BUILDINGS?
130
00:06:10,104 --> 00:06:12,204
THE APOLLO 1 CAPSULE
WAS A BRAND-NEW VEHICLE,
131
00:06:12,206 --> 00:06:13,972
AND NOT A MODIFIED VERSION
OF GEMINI.
132
00:06:13,974 --> 00:06:16,241
IT HAD LOTS OF ISSUES IN
DEVELOPMENT, ASSEMBLY,
133
00:06:16,243 --> 00:06:17,943
AND TESTING, AND IT'S
BEEN DOCUMENTED.
134
00:06:17,945 --> 00:06:20,945
GRISSOM WAS VERY VOCAL ABOUT THE
SHORTCOMINGS OF THE SPACECRAFT
135
00:06:20,947 --> 00:06:22,514
AND COMPLAINED A LOT
TO THE HIGHER UPS
136
00:06:22,516 --> 00:06:24,116
THAT THE VEHICLE
WAS NOT READY.
137
00:06:24,118 --> 00:06:25,717
AT ONE POINT, HE TOLD HIS WIFE
138
00:06:25,719 --> 00:06:28,086
IF THERE'S EVER A SERIOUS
ACCIDENT IN THE PROGRAM,
139
00:06:28,088 --> 00:06:29,421
IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE ME.
140
00:06:29,423 --> 00:06:31,990
YEAH, THEY DEFINITELY HAD
SOME COMMUNICATION ISSUES.
141
00:06:31,992 --> 00:06:34,159
LOOK, IT WAS JUST
GROWING PAINS AT NASA.
142
00:06:34,161 --> 00:06:36,628
IT RAISES THE BIGGER
CONSPIRACY QUESTION --
143
00:06:36,630 --> 00:06:39,064
WAS NASA REALLY READY
TO GO TO THE MOON?
144
00:06:39,066 --> 00:06:41,600
NASA COULDN'T BEAT THE SOVIETS
AND THEY JUST WEREN'T READY,
145
00:06:41,602 --> 00:06:44,002
SO THEY HAD TO BUY SOME TIME
AND FAKE THE MOON LANDING.
146
00:06:44,004 --> 00:06:45,904
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT,
MANY OF THE ASTRONAUTS
147
00:06:45,906 --> 00:06:47,572
WOULD NEVER HAVE GONE ALONG
148
00:06:47,574 --> 00:06:49,307
WITH A PLAN TO FAKE
THE MOON LANDING,
149
00:06:49,309 --> 00:06:51,643
SO EXTREME CONSPIRACY
THEORISTS WILL TELL YOU THAT
150
00:06:51,645 --> 00:06:57,015
NASA SET THE FIRE ON PURPOSE
IN AN EFFORT TO SILENCE THEM.
151
00:06:57,017 --> 00:06:59,551
THESE CONSPIRACY PEOPLE
REALLY ANNOY ME.
152
00:06:59,553 --> 00:07:02,454
THEY ACCUSE NASA OF THIS
MOON-LANDING HOAX.
153
00:07:02,456 --> 00:07:04,723
IT'S OUTRAGEOUS,
IT'S UNPATRIOTIC.
154
00:07:04,725 --> 00:07:08,660
AS AN ASTRONAUT, THIS REALLY
ANNOYS THE HELL OUT OF ME.
155
00:07:08,662 --> 00:07:11,029
I THINK WE'RE MISSING
THE BIGGER PICTURE HERE,
156
00:07:11,031 --> 00:07:13,231
WHICH IS THE FIRE.
157
00:07:13,233 --> 00:07:15,767
THERE'S NEVER BEEN
AN ADEQUATE EXPLANATION
158
00:07:15,769 --> 00:07:18,170
ON HOW THE FIRE STARTED.
159
00:07:18,172 --> 00:07:22,207
AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT HAS
PUSHED ALL THESE SUSPICIONS.
160
00:07:22,209 --> 00:07:24,443
SO THAT'S WHERE WE START --
WE RECREATE THE FIRE
161
00:07:24,445 --> 00:07:26,478
TO SEE IF THE OFFICIAL STORY
HOLDS UP.
162
00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,714
WE HAVE A TEAM IN PLACE
TO TEST THE CONDITIONS
163
00:07:29,716 --> 00:07:31,550
THAT MAY HAVE LED
TO THAT FIRE.
164
00:07:34,054 --> 00:07:35,687
LET'S DO IT.
165
00:07:40,027 --> 00:07:42,594
Melvin:
WE ARE HERE AT THE CARNEGIE
INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE,
166
00:07:42,596 --> 00:07:45,163
TO MEET WITH INVESTIGATORS
WHO SPECIALIZE
167
00:07:45,165 --> 00:07:47,165
IN FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS
AND CHEMISTRY
168
00:07:47,167 --> 00:07:49,468
AT HIGH PRESSURES
AND TEMPERATURES.
169
00:07:49,470 --> 00:07:52,604
Jenkins: WE WANT TO SEE IF WE
CAN RECREATE THE APOLLO 1 FIRE,
170
00:07:52,606 --> 00:07:55,874
AND IF NASA'S CLAIM THAT IT
WAS AN ACCIDENT IS TRUE.
171
00:07:55,876 --> 00:07:57,809
HEY, MIKE.
HOW ARE YOU?
172
00:07:57,811 --> 00:07:58,844
GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?
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00:07:58,846 --> 00:08:00,078
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
174
00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:01,513
-PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.
-ME TOO.
175
00:08:01,515 --> 00:08:03,215
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A REALLY
SERIOUS THING.
176
00:08:03,217 --> 00:08:05,717
AS AN ASTRONAUT MYSELF,
WE ALWAYS SHUDDER WHEN WE THINK
177
00:08:05,719 --> 00:08:08,487
ABOUT SOMETHING
LIKE A FIRE IN A VEHICLE.
178
00:08:08,489 --> 00:08:10,021
WE REALLY NEED
TO THINK ABOUT
179
00:08:10,023 --> 00:08:11,957
WHAT DID HAPPEN
IN THE APOLLO 1 FIRE.
180
00:08:11,959 --> 00:08:13,291
WHAT WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO IS
181
00:08:13,293 --> 00:08:17,162
TO TEST THE CONCLUSIONS
OF THE NASA INVESTIGATION
182
00:08:17,164 --> 00:08:20,799
BY RECREATING THE CONDITIONS
AND THE EVENTS
183
00:08:20,801 --> 00:08:24,669
THAT THEY SUGGEST
LED TO THE FIRE.
184
00:08:24,671 --> 00:08:28,673
SO, WE HAVE A FLASK
THAT REPLICATES THE CAPSULE.
185
00:08:28,675 --> 00:08:32,444
WE ARE PUMPING PURE
OXYGEN INTO THE FLASK.
186
00:08:32,446 --> 00:08:35,747
WE'VE PRODUCED A REPLICATION
OF THE COOLANT
187
00:08:35,749 --> 00:08:38,750
THAT THEY USED
IN THE SPACECRAFT AT THAT TIME.
188
00:08:38,752 --> 00:08:41,653
IT'S A MIXTURE OF WATER
AND ETHYLENE GLYCOL.
189
00:08:41,655 --> 00:08:44,723
WE HAVE VELCRO,
WHICH IS FLAMMABLE.
190
00:08:44,725 --> 00:08:47,792
WE HAVE WIRES, WHICH HAVE BEEN
INTENTIONALLY FRAYED.
191
00:08:47,794 --> 00:08:50,896
THE WIRES ARE GONNA BE
AT 28 VOLTS.
192
00:08:50,898 --> 00:08:53,765
THEY'RE LIVE, LIKE THEY WOULD
HAVE BEEN IN THE CAPSULE.
193
00:08:53,767 --> 00:08:58,403
AND WE'RE GONNA DRIP THIS
SOLUTION ONTO OUR LIVE WIRES,
194
00:08:58,405 --> 00:09:01,339
AND WE'RE GONNA SEE
WHAT HAPPENS.
195
00:09:01,341 --> 00:09:02,908
NOW WE'LL SEAL THE TOP.
196
00:09:02,910 --> 00:09:04,376
THE TOP IS SEALED.
197
00:09:04,378 --> 00:09:08,280
AND WE'LL DISPLACE THE AIR
WITH THE OXYGEN.
198
00:09:08,282 --> 00:09:13,151
JOE'S GONNA CONNECT THE WIRES
TO THE POWER SOURCE.
199
00:09:13,153 --> 00:09:14,586
Jenkins:
THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
200
00:09:14,588 --> 00:09:17,923
WE'LL HAVE OUR ANSWER WHEN
THE COOLANT HITS THE LIVE WIRE.
201
00:09:21,161 --> 00:09:22,494
All: OH.
202
00:09:22,496 --> 00:09:24,496
Bara: IT WAS ALMOST
THE PERFECT STORM.
203
00:09:24,498 --> 00:09:28,166
WE WERE NOT ACTUALLY READY
TO GO TO THE MOON.
204
00:09:28,168 --> 00:09:31,336
Jenkins:
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE
ASTRONAUTS COULDN'T ESCAPE.
205
00:09:31,338 --> 00:09:36,241
TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR WOULD BE
LIKE TRYING TO DEAD-LIFT A CAR.
206
00:09:36,243 --> 00:09:37,375
GEEZ.
207
00:09:37,377 --> 00:09:41,680
♪
208
00:09:48,455 --> 00:09:54,759
♪
209
00:09:54,761 --> 00:09:57,295
Melvin:
WE ARE HERE AT THE CARNEGIE
INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE,
210
00:09:57,297 --> 00:09:59,264
ATTEMPTING TO RECREATE
THE CONDITIONS
211
00:09:59,266 --> 00:10:02,067
THAT COULD HAVE LED
TO THE APOLLO 1 FIRE.
212
00:10:02,069 --> 00:10:04,469
Walter: SO JOE IS PUTTING
A DROP OR TWO
213
00:10:04,471 --> 00:10:08,673
OF THE COOLANT MIXTURE
ONTO THE WIRES.
214
00:10:08,675 --> 00:10:12,611
JOE IS GONNA CONNECT THE WIRES
TO THE POWER SOURCE.
215
00:10:15,182 --> 00:10:17,782
AND WE'RE READY TO GO.
216
00:10:17,784 --> 00:10:21,553
Jenkins: NASA SAID THE FIRE WAS
CAUSED BY A COMBUSTIBLE COOLANT
217
00:10:21,555 --> 00:10:23,455
THAT WAS DROPPING
ON FRAYED WIRES
218
00:10:23,457 --> 00:10:25,790
IN AN ENVIRONMENT
OF PURE OXYGEN.
219
00:10:25,792 --> 00:10:28,360
WE ARE NOW GETTING A CHANCE
TO SEE WITH OUR OWN EYES
220
00:10:28,362 --> 00:10:30,929
WHETHER IS ACTUALLY BELIEVABLE.
221
00:10:30,931 --> 00:10:34,332
AND ON THIS METER HERE,
THIS IS MEASURING THE CURRENT.
222
00:10:34,334 --> 00:10:37,102
AND WHEN THE OXIDATION
REACTION BEGINS,
223
00:10:37,104 --> 00:10:39,571
THIS CURRENT
WILL BEGIN TO GO UP.
224
00:10:39,573 --> 00:10:41,740
Jenkins: IF WE SEE A SPARK
OR FLAME AT THIS POINT,
225
00:10:41,742 --> 00:10:45,443
IT MEANS NASA'S EXPLANATION
OF THE FIRE IS LEGITIMATE.
226
00:10:45,445 --> 00:10:47,746
Walter: AND TYPICALLY WE CAN SEE
A LITTLE BIT OF BUBBLING
227
00:10:47,748 --> 00:10:49,247
AND A LITTLE BIT OF --
AND THERE'S SOME SMOKE.
228
00:10:49,249 --> 00:10:50,382
THERE'S SMOKE RIGHT NOW.
229
00:10:50,384 --> 00:10:54,052
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE CURRENT
IS GOING UP.
230
00:10:54,054 --> 00:10:56,021
LOTS OF SMOKE.
-LOTS OF SMOKE.
231
00:10:56,023 --> 00:10:57,389
OPE, I SAW A SPARK.
232
00:10:57,391 --> 00:10:58,690
YEAH, THERE'S A SPARK,
THERE'S SPARKS.
233
00:10:58,692 --> 00:11:00,158
-THERE'S FLAME, YEAH.
-THERE WE GO.
234
00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:01,626
THERE WE GO.
-WOW.
235
00:11:01,628 --> 00:11:02,794
-AND IT'S BIG.
-WHOA.
236
00:11:02,796 --> 00:11:06,097
-OHH.
-WOW.
237
00:11:06,099 --> 00:11:09,100
SO YOU CAN SEE THE REACTION
WITH THE OXYGEN.
238
00:11:09,102 --> 00:11:11,503
WOW.
239
00:11:11,505 --> 00:11:12,871
AND THAT'S JUST FROM THE VELCRO.
240
00:11:12,873 --> 00:11:14,272
Walter: IT'S JUST THE VELCRO
AND THE WIRES.
241
00:11:14,274 --> 00:11:16,207
-A LITTLE TINY PIECE OF VELCRO.
-A LITTLE TINY PIECE.
242
00:11:16,209 --> 00:11:18,643
-IT WAS LIKE A TORCH.
-AND IT'S CONTINUING.
243
00:11:18,645 --> 00:11:20,178
Melvin: THIS IS IT.
244
00:11:20,180 --> 00:11:22,814
SO, THAT BLACK SMOKE COMES FROM
THE PLASTIC BURNING, RIGHT?
245
00:11:22,816 --> 00:11:24,549
YEAH. THAT'S ALL THE RUBBER
AND PLASTIC.
246
00:11:24,551 --> 00:11:26,184
AND YOU SAW,
ONCE THE VELCRO STARTED,
247
00:11:26,186 --> 00:11:28,520
IT WENT UP VERY QUICKLY.
248
00:11:28,522 --> 00:11:31,856
Bara:
BY WITNESSING THE TEST MYSELF, I
CAN SEE THAT THE APOLLO 1 FIRE
249
00:11:31,858 --> 00:11:33,358
WAS PROBABLY AN ACCIDENT.
250
00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,260
THE CAPSULE WAS FULL OF
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS,
251
00:11:35,262 --> 00:11:37,062
ESPECIALLY FABRIC AND VELCRO.
252
00:11:37,064 --> 00:11:38,763
THIS IS JUST BAD ENGINEERING.
253
00:11:38,765 --> 00:11:41,366
IT WAS NOT SOME ATTEMPT BY NASA
TO SILENCE THE ASTRONAUTS.
254
00:11:41,368 --> 00:11:43,635
BUT IT DOES REINFORCE MY BELIEF
THAT WE WERE NOT
255
00:11:43,637 --> 00:11:46,337
ACTUALLY READY
TO GO TO THE MOON IN 1967.
256
00:11:46,339 --> 00:11:50,008
ALRIGHT.
257
00:11:50,010 --> 00:11:51,242
OH, YEAH.
YEAH, IT'S CHARRED.
258
00:11:51,244 --> 00:11:53,211
LOOK AT THAT.
BURNT TO A CRISP.
259
00:11:53,213 --> 00:11:56,014
THERE WAS NEVER ANY DOUBT
IN MY MIND THAT THIS EXPERIMENT
260
00:11:56,016 --> 00:11:58,183
WOULD CONFIRM
NASA'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
261
00:11:58,185 --> 00:12:00,785
BECAUSE OF THIS DISASTER,
ENGINEERS TOOK WHAT THEY LEARNED
262
00:12:00,787 --> 00:12:02,721
FROM THE FIRE
AND REMOVED FABRICS
263
00:12:02,723 --> 00:12:05,290
AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLES
FROM FUTURE CAPSULE DESIGNS.
264
00:12:05,292 --> 00:12:07,726
SEPARATELY,
IT WAS ALL HARMLESS,
265
00:12:07,728 --> 00:12:10,495
BUT COMBINED,
UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS,
266
00:12:10,497 --> 00:12:11,763
IT WAS BASICALLY A BOMB.
267
00:12:11,765 --> 00:12:14,065
IT WAS ALMOST
THE PERFECT STORM, RIGHT?
268
00:12:14,067 --> 00:12:21,473
♪
269
00:12:21,475 --> 00:12:26,377
Jenkins:
THIS IS A PLAUSIBLE, YOU KNOW
REASON WHY THE FIRE HAPPENED.
270
00:12:26,379 --> 00:12:29,914
THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING
WHICH WAS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.
271
00:12:29,916 --> 00:12:31,950
AND THEY HAD LOTS OF THINGS
TO THINK ABOUT.
272
00:12:31,952 --> 00:12:34,385
AND I THINK THINKING ABOUT
A DRIPPING BIT OF COOLANT
273
00:12:34,387 --> 00:12:36,454
ONTO A BARE WIRE
WASN'T ONE OF THEM.
274
00:12:36,456 --> 00:12:38,123
IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE
275
00:12:38,125 --> 00:12:40,191
THAT THESE PIONEERS
HAD TO GIVE THEIR LIVES
276
00:12:40,193 --> 00:12:42,961
SO THAT NASA COULD LEARN
FROM THEIR MISTAKES.
277
00:12:45,365 --> 00:12:47,832
NOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND
HOW THE FIRE COULD HAVE STARTED,
278
00:12:47,834 --> 00:12:50,869
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY
THE ASTRONAUTS COULDN'T ESCAPE.
279
00:12:50,871 --> 00:12:52,437
THE SECOND PART OF
THE CONSPIRACY THEORY
280
00:12:52,439 --> 00:12:55,573
SURROUNDING THE APOLLO 1 CAPSULE
IS THE HATCH DESIGN.
281
00:12:55,575 --> 00:12:57,542
SOME ARGUE THAT IN THE RUSH
TO GET TO THE MOON,
282
00:12:57,544 --> 00:12:59,477
KEY FEATURES WERE OVERLOOKED.
283
00:13:01,581 --> 00:13:04,115
THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE
APOLLO 1 FIRE CONCLUDED THAT
284
00:13:04,117 --> 00:13:06,251
BECAUSE THE CAPSULE DOOR
OPENED INWARDS,
285
00:13:06,253 --> 00:13:08,219
COMBINED WITH
EXTREME CABIN PRESSURE,
286
00:13:08,221 --> 00:13:10,488
THAT THE CREW HAD NO CHANCE
OF FORCING THE HATCH OPEN
287
00:13:10,490 --> 00:13:12,857
AND ESCAPING.
288
00:13:12,859 --> 00:13:14,759
CONSPIRACY THEORISTS BELIEVE
THAT NASA KNEW
289
00:13:14,761 --> 00:13:16,294
ABOUT THESE DESIGN FLAWS,
290
00:13:16,296 --> 00:13:19,164
BUT THEY WERE SO INTENT ON
BEATING THE SOVIETS TO THE MOON
291
00:13:19,166 --> 00:13:22,700
THAT THEY PUSHED AHEAD AND PUT
THE APOLLO 1 CREW IN DANGER.
292
00:13:22,702 --> 00:13:28,373
♪
293
00:13:28,375 --> 00:13:30,275
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
294
00:13:30,277 --> 00:13:34,078
♪
295
00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:35,480
Jenkins:
ART, HOW'S IT GOIN'?
296
00:13:35,482 --> 00:13:38,583
SINCE THE ORIGINAL APOLLO 1
INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED
297
00:13:38,585 --> 00:13:41,753
THAT THE CREW HAD NO CHANCE
OF FORCING THE HATCH OPEN
298
00:13:41,755 --> 00:13:44,556
AND ESCAPING, WE'VE GOT A BUILD
TEAM READY TO SIMULATE
299
00:13:44,558 --> 00:13:46,191
THE PRESSURE INSIDE THE CAPSULE.
300
00:13:46,193 --> 00:13:51,663
ART WILINKSKI IS A MASTER
SET FABRICATOR AND BUILDER.
301
00:13:51,665 --> 00:13:54,065
I TURN TO HIM WHEN I NEED TO
RECREATE EVIDENCE
302
00:13:54,067 --> 00:13:55,900
IN MY INVESTIGATIONS.
303
00:13:55,902 --> 00:13:57,368
HE'S GOING TO ATTEMPT TO SHOW US
304
00:13:57,370 --> 00:14:00,071
SIMPLY WHY THE ASTRONAUTS
COULDN'T OPEN THE HATCH
305
00:14:00,073 --> 00:14:03,241
AND GET OUT
OF THE BURNING CAPSULE.
306
00:14:03,243 --> 00:14:06,678
CAN YOU KIND OF EXPLAIN THIS
SIMPLE MECHANISM THAT YOU HAVE,
307
00:14:06,680 --> 00:14:08,646
THAT WE CAN KIND OF TEST
THE PRESSURE?
308
00:14:08,648 --> 00:14:11,549
THE PRESSURE WAS PHENOMENAL,
CONSIDERING THE PRESSURE
309
00:14:11,551 --> 00:14:15,286
INSIDE THE CAPSULE CABIN
PUSHING THE DOOR CLOSED
310
00:14:15,288 --> 00:14:18,857
VERSUS THE AIR PRESSURE
ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAPSULE.
311
00:14:18,859 --> 00:14:20,658
IT WAS JUST -- IT WAS MASSIVE.
312
00:14:20,660 --> 00:14:24,963
THE NET PRESSURE ON THE DOOR
WAS TWO POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH.
313
00:14:24,965 --> 00:14:27,598
HOW MUCH PRESSURE IS THAT
IN PRACTICAL TERMS?
314
00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,568
GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE DOOR,
THAT ADDS UP TO WELL OVER
315
00:14:30,570 --> 00:14:34,839
A TON OF FORCE
HOLDING THE DOOR CLOSED.
316
00:14:34,841 --> 00:14:38,710
TRYING TO OPEN IT UP WOULD BE
LIKE TRYING TO DEAD-LIFT A CAR.
317
00:14:40,513 --> 00:14:43,581
GEEZ.
IT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE.
318
00:14:43,583 --> 00:14:45,316
I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING
REALLY SIMPLE
319
00:14:45,318 --> 00:14:46,484
TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT, RIGHT?
320
00:14:46,486 --> 00:14:48,253
SO, EVERYBODY'S GOT A DOOR
IN THEIR HOUSE.
321
00:14:48,255 --> 00:14:51,022
I MADE IT SO YOU CAN SEE
WHAT EVEN JUST 1,000 POUNDS
322
00:14:51,024 --> 00:14:52,323
OF PRESSURE IS LIKE.
323
00:14:52,325 --> 00:14:53,691
RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT RIGGED UP.
324
00:14:53,693 --> 00:14:55,126
YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT
OF PRESSURE IN THERE.
325
00:14:55,128 --> 00:14:56,628
THERE'S PROBABLY 14,
326
00:14:56,630 --> 00:14:58,696
15 POUNDS OF PRESSURE ON THERE,
THE WAY IT'S RIGGED.
327
00:14:58,698 --> 00:15:00,064
AND SO YOU CAN SEE
WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.
328
00:15:00,066 --> 00:15:02,934
I'LL TRY THAT TURN.
OKAY.
329
00:15:02,936 --> 00:15:05,803
RIGHT?
BUT EVEN THAT IS QUITE A BIT.
330
00:15:05,805 --> 00:15:08,273
BUT IF WE THROW THIS
DEAD BOLT...
331
00:15:08,275 --> 00:15:10,842
THEY DIDN'T JUST HAVE ONE BOLT
IN THE DOOR, THEY HAD SIX.
332
00:15:10,844 --> 00:15:12,877
AND THEY NEEDED A WRENCH
TO DO IT.
333
00:15:12,879 --> 00:15:17,115
SO THE DEAD BOLT REPRESENTS
THE SIX BOLTS IN THE HATCH,
334
00:15:17,117 --> 00:15:21,653
TO SHOW US THE PRESSURE OF EVEN
OPENING UP ONE WITH THE WRENCH.
335
00:15:21,655 --> 00:15:24,355
AND IF WE START THE WRAP
BEHIND THE DOOR,
336
00:15:24,357 --> 00:15:27,392
YOU'RE PUTTING
50 POUNDS OF FORCE THERE.
337
00:15:27,394 --> 00:15:29,661
HERE'S ANOTHER 50.
338
00:15:29,663 --> 00:15:30,695
HERE'S ANOTHER 50.
339
00:15:30,697 --> 00:15:32,563
SO EVERY WRAP
IS ADDING PRESSURE.
340
00:15:32,565 --> 00:15:36,234
EVERY WRAP IS PROBABLY
ABOUT 50 POUNDS.
341
00:15:36,236 --> 00:15:37,936
I'LL TRY TO MAKE 10 WRAPS.
342
00:15:37,938 --> 00:15:41,005
AH, GEEZ.
343
00:15:41,007 --> 00:15:42,740
I TUNED IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
344
00:15:42,742 --> 00:15:44,442
IF YOU GIVE IT A TRY...
345
00:15:44,444 --> 00:15:46,945
I AM GONNA STAND ASIDE WHILE YOU
ATTEMPT TO OPEN THIS DOOR.
346
00:15:46,947 --> 00:15:50,081
OKAY?
-ALL RIGHT.
347
00:15:50,083 --> 00:15:51,916
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL GO FOR IT FIRST.
348
00:15:55,755 --> 00:15:57,555
Melvin: WOW.
IS IT BUDGING?
349
00:15:58,692 --> 00:16:01,426
NAH. NO.
350
00:16:01,428 --> 00:16:02,694
IT'S YOUR TURN.
351
00:16:02,696 --> 00:16:04,329
LET ME TRY.
352
00:16:07,734 --> 00:16:10,034
[ GRUNTS ]
353
00:16:10,036 --> 00:16:11,436
OKAY.
354
00:16:11,438 --> 00:16:13,504
YOU CAN'T TOUCH IT.
355
00:16:13,506 --> 00:16:15,173
WHAT IF ONE OF US
PULLS ON IT?
356
00:16:15,175 --> 00:16:17,208
SO, I'LL PULL THE HANDLE.
YOU TAKE THE...
357
00:16:17,210 --> 00:16:18,843
LET'S TRY TO PULL IT BACK.
358
00:16:20,780 --> 00:16:22,847
[ BOTH GROANING ]
359
00:16:22,849 --> 00:16:24,949
AND THIS IS PROBABLY 1/40th
360
00:16:24,951 --> 00:16:28,886
OF WHAT THE FORCE THEY WERE
EXPERIENCING, YEAH.
361
00:16:28,888 --> 00:16:31,089
Melvin: THIS WAS A REHEARSAL
FOR THE LAUNCH,
362
00:16:31,091 --> 00:16:32,790
SO THE CAPSULE
WAS COMPLETELY SEALED
363
00:16:32,792 --> 00:16:34,559
LIKE IT WOULD BE
IN OUTER SPACE.
364
00:16:34,561 --> 00:16:36,060
SO THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE,
365
00:16:36,062 --> 00:16:38,129
FED BY THE PURE-OXYGEN
ENVIRONMENT,
366
00:16:38,131 --> 00:16:40,231
CAUSED THE PRESSURE
TO SKYROCKET.
367
00:16:40,233 --> 00:16:42,967
THAT'S WHY THE ASTRONAUTS
HAD NO CHANCE TO ESCAPE.
368
00:16:42,969 --> 00:16:46,471
JUST, REALLY BAD FOR MY
ASTRONAUT BUDDIES IN THERE.
369
00:16:46,473 --> 00:16:48,306
Jenkins: YOU KNOW,
THIS TEST DEMONSTRATED
370
00:16:48,308 --> 00:16:52,210
THAT THE APOLLO 1 ASTRONAUTS
REALLY HAD NO CHANCE OF ESCAPE.
371
00:16:52,212 --> 00:16:53,478
BUT I DON'T THINK WE WOULD
HAVE BEEN ABLE
372
00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:56,514
TO REACH OUR ULTIMATE GOAL
WITHOUT THEIR SACRIFICE.
373
00:16:56,516 --> 00:16:59,751
IT MAKES ME THINK
OF WHAT THOSE MEN
374
00:16:59,753 --> 00:17:02,286
ENDURED FOR THE UNITED STATES
375
00:17:02,288 --> 00:17:05,156
IN ORDER TO GET OURSELVES
TO THE MOON FIRST.
376
00:17:05,158 --> 00:17:07,158
TRUE HEROES AND PATRIOTS.
377
00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:08,659
Bara: THEY WERE CALLING IT
A SPACE RACE,
378
00:17:08,661 --> 00:17:11,195
AND THEY WERE RACING SO FAST
THEY DROPPED THE BALL
379
00:17:11,197 --> 00:17:14,532
ON BASIC ELEMENTS LIKE
PRESSURIZATION AND A DOOR LATCH.
380
00:17:14,534 --> 00:17:17,168
SO THERE'S NO WAY THEY WERE EVEN
CLOSE TO FIGURING OUT
381
00:17:17,170 --> 00:17:19,504
ORBITAL METHODS,
CALCULATING FUEL REQUIREMENTS,
382
00:17:19,506 --> 00:17:21,539
OR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS
OF RE-ENTRY.
383
00:17:21,541 --> 00:17:23,941
THIS IS FODDER FOR SO MANY
CONSPIRACY THEORIES.
384
00:17:23,943 --> 00:17:29,313
THEY JUST WEREN'T READY IN 1967,
AND THEY WEREN'T READY IN 1969.
385
00:17:29,315 --> 00:17:31,449
NONE OF THIS MEANS THAT NASA
WASN'T CAPABLE
386
00:17:31,451 --> 00:17:32,850
OF SENDING MEN TO THE MOON.
387
00:17:32,852 --> 00:17:34,786
IN FACT, WHAT THEY LEARNED
FROM APOLLO 1
388
00:17:34,788 --> 00:17:36,387
PUT THEM ONE STEP CLOSER.
389
00:17:36,389 --> 00:17:37,855
BASED ON THIS TRAGEDY,
390
00:17:37,857 --> 00:17:40,658
THE HATCH DOOR WAS IMPROVED
FOR FUTURE MISSIONS
391
00:17:40,660 --> 00:17:43,995
SO IT COULD BE MORE
EASILY OPENED IN EMERGENCIES.
392
00:17:43,997 --> 00:17:46,631
MY ASTRONAUT BROTHERS
PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE
393
00:17:46,633 --> 00:17:49,634
FOR THE LOVE OF THEIR COUNTRY,
BUT IT WAS NOT IN VAIN.
394
00:17:52,405 --> 00:17:55,339
Narrator: DID A NASA SAFETY
INSPECTOR TRY TO WARN THE WORLD
395
00:17:55,341 --> 00:17:58,576
THAT THEY WEREN'T READY
TO PUT A MAN ON THE MOON?
396
00:17:58,578 --> 00:18:00,978
AND WAS HIS UNTIMELY DEATH
AN ACCIDENT?
397
00:18:00,980 --> 00:18:02,480
OR A COVER-UP?
398
00:18:02,482 --> 00:18:06,317
WHO WASHES THEIR CAR 20 MINUTES
BEFORE THEY GO COMMIT SUICIDE?
399
00:18:06,319 --> 00:18:07,618
THINGS DON'T
MAKE SENSE HERE.
400
00:18:07,620 --> 00:18:12,056
♪
401
00:18:18,998 --> 00:18:28,072
♪
402
00:18:28,074 --> 00:18:30,074
OUR FIRE AND DOOR TESTS
CONFIRMED THAT
403
00:18:30,076 --> 00:18:32,110
NASA'S EXPLANATION
FOR WHAT HAPPENED
404
00:18:32,112 --> 00:18:34,512
IN THE APOLLO 1 DISASTER
IS CREDIBLE,
405
00:18:34,514 --> 00:18:37,181
BUT CLEARLY PROVED THAT NASA
HAD A LOT OF WORK TO DO
406
00:18:37,183 --> 00:18:39,851
BEFORE PUTTING A MAN
ON THE MOON.
407
00:18:39,853 --> 00:18:41,953
EVEN IF THOSE ASTRONAUTS DIED
BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT,
408
00:18:41,955 --> 00:18:43,421
THERE ARE STILL
CONSPIRACY THEORIES
409
00:18:43,423 --> 00:18:49,026
THAT NASA WOULD STOP AT NOTHING
TO SILENCE DISSENT OR CRITICISM.
410
00:18:49,028 --> 00:18:51,562
Jenkins: EVEN BEFORE
THE APOLLO 1 DISASTER,
411
00:18:51,564 --> 00:18:55,833
DID YOU KNOW THAT CONCERNS WERE
BEING RAISED WITHIN NASA ITSELF?
412
00:18:55,835 --> 00:18:58,736
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF
THOMAS RONALD BARON?
413
00:19:01,174 --> 00:19:04,876
FROM SEPTEMBER OF 1965
UNTIL NOVEMBER OF 1966,
414
00:19:04,878 --> 00:19:07,211
BARON WAS A MISSILE
PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTOR
415
00:19:07,213 --> 00:19:08,913
IN THE QUALITY
CONTROL DEPARTMENT
416
00:19:08,915 --> 00:19:11,716
OF NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION,
THE COMPANY IN CHARGE
417
00:19:11,718 --> 00:19:14,552
OF BUILDING THE APOLLO 1
COMMAND MODULE.
418
00:19:14,554 --> 00:19:17,321
DURING THAT TIME, HE KEPT NOTES
ON WHAT HE PERCEIVED
419
00:19:17,323 --> 00:19:18,723
AS FLAWS IN THE PROJECT
420
00:19:18,725 --> 00:19:23,161
AND SUBMITTED HIS 55-PAGE REPORT
TO NASA AT THE END OF 1966.
421
00:19:30,370 --> 00:19:32,737
Jenkins: BARON FELT IGNORED
BY HIS SUPERIORS,
422
00:19:32,739 --> 00:19:35,573
SO HE DELIBERATELY LEAKED
THIS REPORT TO THE PRESS,
423
00:19:35,575 --> 00:19:41,445
FORCING NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION
TO FIRE HIM ON JANUARY 5, 1967.
424
00:19:41,447 --> 00:19:44,382
LESS THAN A MONTH LATER,
THE TRAGEDY HE PREDICTED
425
00:19:44,384 --> 00:19:47,185
TOOK THE LIVES
OF THREE AMERICAN HEROES.
426
00:20:06,005 --> 00:20:08,706
ON APRIL 21, 1967,
427
00:20:08,708 --> 00:20:11,609
BARON TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS
ABOUT HIS FINDINGS,
428
00:20:11,611 --> 00:20:16,280
BRINGING WITH HIM A NEW AND MORE
DETAILED 500-PAGE REPORT.
429
00:20:16,282 --> 00:20:19,650
Bara: BARON'S APPEARANCE BEFORE
THE SUBCOMMITTEE LASTED HOURS.
430
00:20:19,652 --> 00:20:21,552
AT THE VERY START, HE SPOKE
OF WHAT HE CALLED
431
00:20:21,554 --> 00:20:24,889
"EXTENSIVE PROBLEMS" AT NORTH
AMERICAN CONCERNING SAFETY.
432
00:20:24,891 --> 00:20:26,290
I HAVE A TRANSCRIPT
OF HIS HEARING,
433
00:20:26,292 --> 00:20:28,392
AND AT ONE POINT, HE'S ASKED
WHAT HE WOULD CONSIDER
434
00:20:28,394 --> 00:20:30,461
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
OF HIS POINTS.
435
00:20:30,463 --> 00:20:33,331
SO, READING FROM THE REPORT,
HE SAYS, "I MEAN,
436
00:20:33,333 --> 00:20:35,566
IF I WERE TO WRITE A LETTER
ABOUT A PARTICULAR INSTANCE
437
00:20:35,568 --> 00:20:37,568
OR A FIRE
OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
438
00:20:37,570 --> 00:20:39,370
OR SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE HAD,
439
00:20:39,372 --> 00:20:41,272
AND TRY TO GET IT UP
THROUGH CHANNELS,
440
00:20:41,274 --> 00:20:43,241
IT WOULD BE STOPPED
ALONG THE WAY.
441
00:20:43,243 --> 00:20:45,076
THIS HAS OCCURRED."
442
00:20:45,078 --> 00:20:47,345
AND AT THE END OF HIS TESTIMONY,
443
00:20:47,347 --> 00:20:50,014
WHEN ASKED IF HE'D LIKE
TO MAKE ANY FINAL STATEMENTS,
444
00:20:50,016 --> 00:20:52,683
HE SAYS HE'D LIKE TO SUBMIT
AS PART OF THE RECORD
445
00:20:52,685 --> 00:20:54,619
HIS 500-PAGE REPORT.
446
00:20:54,621 --> 00:20:57,154
SO THEY TELL HIM, WE CAN'T
TAKE IT AS AN EXHIBIT.
447
00:20:57,156 --> 00:20:59,323
WHETHER WE PRINT IT AS PART
OF THE PUBLIC RECORD
448
00:20:59,325 --> 00:21:01,425
IS SOMETHING WE WILL DECIDE
AFTER WE SEE IT.
449
00:21:01,427 --> 00:21:04,929
ONLY ONE WEEK AFTER TESTIFYING,
THE GUY IS DEAD.
450
00:21:04,931 --> 00:21:08,633
BARON AND HIS FAMILY WERE KILLED
WHEN THEIR CAR STRUCK A TREE.
451
00:21:08,635 --> 00:21:13,170
THE 500-PAGE REPORT WAS NEVER
MADE PUBLIC AND HAS DISAPPEARED.
452
00:21:13,172 --> 00:21:15,473
MAYBE HE WAS DISGRUNTLED.
453
00:21:15,475 --> 00:21:18,909
HE DIES SUDDENLY, WHICH I
FIND VERY, VERY SUSPICIOUS.
454
00:21:18,911 --> 00:21:21,379
IN THE CONSPIRACY COMMUNITY,
BARON IS A LEGEND
455
00:21:21,381 --> 00:21:22,546
FOR TAKING ON NASA,
456
00:21:22,548 --> 00:21:24,649
AND I BELIEVE HE WAS SILENCED.
457
00:21:24,651 --> 00:21:26,917
I'M SURE THIS IS GONNA BE HARD
FOR LELAND TO HEAR,
458
00:21:26,919 --> 00:21:28,986
BUT THE SPACE PROGRAM
HAD ITS FLAWS.
459
00:21:28,988 --> 00:21:30,988
Melvin: TO BE HONEST, AS AN
ASTRONAUT, IT REALLY PAINS ME
460
00:21:30,990 --> 00:21:33,691
THAT WE HAVE TO INVESTIGATE
HIS DEATH AS A CONSPIRACY.
461
00:21:33,693 --> 00:21:35,626
I DON'T REMOTELY BELIEVE IT.
462
00:21:35,628 --> 00:21:37,561
AND IT'S ACTUALLY
VERY OFFENSIVE.
463
00:21:37,563 --> 00:21:41,832
BUT I'LL DO THIS TO PUT THIS
CONSPIRACY NONSENSE TO BED.
464
00:21:41,834 --> 00:21:44,302
WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE THE DEATH
OF THOMAS BARON
465
00:21:44,304 --> 00:21:46,337
AND DETERMINE
IF THERE WAS ANY FOUL PLAY.
466
00:21:46,339 --> 00:21:48,306
IF THERE WAS, WE'RE BACK
TO WONDERING WHETHER
467
00:21:48,308 --> 00:21:51,676
NASA WAS COVERING UP THEIR LACK
OF READINESS TO GO TO THE MOON.
468
00:21:51,678 --> 00:21:54,545
UNTIL APOLLO 1, NASA HAD LOST
ONLY THREE ASTRONAUTS,
469
00:21:54,547 --> 00:21:56,447
AND ALL OF THEM
ON JET-TRAINING FLIGHTS.
470
00:21:56,449 --> 00:21:58,115
WE HAD TO BEAT THE SOVIETS
AT ANY COST,
471
00:21:58,117 --> 00:22:01,218
AND IF THE APOLLO 1 TRAGEDY
WASN'T GONNA STOP NASA,
472
00:22:01,220 --> 00:22:02,820
NEITHER WAS THOMAS BARON.
473
00:22:02,822 --> 00:22:08,759
♪
474
00:22:08,761 --> 00:22:10,361
Jenkins: I TRACKED DOWN
A POTENTIAL SOURCE
475
00:22:10,363 --> 00:22:12,029
WHO MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE US
SOME INFO
476
00:22:12,031 --> 00:22:13,964
ON THOMAS BARON'S DEATH.
477
00:22:13,966 --> 00:22:16,267
JOURNALIST GARY CORSAIR.
478
00:22:16,269 --> 00:22:20,471
HE'S INTERVIEWED BARON'S FAMILY,
INTERVIEWED LOTS OF PEOPLE
479
00:22:20,473 --> 00:22:23,774
THAT WERE IN THE SPACE PROGRAM
EARLY ON.
480
00:22:23,776 --> 00:22:26,310
Melvin: YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT
YOU'RE, LIKE, AN FBI GUY,
481
00:22:26,312 --> 00:22:28,179
YOU KNOW, LIKE EXPERT
AND ALL THAT, BUT...
482
00:22:28,181 --> 00:22:30,848
HOW DO YOU KEEP FINDING
ALL THESE PEOPLE, MAN?
483
00:22:30,850 --> 00:22:31,982
WHAT'S YOUR SECRET?
484
00:22:31,984 --> 00:22:33,617
LELAND, I LIKE YOU
TOO MUCH, MAN.
485
00:22:33,619 --> 00:22:35,486
IF I TOLD YOU,
I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU.
486
00:22:35,488 --> 00:22:41,859
♪
487
00:22:41,861 --> 00:22:43,728
I THINK I SEE HIM.
488
00:22:43,730 --> 00:22:46,230
HERE WE GO.
489
00:22:46,232 --> 00:22:47,798
GARY?
GOOD MORNING.
490
00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:49,567
HEY. GOOD MORNING.
CHAD JENKINS.
491
00:22:49,569 --> 00:22:51,635
NICE TO MEET YOU, CHAD.
THANKS FOR MEETING US.
492
00:22:51,637 --> 00:22:52,837
LELAND MELVIN.
HOW YOU DOIN'?
493
00:22:52,839 --> 00:22:54,839
NICE TO MEET YOU, LELAND.
HAVE A SEAT.
494
00:22:54,841 --> 00:22:56,574
YEAH.
495
00:22:56,576 --> 00:22:59,677
WE'RE LOOKING INTO
THE EARLY DAYS OF APOLLO,
496
00:22:59,679 --> 00:23:01,345
AND WHAT WE'D LIKE
TO ASK TO YOU ABOUT
497
00:23:01,347 --> 00:23:04,915
IS A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THOMAS BARON.
498
00:23:04,917 --> 00:23:09,353
HE WAS A GUY IN HIS MID-20's
WHO WAS VERY INTELLIGENT,
499
00:23:09,355 --> 00:23:11,956
VERY METICULOUS,
VERY EXACTING.
500
00:23:11,958 --> 00:23:15,059
HIGH-SCHOOL EDUCATION BUT WENT
STRAIGHT INTO THE AIR FORCE.
501
00:23:15,061 --> 00:23:17,561
HE SPENT ABOUT FOUR YEARS
WORKING AS A TECH
502
00:23:17,563 --> 00:23:19,296
ON ALL SORTS OF AIRCRAFTS.
503
00:23:19,298 --> 00:23:22,500
SO, REALLY, HE HAD A LOT OF
KNOW-HOW AS FAR AS AERONAUTICAL.
504
00:23:22,502 --> 00:23:25,669
WHAT WAS HIS BIGGEST CONCERN
ABOUT THE APOLLO 1?
505
00:23:25,671 --> 00:23:27,204
WOW, THERE WAS...
506
00:23:27,206 --> 00:23:30,074
YOU KNOW, OTHER GUYS DON'T CARE,
THEY'RE TAKING SHORTCUTS,
507
00:23:30,076 --> 00:23:31,909
THEY'RE NOT
FOLLOWING THE SPECS,
508
00:23:31,911 --> 00:23:35,279
THEY'RE CHANGING THE SPECS,
OR DISREGARDING TAGS.
509
00:23:35,281 --> 00:23:37,648
I MEAN, THEY LOVED IT
WHEN HE WAS OUT SICK
510
00:23:37,650 --> 00:23:39,450
BECAUSE THEY GOT WORK DONE.
511
00:23:39,452 --> 00:23:40,885
SO HE WASN'T A POPULAR GUY
512
00:23:40,887 --> 00:23:42,820
AMONGST HIS PEER,
OR HIS SUPERVISORS.
513
00:23:42,822 --> 00:23:45,022
THEY WERE BEHIND SCHEDULE
AND HE WAS PUTTING THEM
514
00:23:45,024 --> 00:23:46,791
FARTHER BEHIND SCHEDULE
EVERY DAY.
515
00:23:46,793 --> 00:23:48,526
THIS DEADLINE OF LESS
THAN A DECADE,
516
00:23:48,528 --> 00:23:49,927
OR A DECADE,
TO GET TO THE MOON.
517
00:23:49,929 --> 00:23:50,895
RIGHT.
518
00:23:50,897 --> 00:23:52,797
AND THAT WAS VERY REAL
WITHIN NASA.
519
00:23:52,799 --> 00:23:55,866
MY GOLLY, WE'VE GOT TO GET THERE
BEFORE THE RUSSIANS.
520
00:23:55,868 --> 00:23:58,335
WAS HE GETTING IN TROUBLE AT ALL
FOR COMPLAINING
521
00:23:58,337 --> 00:24:00,371
THE WAY HE WAS
TO HIS SUPERIORS?
522
00:24:00,373 --> 00:24:03,274
IT GOT TO THE POINT
WHERE HIS SUPERVISORS SAID
523
00:24:03,276 --> 00:24:05,543
"YOU NEED TO
RATCHET IT DOWN.
524
00:24:05,545 --> 00:24:07,578
YOU NEED TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY
A LITTLE BIT."
525
00:24:07,580 --> 00:24:10,047
SO HE GOT HIS HANDS
SLAPPED ALL THE TIME.
526
00:24:10,049 --> 00:24:11,982
INSTEAD, HE WENT
AND TALKED TO THE PRESS.
527
00:24:30,102 --> 00:24:33,804
I THINK NASA WENT TO GREAT
LENGTHS TO DISCREDIT TOM BARON.
528
00:24:33,806 --> 00:24:36,407
AND BARON HAD REAL CONCERNS
ABOUT THAT.
529
00:24:36,409 --> 00:24:38,742
I DO KNOW THAT BARON
WAS FOLLOWED.
530
00:24:38,744 --> 00:24:40,744
SOMEONE HAD RANSACKED
HIS TRAILER.
531
00:24:40,746 --> 00:24:42,513
I THINK IT'S SAFE TO ASSUME
THEY WERE LOOKING
532
00:24:42,515 --> 00:24:44,582
FOR HIS 500-PAGE REPORT.
533
00:24:44,584 --> 00:24:48,219
THIS IS ALL CRUCIAL,
SENSITIVE STUFF.
534
00:24:48,221 --> 00:24:51,288
MANY OF THE ASTRONAUTS MOSTLY
HAD SOME PROBLEMS
535
00:24:51,290 --> 00:24:53,757
WITH THE WAY OPERATION
WAS GOING ON.
536
00:24:53,759 --> 00:24:57,595
YEAH, GRISSOM. I MEAN, HE HUNG A
LEMON ON ONE OF THE PROTOTYPES.
537
00:24:57,597 --> 00:24:59,497
HE SAYS, "WE'RE GONNA
FLY IN THIS?"
538
00:24:59,499 --> 00:25:01,465
AND HE ALSO MADE A COMMENT
539
00:25:01,467 --> 00:25:04,001
THAT THE TECHNOLOGY
AND THE ENGINEERING
540
00:25:04,003 --> 00:25:06,704
WASN'T AS GOOD AS IT WAS
ON MERCURY AND GEMINI.
541
00:25:06,706 --> 00:25:08,439
OH, WOW.
WITH THIS KIND OF EVIDENCE,
542
00:25:08,441 --> 00:25:10,274
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SAYING
THAT NASA REALLY WASN'T
543
00:25:10,276 --> 00:25:11,509
READY TO GO TO THE MOON.
544
00:25:11,511 --> 00:25:13,878
GUS WAS WORRIED THAT THEY
WERE NOT GONNA COME BACK
545
00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,380
FROM THAT FLIGHT,
AND, AS YOU KNOW, BARON,
546
00:25:16,382 --> 00:25:19,817
RIGHT UP UNTIL THE FIRE, SAID,
"SOMETHING BAD'S GONNA HAPPEN."
547
00:25:19,819 --> 00:25:24,221
DO YOU THINK, UH, THAT TOM
BARON'S DEATH WAS AN ACCIDENT?
548
00:25:24,223 --> 00:25:28,859
I HAVE THE ONLY COPY OF THE
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT.
549
00:25:28,861 --> 00:25:30,861
TELL US ABOUT THOMAS BARON.
550
00:25:30,863 --> 00:25:33,230
UH, THE GUY'S MAKING NOTHING
BUT TROUBLE.
551
00:25:33,232 --> 00:25:35,332
I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF.
552
00:25:35,334 --> 00:25:37,101
I'M NEVER GONNA LET THIS
HAPPEN AGAIN.
553
00:25:37,103 --> 00:25:41,472
♪
554
00:25:48,581 --> 00:25:56,387
♪
555
00:25:56,389 --> 00:25:59,623
Jenkins: SO, THOMAS BARON WASN'T
A POPULAR GUY AMONGST HIS PEERS.
556
00:25:59,625 --> 00:26:01,926
THEY WERE BEHIND SCHEDULE,
AND HE WAS PUTTING THEM
557
00:26:01,928 --> 00:26:03,661
FARTHER BEHIND SCHEDULE
EVERY DAY.
558
00:26:03,663 --> 00:26:06,063
AND THE PRESIDENT HAD THIS,
YOU KNOW, MANDATE
559
00:26:06,065 --> 00:26:08,332
TO GET US TO THE MOON
IN TEN YEARS,
560
00:26:08,334 --> 00:26:09,667
AND PEOPLE WERE
PUSHING FOR THAT.
561
00:26:09,669 --> 00:26:11,035
THEY'RE LIKE, "BROTHER, CAN'T
YOU LOOK THE OTHER WAY
562
00:26:11,037 --> 00:26:12,069
ONCE IN A WHILE?"
RIGHT.
563
00:26:12,071 --> 00:26:13,904
"WE GOT A DEADLINE
TO MEET."
564
00:26:13,906 --> 00:26:16,273
Jenkins: THOMAS BARON WAS A NASA
WHISTLE-BLOWER
565
00:26:16,275 --> 00:26:19,009
WHO WAS EVENTUALLY FIRED
FOR LEAKING HIS OPINIONS
566
00:26:19,011 --> 00:26:20,311
ON THE APOLLO PROGRAM.
567
00:26:20,313 --> 00:26:23,514
JUST ONE WEEK AFTER HE TESTIFIES
BEFORE CONGRESS,
568
00:26:23,516 --> 00:26:25,950
HE DIES WITH HIS WIFE
AND STEPDAUGHTER
569
00:26:25,952 --> 00:26:27,851
WHEN HIS CAR
GETS HIT BY A TRAIN,
570
00:26:27,853 --> 00:26:30,421
AND HIS 500-PAGE REPORT
GOES MISSING.
571
00:26:30,423 --> 00:26:33,190
THE QUESTION IS --
IS THIS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT,
572
00:26:33,192 --> 00:26:35,225
OR WAS HE SILENCED
TO PROTECT NASA?
573
00:26:35,227 --> 00:26:41,131
DO YOU THINK, UH, THAT TOM
BARON'S DEATH WAS AN ACCIDENT?
574
00:26:41,133 --> 00:26:44,768
I'M HOPING YOU GUYS CAN HELP ME
ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
575
00:26:44,770 --> 00:26:47,204
I HAVE WHAT I BELIEVE
IS THE ONLY COPY
576
00:26:47,206 --> 00:26:51,642
OF THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT.
577
00:26:51,644 --> 00:26:52,910
THAT'S THE ACTUAL REPORT?
WOW.
578
00:26:52,912 --> 00:26:55,379
THAT'S THE ONLY COPY
THAT I KNOW EXISTS.
579
00:26:55,381 --> 00:26:57,748
NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO SHOW
OFF OUT IN THE OPEN HERE.
580
00:26:57,750 --> 00:26:58,983
RIGHT.
581
00:26:58,985 --> 00:27:02,786
I THINK IT WAS VERY,
VERY SUSPICIOUS.
582
00:27:02,788 --> 00:27:04,622
THE RUMOR THAT WAS OUT THERE
FOR A LONG TIME
583
00:27:04,624 --> 00:27:07,157
WAS THAT HE WAS SO DISTRAUGHT
OF BEING FIRED
584
00:27:07,159 --> 00:27:08,826
AND ALL
THAT HE COMMITTED SUICIDE.
585
00:27:08,828 --> 00:27:10,160
MM.
586
00:27:10,162 --> 00:27:12,596
TO WHICH I SAY, "WHO WASHES
THEIR CAR 20 MINUTES
587
00:27:12,598 --> 00:27:14,965
BEFORE THEY GO
COMMIT SUICIDE?"
588
00:27:14,967 --> 00:27:18,869
BUT WHAT REALLY DRIVES
CONSPIRACY THEORISTS IS THE FACT
589
00:27:18,871 --> 00:27:22,906
THAT THE TRAIN ORIGINATED
FROM THE JAY JAY RAIL YARD,
590
00:27:22,908 --> 00:27:27,745
WHICH WAS OWNED
AND OPERATED BY NASA.
591
00:27:27,747 --> 00:27:29,146
INTERESTING STORY.
592
00:27:29,148 --> 00:27:32,216
YEAH.
YEAH, IT REALLY IS.
593
00:27:32,218 --> 00:27:34,218
THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE
THAT WOULD LOVE FOR ME
594
00:27:34,220 --> 00:27:36,587
TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS SUICIDE,
BUT I'M NOT BUYING IT.
595
00:27:36,589 --> 00:27:39,456
ONE, THE TRAIN CAME FROM
A NASA RAIL YARD.
596
00:27:39,458 --> 00:27:42,092
TWO, WHY WOULD HE DRIVE HIS CAR
INTO A TRAIN
597
00:27:42,094 --> 00:27:45,029
WITH HIS WIFE
AND CHILDREN ON BOARD?
598
00:27:45,031 --> 00:27:46,730
I THINK THE THING WAS STAGED.
599
00:27:46,732 --> 00:27:49,233
TO ME, THE PLACE TO START
IS FLORIDA,
600
00:27:49,235 --> 00:27:52,836
WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED,
WHERE BARON LIVED.
601
00:27:52,838 --> 00:27:54,471
Melvin:
LET'S GO TO FLORIDA.
602
00:27:59,278 --> 00:28:01,879
THIS SAYS HE HAD A FRACTURED
SKULL,
603
00:28:01,881 --> 00:28:04,581
LACERATIONS ON THE HEAD,
FRACTURED RIBS.
604
00:28:04,583 --> 00:28:07,051
ALL THOSE INJURIES ARE
CONSISTENT WITH A CAR ACCIDENT.
605
00:28:07,053 --> 00:28:09,820
I'M NO EXPERT, BUT THAT'S
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME.
606
00:28:09,822 --> 00:28:11,522
THE POLICE REPORT
IS EYE-OPENING,
607
00:28:11,524 --> 00:28:13,724
BUT WE CAN'T JUST GO
ON THE COMMENTS OF A REPORTER
608
00:28:13,726 --> 00:28:15,259
WITH NO TIES TO NASA.
609
00:28:15,261 --> 00:28:17,795
BEFORE WE GO ASKING
WILD QUESTIONS LIKE,
610
00:28:17,797 --> 00:28:19,129
"COULD HE HAVE BEEN KILLED?"
611
00:28:19,131 --> 00:28:21,131
WE NEED TO FIND SOMEONE
WHO WORKED WITH HIM
612
00:28:21,133 --> 00:28:23,434
AND KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON
BEHIND THE SCENES.
613
00:28:23,436 --> 00:28:26,704
I WAS ABLE TO FIND A GUY
WHO ACTUALLY WORKED
614
00:28:26,706 --> 00:28:28,605
WITH THOMAS BARON --
615
00:28:28,607 --> 00:28:29,840
ERNIE REYES.
616
00:28:29,842 --> 00:28:31,241
WHAT BETTER PERSON
THAN SOMEBODY
617
00:28:31,243 --> 00:28:34,645
WHO DIRECTLY WORKED
WITH THOMAS AT NASA?
618
00:28:36,782 --> 00:28:39,183
ERNIE REYES WORKED FOR NASA
FROM THE BEGINNING --
619
00:28:39,185 --> 00:28:41,085
IN FACT,
EVEN BEFORE THE BEGINNING,
620
00:28:41,087 --> 00:28:44,321
WORKING ON THE X-15 ROCKETS
IN THE MID-'50s.
621
00:28:44,323 --> 00:28:46,023
HE WAS AN ENGINEER
AND TECHNICIAN
622
00:28:46,025 --> 00:28:48,192
ON THE GEMINI
AND APOLLO PROGRAMS,
623
00:28:48,194 --> 00:28:51,095
WORKING ON THE HARDWARE OF THE
CAPSULE, THE COMMAND MODULE,
624
00:28:51,097 --> 00:28:53,864
AND EVEN THE LUNAR LANDER
AT THE ROCKET RANCH.
625
00:28:53,866 --> 00:28:55,199
DURING THE APOLLO PROGRAM,
626
00:28:55,201 --> 00:28:57,735
HE WAS THE DIRECTOR
OF QUALITY ASSURANCE,
627
00:28:57,737 --> 00:29:01,772
WORKING AS AN INSPECTOR WITH
THOMAS BARON ON A DAILY BASIS.
628
00:29:01,774 --> 00:29:05,075
HE WAS EVEN THERE WHEN
THE APOLLO 1 FIRE HAPPENED.
629
00:29:07,346 --> 00:29:09,079
A LOT OF THE APOLLO
ASTRONAUTS --
630
00:29:09,081 --> 00:29:10,614
IT'S HARD TO GET
A HOLD OF THEM
631
00:29:10,616 --> 00:29:12,950
'CAUSE THIS HAPPENED
50 YEARS AGO.
632
00:29:12,952 --> 00:29:14,585
THERE'S NOT MANY
THAT ARE LEFT
633
00:29:14,587 --> 00:29:18,689
THAT WORKED ON THE PROJECT
AND HAD ACCESS TO NASA, AS WELL.
634
00:29:18,691 --> 00:29:20,257
THIS IS A HUGE FIND
FOR US.
635
00:29:20,259 --> 00:29:21,492
HOPEFULLY IT'S A GOLD MINE.
636
00:29:21,494 --> 00:29:22,993
Melvin:
I'M EXCITED TO INTERVIEW ERNIE.
637
00:29:22,995 --> 00:29:25,696
THESE EARLY NASA GUYS
ARE LEGENDS,
638
00:29:25,698 --> 00:29:28,599
BUT THEY DON'T GET ENOUGH CREDIT
FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.
639
00:29:28,601 --> 00:29:36,774
♪
640
00:29:36,776 --> 00:29:37,708
HI.
641
00:29:37,710 --> 00:29:38,742
HEY, SIR,
ARE YOU MR. REYES?
642
00:29:38,744 --> 00:29:40,878
AFRAID SO.
I'M CHAD JENKINS.
643
00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:42,780
I'M A FORMER FBI AGENT.
644
00:29:42,782 --> 00:29:43,881
HELLO, SIR.
HOW YOU DOING?
645
00:29:43,883 --> 00:29:45,282
MY NAME'S LELAND MELVIN.
646
00:29:45,284 --> 00:29:48,152
LELAND, I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU
WITHOUT YOUR BLUE SUIT.
647
00:29:48,154 --> 00:29:49,620
COME ON IN.
RIGHT.
648
00:29:49,622 --> 00:29:51,321
WE APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US
COME HERE
649
00:29:51,323 --> 00:29:53,390
AND ASK YOU
A FEW QUESTIONS.
650
00:29:53,392 --> 00:29:57,027
THIS WHOLE PLACE IS DECORATED
WITH SPACE-ERA GOODIES,
651
00:29:57,029 --> 00:30:01,131
'CAUSE I SPENT MY LIFE
AT THE ROCKET RANCH.
652
00:30:01,133 --> 00:30:05,736
Jenkins:
IS IT TRUE THAT YOU WERE PART OF
THE APOLLO 1 PROGRAM IN 1967?
653
00:30:05,738 --> 00:30:07,838
YES, SIR.
654
00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:10,240
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THOMAS BARON?
655
00:30:10,242 --> 00:30:12,976
OH, MY GOD.
656
00:30:12,978 --> 00:30:16,947
HE WAS STUBBORN
AS THE DAY IS LONG,
657
00:30:16,949 --> 00:30:20,450
AND HE WAS HUNGRY
TO WRITE UP THINGS
658
00:30:20,452 --> 00:30:23,187
THAT WERE SOMETIMES
TRUE DISCREPANCIES,
659
00:30:23,189 --> 00:30:24,922
AND TIMES THEY WERE NOT.
660
00:30:24,924 --> 00:30:28,425
AND THIS WAS SLOWING DOWN
THE PROCESS?
661
00:30:28,427 --> 00:30:31,895
WE HAD A TREMENDOUS CONSTRAINTS
TO GET THE CREW TRAINED.
662
00:30:31,897 --> 00:30:34,431
THE CREW LAUNCHED
THE APOLLO PROGRAM.
663
00:30:34,433 --> 00:30:36,700
THE PRESIDENT HAD SAID
BY THE END OF THE DECADE.
664
00:30:36,702 --> 00:30:38,001
YEAH.
665
00:30:38,003 --> 00:30:39,670
WAS HE LIKED BY FELLOW
COWORKERS,
666
00:30:39,672 --> 00:30:41,238
OR WAS HE, LIKE,
A NUISANCE?
667
00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:44,374
HE WAS, UH, NOT LOOKED
AT SOMEBODY THAT WAS,
668
00:30:44,376 --> 00:30:47,244
UH, ON THE SAME TEAM.
669
00:30:47,246 --> 00:30:49,479
NOT BRINGING ANYTHING
TO THE PARTY, OKAY?
670
00:30:49,481 --> 00:30:50,914
KIND OF A NAYSAYER?
671
00:30:50,916 --> 00:30:53,517
A NAYSAYER.
672
00:30:53,519 --> 00:30:57,554
THEN IN '66, THEY SAID, UH,
"WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
673
00:30:57,556 --> 00:31:00,424
THE GUY'S MAKING NOTHING
BUT TROUBLE FOR ALL CONCERNED --
674
00:31:00,426 --> 00:31:03,327
INCLUDING OUR COMPANY.
DO WE NEED HIM?"
675
00:31:03,329 --> 00:31:04,528
RIGHT.
676
00:31:04,530 --> 00:31:06,396
BOOP, HE WAS TERMINATED.
677
00:31:08,901 --> 00:31:10,968
I HAPPENED TO
REVIEW HIS REPORT.
678
00:31:10,970 --> 00:31:12,502
MM-HMM.
THE YEAR OF THE ACCIDENT,
679
00:31:12,504 --> 00:31:14,638
1967.
680
00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:16,807
I WENT THROUGH
THAT WHOLE REPORT.
681
00:31:16,809 --> 00:31:18,809
HE KEPT SAYING THAT THERE WAS
GONNA BE A DISASTER...
682
00:31:18,811 --> 00:31:20,010
MM-HMM.
683
00:31:20,012 --> 00:31:23,247
...IF THEY DIDN'T
FIX WHAT HE FOUND.
684
00:31:23,249 --> 00:31:25,515
THERE WAS NOTHING
THAT INVOLVED ANYTHING
685
00:31:25,517 --> 00:31:27,985
THAT WOULD'VE
CAUSED THE FIRE.
686
00:31:27,987 --> 00:31:30,754
SO THOMAS BARON PREDICTED THAT
THERE WOULD BE A DISASTER,
687
00:31:30,756 --> 00:31:33,523
BUT NONE OF THE ITEMS HE FLAGGED
ACTUALLY LED
688
00:31:33,525 --> 00:31:34,892
TO THE APOLLO 1 FIRE.
689
00:31:34,894 --> 00:31:37,261
NASA WOULD HAVE NO REASON
TO SILENCE HIM.
690
00:31:37,263 --> 00:31:38,295
I KNEW IT.
691
00:31:38,297 --> 00:31:41,431
NOT SO FAST. BARON SAID,
BEFORE CONGRESS,
692
00:31:41,433 --> 00:31:44,768
THAT IN HIS NEW 500-PAGE REPORT,
THE ONE THAT IS NOW MISSING,
693
00:31:44,770 --> 00:31:46,536
THAT HE HAD INFORMATION
IN THERE
694
00:31:46,538 --> 00:31:49,239
REGARDING THE FLAMMABILITY
OF MATERIALS IN THE CAPSULE.
695
00:31:49,241 --> 00:31:50,874
SO, NASA MAY NOT HAVE
WANT HIM SILENCED
696
00:31:50,876 --> 00:31:53,010
FOR HIS INITIAL
55-PAGE REPORT,
697
00:31:53,012 --> 00:31:54,711
BUT THEY SURE AS HELL
WOULD WANT HIM TO SHUT UP
698
00:31:54,713 --> 00:31:56,546
IF HE HAD 500 PAGES
PROVING
699
00:31:56,548 --> 00:31:58,849
THAT THEY DIDN'T TAKE THE
FLAMMABILITY OF THE MATERIALS
700
00:31:58,851 --> 00:32:01,685
THEY USED IN THE CAPSULE
INTO ACCOUNT.
701
00:32:01,687 --> 00:32:04,755
DO WE REALLY THINK
THAT TOM WAS MURDERED
702
00:32:04,757 --> 00:32:06,857
BECAUSE OF THE TESTIMONY
HE GAVE?
703
00:32:06,859 --> 00:32:12,195
♪
704
00:32:19,805 --> 00:32:25,242
♪
705
00:32:25,244 --> 00:32:30,747
♪
706
00:32:30,749 --> 00:32:33,083
DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS
ABOUT THE ACCIDENT
707
00:32:33,085 --> 00:32:35,619
THAT TOOK PLACE
ON THOSE TRAIN TRACKS?
708
00:32:35,621 --> 00:32:38,855
ON MY LIST OF CONCERNS,
709
00:32:38,857 --> 00:32:41,058
THAT DIDN'T EVEN
MAKE THE TOP 20.
710
00:32:41,060 --> 00:32:42,259
MM-HMM.
711
00:32:42,261 --> 00:32:43,961
I DIDN'T LOOK INTO THAT,
AND I --
712
00:32:43,963 --> 00:32:45,996
I COULD NOT CONCERN MYSELF
WITH THAT.
713
00:32:45,998 --> 00:32:48,899
WE HAD HAD AN APOLLO
CAPSULE FIRE.
714
00:32:48,901 --> 00:32:52,235
WE WERE DISASSEMBLING IT
ONE NUT AT A TIME.
715
00:32:52,237 --> 00:32:54,071
WE HAD BURNT
THREE ASTRONAUTS.
716
00:32:56,175 --> 00:33:00,477
I WENT INTO AN AREA WHERE I HAD
BEEN WORKING EVERY DAY.
717
00:33:00,479 --> 00:33:05,115
FIRE BOTTLES, BURNED ITEMS --
EVERYTHING WAS A MESS,
718
00:33:05,117 --> 00:33:08,185
AND THEY PUT THE FLASHLIGHT
INTO THE COCKPIT...
719
00:33:13,025 --> 00:33:15,726
THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN THE GUYS
OUT, YET.
720
00:33:17,863 --> 00:33:21,832
I PHYSICALLY HELPED
PULL THE BODIES OUT.
721
00:33:21,834 --> 00:33:25,469
MM-HMM.
722
00:33:25,471 --> 00:33:27,571
I MADE A PROMISE
OF MYSELF.
723
00:33:27,573 --> 00:33:29,439
I'M NEVER GONNA LET THIS
HAPPEN AGAIN.
724
00:33:32,444 --> 00:33:35,078
Melvin: WATCHING THIS MAN RELIVE
THIS TRAGEDY
725
00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:37,948
MAKES ME THAT MUCH MORE
PROTECTIVE OF THE SPACE PROGRAM.
726
00:33:37,950 --> 00:33:41,718
WE GOT TO THE MOON, AND THIS MAN
HELPED US GET THERE.
727
00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:43,954
PERIOD.
CASE CLOSED.
728
00:33:43,956 --> 00:33:48,358
WAS THERE DOUBT ABOUT US
HAVING THE RIGHT STUFF
729
00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:50,761
TO GET TO THE MOON
AFTER THAT FIRE
730
00:33:50,763 --> 00:33:52,662
WHERE WE LOST
OUR THREE ASTRONAUTS?
731
00:33:52,664 --> 00:33:55,799
I-I WOULD SAY THAT THERE
WAS A RENEWED EFFORT
732
00:33:55,801 --> 00:34:01,405
WITH MORE EMPHASIS ON DOING
THE BEST YOU COULD,
733
00:34:01,407 --> 00:34:05,976
AND DOUBLE-
AND TRIPLE-CHECKING YOUR WORK.
734
00:34:05,978 --> 00:34:08,245
AND WE KEPT HEARING
ABOUT THE RUSSIANS DOING THIS
735
00:34:08,247 --> 00:34:09,980
AND THE RUSSIANS
DOING THAT.
736
00:34:09,982 --> 00:34:13,016
WELL, WE'RE GONNA DO THE SAME,
BUT PLUS MORE.
737
00:34:13,018 --> 00:34:14,184
RIGHT.
738
00:34:14,186 --> 00:34:15,952
WE'RE GONNA MAKE
THE PRESIDENT'S DESIRES,
739
00:34:15,954 --> 00:34:20,190
AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE
THIS NATION NUMBER ONE.
740
00:34:20,192 --> 00:34:23,293
PEOPLE THAT SAID, "WE NEVER
WENT TO THE MOON.
741
00:34:23,295 --> 00:34:24,694
YOU GUYS DIDN'T GO.
742
00:34:24,696 --> 00:34:26,396
YOU STAGED IT."
743
00:34:26,398 --> 00:34:29,232
IT TICKS ME OFF.
MM-HMM.
744
00:34:29,234 --> 00:34:30,500
I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
745
00:34:30,502 --> 00:34:32,135
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR EVERYTHING
746
00:34:32,137 --> 00:34:34,337
YOU'VE DONE
FOR THE PROGRAM,
747
00:34:34,339 --> 00:34:36,840
FOR THE LEGACY OF THE APOLLO
1 CREW MEMBERS,
748
00:34:36,842 --> 00:34:40,844
FOR ALL OF THE ASTRONAUTS
THAT HAVE SACRIFICED
749
00:34:40,846 --> 00:34:43,180
AND GIVEN THEIR LIVES,
AND THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND
750
00:34:43,182 --> 00:34:45,582
LIKE YOURSELF
THAT HAVE SACRIFICED
751
00:34:45,584 --> 00:34:48,251
AND GIVEN UP YOUR TIME
FOR THE SPACE PROGRAM.
752
00:34:48,253 --> 00:34:50,554
SO, JUST THANK YOU FROM
THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART
753
00:34:50,556 --> 00:34:51,888
FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
754
00:34:51,890 --> 00:34:54,224
YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME.
IT WAS AN HONOR.
755
00:34:54,226 --> 00:34:56,560
EVERY DAY WAS A CHALLENGE.
756
00:35:00,265 --> 00:35:03,533
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT ERNIE'S
WORDS ARE SINCERE AND HEARTFELT,
757
00:35:03,535 --> 00:35:06,536
BUT IT DOESN'T CONVINCE ME
AND OTHER CONSPIRACY THEORISTS
758
00:35:06,538 --> 00:35:09,906
THAT THOMAS BARON
WAS NOT SILENCED BY NASA.
759
00:35:12,911 --> 00:35:15,245
Jenkins: ERNIE IS A CREDIBLE
CHARACTER WITNESS,
760
00:35:15,247 --> 00:35:18,448
BUT WE CAN'T IGNORE
THOMAS BARON'S CRASH SITE,
761
00:35:18,450 --> 00:35:22,385
AND IT'S JUST
EIGHT MILES FROM HERE.
762
00:35:22,387 --> 00:35:25,288
AFTER HE GAVE THAT
CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY,
763
00:35:25,290 --> 00:35:26,790
IT WAS SEVEN DAYS
764
00:35:26,792 --> 00:35:28,925
TO THE DAY
THAT THIS ACCIDENT
765
00:35:28,927 --> 00:35:30,594
ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE.
WOW.
766
00:35:30,596 --> 00:35:32,395
I MEAN, CAN YOU IMAGINE
THE EMOTION
767
00:35:32,397 --> 00:35:34,397
THAT WAS RUNNING THROUGH
THAT MAN AT THAT TIME?
768
00:35:34,399 --> 00:35:38,268
YEAH. YOU KNOW, FOR TOM TO COME
FORWARD WITH THIS INFORMATION,
769
00:35:38,270 --> 00:35:40,504
IT DIDN'T MAKE
THE AGENCY LOOK GOOD.
770
00:35:40,506 --> 00:35:42,506
THERE WAS ALREADY ENOUGH
PRESSURE THERE.
771
00:35:42,508 --> 00:35:45,075
BUT DO WE REALLY THINK
THAT TOM WAS MURDERED?
772
00:35:45,077 --> 00:35:46,877
Melvin: CONSPIRACY THEORISTS
WILL TELL YOU
773
00:35:46,879 --> 00:35:48,512
THAT TOM BARON
WAS A WHISTLE-BLOWER
774
00:35:48,514 --> 00:35:50,947
AND THAT NASA HAD HIM MURDERED
TO COVER UP THE FACT
775
00:35:50,949 --> 00:35:52,749
THAT THEY WERE NOT READY
TO GO TO THE MOON.
776
00:35:52,751 --> 00:35:54,451
I BELIEVE IT WAS
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT
777
00:35:54,453 --> 00:35:58,054
OR EVEN POSSIBLY SUICIDE.
778
00:35:58,056 --> 00:35:59,923
DID HE TRY TO STOP
THE CAR AT ALL?
779
00:35:59,925 --> 00:36:02,359
IT SAYS HERE THERE WERE
NO SKID MARKS.
780
00:36:02,361 --> 00:36:04,427
ACCORDING TO THIS,
THEY TOOK PICTURES.
781
00:36:04,429 --> 00:36:06,096
I CALLED FLORIDA
HIGHWAY PATROL,
782
00:36:06,098 --> 00:36:07,631
AND THEY DON'T HAVE THEM
ANYMORE.
783
00:36:07,633 --> 00:36:09,132
THEY'VE BEEN DESTROYED.
784
00:36:09,134 --> 00:36:12,936
WE NEED TO FIND THIS CRASH SITE
AND SEE WITH OUR OWN TWO EYES
785
00:36:12,938 --> 00:36:15,438
WHAT HE SAW THAT DAY
AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
786
00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:17,340
RIGHT.
787
00:36:17,342 --> 00:36:19,809
Jenkins: THOMAS BARON'S DEATH
WAS RULED AN ACCIDENT
788
00:36:19,811 --> 00:36:21,478
BY THE FLORIDA
HIGHWAY PATROL.
789
00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:24,347
THE INVESTIGATING TROOPER
CONCLUDED THAT BARON HAD TRIED
790
00:36:24,349 --> 00:36:27,884
TO BEAT A TRAIN AT A CROSSING,
BUT CONSPIRACY THEORISTS BELIEVE
791
00:36:27,886 --> 00:36:30,487
THAT SINCE THE TRAIN
ORIGINATED AT JAY JAY,
792
00:36:30,489 --> 00:36:32,589
A TRAIN YARD OWNED BY NASA,
793
00:36:32,591 --> 00:36:35,258
THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD'VE
ORCHESTRATED BARON'S MURDER
794
00:36:35,260 --> 00:36:38,728
TO LOOK LIKE
A TRAGIC ACCIDENT.
795
00:36:38,730 --> 00:36:41,965
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I SEE WHERE
THIS ACCIDENT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
796
00:36:41,967 --> 00:36:44,501
AND COMPARE IT TO THE REPORT
SO I CAN SEE FOR MYSELF
797
00:36:44,503 --> 00:36:47,537
WHETHER THIS WAS A MURDER,
SUICIDE, OR ACCIDENT.
798
00:36:47,539 --> 00:36:54,578
♪
799
00:36:54,580 --> 00:36:58,682
SO, BASICALLY, THIS BIKE PATH
WAS THE OLD TRAIN TRACKS.
800
00:36:58,684 --> 00:37:01,518
LOOKS LIKE IT'S RUNNING
RIGHT HERE PARALLEL TO THE ROAD.
801
00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:03,086
RIGHT.
802
00:37:03,088 --> 00:37:07,457
JUST UP THE STREET, ABOUT 7/10th
OF A MILE IS WHERE TOM LIVED.
803
00:37:07,459 --> 00:37:12,395
SO, HE TURNED 30 MILES PER
HOUR, GOING AROUND HERE, RIGHT?
804
00:37:12,397 --> 00:37:15,932
YEAH, TOM WAS DRIVING NORTH
TO SOUTH.
805
00:37:15,934 --> 00:37:17,701
HOW FAST
WAS THE TRAIN GOING?
806
00:37:17,703 --> 00:37:19,603
THE TRAIN WAS GOING
40 MILES AN HOUR.
807
00:37:19,605 --> 00:37:22,472
WELL, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT,
TOM'S BRAKE FLUID WAS FINE,
808
00:37:22,474 --> 00:37:25,842
AND THE CONDUCTOR HONKED
TWICE TO WARN HIM.
809
00:37:25,844 --> 00:37:27,410
THIS WAS THE END FOR TOM.
810
00:37:27,412 --> 00:37:31,314
♪
811
00:37:31,316 --> 00:37:33,450
COULD SOMEONE TRYING
TO PROTECT NASA
812
00:37:33,452 --> 00:37:35,085
HAVE ACTUALLY STAGED
THIS CRASH
813
00:37:35,087 --> 00:37:38,154
TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE AN ACCIDENT
AND GET RID OF BARON,
814
00:37:38,156 --> 00:37:40,257
OR WAS THIS A DESPERATE
ACT OF A MAN
815
00:37:40,259 --> 00:37:43,360
WHO HAD JUST BEEN HUMILIATED
ON A NATIONAL STAGE
816
00:37:43,362 --> 00:37:45,228
AND LOST HIS JOB?
817
00:37:45,230 --> 00:37:47,831
LOOK, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TRIED
TO ASSASSINATE CASTRO.
818
00:37:47,833 --> 00:37:49,699
YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THEY
COULDN'T ORCHESTRATE A HIT
819
00:37:49,701 --> 00:37:53,036
ON A GUY LIKE BARON
WITH A TRAIN?
820
00:37:53,038 --> 00:37:54,371
THINGS DON'T
MAKE SENSE HERE.
821
00:37:54,373 --> 00:37:55,305
NO.
822
00:37:55,307 --> 00:37:59,276
♪
823
00:38:06,852 --> 00:38:15,058
♪
824
00:38:15,060 --> 00:38:16,726
Jenkins: THINGS DON'T
MAKE SENSE HERE.
825
00:38:16,728 --> 00:38:18,161
Melvin: NO.
826
00:38:18,163 --> 00:38:20,563
DO WE REALLY THINK
THAT TOM WAS MURDERED
827
00:38:20,565 --> 00:38:23,933
BECAUSE OF THE TESTIMONY
HE GAVE THE WEEK PRIOR?
828
00:38:23,935 --> 00:38:25,602
IS IT A COVER UP OR NOT?
829
00:38:25,604 --> 00:38:28,738
Jenkins:
LELAND AND I WERE AT THE SCENE
OF THOMAS BARON'S DEATH.
830
00:38:28,740 --> 00:38:32,976
WAS IT A MURDER, A SUICIDE,
OR AN ACCIDENT?
831
00:38:32,978 --> 00:38:35,912
WHEN YOU RUN INTO A DEAD END
OF AN INVESTIGATION,
832
00:38:35,914 --> 00:38:37,447
A GOOD WAY TO GET
BACK ON TRACK
833
00:38:37,449 --> 00:38:39,716
IS TO RETRACE THE STEPS
OF THE VICTIM.
834
00:38:39,718 --> 00:38:42,385
I'M HOPING BY RE-DRIVING
THE ROUTE THAT BARON TOOK
835
00:38:42,387 --> 00:38:44,754
WHEN HE LOST HIS LIFE
WOULD HELP ME SEE SOMETHING
836
00:38:44,756 --> 00:38:46,489
THAT I OTHERWISE COULDN'T SEE.
837
00:38:46,491 --> 00:38:55,498
♪
838
00:38:55,500 --> 00:38:58,702
TAKING THAT TURN AT 30 MILES
AN HOUR IN A MODERN VEHICLE
839
00:38:58,704 --> 00:39:01,204
WITH POWER STEERING
WAS DANGEROUSLY FAST.
840
00:39:01,206 --> 00:39:04,741
I WOULDN'T EVEN WANT TO TRY
TAKING THAT TURN IN A 1959 CAR.
841
00:39:04,743 --> 00:39:07,877
YOU'D LOSE CONTROL.
842
00:39:07,879 --> 00:39:09,212
HE MUST'VE
JUST TRIED TO MAKE
843
00:39:09,214 --> 00:39:11,114
THAT LEFT-HAND TURN
AND BEAT THE TRAIN.
844
00:39:11,116 --> 00:39:14,317
WITH ALL THE PRESSURE THAT HE
WAS UNDER DURING THIS TIME
845
00:39:14,319 --> 00:39:18,121
WITH THE APOLLO FIRE, STRESS,
THE SPACE PROGRAM IN ITSELF...
846
00:39:18,123 --> 00:39:19,356
RIGHT.
...YOU KNOW,
847
00:39:19,358 --> 00:39:22,225
GETTING PEOPLE TO THE MOON,
GETTING FIRED...
848
00:39:22,227 --> 00:39:27,063
A 1967 POLICE REPORT DOES POINT
TO MENTAL CONDITIONS
849
00:39:27,065 --> 00:39:29,532
THAT TOM WAS FACING.
850
00:39:29,534 --> 00:39:33,336
I COULD SEE A CONSPIRACY
IF HE WOULD'VE BEEN MURDERED
851
00:39:33,338 --> 00:39:36,206
IN GUNSHOT WOUNDS.
852
00:39:36,208 --> 00:39:39,542
WHILE BARON'S DEATH MAY SEEM
SUSPICIOUS AT FIRST GLANCE,
853
00:39:39,544 --> 00:39:41,644
THE LOGISTICS
OF COORDINATING A TRAIN
854
00:39:41,646 --> 00:39:45,248
TO CROSS THE TRACKS AT THE EXACT
SAME TIME BARON'S CAR
855
00:39:45,250 --> 00:39:48,785
IS CROSSING THOSE TRACKS
IS RIDICULOUSLY COMPLICATED.
856
00:39:48,787 --> 00:39:51,721
STANDING THERE AT THE CRASH SITE
OVER 50 YEARS LATER,
857
00:39:51,723 --> 00:39:54,023
THE CONSPIRACY THEORY
THAT BARON'S DEATH
858
00:39:54,025 --> 00:39:57,127
WAS SOMEHOW SUSPICIOUS
JUST DOESN'T HOLD ANY WATER.
859
00:39:59,131 --> 00:40:01,097
IF NASA WAS GONNA TRY TO SILENCE
HIM, THEY WOULD'VE DONE IT
860
00:40:01,099 --> 00:40:03,900
BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARING
AND THE INVESTIGATION.
861
00:40:03,902 --> 00:40:05,902
YEAH, HIS TESTIMONY
WAS ALREADY GIVEN.
862
00:40:05,904 --> 00:40:08,071
EVERYTHING WAS ALREADY OUT.
HE HAD NO MORE INFORMATION.
863
00:40:08,073 --> 00:40:09,139
RIGHT.
WHAT'S THE BENEFIT?
864
00:40:09,141 --> 00:40:11,608
WHAT'S THE UPSIDE?
THERE'S NO BENEFIT.
865
00:40:11,610 --> 00:40:14,611
I'M LEANING TOWARDS
IT'S EITHER AN ACCIDENT,
866
00:40:14,613 --> 00:40:17,647
OR, UNFORTUNATELY,
TOM DECIDED TO TAKE HIS LIFE
867
00:40:17,649 --> 00:40:19,149
AND PART OF HIS FAMILY
MEMBERS WITH IT.
868
00:40:19,151 --> 00:40:22,352
WHICH IS VERY SAD.
869
00:40:22,354 --> 00:40:24,354
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT
THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT,
870
00:40:24,356 --> 00:40:26,990
THE 500-PAGE REPORT THAT BARON
SUBMITTED TO CONGRESS
871
00:40:26,992 --> 00:40:30,360
IS STILL MISSING,
AND IN THAT REPORT,
872
00:40:30,362 --> 00:40:31,928
HE CLAIMED THERE WAS
RELEVANT INFORMATION
873
00:40:31,930 --> 00:40:35,031
ON THE FLAMMABILITY OF MATERIALS
USED ON APOLLO 1.
874
00:40:35,033 --> 00:40:37,133
DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES,
AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
875
00:40:37,135 --> 00:40:39,769
THE WHOLE THING IS
PRETTY CONVENIENT FOR NASA.
876
00:40:39,771 --> 00:40:48,678
♪
877
00:40:48,680 --> 00:40:50,914
Jenkins: WE'VE DISCOVERED SOME
SURPRISING SECRETS
878
00:40:50,916 --> 00:40:54,517
LURKING AT THE EDGES
OF THE SPACE RACE TO THE MOON,
879
00:40:54,519 --> 00:40:56,986
AND WE'VE MADE IT
AS FAR AS APOLLO 1.
880
00:40:56,988 --> 00:40:59,289
IT WOULD BE ANOTHER 2-1/2
YEARS BEFORE THE U.S.
881
00:40:59,291 --> 00:41:00,924
WAS READY TO LAUNCH TO THE MOON.
882
00:41:00,926 --> 00:41:02,192
Man: We have a lift off.
883
00:41:02,194 --> 00:41:03,860
Lift off on Apollo 11.
884
00:41:03,862 --> 00:41:06,963
THIS INVESTIGATION IS UNLIKE
ANY I'VE EVER DONE BEFORE.
885
00:41:06,965 --> 00:41:09,265
SIMULATING THE APOLLO 1
CAPSULE DOOR
886
00:41:09,267 --> 00:41:11,401
AND TESTING THE CONDITIONS
THAT LED TO THE FIRE
887
00:41:11,403 --> 00:41:12,735
REALLY HELPED US CONFIRM
888
00:41:12,737 --> 00:41:15,672
THAT NASA'S EXPLANATION
COULD RULE OUT A CONSPIRACY.
889
00:41:15,674 --> 00:41:16,973
NASA HAD A LONG WAY TO GO,
890
00:41:16,975 --> 00:41:18,708
BUT THEY DIDN'T KILL
THREE ASTRONAUTS
891
00:41:18,710 --> 00:41:22,378
OR ANYONE ELSE TO COVER UP THE
SHORTCOMINGS IN THEIR PROGRAM.
892
00:41:22,380 --> 00:41:26,683
SO, MIKE, I GOT TO TELL YOU,
AS TRAGIC AS IT WAS FOR THOMAS
893
00:41:26,685 --> 00:41:29,619
AND HIS FAMILY
TO LOSE THEIR LIVES THAT DAY,
894
00:41:29,621 --> 00:41:32,655
THERE'S JUST NOTHING
NEFARIOUS ABOUT IT.
895
00:41:32,657 --> 00:41:34,924
THE FACTS JUST DON'T ADD UP.
896
00:41:34,926 --> 00:41:38,595
YEAH, OKAY, BUT WHERE
IS BARON'S 500-PAGE REPORT?
897
00:41:38,597 --> 00:41:40,964
HOW COME WE CAN'T FIND IT?
898
00:41:40,966 --> 00:41:43,967
IT STILL MAKES NO SENSE
THAT SOMEONE AS ANAL AS BARON
899
00:41:43,969 --> 00:41:45,702
IS GONNA COMMIT SUICIDE BY TRAIN
900
00:41:45,704 --> 00:41:47,403
AND TAKE HIS ENTIRE FAMILY
WITH HIM.
901
00:41:47,405 --> 00:41:51,241
I THINK NASA WAS RUNNING OUT OF
TIME AND COVERING THEIR TRACKS.
902
00:41:51,243 --> 00:41:53,409
HEY, IT'S NOW JANUARY OF 1967.
903
00:41:53,411 --> 00:41:54,811
THREE MEN ARE DEAD.
904
00:41:54,813 --> 00:41:57,280
YOU'VE ONLY GOT THREE YEARS
LEFT TO REACH JFK'S GOAL
905
00:41:57,282 --> 00:41:58,381
OF GETTING TO THE MOON,
906
00:41:58,383 --> 00:42:00,850
AND IT'S NOT POPULAR
TO BRING THIS UP,
907
00:42:00,852 --> 00:42:03,786
BUT IS IT POSSIBLE
THAT THEY MIGHT'VE CONSIDERED,
908
00:42:03,788 --> 00:42:05,889
AT THIS POINT,
FAKING THE WHOLE THING?
909
00:42:05,891 --> 00:42:09,325
WE HAD 400,000 ENGINEERS,
SCIENTISTS,
910
00:42:09,327 --> 00:42:11,160
ASTRONAUTS, MECHANICS.
911
00:42:11,162 --> 00:42:12,795
HOW COULD YOU KEEP
A LID ON THIS?
912
00:42:12,797 --> 00:42:14,831
HOW COULD YOU FAKE
THIS MOON LANDING?
913
00:42:14,833 --> 00:42:17,233
WELL, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T
KEEP A LID ON IT.
914
00:42:17,235 --> 00:42:19,269
BRO, HERE HE GOES AGAIN.
915
00:42:19,271 --> 00:42:28,478
♪
81832
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