1 00:00:17,250 --> 00:00:19,980 We choose to go to the moon. 2 00:00:20,086 --> 00:00:22,486 We choose to go to the moon. 3 00:00:26,359 --> 00:00:30,762 We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things... 4 00:00:30,864 --> 00:00:34,163 not because they are easy, but because they are hard. 5 00:01:48,475 --> 00:01:50,943 - Look at that. - That's beautiful. 6 00:01:51,077 --> 00:01:54,046 It's gotta be one of the most proud moments of my life. I guarantee ya. 7 00:02:06,259 --> 00:02:10,025 For most of human history, a voyage to the moon was the fantasy... 8 00:02:10,130 --> 00:02:12,394 of the addlebrained or foolhardy... 9 00:02:12,499 --> 00:02:16,367 for only divine beings and supermen could make the journey. 10 00:02:16,469 --> 00:02:19,233 But then humans went aloft on mechanical wings... 11 00:02:19,339 --> 00:02:22,638 defying gravity and redefining the realm of possibility... 12 00:02:22,742 --> 00:02:25,643 and the moon was within the grasp of whoever would build the machine... 13 00:02:25,745 --> 00:02:27,679 to take them there. 14 00:02:27,781 --> 00:02:31,808 The main requirement for making the fantasy a fact? Perseverance. 15 00:02:31,918 --> 00:02:34,284 The wherewithal to solve the problems one by one... 16 00:02:34,387 --> 00:02:37,015 over the long course of the endeavor. 17 00:02:37,123 --> 00:02:40,183 Problems such as how to make that first exploratory leap... 18 00:02:40,293 --> 00:02:43,126 into the lifeless void of outer space. 19 00:02:43,229 --> 00:02:46,596 For without surviving that, no one would ever dare make... 20 00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:51,296 the foolhardy, yet divine, voyage from the Earth to the moon. 21 00:02:57,677 --> 00:03:00,339 - What do you do here at the base, sir? - I'm an astronaut. 22 00:03:03,349 --> 00:03:06,375 Are you one of the seven astronauts that have been chosen? 23 00:03:06,486 --> 00:03:08,386 That's right. I'm one of the seven. 24 00:03:08,488 --> 00:03:11,355 They're gonna shoot me out into space, into the blue. 25 00:03:11,458 --> 00:03:14,052 Up above buildings! 26 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,458 Now, sir, just one moment. One moment. 27 00:03:18,198 --> 00:03:22,430 Sure. I'm a little nervous. I'm afraid I'm gonna lose my life. 28 00:03:22,535 --> 00:03:24,765 - Sir, may I ask you something? - Sure. 29 00:03:24,871 --> 00:03:28,068 I saw the pictures of the seven astronauts that appeared in Life. 30 00:03:28,174 --> 00:03:30,506 - You saw those pictures, yeah. - You are not among them. 31 00:03:30,610 --> 00:03:32,703 None of them are them. 32 00:03:32,812 --> 00:03:35,940 - You mean, those are not the real? - No, those are models. 33 00:03:36,049 --> 00:03:39,815 You see, they can't take pictures of us. We're monkeys, man. 34 00:03:39,919 --> 00:03:42,683 - What do you mean, you're monkeys? - Let me explain something. 35 00:03:42,789 --> 00:03:44,723 - Those are seven handsome men. - See, they're beautiful. 36 00:03:44,858 --> 00:03:47,486 They take pictures of them, so that we're not ashamed for Russia... 37 00:03:47,594 --> 00:03:50,290 to show such ugly little astronauts! 38 00:03:50,396 --> 00:03:53,126 - You're not a very good-looking man. - No, I'm a monkey! 39 00:03:53,233 --> 00:03:56,134 Sir, I'm a little disturbed that they're sending you up... 40 00:03:56,236 --> 00:03:58,397 to be the first man in space. 41 00:03:58,505 --> 00:04:00,632 You seem ill-equipped to be an astronaut. 42 00:04:00,740 --> 00:04:03,538 What do you mean? I got gloves and everything. 43 00:04:38,344 --> 00:04:41,507 There is historic news from behind the Iron Curtain. 44 00:04:41,614 --> 00:04:46,574 Man has traversed the reaches of outer space, and that man is a Communist. 45 00:04:46,719 --> 00:04:51,622 Soviet pilot Yury Gagarin in the spacecraft Vostok l... 46 00:04:51,758 --> 00:04:54,659 successfully lifted off the face of the Earth... 47 00:04:54,761 --> 00:04:57,696 flew his craft around the globe in approximately 90 minutes... 48 00:04:57,831 --> 00:05:00,265 and landed safely in the Soviet Union. 49 00:05:00,366 --> 00:05:02,994 As with the flight of Sputnik four years ago... 50 00:05:03,102 --> 00:05:05,400 this latest Russian achievement... 51 00:05:05,505 --> 00:05:09,407 has caught those in the American space program by surprise. 52 00:05:09,509 --> 00:05:12,569 The seven American astronauts of the Mercury space program... 53 00:05:12,679 --> 00:05:15,876 suddenly find themselves jockeying for second place. 54 00:05:15,982 --> 00:05:18,678 It has been reported that either Gus Grissom... 55 00:05:18,785 --> 00:05:21,253 John Glenn or Alan B. Shepard... 56 00:05:21,387 --> 00:05:25,255 will be the first to fly the one-man Mercury space capsule. 57 00:05:25,358 --> 00:05:30,762 Just when the flight will take place has been the subject of much speculation. 58 00:05:30,864 --> 00:05:34,265 Tonight President Kennedy is meeting with officials... 59 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:37,301 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration... 60 00:05:37,403 --> 00:05:40,895 to discuss not just why we are losing the space race... 61 00:05:41,007 --> 00:05:44,170 but perhaps if it has already been lost. 62 00:05:46,980 --> 00:05:51,314 - The Russian went into orbit. - One orbit, yes. 63 00:05:51,417 --> 00:05:52,850 We can't even match that. 64 00:05:52,986 --> 00:05:55,420 Not yet. 65 00:05:56,322 --> 00:05:58,051 Gentlemen. 66 00:05:58,157 --> 00:06:00,125 President has been keeping up with your hearings... 67 00:06:00,260 --> 00:06:02,228 before Congress and committees. 68 00:06:02,362 --> 00:06:04,796 For the purpose of tonight's meeting, we can dispense with small talk. 69 00:06:04,898 --> 00:06:07,059 He will want to know how we can catch the Russians... 70 00:06:07,166 --> 00:06:08,861 or better yet, leapfrog them. 71 00:06:08,968 --> 00:06:12,062 We can put a man on the moon before the Russians. How about that? 72 00:06:16,376 --> 00:06:19,709 It'll take a concerted national effort. 73 00:06:19,812 --> 00:06:22,781 Something along the lines of the Manhattan Project. 74 00:06:22,916 --> 00:06:24,213 How much would it cost? 75 00:06:24,317 --> 00:06:27,411 Somewhere between $10 billion and $20 billion. 76 00:06:29,355 --> 00:06:30,583 Pumping that much cash... 77 00:06:30,690 --> 00:06:33,250 into the private sector could be popular. 78 00:06:33,359 --> 00:06:37,557 He will ask if there's anything we can do for less of the taxpayers' dollars. 79 00:06:37,664 --> 00:06:41,100 What if we put up a space laboratory of some kind? 80 00:06:41,234 --> 00:06:42,462 They'll beat us. 81 00:06:42,568 --> 00:06:45,503 If we get into a race with them over heavy lifting capabilities... 82 00:06:45,605 --> 00:06:49,166 which is all that putting up a space station will demonstrate... 83 00:06:49,275 --> 00:06:51,937 we're going to lose for at least the next five years. 84 00:06:53,546 --> 00:06:56,481 Hugh, were you as sure about this when you were working under Eisenhower? 85 00:06:56,616 --> 00:06:59,779 No, but the Soviets hadn't put a man in space then. 86 00:06:59,886 --> 00:07:03,947 Most assuredly, the moon is their ultimate objective. 87 00:07:06,826 --> 00:07:10,489 Red moon, huh? Who wants that hangin' over our heads? 88 00:07:10,596 --> 00:07:13,326 As head of the president's science advisory... 89 00:07:13,433 --> 00:07:15,526 I've gotta tell him that politics aside... 90 00:07:15,635 --> 00:07:18,331 there's no reason to put a man on the moon. 91 00:07:18,438 --> 00:07:22,101 The only thing we'll get for our money is some rocks. 92 00:07:22,208 --> 00:07:25,336 So, put a probe up, scoop some out, bring 'em back... 93 00:07:25,445 --> 00:07:29,006 and tour the world with them for propaganda purposes. 94 00:07:29,115 --> 00:07:32,710 You don't need to send a man a quarter of a million miles away to do that. 95 00:07:32,819 --> 00:07:35,879 And it sure as hell won't cost $20 billion. 96 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:45,358 Well, certainly the president realizes the moment a man steps on the moon... 97 00:07:45,465 --> 00:07:50,368 will be a definitive one in the history of the world. 98 00:07:50,503 --> 00:07:53,870 Especially when he sticks Old Glory in it and salutes. 99 00:07:56,342 --> 00:07:57,639 He's ready for us. 100 00:07:58,745 --> 00:08:01,680 Can the president count on anything in the immediate future? 101 00:08:01,814 --> 00:08:06,842 Yes, the second of May. We'll have an American up on the second of May. 102 00:08:09,288 --> 00:08:10,312 Command carrier on. 103 00:08:10,423 --> 00:08:12,357 Roger. Command carrier on. 104 00:08:12,492 --> 00:08:15,859 Turn off telemetry transmitters when sep is complete. 105 00:08:15,962 --> 00:08:17,862 Roger. Flight transmitters are off. 106 00:08:17,964 --> 00:08:19,864 All stations report. 107 00:08:19,966 --> 00:08:21,456 Flight controller, summary status check. 108 00:08:21,601 --> 00:08:23,694 Check A.L.O. switch position. 109 00:08:23,803 --> 00:08:26,328 Roger. The A.L.O. switch position on. 110 00:08:26,439 --> 00:08:28,339 Liftoff is on. 111 00:08:28,441 --> 00:08:31,501 The Mercury control center is go. 112 00:08:31,611 --> 00:08:32,976 Roger. Flight M.C.C. is go. 113 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:49,222 We have ignition. 114 00:08:54,834 --> 00:08:55,892 We have liftoff. 115 00:08:56,836 --> 00:08:59,134 - You're on your way, Jose. - Roger. 116 00:08:59,238 --> 00:09:00,796 Liftoff, and the clock is started. 117 00:09:15,888 --> 00:09:18,823 This is Freedom 7! Fuel is go! 118 00:09:18,958 --> 00:09:21,085 1.2 "G." 119 00:09:21,194 --> 00:09:23,958 The cabin pressure: 14 p.s.i. 120 00:09:24,063 --> 00:09:27,226 Oxygen is go! Freedom 7, it is still go! 121 00:09:27,333 --> 00:09:28,960 Roger. Copy. 122 00:09:29,068 --> 00:09:30,899 This is 7. Fuel is go. 123 00:09:31,003 --> 00:09:35,770 1.8 "G." Eight p.s.i, cabin, and the oxygen is go. 124 00:09:35,875 --> 00:09:38,935 Cabin pressure holding at 5.5. 125 00:09:39,045 --> 00:09:41,513 Cabin holding at 5.5. 126 00:09:41,647 --> 00:09:43,979 Cabin valves remain sealed. Environment's holding. 127 00:09:44,083 --> 00:09:46,449 I understand. Cabin holding at 5.5. 128 00:09:47,553 --> 00:09:49,248 We are still go, CAPCOM. 129 00:09:49,355 --> 00:09:51,050 Fuel is go. 130 00:09:51,157 --> 00:09:55,093 2.5 "G." Cabin, 5.5. 131 00:09:55,228 --> 00:09:57,856 Oxygen is go. The main vessel's 24... 132 00:09:57,964 --> 00:10:01,365 and the isolated battery is 29. 133 00:10:05,705 --> 00:10:08,640 - Okay, it's a lot smoother now. - Roger. 134 00:10:08,741 --> 00:10:10,174 We are at max speed. 135 00:10:10,309 --> 00:10:14,405 Fuel is go. 5.5, cabin. Oxygen is go. 136 00:10:14,514 --> 00:10:16,414 All systems are go. 137 00:10:16,516 --> 00:10:19,451 All systems are go. The trajectory is okay. 138 00:10:25,825 --> 00:10:27,622 Tower jettison. 139 00:10:27,727 --> 00:10:29,422 Cap sep green. 140 00:10:35,701 --> 00:10:39,762 -Flight, we'll be coming up on zero "G." -Very good. 141 00:10:39,872 --> 00:10:44,605 I'll turn jett off, and the turnaround has started. 142 00:10:51,551 --> 00:10:54,179 A.S.C.S. is okay. No movement. 143 00:10:54,287 --> 00:10:55,345 Roger. 144 00:11:12,405 --> 00:11:16,341 Okay. I have got a visual on the periscope. 145 00:11:20,713 --> 00:11:24,308 - What a beautiful view. - I'll bet it is. 146 00:11:24,417 --> 00:11:26,612 Cloud cover over Florida. 147 00:11:26,719 --> 00:11:28,687 Three- to four-tenths near the Eastern Coast. 148 00:11:28,821 --> 00:11:34,282 I can see Okeechobee, identify Andros Island... 149 00:11:34,427 --> 00:11:35,860 identify the reefs. 150 00:11:35,995 --> 00:11:40,227 Manual flight control. Roll and yaw are okay. 151 00:11:40,333 --> 00:11:44,030 - Feels great to fly. - Start retro sequence. 152 00:11:44,136 --> 00:11:46,468 In retro attitude. 153 00:11:46,572 --> 00:11:48,904 - Control is smooth. - Roger. 154 00:11:49,008 --> 00:11:53,672 Down to retro. Five, four, three, two, one. 155 00:11:53,779 --> 00:11:54,905 Retro fire. 156 00:12:03,456 --> 00:12:06,448 - Retro one, very smooth. - Roger. 157 00:12:06,592 --> 00:12:09,026 - Retro two. - Retro two. 158 00:12:09,996 --> 00:12:12,191 Retro three. All three retros are fired. 159 00:12:12,298 --> 00:12:13,424 All right on the button. 160 00:12:13,532 --> 00:12:17,866 Retro jettison is red to arm. 161 00:12:17,970 --> 00:12:21,838 - CAPCOM, go fly by wire. - Switching to fly by wire. 162 00:12:21,941 --> 00:12:23,841 - Fly by wire. - Roger! 163 00:12:23,943 --> 00:12:26,173 All is okay. 164 00:12:35,688 --> 00:12:37,212 Roger. I do not have a light. 165 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,854 Understand that you do not have a light. 166 00:12:43,963 --> 00:12:47,592 I saw the straps falling away. I heard a noise. 167 00:12:47,700 --> 00:12:49,600 - I will use override. - Roger. 168 00:12:53,673 --> 00:12:58,701 Okay, buster, reentry. A.S.C.S. normal. 169 00:12:58,811 --> 00:13:01,211 - Roger. - Periscope is retracting. 170 00:13:01,314 --> 00:13:03,509 - A.S.C.S. is okay. - Understand. 171 00:13:03,616 --> 00:13:07,382 - Switching to UHFon radio. - On UHF. Back to UHF. 172 00:13:07,486 --> 00:13:12,219 Okay, this is Freedom 7. "G" buildup. 173 00:13:12,325 --> 00:13:14,623 Three. 174 00:13:19,965 --> 00:13:21,364 Six. 175 00:13:29,608 --> 00:13:31,132 Nine! 176 00:13:35,014 --> 00:13:36,242 Eleven! 177 00:13:37,917 --> 00:13:39,077 Okay! 178 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,793 11.5 max "G." 179 00:13:50,896 --> 00:13:53,694 - This is 7. I'm okay. - Coming through loud and clear. 180 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,195 9,000 feet. 181 00:14:00,873 --> 00:14:03,671 Freedom 7, your impact will be right on the button. 182 00:14:05,077 --> 00:14:08,979 The drogue is freed at 21,000 feet. 183 00:14:09,081 --> 00:14:14,348 I've got 70% auto, 90% manual. 184 00:14:14,453 --> 00:14:16,353 Oxygen is still okay. 185 00:14:16,455 --> 00:14:18,286 CAPCOM, can you read? 186 00:14:21,627 --> 00:14:23,618 CAPCOM, can you read? 187 00:14:29,135 --> 00:14:30,727 - I read. - How do you read now? 188 00:14:30,836 --> 00:14:33,168 CAPCOM, glad to be here aboard. 189 00:14:33,272 --> 00:14:35,763 The main chute is green. 190 00:14:38,210 --> 00:14:41,202 Main chute is green. Main chute is good! 191 00:14:55,594 --> 00:14:58,927 All right. All right. 192 00:15:02,234 --> 00:15:06,568 Rate of descent is about 35 feet per second. 193 00:15:06,672 --> 00:15:11,769 I'm at 7,000 feet. Landing bag is on green. My peroxide is dumped. 194 00:15:11,877 --> 00:15:14,573 My condition is good. 195 00:15:15,514 --> 00:15:18,745 Somewhere 196 00:15:18,851 --> 00:15:20,079 Beyond the sea 197 00:15:20,186 --> 00:15:22,654 Somewhere waitin' for me 198 00:15:22,788 --> 00:15:24,688 Flight And Splashdown was 'A-O.K.!"' 199 00:15:25,491 --> 00:15:28,119 My lover stands 200 00:15:28,227 --> 00:15:30,161 On golden sands 201 00:15:30,296 --> 00:15:32,628 And watches the ships 202 00:15:32,731 --> 00:15:35,666 That go sailin' 203 00:15:35,801 --> 00:15:38,770 - Somewhere - Mr. Speaker! 204 00:15:38,904 --> 00:15:41,338 - The President of the United States! - Beyond the sea 205 00:15:41,474 --> 00:15:45,740 She's there watching for me 206 00:15:45,845 --> 00:15:50,578 If I could fly like birds on high 207 00:15:50,683 --> 00:15:54,619 Then straight to her arms I'd go sailin' 208 00:15:54,753 --> 00:15:58,917 Mr. Webb, Dr. Gilruth is here. 209 00:15:59,024 --> 00:16:01,549 - Bob. - Hey. 210 00:16:01,660 --> 00:16:03,059 He's just gettin' into it now. 211 00:16:03,162 --> 00:16:06,029 Good. Can you turn it up, please, Jim? 212 00:16:06,131 --> 00:16:11,364 Their large rocket engines which gives them many months of lead time... 213 00:16:11,470 --> 00:16:14,496 and recognizing the likelihood that they will exploit... 214 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:17,336 this lead sometime to come... 215 00:16:17,443 --> 00:16:19,877 in still more impressive success. 216 00:16:19,979 --> 00:16:21,947 We, nevertheless, are required... 217 00:16:22,081 --> 00:16:24,072 to make new efforts on our own. 218 00:16:24,216 --> 00:16:29,916 For, while we cannot guarantee that we shall one day be first... 219 00:16:30,022 --> 00:16:35,892 we can guarantee that any failure to make this effort will make us last. 220 00:16:38,430 --> 00:16:40,159 I therefore ask the Congress... 221 00:16:40,266 --> 00:16:43,064 beyond the increases... 222 00:16:43,168 --> 00:16:45,466 I have earlier requested for space activities... 223 00:16:45,571 --> 00:16:48,972 to provide the funds which are needed to meet the following national goals. 224 00:16:49,108 --> 00:16:53,442 First, I believe that this nation should commit itself... 225 00:16:53,546 --> 00:16:57,414 to achieving the goal before this decade is out... 226 00:16:57,516 --> 00:17:01,213 of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth. 227 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:05,051 There can be no space project in this period... 228 00:17:05,157 --> 00:17:06,681 that will be more impressive to mankind... 229 00:17:06,825 --> 00:17:11,125 or more important for the long-range exploration of space... 230 00:17:11,230 --> 00:17:16,463 and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish. 231 00:17:16,569 --> 00:17:20,562 - Whoa, buster. - They sure didn't waste any time. 232 00:17:21,974 --> 00:17:25,273 If we had gotten Shepard into space before Gagarin, it'd be over. 233 00:17:26,312 --> 00:17:28,746 We'd have beaten them. That would have been that. 234 00:17:28,881 --> 00:17:33,375 We wouldn't be talkin' about goin' to the moon for another 20 years. 235 00:17:36,088 --> 00:17:39,023 Between this and the Bay of Pigs-- 236 00:17:42,695 --> 00:17:45,357 Does anybody want my job? 237 00:17:47,299 --> 00:17:50,791 That five-page memo from L.B.J.... 238 00:17:50,936 --> 00:17:55,032 pressing us to do it by 1967. 239 00:17:57,309 --> 00:17:59,277 Before we get anywhere near the moon... 240 00:17:59,411 --> 00:18:01,902 we'll need to put thousands of man-hours into space. 241 00:18:02,047 --> 00:18:06,916 So far we got 15 minutes and 22 seconds. 242 00:18:09,254 --> 00:18:14,089 I'm serious now. Who here wants my job? 243 00:18:17,663 --> 00:18:21,360 Bob, can we do this? 244 00:18:24,103 --> 00:18:27,038 We'll need thousands of people... 245 00:18:28,173 --> 00:18:30,971 special facilities... 246 00:18:31,076 --> 00:18:34,011 technology and material that haven't been invented yet. 247 00:18:35,247 --> 00:18:36,646 Yeah. 248 00:18:38,517 --> 00:18:40,417 Can we do it? 249 00:18:40,519 --> 00:18:44,888 Put a man on the moon in nine years. 250 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,155 Yes. 251 00:18:50,262 --> 00:18:51,957 Absolutely. 252 00:18:53,098 --> 00:18:54,998 We have to. 253 00:19:00,539 --> 00:19:01,972 Damn. 254 00:19:02,107 --> 00:19:04,007 All right, here's what we're gonna have to do, folks... 255 00:19:04,109 --> 00:19:06,270 to get a man to the moon... 256 00:19:06,378 --> 00:19:07,811 ahead of the Soviets. 257 00:19:07,913 --> 00:19:12,111 We've all been planning, meeting, talking, dreaming, but here... 258 00:19:12,217 --> 00:19:13,650 is the brass tacks... 259 00:19:13,752 --> 00:19:16,880 so we're all on the same page. 260 00:19:16,989 --> 00:19:19,958 To get a man to the moon, we first have to get him into... 261 00:19:20,092 --> 00:19:21,855 orbit. 262 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,155 Our friends from Russia already did that. Good for them. 263 00:19:24,263 --> 00:19:26,163 Popgun shot with Al Shepard was a nice start. 264 00:19:26,265 --> 00:19:28,495 But we all know we don't get cigars for that one. 265 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:31,660 The Mercury flights comin' up will get us into orbit... 266 00:19:31,770 --> 00:19:34,705 long enough for us to figure out how to stay up there for a bit. 267 00:19:34,807 --> 00:19:38,538 We do that, we have objective number one made. 268 00:19:38,644 --> 00:19:40,874 EVA, space walk. 269 00:19:40,979 --> 00:19:42,708 Objective number two. 270 00:19:42,815 --> 00:19:45,750 Once in orbit, we get out of the spacecraft. Go for a walk. 271 00:19:45,884 --> 00:19:49,012 See if we can build a suit to protect a man outside. 272 00:19:49,121 --> 00:19:52,454 See if he can maneuver, see if he can get back in. 273 00:19:52,558 --> 00:19:54,492 We need this for emergencies, of course... 274 00:19:54,626 --> 00:19:57,561 but we ain't goin' to the moon to sit inside and take pictures. 275 00:19:57,663 --> 00:19:59,028 We're gonna walk around up there. 276 00:19:59,131 --> 00:20:02,032 We'll need the equipment to allow a man to do that. 277 00:20:02,134 --> 00:20:03,226 Rendezvous. 278 00:20:03,335 --> 00:20:05,667 Two spacecraft meetin' up in orbit. 279 00:20:05,771 --> 00:20:08,467 You wanna have fun? Come over to my house. 280 00:20:08,574 --> 00:20:11,202 You stand in the backyard. I'll stand in the front yard. 281 00:20:11,310 --> 00:20:13,505 You throw a tennis ball over my roof. 282 00:20:13,612 --> 00:20:17,139 I'll try to hit it with a rock as it comes sailin' over. 283 00:20:17,282 --> 00:20:19,716 That's what we're going to have to do. 284 00:20:19,852 --> 00:20:23,447 Two spacecraft flyin' at 5 miles a second hundreds of miles up... 285 00:20:23,555 --> 00:20:26,615 with a communication system spread all over the world... 286 00:20:26,759 --> 00:20:28,283 like so many tradin' stamps. 287 00:20:28,427 --> 00:20:29,587 Then... 288 00:20:29,695 --> 00:20:31,162 we're gonna have to dock. 289 00:20:31,296 --> 00:20:32,991 Join up. 290 00:20:33,098 --> 00:20:37,034 Develop the specs and hardware for two spacecraft to first rendezvous... 291 00:20:37,169 --> 00:20:40,104 then to come together all safe and stable. 292 00:20:40,205 --> 00:20:43,333 Objective 5: long duration spaceflight. 293 00:20:43,442 --> 00:20:45,740 Take two weeks to fly to the moon and back. 294 00:20:45,844 --> 00:20:49,109 What is being in zero "G" that long gonna do to the human body? 295 00:20:49,214 --> 00:20:51,409 Will the crews' hearts stop beating? 296 00:20:51,517 --> 00:20:54,850 Will they be able to take a crap without foulin' up the flight controls? 297 00:20:54,953 --> 00:20:56,477 I'm bettin' they can. 298 00:20:56,622 --> 00:20:59,250 Still we need to prove it. 299 00:20:59,358 --> 00:21:01,087 We need to prove them all... 300 00:21:01,193 --> 00:21:03,093 proficiently over and over again. 301 00:21:03,195 --> 00:21:06,653 We have to get so good at it... 302 00:21:06,799 --> 00:21:08,926 that we bet the lives of our crews without flinching. 303 00:21:09,034 --> 00:21:12,197 We get 'em up there. We accomplish the mission objectives... 304 00:21:12,304 --> 00:21:16,070 and we get them back home every time. 305 00:21:16,175 --> 00:21:18,939 Oh, there's one more thing. 306 00:21:19,044 --> 00:21:20,978 You know those daring, dashing... 307 00:21:21,113 --> 00:21:23,843 young throttle jockeys who call themselves astronauts? 308 00:21:23,949 --> 00:21:27,385 Well, we're gonna need a whole bunch of new ones. 309 00:21:37,963 --> 00:21:41,763 My name's Max Peck. 310 00:21:41,867 --> 00:21:43,459 I believe you've got a room for me. 311 00:21:43,569 --> 00:21:47,767 Yes, Mr. Peck. We've been expecting you. 312 00:21:48,874 --> 00:21:49,966 Howdy. 313 00:21:50,075 --> 00:21:53,670 I'm Max Peck, and I need a room. 314 00:21:53,779 --> 00:21:56,714 Of course, Mr. Peck, and we've been holding one for you. 315 00:22:00,219 --> 00:22:03,484 Good afternoon. I'm Max Peck. 316 00:22:03,589 --> 00:22:06,752 Mr. Peck, of course. 317 00:22:06,859 --> 00:22:10,260 Hi. I have a reservation for a single room. My name is Max Peck. 318 00:22:11,363 --> 00:22:12,557 You're who? 319 00:22:14,933 --> 00:22:16,867 Mr. Max Peck. 320 00:22:20,472 --> 00:22:22,463 I don't think so. 321 00:22:23,375 --> 00:22:25,570 No, really. 322 00:22:25,677 --> 00:22:28,908 Yep, that's me. Good old Max Peck. 323 00:22:30,415 --> 00:22:34,875 I'll handle this one, Sheila. Mr. Peck, how nice to see you. 324 00:22:35,020 --> 00:22:38,217 I believe you're expected in the Corral Room up in the Mezzanine. 325 00:22:58,243 --> 00:23:02,646 You guys are drinkin' in bad company if Pete Conrad's buyin'. 326 00:23:02,781 --> 00:23:05,443 Good God, not Jim Lovell. 327 00:23:05,550 --> 00:23:08,519 Space program isn't safe if shaky here can pass muster. 328 00:23:08,654 --> 00:23:11,054 - Good to see ya, Pete. - Jim, come on in. 329 00:23:12,090 --> 00:23:14,285 - Hi, Jim Lovell. - Ed White. 330 00:23:14,393 --> 00:23:15,655 - Here's Jim McDivitt. - Hello, Jim. 331 00:23:15,761 --> 00:23:18,195 - It's a pleasure. - Elliott See. 332 00:23:18,330 --> 00:23:19,763 - Pleasure. - Nice to meet ya. 333 00:23:19,865 --> 00:23:21,628 - It's Frank Borman. - Hello, Frank. 334 00:23:21,733 --> 00:23:24,463 - Tom Stafford, John Young. - Nice to meet ya. 335 00:23:27,839 --> 00:23:31,605 What's the point of havin' top-secret code names if we ain't gonna use 'em? 336 00:23:31,710 --> 00:23:35,510 Well, heck, what'd I say, Jim Lovell? I meant Max Peck. 337 00:23:35,614 --> 00:23:38,344 - Makes a lot more sense. - Nice to meet ya. 338 00:23:38,450 --> 00:23:41,647 So I say, "Who is it?" She says, "He won't say." 339 00:23:41,753 --> 00:23:44,244 I say, "Well, ask again." She says, "I did." 340 00:23:44,389 --> 00:23:47,256 He was sure it was Dialin' For Dollars. 341 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:49,793 Well, I get to the phone, and it's-- 342 00:23:49,895 --> 00:23:52,420 "Jim, this is Deke Slayton. Would you be interested in flyin' for us?" 343 00:23:52,564 --> 00:23:56,330 I said, "Well, Deke, let me think about that. Yes." 344 00:23:56,435 --> 00:23:59,404 - Yeah, how soon do you want me? - Exactly. 345 00:23:59,538 --> 00:24:02,200 Think about it. He's in training for his Mercury mission. 346 00:24:02,307 --> 00:24:05,242 Yanked from the flight line. Boom. Just like that he's grounded. 347 00:24:05,377 --> 00:24:09,336 Yeah, well, some doctor had a piece of paper saying... 348 00:24:09,481 --> 00:24:13,815 "Deke Slayton shouldn't fly because of something called heart fibrillations." 349 00:24:13,919 --> 00:24:15,944 Doesn't everybody's heart fibrillate? 350 00:24:16,088 --> 00:24:20,525 I'm guessin' it'll be a variation on military rotation for Gemini. 351 00:24:20,659 --> 00:24:22,593 You know, you back up prime crew. 352 00:24:22,728 --> 00:24:25,196 You skip a couple of flights and then end up prime yourself. 353 00:24:25,330 --> 00:24:28,561 Gettin' on that rotation in the first place? That's the trick. 354 00:24:28,667 --> 00:24:31,830 The original seven's gonna fly way before any of us new nine. 355 00:24:31,937 --> 00:24:34,633 So, now, Deke Slayton's runnin' the office. Carpenter's history. 356 00:24:34,740 --> 00:24:38,141 John Glenn's leaving NASA. He's gonna run for president someday, I think. 357 00:24:38,243 --> 00:24:40,143 If he leaves, he's got my vote. 358 00:24:40,245 --> 00:24:43,874 I don't know. What do ya think? Will Glenn be satisfied with just president? 359 00:24:43,982 --> 00:24:45,950 Let's ask Armstrong. 360 00:24:46,084 --> 00:24:50,487 Hey, Neil, would you vote for John Glenn for president? 361 00:24:50,622 --> 00:24:52,522 Glenn for president, huh? 362 00:24:52,624 --> 00:24:57,061 That would depend. Who'd be runnin' for king? 363 00:25:10,876 --> 00:25:14,107 A great leader is dead. 364 00:25:14,212 --> 00:25:17,545 A great nation must move on. 365 00:25:21,353 --> 00:25:26,586 And as we bow our heads in submission to divine providence... 366 00:25:26,691 --> 00:25:29,819 let us also thank God... 367 00:25:29,928 --> 00:25:33,125 for the years that He gave us inspiration... 368 00:25:33,231 --> 00:25:36,530 through His servant, John F. Kennedy. 369 00:25:41,106 --> 00:25:45,509 And to honor his memory and the future of the works that he started... 370 00:25:45,644 --> 00:25:49,102 I have today determined that Station Number One... 371 00:25:49,247 --> 00:25:51,181 of the Atlantic Missile Range... 372 00:25:51,283 --> 00:25:54,684 and the NASA Launch Operation Center in Florida... 373 00:25:54,786 --> 00:25:59,780 shall hereafter be known as the John F. Kennedy Space Center. 374 00:26:28,220 --> 00:26:30,984 If there is a word that expresses the Washington reaction... 375 00:26:31,089 --> 00:26:34,149 to the Russian space spectacular today, the word is admiration. 376 00:26:34,292 --> 00:26:37,750 The actual getting out of the capsule itself was more or less... 377 00:26:37,896 --> 00:26:39,921 the next thing to happen. 378 00:26:40,065 --> 00:26:41,657 A more accurate word might be envy. 379 00:26:41,766 --> 00:26:44,997 Soviet scientists are talking now in terms of landing a man on the moon. 380 00:26:45,103 --> 00:26:47,469 It was going to happen sooner or later. It was just a question of when. 381 00:26:47,572 --> 00:26:50,439 The Russians started ahead of us in space ventures. They have been ahead. 382 00:26:50,542 --> 00:26:52,476 What they did today proves they are still ahead. 383 00:26:52,577 --> 00:26:55,876 The Gemini capsule would certainly be equipped to perform the same type-- 384 00:26:55,981 --> 00:26:57,881 On the fourth flight, which could come late this year... 385 00:26:57,983 --> 00:27:00,611 one of the American pilots will step outside. 386 00:27:00,719 --> 00:27:02,653 Extravehicular activity! 387 00:27:05,157 --> 00:27:09,423 That's just a fancy way of saying, "Let's go outside for a walk." 388 00:27:09,528 --> 00:27:12,156 The trouble is, it's cold out in space. 389 00:27:12,264 --> 00:27:15,495 See? Even chilly. Freezing! 390 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:18,034 And, there is no air to breathe out here. 391 00:27:18,170 --> 00:27:22,231 That's right, Woody. If Americans are ever to walk on the moon... 392 00:27:22,340 --> 00:27:27,039 the deadly vacuum of space must first be conquered. 393 00:27:27,145 --> 00:27:30,114 - Captain See? - Captain's not necessary. 394 00:27:30,248 --> 00:27:32,148 I'm a civilian. 395 00:27:32,250 --> 00:27:35,378 We're having our P.T.A. book fair on the 22nd. 396 00:27:35,487 --> 00:27:38,320 We would love it if NASA could arrange another astronaut visit. 397 00:27:38,423 --> 00:27:42,723 I'd be happy to pass this along to the Pubic Affairs Office. 398 00:27:42,827 --> 00:27:47,127 When I told the kids Astronaut Elliott See was coming, they all said, "Who?" 399 00:27:47,232 --> 00:27:49,666 They think every astronaut is John Glenn. 400 00:27:49,768 --> 00:27:54,637 But I'm sure they will be glued to the TV when you make your space shunt. 401 00:27:56,107 --> 00:28:00,339 With such a suit, why, anyone could take a walk in space... 402 00:28:00,445 --> 00:28:02,345 or even a walk on the moon. 403 00:28:02,447 --> 00:28:05,382 There you are, snug as a bug in a rug-- 404 00:28:05,517 --> 00:28:07,041 for a penguin, I mean. 405 00:28:07,185 --> 00:28:09,153 Hey, where are you goin'? 406 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:52,287 My suit's at 3.5 p.s.i. and holding. 407 00:28:52,430 --> 00:28:53,863 Great. 408 00:28:53,999 --> 00:28:56,900 Yeah, mine's just about the same. 409 00:28:57,002 --> 00:29:01,132 All right, you dirty dog, ready to go ahead and finish with the cabin depress? 410 00:29:01,239 --> 00:29:04,402 - Yeah, I'm ready. - All right. Let's go. 411 00:29:37,042 --> 00:29:40,478 - Hawaii, Houston Flight. - Go, Flight. 412 00:29:40,612 --> 00:29:44,013 Tell him we're ready to have him come out when he is. 413 00:29:44,149 --> 00:29:45,946 Roger. Understand. 414 00:29:46,051 --> 00:29:48,918 - Delta, give us a mark. - Gemini Four, CAPCOM. 415 00:29:49,020 --> 00:29:51,250 Come on out, Ed. Make us all look good. 416 00:29:51,356 --> 00:29:55,725 Gemini Four, CAPCOM. You are good for EVA on your mark. 417 00:30:20,151 --> 00:30:23,279 Okay, I'm separating from the spacecraft. 418 00:30:27,425 --> 00:30:29,620 Okay, my feet are out. 419 00:30:29,728 --> 00:30:32,925 I think I'm draggin' a little bit, but I don't wanna fire the gun yet. 420 00:30:36,668 --> 00:30:40,069 Okay, I put a little roll in there. It took me right out. 421 00:30:40,205 --> 00:30:43,174 - Am I in your view, Jimbo? - Ed, I can't see through the window. 422 00:30:43,308 --> 00:30:46,243 Don't sweat it. I'm comin' over to you. 423 00:30:47,846 --> 00:30:50,781 There goes what looks like a thermal glove. 424 00:30:50,915 --> 00:30:53,679 - That's what it is, Ed. - All right. 425 00:30:56,921 --> 00:31:00,118 I'm comin' above the spacecraft now. 426 00:31:00,225 --> 00:31:03,752 It looks like we're comin' up on the coast of California. 427 00:31:03,895 --> 00:31:06,363 I'm under my own control. 428 00:31:06,498 --> 00:31:09,956 There's no disorientation associated with it. None. 429 00:31:10,101 --> 00:31:14,003 Okay, I'm kickin' down underneath the spacecraft. 430 00:31:14,139 --> 00:31:16,403 It's all very soft. 431 00:31:16,508 --> 00:31:19,875 Particularly as long as you move nice and slow. 432 00:31:20,979 --> 00:31:24,506 I feel very thankful to have the experience to be doin' this. 433 00:31:24,649 --> 00:31:27,982 - You look beautiful, Ed. - I feel like a million dollars. 434 00:31:30,955 --> 00:31:33,219 Gemini Four, Houston CAPCOM. 435 00:31:33,324 --> 00:31:35,224 Gemini Four, Houston CAPCOM. 436 00:31:35,326 --> 00:31:37,556 Just for the record, Flight, he's been out twice as long as Leonov. 437 00:31:37,662 --> 00:31:40,062 Very good. They're runnin' out of daylight up there. 438 00:31:40,165 --> 00:31:43,100 CAPCOM, let's get him back in now. 439 00:31:48,106 --> 00:31:52,372 I don't know exactly where we are, but it looks like we're... 440 00:31:52,477 --> 00:31:54,445 back over Texas again. 441 00:31:56,448 --> 00:32:00,680 As a matter of fact, yeah, that looks a lot like Houston down there. 442 00:32:03,021 --> 00:32:06,923 Hey, Gus, I don't know if you read, but we're over Houston. 443 00:32:07,058 --> 00:32:09,424 Why don't you run out and take a look? 444 00:32:09,527 --> 00:32:12,860 Yeah, that's Galveston Bay right there. 445 00:32:16,701 --> 00:32:18,225 I could stay out here all day. 446 00:32:18,369 --> 00:32:19,893 Let's see what the Flight Director says. 447 00:32:20,038 --> 00:32:21,972 Flight Director says get back in. 448 00:32:22,073 --> 00:32:24,940 Tell that son of a bitch to get back in. 449 00:32:25,043 --> 00:32:27,637 Gemini Four, Houston. 450 00:32:27,745 --> 00:32:30,509 Gus, this is Jim. Do you got any message for us? 451 00:32:30,615 --> 00:32:34,142 - Gemini Four, get back in. - Okay. 452 00:32:34,285 --> 00:32:38,221 Ed, Houston wants you to come back in. 453 00:32:38,356 --> 00:32:40,847 - Back in? - Roger that. 454 00:32:40,992 --> 00:32:43,790 Been talkin' for a while. 455 00:32:43,895 --> 00:32:45,453 Comin' in. 456 00:32:47,432 --> 00:32:50,230 This is the saddest moment of my life. 457 00:33:09,454 --> 00:33:11,820 All right. 458 00:33:11,923 --> 00:33:14,687 Ladies and gentlemen, Commander Roger Chaffee... 459 00:33:14,792 --> 00:33:17,260 is from the third class of brand-new astronauts. 460 00:33:17,395 --> 00:33:21,422 He's flown in special from Houston to tell us all how America... 461 00:33:21,566 --> 00:33:23,966 is gonna beat the Russians to the moon. 462 00:33:31,009 --> 00:33:33,443 Who the hell is Roger Chaffee? 463 00:33:33,545 --> 00:33:35,809 - I came to see a real astronaut. - He's an astronaut. 464 00:33:35,914 --> 00:33:39,281 He just hasn't been up yet. 465 00:33:39,384 --> 00:33:42,842 He ain't flown outer space yet. He ain't no astronaut. 466 00:33:44,355 --> 00:33:45,447 Thank you very much. 467 00:33:48,293 --> 00:33:52,821 Ed White's extravehicular activity cleared a major hurdle. 468 00:33:52,964 --> 00:33:56,127 Man can work in the vacuum of outer space... 469 00:33:56,234 --> 00:33:58,395 and in a few years, on the surface of the moon. 470 00:33:59,437 --> 00:34:03,965 Just last December, Borman and Lovell in Gemini 7 were met in orbit... 471 00:34:04,108 --> 00:34:07,134 by Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra of Gemini 6. 472 00:34:08,746 --> 00:34:12,147 But what they didn't do was literally link up or dock. 473 00:34:12,283 --> 00:34:15,582 This NASA has yet to accomplish. 474 00:34:15,687 --> 00:34:19,521 To do that, we have to develop... 475 00:34:19,624 --> 00:34:21,819 a special docking mechanism... 476 00:34:21,926 --> 00:34:25,589 which we have here in diagram form. 477 00:34:27,699 --> 00:34:31,100 You know, I-- 478 00:34:31,235 --> 00:34:34,727 I brought along someone who I think can explain all of this... 479 00:34:34,872 --> 00:34:36,897 one heck of a lot better than I can. 480 00:34:37,775 --> 00:34:39,834 Blastoff! 481 00:34:55,927 --> 00:34:57,690 That's good. 482 00:35:00,264 --> 00:35:04,564 I just remembered. I'm allergic to cheese. 483 00:35:04,669 --> 00:35:08,036 Now comes the hard part: getting back home. 484 00:35:08,139 --> 00:35:10,232 The lunar lander will fly up from the moon... 485 00:35:10,375 --> 00:35:12,639 and have to not only find the orbiting capsule... 486 00:35:12,744 --> 00:35:15,042 but actually grab onto it. 487 00:35:15,146 --> 00:35:17,808 - Howdy, fuzz! - Hey! Hello! 488 00:35:20,685 --> 00:35:22,983 And home we go! 489 00:35:33,398 --> 00:35:36,299 This is Emmett Seaborn with a special bulletin from St. Louis. 490 00:35:36,401 --> 00:35:39,268 American astronauts Elliott See and Charles Bassett... 491 00:35:39,370 --> 00:35:42,771 have died in a crash of their T-38 jet aircraft. 492 00:35:42,874 --> 00:35:45,308 The Gemini astronauts were flying to Lambert Field... 493 00:35:45,410 --> 00:35:48,811 to inspect their space capsule at the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation... 494 00:35:48,946 --> 00:35:50,914 when the plane carrying the two astronauts... 495 00:35:51,049 --> 00:35:53,449 smashed into the roof of the assembly plant. 496 00:35:53,551 --> 00:35:54,950 As crew of Gemini 9... 497 00:35:55,053 --> 00:35:57,783 the pair were to have flown into space in early June. 498 00:35:57,889 --> 00:36:01,586 -They tried to keep the field in view... -Give us a second, will you? 499 00:36:01,693 --> 00:36:04,184 while doing a turnaround under the cloud ceiling and overshot the runway. 500 00:36:04,328 --> 00:36:06,796 Elliott tried to land V.F.R. under that low overcast. 501 00:36:06,931 --> 00:36:09,559 He hit the building and smashed into the park. 502 00:36:09,667 --> 00:36:12,397 Of the plant where the spacecraft was being assembled. Good God! 503 00:36:12,503 --> 00:36:14,528 It's a miracle more people weren't killed. 504 00:36:14,672 --> 00:36:16,572 Does that mean we're pushin' too hard... 505 00:36:16,674 --> 00:36:18,972 with our guys flyin' all over the country in bad weather? 506 00:36:19,077 --> 00:36:21,739 These are pilots who have to fly through a lot worse than overcast skies. 507 00:36:21,846 --> 00:36:24,280 It was an accident. 508 00:36:24,382 --> 00:36:27,283 Two astronauts who hadn't even been in space yet are dead. 509 00:36:27,385 --> 00:36:31,048 You don't think Congress is gonna ask me how somethin' like that happened? 510 00:36:31,155 --> 00:36:33,953 They'll slow us down, cancel missions, just so they can look good. 511 00:36:34,058 --> 00:36:36,526 This is the first time a backup crew is going to be going into space. 512 00:36:36,661 --> 00:36:38,686 Are Stafford and Cernan gonna be ready for Gemini 9? 513 00:36:38,830 --> 00:36:42,288 This is exactly why we have backup crews. Gene and Tom will be ready. 514 00:36:45,002 --> 00:36:48,494 There are gonna be two very public funerals. 515 00:36:48,639 --> 00:36:50,573 After which, the press is gonna have a field day... 516 00:36:50,675 --> 00:36:54,475 about NASA wasting not just tax dollars but human lives. 517 00:36:54,579 --> 00:36:56,137 Still, we dodged a bullet. 518 00:36:57,115 --> 00:36:59,743 If See and Bassett had been killed during an actual space mission? 519 00:36:59,851 --> 00:37:03,844 Congress would shut NASA down and Russia gets to the moon in a cakewalk. 520 00:37:03,988 --> 00:37:09,051 We have Neil Armstrong and Dave Scott going up in Gemini 8 in two weeks. 521 00:37:09,193 --> 00:37:11,423 There is no reason-- none-- to slip the launch. 522 00:37:11,529 --> 00:37:16,626 We have to rendezvous and dock with Agena, otherwise we are way behind. 523 00:37:25,309 --> 00:37:27,243 All right. 524 00:37:27,378 --> 00:37:29,278 We go on just as we have to. 525 00:37:29,380 --> 00:37:32,577 I'll fight it out with whoever tries to close us down in Washington... 526 00:37:32,683 --> 00:37:36,483 if for no other reason then to buy time... 527 00:37:36,587 --> 00:37:40,284 time to rack up a couple of successful missions... 528 00:37:40,391 --> 00:37:44,088 so no one has anything to complain about. 529 00:37:44,195 --> 00:37:47,323 But at the same time, gentlemen, let's all say some prayers... 530 00:37:47,431 --> 00:37:50,093 for nothing else to go wrong. 531 00:37:52,236 --> 00:37:54,898 Bus arm to dock. 532 00:37:58,309 --> 00:38:01,005 Eight, CAPCOM, we copy. 533 00:38:01,112 --> 00:38:04,741 C.D.A. Control, switch is off. Agena docking light is green. 534 00:38:04,849 --> 00:38:06,749 Agena power light is green. 535 00:38:06,851 --> 00:38:09,217 Gemini 8, we have telemetry solid. 536 00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:12,255 Lookin' good on the ground. You're still go for docking. 537 00:38:16,460 --> 00:38:20,453 Okay, contact light. We have capture and rigidizing. 538 00:38:20,598 --> 00:38:25,729 Flight, we are docked with the Agena. It was really a smoothy. 539 00:38:25,837 --> 00:38:28,237 Roger, Dave. 540 00:38:28,339 --> 00:38:31,240 Hey, congratulations. This is real good. 541 00:38:32,677 --> 00:38:35,908 You can't have the thrill down there that we have up here. 542 00:38:36,013 --> 00:38:38,948 We have you at loss of signal in 10 seconds. 543 00:38:39,083 --> 00:38:42,484 - We'll acquire over C.S.Q. - Very good. 544 00:38:42,620 --> 00:38:45,851 The letters L.O.S. stand for "Loss Of Signal." 545 00:38:45,957 --> 00:38:48,858 Armstrong and Scott are going to be out of communication... 546 00:38:48,960 --> 00:38:51,793 as Gemini travels from the tracking station... 547 00:38:51,896 --> 00:38:56,765 toward the one on board the ship, Coastal Sentry Quebec or C.S.Q. 548 00:38:56,868 --> 00:38:58,995 Where are they now, Armstrong and Scott? 549 00:38:59,103 --> 00:39:04,268 It looks as if they're just below the coast of India, crossing over. 550 00:39:33,337 --> 00:39:35,635 Neil, we're rollin'. We're in a bank. 551 00:39:39,277 --> 00:39:41,768 Plus 30 degrees. What the hell is this? 552 00:39:47,752 --> 00:39:49,310 We shouldn't be moving like this. 553 00:39:49,453 --> 00:39:51,318 I don't get it. I can't control it. Shut down the Agena. 554 00:39:51,422 --> 00:39:54,323 I did. Command 400. 555 00:39:54,425 --> 00:39:55,858 It's down. 556 00:39:56,861 --> 00:39:58,385 Then what the hell is this? 557 00:40:03,668 --> 00:40:07,126 Our rate is pickin' up. It's just gettin' worse. 558 00:40:07,271 --> 00:40:09,205 Let's hope it's somethin' wrong with the Agena. 559 00:40:09,340 --> 00:40:11,103 We better disengage. 560 00:40:11,208 --> 00:40:12,641 You ready? 561 00:40:17,114 --> 00:40:18,911 - Yes, sir. - Undock. 562 00:40:29,660 --> 00:40:31,423 - Hey, Deke! - Hey, Pete. 563 00:40:31,529 --> 00:40:33,053 Better get in here and do some work. 564 00:40:33,197 --> 00:40:38,032 Work. I heard of that. Spelled with a "W," isn't it? 565 00:40:52,350 --> 00:40:54,580 - I can't stop it. Wanna give it a try? - I got it. 566 00:40:57,555 --> 00:40:58,920 Man, what is this? 567 00:40:59,023 --> 00:41:03,585 - Gemini 8, C.S.Q. CAPCOM, how do you-- - We have serious problems here. 568 00:41:04,895 --> 00:41:06,863 We're tumbling end over end. 569 00:41:06,998 --> 00:41:09,398 We've separated from the Agena. 570 00:41:09,500 --> 00:41:12,298 We're rolling up, and we can't turn anything off. 571 00:41:12,403 --> 00:41:14,303 We are continuously increasing left roll. 572 00:41:14,405 --> 00:41:17,863 - C.S.Q., Flight. - Go ahead, Flight. 573 00:41:18,009 --> 00:41:20,569 Did he say he could not turn the Agena off? 574 00:41:20,711 --> 00:41:22,645 No, he said that he separated from the Agena... 575 00:41:22,747 --> 00:41:25,443 and is in a roll and he can't stop it. 576 00:41:25,549 --> 00:41:28,746 His reg pressure is down to zero. Gemini 8, C.S.Q. 577 00:41:28,853 --> 00:41:30,377 We are in a violent left roll here. 578 00:41:30,521 --> 00:41:32,489 We can't turn the oams off, and we can't fire them. 579 00:41:32,623 --> 00:41:36,286 -One of the oams has got to be stuck on. -I'm isolating the attitude system. 580 00:41:41,999 --> 00:41:43,466 I'm shuttin' it down. 581 00:41:43,601 --> 00:41:46,866 - Did I hear a stuck hand controller? - That's affirmative, Flight. 582 00:41:46,971 --> 00:41:50,498 We can't seem to get any valid data here. They're in a violent tumble. 583 00:41:50,641 --> 00:41:51,869 - What about the Agena? - Flight Surgeon! 584 00:41:51,976 --> 00:41:53,068 Go ahead. 585 00:41:53,210 --> 00:41:55,440 That roll's too violent, there's a danger of tunnel vision... 586 00:41:55,546 --> 00:41:57,446 with the possibility of blacking out. 587 00:42:11,295 --> 00:42:12,956 We can't take much more of this. 588 00:42:14,231 --> 00:42:18,998 Not it. All we have left is the reentry control system, Dave. 589 00:42:21,405 --> 00:42:23,999 We bring up the RCS, they'll abort the mission. 590 00:42:26,444 --> 00:42:28,002 Not much choice here. 591 00:42:40,291 --> 00:42:41,815 Good. You're bringin' it down. 592 00:42:54,138 --> 00:42:57,665 We're regaining control of the spacecraft slowly on RCS direct. 593 00:42:57,808 --> 00:42:59,241 Roger, Captain. 594 00:42:59,343 --> 00:43:04,838 We're pulsing the RCS slowly here, tryin' to kill our roll rate. 595 00:43:04,982 --> 00:43:09,009 Understand, Gemini. We show you maneuvering on your RCS. Affirmative. 596 00:43:09,153 --> 00:43:11,747 All right, if they've brought up the RCS, then the flight's over. 597 00:43:11,889 --> 00:43:14,687 That's mission rules. We gotta bring them in. 598 00:43:15,526 --> 00:43:20,054 Gemini 8, C.S.Q. How much RCS have you used and are you just on one ring? 599 00:43:20,197 --> 00:43:22,859 We are on one ring, trying to save the other ring. 600 00:43:22,967 --> 00:43:25,731 We started out on two rings, but we are now on one ring. 601 00:43:25,836 --> 00:43:27,736 - And the RCS? - Doesn't matter. End of story. 602 00:43:27,838 --> 00:43:29,271 We bring 'em in. 603 00:43:29,406 --> 00:43:34,708 - What about the RCS, Houston? - We're down to about 1,700 pounds-- 604 00:43:34,812 --> 00:43:37,747 - Recovery, are you getting all this? - Roger. 605 00:43:37,848 --> 00:43:40,874 C.S.Q., Flight. Let's get that spacecraft sea-band beacon on. 606 00:43:41,018 --> 00:43:42,918 Reentry sea-band beacon on. 607 00:43:43,020 --> 00:43:45,147 We've lost contact with the spacecraft, Flight. 608 00:43:45,289 --> 00:43:49,157 - Okay. We'll get 'em over Hawaii. - Let's hope so. 609 00:44:03,707 --> 00:44:05,641 The reentry guidance program isn't in the computer... 610 00:44:05,776 --> 00:44:09,303 so Dave will have to manually enter the pad, then verify the self-tests with us. 611 00:44:09,446 --> 00:44:12,244 They can't do that and get secure in one orbit. They need some time. 612 00:44:12,349 --> 00:44:13,873 - All right? - Right. 613 00:44:14,018 --> 00:44:18,352 Two passes over Rose Knot Victor, then. They're the secondary recovery zones. 614 00:44:18,455 --> 00:44:21,754 Let's bring them down in 7-3. 615 00:44:36,840 --> 00:44:39,900 Na-ha Rescue 1, Gemini 8. 616 00:44:44,782 --> 00:44:46,977 They ain't out there. 617 00:44:47,084 --> 00:44:50,019 Three- to five-foot waves, sure. 618 00:44:50,120 --> 00:44:53,055 They didn't say anything about these swells. 619 00:44:53,190 --> 00:44:55,590 The fumes from the heat shield really helped. 620 00:45:03,534 --> 00:45:07,436 You think they even know we're here, Neil? 621 00:45:10,708 --> 00:45:14,667 Not to worry, Dave. If nothing else, we'll just float along to China. 622 00:45:15,813 --> 00:45:18,373 Oh, God, give me that bag. 623 00:45:22,019 --> 00:45:24,783 Na-ha Rescue 1, this is Gemini 8. 624 00:45:28,859 --> 00:45:31,919 Neil Armstrong did everything a pilot should. 625 00:45:32,062 --> 00:45:36,123 He probably saved the space program in the process. 626 00:45:36,267 --> 00:45:39,532 But I want a Mercury veteran to fly the first Apollo mission, Gus. 627 00:45:39,637 --> 00:45:42,970 It's simple as that. A brand-new spacecraft. 628 00:45:43,073 --> 00:45:46,600 Who'd be the choices for my crew? I want the best, Deke. 629 00:45:46,744 --> 00:45:49,975 I was thinkin' of Donn Eisele, but then he went and broke his shoulder... 630 00:45:50,080 --> 00:45:52,640 in the vomit comet, so-- 631 00:45:52,783 --> 00:45:57,083 -What about Ed White? -Eddie? I'll take him. Who else you got? 632 00:45:57,187 --> 00:46:00,623 I'm impressed with Roger Chaffee. 633 00:46:00,758 --> 00:46:04,922 He flew photo missions over Cuba during the missile crisis. 634 00:46:05,029 --> 00:46:06,929 He's smart too. 635 00:46:07,031 --> 00:46:11,900 Wears down the engineers when he starts talkin' about their systems. 636 00:46:12,002 --> 00:46:15,870 And there's one last thing, Gus, about the rotation. 637 00:46:17,141 --> 00:46:21,475 We won't know the flight schedule for some time. 638 00:46:21,578 --> 00:46:24,843 But I'd sure like to have one of the original Mercury astronauts... 639 00:46:24,948 --> 00:46:29,112 still flying when Apollo makes that first moon landing. 640 00:46:38,095 --> 00:46:40,757 Interesting you should say that, Deke. 641 00:46:40,864 --> 00:46:45,358 Just so happens, I'm one of the original Mercury astronauts. 642 00:46:51,342 --> 00:46:55,244 The Russians?" 643 00:47:00,718 --> 00:47:03,482 Roger Chaffee is a rookie astronaut chosen... 644 00:47:03,587 --> 00:47:06,078 out of a field literally of thousands. 645 00:47:06,223 --> 00:47:08,953 Ed White is a veteran astronaut. 646 00:47:09,059 --> 00:47:12,051 He's made our first space walk back on Gemini 4. 647 00:47:14,264 --> 00:47:17,199 Gus Grissom, the Apollo 1 commander, has already flown... 648 00:47:17,334 --> 00:47:19,598 both Mercury and Gemini spacecraft. 649 00:47:19,703 --> 00:47:21,796 This three-man crew and the engineers... 650 00:47:21,939 --> 00:47:23,839 are well into the development and training phase... 651 00:47:23,941 --> 00:47:26,000 of Apollo procedures and hardware. 652 00:47:26,143 --> 00:47:29,442 We are winning the space race. 653 00:47:29,546 --> 00:47:31,741 We have not only caught up with the Soviets... 654 00:47:31,849 --> 00:47:33,749 we have surpassed them in many areas. 655 00:47:33,851 --> 00:47:36,285 We have kept men in space longer. 656 00:47:36,420 --> 00:47:38,945 We have achieved orbital rendezvous of two spacecraft... 657 00:47:39,089 --> 00:47:42,115 and the docking of two vehicles in orbit. 658 00:47:42,259 --> 00:47:45,126 These are not only firsts in their own right... 659 00:47:45,229 --> 00:47:48,357 but important steps to our long-range goal... 660 00:47:48,465 --> 00:47:50,433 of landing on the moon with the Apollo program. 661 00:47:50,567 --> 00:47:53,400 Miss Hedges, a follow-up. 662 00:47:53,504 --> 00:47:55,972 Should the Russians beat us to the moon, Mr. Webb... 663 00:47:56,106 --> 00:47:58,939 will the costly Apollo program be continued? 664 00:47:59,042 --> 00:48:02,443 Landing the first man on the moon is the priority of NASA... 665 00:48:02,546 --> 00:48:04,571 and the American taxpayers who are footing the bill. 666 00:48:04,715 --> 00:48:08,116 I do not see their support wavering until we do so. 667 00:48:08,218 --> 00:48:09,549 Gavin O'Rourke. 668 00:48:09,653 --> 00:48:13,384 Mr. Webb, NASA achievements and taxpayer will aside... 669 00:48:13,490 --> 00:48:15,856 are we gonna beat the Russians in this contest? 670 00:48:15,959 --> 00:48:18,689 Will the United States put the first man on the moon? 671 00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:28,302 It is my job and the job of 400,000 men and women around the country... 672 00:48:28,405 --> 00:48:30,396 to see to it that we do. 673 00:48:35,112 --> 00:48:36,443 We have ignition. 674 00:48:41,985 --> 00:48:43,282 We have liftoff. 675 00:48:54,631 --> 00:48:56,690 And liftoff! 676 00:49:11,348 --> 00:49:13,942 There it is! 677 00:49:21,425 --> 00:49:24,553 America is one step closer to the moon with the launch of Gemini 12. 678 00:49:24,661 --> 00:49:28,097 Flight Commander Jim Lovell is a veteran astronaut. 679 00:49:28,232 --> 00:49:31,633 Pilot Edwin Aldrin makes his first journey into space. 680 00:49:31,768 --> 00:49:35,135 From Houston, Science Editor Emmett Seaborn. 681 00:49:35,239 --> 00:49:38,936 In one of the luckiest coincidences of this space program... 682 00:49:39,042 --> 00:49:42,478 Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, who had worked on orbital rendezvous... 683 00:49:42,613 --> 00:49:45,912 for his doctoral thesis at M.I.T.... 684 00:49:46,016 --> 00:49:49,213 was seated in the right-hand seat of Gemini 12... 685 00:49:49,319 --> 00:49:54,279 when the onboard computer refused to accept data from the rendezvous radar. 686 00:49:54,424 --> 00:49:56,688 Using an 8-power sexton and charts... 687 00:49:56,793 --> 00:49:59,523 developed in the case of just such a malfunction... 688 00:49:59,630 --> 00:50:04,192 Aldrin guided Commander Jim Lovell to a successful rendezvous and docking... 689 00:50:04,334 --> 00:50:06,268 with the Agena target vehicle. 690 00:50:06,403 --> 00:50:09,668 This was an important moment for NASA... 691 00:50:09,773 --> 00:50:13,709 as it proves the skills honed during the 10 Gemini missions... 692 00:50:13,844 --> 00:50:17,302 can overcome potentially catastrophic problems... 693 00:50:17,447 --> 00:50:21,884 problems that could arise on a flight as crammed as Gemini 12. 694 00:50:22,019 --> 00:50:23,953 In four days, the crew is expected to dock... 695 00:50:24,087 --> 00:50:26,180 twice more with the Agena... 696 00:50:26,323 --> 00:50:28,587 using its rocket engine... 697 00:50:28,692 --> 00:50:31,957 to send them into an even higher orbit around the Earth. 698 00:50:44,074 --> 00:50:46,008 Three space walks... 699 00:50:46,143 --> 00:50:50,079 Dr. Rendezvous himself Buzz Aldrin will perform experiments... 700 00:50:50,213 --> 00:50:52,147 photograph star fields... 701 00:50:52,249 --> 00:50:56,481 and remain outside the capsule longer than any astronaut to date... 702 00:50:56,587 --> 00:50:59,886 using modified handrails and equipment specifically designed... 703 00:50:59,990 --> 00:51:02,550 for work in zero gravity. 704 00:51:14,838 --> 00:51:17,102 For Lovell, who will remain inside the spacecraft... 705 00:51:17,207 --> 00:51:19,641 these four days of orbiting the Earth... 706 00:51:19,776 --> 00:51:23,007 together with the 14 days aboard Gemini 7... 707 00:51:23,113 --> 00:51:27,948 will make him the most traveled man in history. 708 00:51:31,154 --> 00:51:33,679 Jimbo, gonna clean your windshield. 709 00:51:33,824 --> 00:51:36,850 Hey, Buzz, check the oil too, would ya? 710 00:51:42,466 --> 00:51:47,870 And so the curtain rings down on this second act of man's voyage to the moon. 711 00:51:47,971 --> 00:51:53,136 NASA officials are confident that the third act-- Project Apollo-- 712 00:51:53,243 --> 00:51:57,339 will place a human being in the form of an American astronaut... 713 00:51:57,481 --> 00:52:00,507 on the moon sometime before midnight... 714 00:52:00,651 --> 00:52:03,449 New Year's Eve, 1969. 715 00:52:03,553 --> 00:52:06,954 From Houston, I'm Emmett Seaborn. 716 00:53:38,248 --> 00:53:40,341 - Good morning. - How ya doin'? 717 00:53:50,594 --> 00:53:52,255 Some crowd, huh? 718 00:53:52,362 --> 00:53:54,887 They all think you're gonna announce your return to the flight rotation. 719 00:53:56,500 --> 00:53:58,400 You can announce mine while you're at it. 720 00:53:58,502 --> 00:54:01,528 - At least I can teach a couple of 'em. - Yes, you could. 721 00:54:10,180 --> 00:54:13,274 Owen Maynard and the Mission Operations Division... 722 00:54:13,416 --> 00:54:15,850 has laid out a plan for the series of Apollo flights... 723 00:54:15,986 --> 00:54:18,011 that will lead up to the landing on the moon. 724 00:54:18,155 --> 00:54:21,591 Each of these missions has a letter. 725 00:54:21,725 --> 00:54:25,092 The "A" and "B" missions will be unmanned tests. 726 00:54:25,195 --> 00:54:27,254 The "C" mission will be the first manned flight... 727 00:54:27,397 --> 00:54:29,695 of the command and service module. 728 00:54:29,800 --> 00:54:32,394 Gus, Ed and Roger in Apollo 1. 729 00:54:32,536 --> 00:54:35,198 The "D" mission will be the first dual flight of the C.S.M.... 730 00:54:35,305 --> 00:54:39,105 with the lunar module in low Earth orbit to test it out. 731 00:54:39,209 --> 00:54:43,441 The "E" mission will do the same in high Earth orbit for reentry procedures. 732 00:54:43,547 --> 00:54:47,950 The "F" mission will go all the way to lunar orbit with the LEM but won't land. 733 00:54:48,051 --> 00:54:52,283 That will be the objective of whoever takes the first "G" mission. 734 00:54:55,058 --> 00:54:58,289 Now, each of these missions must be successfully completed... 735 00:54:58,395 --> 00:55:00,989 before we can move on to the next type of mission. 736 00:55:01,131 --> 00:55:04,567 If we have problems with the rendezvous radar... 737 00:55:04,701 --> 00:55:08,102 or the backpacks or the retracting probe... 738 00:55:08,238 --> 00:55:13,335 we will go to a D-1 or a D-2 or even a D-3 mission... 739 00:55:13,476 --> 00:55:16,309 before we attempt the first "E" mission. 740 00:55:16,413 --> 00:55:21,976 So, even though there are only five manned missions laid out... 741 00:55:22,118 --> 00:55:24,552 it does not necessarily mean that the fifth group... 742 00:55:24,688 --> 00:55:26,781 will make the first landing... 743 00:55:28,091 --> 00:55:32,118 which brings me to the point of this meeting. 744 00:55:34,497 --> 00:55:36,965 Assembled here are those of you that are left... 745 00:55:37,100 --> 00:55:40,831 from the original seven Mercury astronauts... 746 00:55:40,937 --> 00:55:43,371 as well as the new nine or the next nine... 747 00:55:43,506 --> 00:55:45,940 or whatever you guys call yourselves... 748 00:55:46,042 --> 00:55:49,205 and some of the third group. 749 00:55:50,547 --> 00:55:53,846 The crew assignments that will be made concern you in the following manner. 750 00:56:00,457 --> 00:56:02,152 The men in this room... 751 00:56:02,259 --> 00:56:05,387 will be making moon landings. 752 00:56:06,630 --> 00:56:10,122 Two of you will be first. 753 00:56:10,267 --> 00:56:12,827 I don't know which two that will be. 754 00:56:12,969 --> 00:56:16,700 But I do know that the first man to walk on the moon... 755 00:56:16,806 --> 00:56:20,867 walked into this room today and he's looking at me right now... 756 00:56:22,412 --> 00:56:24,812 as well as the second... 757 00:56:24,915 --> 00:56:29,181 the third and the fourth and so on. 758 00:56:40,730 --> 00:56:43,563 Just thought you might wanna know that. 759 00:57:04,688 --> 00:57:07,657 That is all, gentlemen. 760 00:57:44,127 --> 00:57:46,186 In the weeks leading up to any manned space mission... 761 00:57:46,329 --> 00:57:50,197 the crew and the spacecraft are put through a series of dress rehearsals... 762 00:57:50,300 --> 00:57:53,133 each one more like the real thing than the last. 763 00:57:53,236 --> 00:57:56,137 The "plugs out" test is just one of these. 764 00:57:56,239 --> 00:57:58,298 The crew is wearing full pressure suits... 765 00:57:58,441 --> 00:57:59,931 locked inside the hatch... 766 00:58:00,076 --> 00:58:03,568 confirming that the spacecraft can operate under its own power... 767 00:58:03,713 --> 00:58:07,205 with all the umbilical plugs connecting it to the ground removed. 768 00:58:07,350 --> 00:58:08,874 Even for the very first Apollo mission... 769 00:58:09,019 --> 00:58:12,785 the plugs out test was routine and hardly considered hazardous. 770 00:58:12,889 --> 00:58:15,722 For astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee... 771 00:58:15,825 --> 00:58:18,157 it was supposed to be just another long afternoon... 772 00:58:18,261 --> 00:58:21,662 spent on their backs inside the Apollo 1 command module. 773 00:58:21,798 --> 00:58:24,232 Another test of the complicated vehicle... 774 00:58:24,334 --> 00:58:27,269 that would someday perhaps take all three of them... 775 00:58:27,404 --> 00:58:29,668 on a voyage from the Earth to the moon. 776 00:58:33,943 --> 00:58:37,174 Okay, Command Pilot, how do you read? 777 00:58:37,280 --> 00:58:40,113 I read you loud and clear. 778 00:58:40,216 --> 00:58:41,740 Read me? 779 00:58:41,885 --> 00:58:43,648 You're pretty garbled here, Gus. 780 00:58:43,753 --> 00:58:45,277 Senior Pilot, can you hear us? 781 00:58:46,456 --> 00:58:49,016 Yeah, coming through loud and clear. 782 00:58:49,159 --> 00:58:52,686 Okay, Ed, you're worse than Gus. How 'bout you, Roger? 783 00:58:52,829 --> 00:58:56,356 Okay, pilot reads you five by five. 784 00:58:56,499 --> 00:58:58,364 Roger, you are just a little bit better. 785 00:58:58,468 --> 00:59:00,402 Better than Ed or better than Gus? 786 00:59:00,537 --> 00:59:02,004 Better than both. 787 00:59:02,138 --> 00:59:03,628 That's what I always say. 788 00:59:03,773 --> 00:59:07,402 Gus, what we'd like to do is use strictly S-band communications. 789 00:59:07,544 --> 00:59:09,478 See if we can clear this up. 790 00:59:09,579 --> 00:59:12,412 Can we get all three of you in the S-band mode? 791 00:59:12,515 --> 00:59:15,040 We're all now in the S-band. 792 00:59:15,185 --> 00:59:17,153 That's real clean, Gus. 793 00:59:17,287 --> 00:59:20,017 Let's try one more and maybe we can make the run. 794 00:59:20,123 --> 00:59:22,751 Okay. This is the command pilot. 795 00:59:22,892 --> 00:59:26,794 One, two, three, four, five. 796 00:59:26,930 --> 00:59:30,696 You're garbled, but I think we can get through like this. 797 00:59:30,800 --> 00:59:33,530 Senior Pilot, one more time, please. 798 00:59:33,636 --> 00:59:35,661 Roger. Senior pilot's transmitting. 799 00:59:35,805 --> 00:59:39,138 One, two, three, four. 800 00:59:39,242 --> 00:59:41,301 I have senior pilot. 801 00:59:41,444 --> 00:59:43,935 We're not copying anybody five by. 802 00:59:44,080 --> 00:59:46,207 We've tried about every mode. 803 00:59:46,349 --> 00:59:48,214 We never did hear the pilot. 804 00:59:48,318 --> 00:59:50,912 Pilot hasn't talked yet. How's this? 805 00:59:51,054 --> 00:59:54,353 One, two, three, four, five. 806 00:59:54,457 --> 00:59:57,290 Okay, roger. You're all comin' in about the same. 807 01:00:00,797 --> 01:00:02,697 Okay, SDC. 808 01:00:05,668 --> 01:00:09,536 If you run into many more communications problems-- We're down. Copy? 809 01:00:09,639 --> 01:00:11,163 Steve, I need you at the phone. 810 01:00:11,307 --> 01:00:13,036 I didn't read you, Chuck, at all. 811 01:00:13,143 --> 01:00:15,941 I can't read you, Chuck. Wanna try the phone? 812 01:00:16,045 --> 01:00:20,345 How are we gonna get to the moon if we can't talk between three buildings? 813 01:00:20,450 --> 01:00:22,941 Didn't read you. Can you repeat? 814 01:00:23,086 --> 01:00:25,884 I can't hear a thing they're saying. Jesus Christ. 815 01:00:25,989 --> 01:00:28,048 I said, how are we gonna get to the moon... 816 01:00:28,191 --> 01:00:30,921 if we can't talk between two or three buildings? 817 01:00:40,036 --> 01:00:43,233 - Okay, that's a little better, Chuck. - Give us a count on black-three. 818 01:00:43,339 --> 01:00:46,502 We'll try to figure out why you're coming in on black-two. 819 01:00:46,609 --> 01:00:51,308 Okay. You want us to sit by here till we get this stuff squared away? 820 01:00:51,414 --> 01:00:53,245 Uh, Chuck, I didn't read-- 821 01:00:53,349 --> 01:00:56,318 Test countdown hold continues at T minus ten. 822 01:00:57,820 --> 01:00:58,912 Apollo 1, how do you read? 823 01:01:03,326 --> 01:01:05,226 Apollo 1, how do you read? 824 01:01:10,433 --> 01:01:14,836 I read you fine. The problem is you're not reading me. 825 01:01:14,938 --> 01:01:17,736 We're gonna get a new backup system. 826 01:01:17,840 --> 01:01:21,901 I sent a guy out for a couple of empty soup cans and some string. 827 01:01:22,045 --> 01:01:23,945 A lot of string. 828 01:01:24,047 --> 01:01:25,947 Really getting ridiculous. 829 01:01:33,223 --> 01:01:34,952 Sounds like we got an open mike. 830 01:01:36,526 --> 01:01:37,959 - We better find it. - Fire! 831 01:01:39,429 --> 01:01:41,659 We got a fire in the cockpit! 832 01:01:41,764 --> 01:01:44,255 - Did he say "fire"? - On the monitor! 833 01:01:46,936 --> 01:01:48,335 We got a bad fire! 834 01:02:38,054 --> 01:02:39,988 We keeping you from something, Stormy? 835 01:02:40,123 --> 01:02:43,092 Rick's rehearsal dinner. I promised Phyllis I wouldn't be late. 836 01:02:43,226 --> 01:02:45,820 Sure she's never heard that before. 837 01:02:45,962 --> 01:02:48,556 Control is on the line from the Cape. There's a fire in the spacecraft. 838 01:03:10,853 --> 01:03:13,651 Mr. Shea, I was just trying the house. 839 01:03:13,756 --> 01:03:15,690 I thought you were going straight home from the airport. 840 01:03:15,792 --> 01:03:19,023 I have a couple of things I still need to take a look at. 841 01:03:19,128 --> 01:03:22,029 Mission Control just called. There's some situation with the test. 842 01:03:22,131 --> 01:03:23,621 They wanted you to come over right away. 843 01:03:25,902 --> 01:03:27,802 What kind of situation? 844 01:04:17,487 --> 01:04:19,546 Chris. What's goin' on? 845 01:04:21,824 --> 01:04:23,121 We lost the crew. 846 01:04:24,927 --> 01:04:26,895 There was a fire. The crew is-- 847 01:04:28,598 --> 01:04:30,327 They're dead. 848 01:05:03,032 --> 01:05:03,999 Jan. 849 01:05:39,802 --> 01:05:41,736 Would you like a sedative, Betty? 850 01:05:41,871 --> 01:05:43,805 - Something-- - No, thank you. 851 01:05:45,341 --> 01:05:47,571 I've got a lot of important decisions to make in the next few days. 852 01:05:47,677 --> 01:05:50,077 I don't wanna be zonked out on pills. 853 01:05:55,051 --> 01:05:56,951 Better go call Gus' folks. 854 01:06:15,838 --> 01:06:18,773 Martha, Mike Collins is here. 855 01:06:53,609 --> 01:06:55,736 Just so you know, Joe... 856 01:06:55,878 --> 01:06:57,709 the suits failed but they-- 857 01:06:59,215 --> 01:07:01,945 The doctors said they didn't burn to death. 858 01:07:02,051 --> 01:07:02,983 It was the smoke. 859 01:07:03,085 --> 01:07:05,019 They were asphyxiated. 860 01:07:46,028 --> 01:07:47,518 Hello? Anybody home? 861 01:07:48,931 --> 01:07:50,831 Mom? Dad? 862 01:08:14,790 --> 01:08:16,280 Could have been any of us in there. 863 01:08:17,827 --> 01:08:19,317 Hell, it almost was me. 864 01:08:20,262 --> 01:08:22,389 I was gonna sit in the spacecraft for the test. 865 01:08:22,531 --> 01:08:25,432 - Either me or Joe. - What? 866 01:08:25,534 --> 01:08:27,900 We'd been havin' so many problems with the communications system... 867 01:08:28,004 --> 01:08:32,373 we thought it might be a good idea to have somebody in there listening in. 868 01:08:36,178 --> 01:08:38,442 So up until breakfast this mornin'... 869 01:08:38,547 --> 01:08:42,574 Joe Shea and I were gonna flip a coin to see who got to ride with the guys. 870 01:08:42,718 --> 01:08:45,744 - Where would we sit? - Not on my lap, that's for damn sure. 871 01:08:47,356 --> 01:08:50,814 We could fit one person across the cabin underneath the foot rail. 872 01:08:50,960 --> 01:08:52,257 Whichever one of us is going in there... 873 01:08:52,361 --> 01:08:54,761 we'll be able to hear what you fellas are hearing. 874 01:08:54,864 --> 01:08:56,491 Which won't be much. 875 01:08:56,632 --> 01:08:58,224 Approximately. 876 01:08:58,367 --> 01:08:59,698 Approximately? 877 01:08:59,802 --> 01:09:02,032 We can't patch you into the cabin comm lines. 878 01:09:02,138 --> 01:09:05,972 We'd have to run a separate line through the hatch. 879 01:09:06,075 --> 01:09:09,408 Then the hatch would have to be open. That's not gonna work. 880 01:09:09,512 --> 01:09:13,539 We decided that if we weren't gonna hear exactly what they were hearing... 881 01:09:13,683 --> 01:09:15,810 there really wasn't much point. 882 01:09:23,526 --> 01:09:26,256 Hell, we've been doin' that test since Mercury, Frank. 883 01:09:29,098 --> 01:09:32,761 Joe flew back to Houston and I went for the pad. 884 01:09:33,903 --> 01:09:36,337 Don't really know why I went out there with the guys. 885 01:09:36,472 --> 01:09:38,838 I usually don't. 886 01:09:38,941 --> 01:09:44,345 Think I just really wanted to ride in the spacecraft. 887 01:09:44,447 --> 01:09:48,747 At least see what it was like to ride the test out up there. 888 01:09:56,625 --> 01:09:58,115 But, anyway. 889 01:10:03,966 --> 01:10:05,866 I'm kinda concerned about Joe. 890 01:10:09,338 --> 01:10:11,238 I saw him up at the tower... 891 01:10:12,341 --> 01:10:14,241 but I don't know how he's handling it. 892 01:10:17,113 --> 01:10:18,512 How are you handling it? 893 01:10:27,123 --> 01:10:28,886 I'm drunk. 894 01:10:31,360 --> 01:10:32,452 The thing is-- 895 01:10:33,596 --> 01:10:35,325 You and I... 896 01:10:35,431 --> 01:10:38,093 we both know that people die.... 897 01:10:38,234 --> 01:10:39,792 testing unproved aircraft. 898 01:10:39,935 --> 01:10:41,095 Happens all the time. 899 01:10:41,237 --> 01:10:43,137 It's not nice and we don't like it... 900 01:10:44,640 --> 01:10:47,131 but we all knew it'd happen someday. 901 01:10:47,276 --> 01:10:48,174 No, Deke. 902 01:10:49,445 --> 01:10:51,379 We all knew it'd happen someday in space. 903 01:10:54,416 --> 01:10:56,680 It's one thing to die on a mission. 904 01:10:56,786 --> 01:11:00,779 It's another to die on the pad during a routine goddamn test. 905 01:11:04,059 --> 01:11:06,186 Senator Mondale's thoughts are with the families... 906 01:11:06,328 --> 01:11:08,762 of these three brave Americans. 907 01:11:08,864 --> 01:11:10,229 That's it. 908 01:11:11,333 --> 01:11:12,231 That's it for now. 909 01:11:12,334 --> 01:11:14,359 Seen the Times? Listen to this. 910 01:11:14,503 --> 01:11:16,095 "The astronauts were badly burned. 911 01:11:16,238 --> 01:11:19,639 Rescue workers needed five hours to remove their bodies." 912 01:11:19,775 --> 01:11:21,242 I always knew this was a waste of money. 913 01:11:21,377 --> 01:11:23,368 Turns out it's a dangerous waste of money. 914 01:11:24,513 --> 01:11:27,004 For five, six years, they've been spending money hand over fist. 915 01:11:27,149 --> 01:11:29,947 No one's been able to do anything about it. Until now. 916 01:11:30,052 --> 01:11:32,316 - We're going to look into this. - I talked to Anderson's office. 917 01:11:32,421 --> 01:11:35,083 He wants to wait until NASA's finished its own-- 918 01:11:35,224 --> 01:11:37,715 Its own investigation? For Christ's sake! 919 01:11:37,860 --> 01:11:40,761 That's the fox guarding the henhouse! It'll be a complete and utter-- 920 01:11:40,863 --> 01:11:42,421 Whitewash. 921 01:11:42,565 --> 01:11:45,193 They don't like NASA employees investigating NASA. 922 01:11:45,334 --> 01:11:47,632 As far as I'm concerned... 923 01:11:47,736 --> 01:11:52,935 I didn't come here from Langley to put a good face on this for my employers. 924 01:11:53,042 --> 01:11:56,478 The way I see it, while we're doing this... 925 01:11:56,612 --> 01:11:59,046 we're not working for NASA. 926 01:12:00,249 --> 01:12:02,376 We're working for Gus... 927 01:12:02,518 --> 01:12:05,510 and Ed and Roger. 928 01:12:08,724 --> 01:12:11,488 You're each gonna head up a panel or two. 929 01:12:11,594 --> 01:12:15,496 Max, I want you to go over all the data that came out of the spacecraft. 930 01:12:15,631 --> 01:12:18,862 Printouts, voice transmissions, everything. 931 01:12:18,968 --> 01:12:21,903 Pin down the precise sequence of events. 932 01:12:22,004 --> 01:12:25,303 We're going to have one panel focusing squarely on the fire. 933 01:12:25,407 --> 01:12:28,604 How it started, how it spread. They'll be reporting to Dr. Robert Van Dolah... 934 01:12:28,711 --> 01:12:31,737 of the Bureau of Mines Explosives Research Center. 935 01:12:33,749 --> 01:12:35,808 I want you to head up the panel... 936 01:12:35,951 --> 01:12:38,818 responsible for dismantling the spacecraft. 937 01:12:49,598 --> 01:12:50,496 Sorry I'm late. 938 01:12:51,433 --> 01:12:53,401 Got a call from Joe Shea. 939 01:12:55,237 --> 01:12:57,262 Stormy, he had a good idea. 940 01:12:57,406 --> 01:13:00,933 If they're gonna use spacecraft 14 as a model for taking apart 12... 941 01:13:01,076 --> 01:13:02,976 before they remove a screw from 12... 942 01:13:03,078 --> 01:13:05,308 they'll try it out first on 14. 943 01:13:05,414 --> 01:13:06,813 Fine. 944 01:13:09,084 --> 01:13:11,917 - We're gonna help them any way we can. - I know. 945 01:13:12,021 --> 01:13:15,013 But we've also gotta get the block twos ready to fly. 946 01:13:16,725 --> 01:13:17,817 Anything else? 947 01:13:19,428 --> 01:13:20,725 Do you think they're gonna try to nail us for this? 948 01:13:20,829 --> 01:13:23,923 How can they nail us, Bud? It wasn't our fault. 949 01:14:07,609 --> 01:14:10,442 We were gonna run an emergency egress test at the end of the plugs out. 950 01:14:10,546 --> 01:14:12,776 See how fast they could get out of there. 951 01:14:12,881 --> 01:14:15,247 How far did Ed manage to turn the latch handle? 952 01:14:15,351 --> 01:14:16,318 We don't know. 953 01:14:16,452 --> 01:14:18,443 Even if he'd managed to turn the handle all the way-- 954 01:14:18,587 --> 01:14:21,750 He still never would have gotten out. It's an inward opening hatch. 955 01:14:21,890 --> 01:14:24,688 As strong as Ed was, the pressure in the cabin from the fire and the smoke... 956 01:14:24,793 --> 01:14:26,693 would have been too much for him to pull against. 957 01:14:29,064 --> 01:14:30,497 You know what haunts me? 958 01:14:30,599 --> 01:14:33,591 In a way, if it wasn't for me... 959 01:14:33,736 --> 01:14:35,727 the fire might not have been fatal. 960 01:14:36,672 --> 01:14:38,333 Why is that? 961 01:14:38,474 --> 01:14:41,932 The capsules in the Mercury program had explosive hatches, right? 962 01:14:42,077 --> 01:14:44,568 You pull a lever and bam, you're outta there in a second. 963 01:14:46,248 --> 01:14:47,943 Remember when Gus' capsule sank... 964 01:14:48,083 --> 01:14:51,519 and everyone said he must have blown the hatch by accident? 965 01:14:51,653 --> 01:14:53,177 I was on the review board for that. 966 01:14:54,256 --> 01:14:56,850 I was the one who found out Gus was telling the truth. 967 01:14:56,992 --> 01:15:00,155 The hatch could blow by itself. 968 01:15:00,295 --> 01:15:03,787 It was because of that they decided not to use an explosive hatch with Apollo. 969 01:15:08,170 --> 01:15:09,762 Nice irony, huh? 970 01:15:11,073 --> 01:15:13,633 If I hadn't proved Gus right... 971 01:15:13,776 --> 01:15:17,678 we might have had an explosive hatch on this spacecraft... 972 01:15:17,813 --> 01:15:21,772 in which case, Gus and the boys would still be alive and well. 973 01:15:29,525 --> 01:15:31,425 I'm not a big fan of irony. 974 01:15:33,529 --> 01:15:35,429 Got a bad fire! 975 01:15:49,111 --> 01:15:51,011 Got a bad fire! 976 01:16:29,852 --> 01:16:32,719 I'm going now, Mr. Shea. Is there anything I can get you? 977 01:16:32,821 --> 01:16:35,415 You believe in time travel, Kathy? 978 01:16:35,557 --> 01:16:39,152 I mean, if you could go back in time. 979 01:16:39,294 --> 01:16:41,592 What would you do? 980 01:16:42,531 --> 01:16:46,126 I mean, I'd be on that spacecraft for the test. 981 01:16:48,070 --> 01:16:49,970 That's where I'd be. 982 01:16:54,776 --> 01:16:56,334 Good night, sir. 983 01:17:08,257 --> 01:17:11,988 Next is TPS4CM183. 984 01:17:12,094 --> 01:17:15,757 Item 1018. Panel 209 mount: upper right. 985 01:17:17,199 --> 01:17:19,633 Panel 209 mount: upper right. 986 01:17:25,741 --> 01:17:28,437 Counterclockwise rotation. Twenty-two pounds torque. 987 01:17:33,215 --> 01:17:35,115 Release at 22.5. 988 01:17:38,387 --> 01:17:41,151 Confirmed. Panel 209 mount: upper right. 989 01:17:41,256 --> 01:17:43,281 Threading intact. No visible marking. 990 01:17:45,327 --> 01:17:47,989 22.5. Noted. 991 01:17:48,130 --> 01:17:50,291 Hold on. I think you're gonna want to see this. 992 01:17:53,702 --> 01:17:55,602 It's a socket wrench. 993 01:17:56,738 --> 01:17:59,673 We found it behind the panel door. 994 01:17:59,808 --> 01:18:02,743 Must have been left there by one of the North American workmen. 995 01:18:02,878 --> 01:18:04,778 There's no other reasonable explanation for it. 996 01:18:05,614 --> 01:18:07,514 Socket wrench? 997 01:18:09,117 --> 01:18:10,607 Did it have anything to do with the fire? 998 01:18:11,954 --> 01:18:14,252 We haven't finished our analysis, but I'd have to say no. 999 01:18:14,356 --> 01:18:17,621 That's a long way away from where we think that fire started. 1000 01:18:17,726 --> 01:18:20,957 But it still shouldn't have been there, should it? 1001 01:18:21,830 --> 01:18:23,195 No, sir. 1002 01:18:25,067 --> 01:18:28,230 I think we better hear what North American has to say. 1003 01:18:44,753 --> 01:18:46,050 Gentlemen. 1004 01:18:46,154 --> 01:18:49,089 This is off the record. 1005 01:18:49,191 --> 01:18:52,160 First off, I want to thank Stormy and Joe for coming to talk to us. 1006 01:18:52,294 --> 01:18:54,854 We're going to be writing this report in the next three weeks... 1007 01:18:54,997 --> 01:18:58,364 and we have some questions for you that might help us clear some things up. 1008 01:18:58,467 --> 01:19:01,129 Stormy, let's start with you. 1009 01:19:02,804 --> 01:19:05,398 - I'm sure you've seen this. - Yes, I've seen that. 1010 01:19:05,540 --> 01:19:07,906 Leaving that wrench in those wires... 1011 01:19:08,010 --> 01:19:09,602 was careless and sloppy. 1012 01:19:09,745 --> 01:19:11,872 When we find the person responsible... 1013 01:19:12,014 --> 01:19:15,415 we're going to make our displeasure known in the strongest possible way. 1014 01:19:15,550 --> 01:19:17,040 But we all know that that wrench... 1015 01:19:17,185 --> 01:19:19,847 had absolutely nothing to do with the fire. 1016 01:19:26,795 --> 01:19:30,287 A number of people have told me Gus wasn't happy with North American. 1017 01:19:31,566 --> 01:19:34,194 When he made suggestions or had complaints... 1018 01:19:34,336 --> 01:19:36,099 he didn't think he was being listened to. 1019 01:19:36,204 --> 01:19:38,229 We listened at first. 1020 01:19:38,373 --> 01:19:40,807 But after a while, we had to stop listening. 1021 01:19:40,909 --> 01:19:43,810 The good old days of Mercury and Gemini are gone. 1022 01:19:43,912 --> 01:19:46,506 On Gemini, if you wanted to make a change in the spacecraft... 1023 01:19:46,648 --> 01:19:48,707 all you had to do was call up old man McDonnell. 1024 01:19:48,850 --> 01:19:52,251 Right? Well, you can't do that on Apollo. You know that. 1025 01:19:52,354 --> 01:19:55,585 The smallest change has huge ramifications. 1026 01:19:55,691 --> 01:19:58,751 Mercury missions. You launched, orbited, came back down. 1027 01:19:58,894 --> 01:20:01,863 Hell, you could hold your breath through some of those flights. 1028 01:20:01,997 --> 01:20:03,988 We're going to the moon now. 1029 01:20:04,132 --> 01:20:06,760 So if the accusation is we haven't done everything... 1030 01:20:06,902 --> 01:20:08,802 that you astronauts have asked us to do... 1031 01:20:08,904 --> 01:20:10,997 all I can say is, "Guilty as charged!" 1032 01:20:12,407 --> 01:20:15,103 No one's accusing you of anything. This isn't a court of law. 1033 01:20:15,243 --> 01:20:17,677 You're damn right. It's an ambush! 1034 01:20:17,779 --> 01:20:19,576 You say you've got questions for Joe and me. 1035 01:20:19,681 --> 01:20:23,014 Why do I think there aren't gonna be too many questions for Joe? 1036 01:20:23,118 --> 01:20:25,951 Because if you don't have any, I've got a couple. 1037 01:20:26,054 --> 01:20:28,784 You wanna tell them the real reason for the wiring problems? 1038 01:20:28,924 --> 01:20:31,051 How NASA keeps changing mission requirements... 1039 01:20:31,193 --> 01:20:34,560 yet you push us to meet these arbitrary deadlines. 1040 01:20:34,663 --> 01:20:37,427 We never made changes regarding Velcro. 1041 01:20:37,532 --> 01:20:38,726 What? 1042 01:20:38,867 --> 01:20:42,030 There was not supposed to be more than 500 square inches of it in the cabin. 1043 01:20:42,170 --> 01:20:44,968 You guys had over 5,000 square inches in there. 1044 01:20:45,073 --> 01:20:49,009 - I wasn't aware that was a problem. - Of course you were aware! 1045 01:20:49,144 --> 01:20:51,476 We talked about it last August. 1046 01:20:51,580 --> 01:20:53,514 You guys got any other complaints? 1047 01:20:53,615 --> 01:20:56,083 No steering wheel, huh? 1048 01:20:56,218 --> 01:20:58,482 How about the tinted windows, maybe some power steering? 1049 01:20:58,587 --> 01:21:00,487 No, no problem. 1050 01:21:00,589 --> 01:21:03,183 We do have a couple of other things before we can take off. 1051 01:21:03,325 --> 01:21:05,623 Check the fine print. There's no warranty on this vehicle. 1052 01:21:05,727 --> 01:21:08,161 As soon as we signed the pink slip over, it was yours. 1053 01:21:08,296 --> 01:21:10,730 - Caveat emptor, buddy. - No, it's the Velcro. 1054 01:21:10,866 --> 01:21:14,131 It's flammable and there's too much of it inside. How did this happen? 1055 01:21:14,236 --> 01:21:15,601 Talk to them. They're the ones who put it there. 1056 01:21:15,704 --> 01:21:19,140 When you get up in zero "G," crap starts floating around. 1057 01:21:19,274 --> 01:21:22,869 But put a little on your pen and on the bulkhead and, presto. 1058 01:21:23,011 --> 01:21:26,503 Then maybe there's just a few too many bits of it in there. 1059 01:21:26,648 --> 01:21:28,548 So wherever Velcro is... 1060 01:21:28,650 --> 01:21:32,245 there should be at least four inches between it and any ignition source. 1061 01:21:32,387 --> 01:21:34,048 Sure. Yeah. 1062 01:21:34,189 --> 01:21:35,315 Other than that-- 1063 01:21:35,457 --> 01:21:38,585 Not one piece of Velcro or anything flammable... 1064 01:21:38,727 --> 01:21:41,321 was within four inches of any ignition source. 1065 01:21:41,463 --> 01:21:44,159 Not that it mattered. A ten-inch gap wouldn't have been enough. 1066 01:21:44,299 --> 01:21:46,665 The fire wasn't caused by Velcro! 1067 01:21:46,768 --> 01:21:49,202 It was caused by the use of 100%... 1068 01:21:49,304 --> 01:21:52,171 pure goddamn oxygen under pressure. 1069 01:21:52,274 --> 01:21:54,265 North American was given mission requirements. 1070 01:21:54,409 --> 01:21:58,402 One of the requirements was a spacecraft designed to operate filled with oxygen. 1071 01:21:58,547 --> 01:22:00,538 And to do so without exploding! 1072 01:22:00,682 --> 01:22:05,312 I think it's time you and your friends at NASA took a remedial math course. 1073 01:22:05,454 --> 01:22:08,150 In space, the cabin was supposed to contain... 1074 01:22:08,290 --> 01:22:11,350 five pounds per square inch of pure oxygen, right? 1075 01:22:11,493 --> 01:22:15,054 Fine. So we built it to those specifications. 1076 01:22:15,197 --> 01:22:16,960 But you weren't conducting the test in space. 1077 01:22:17,065 --> 01:22:18,965 You were conducting it at sea level... 1078 01:22:19,067 --> 01:22:22,332 where the atmospheric pressure is already 14.8. 1079 01:22:22,437 --> 01:22:24,735 That means that in order to simulate... 1080 01:22:24,840 --> 01:22:28,139 the positive pressure of space flight, you had to add some p.s.i. 1081 01:22:28,243 --> 01:22:30,438 You guys tanked up that spacecraft... 1082 01:22:30,579 --> 01:22:33,980 with almost 17 pounds per square inch of pure oxygen. 1083 01:22:34,082 --> 01:22:37,745 At 17 p.s.i. pure oxygen, Velcro explodes. 1084 01:22:37,886 --> 01:22:39,581 The fact remains, we conducted... 1085 01:22:39,721 --> 01:22:42,121 over 15,000 hours of manned tests... 1086 01:22:42,224 --> 01:22:45,591 with pressurized oxygen environments without anything going wrong ever! 1087 01:22:45,694 --> 01:22:47,321 Well, this time something did go wrong. 1088 01:22:47,462 --> 01:22:49,396 You told us there wouldn't be any ignition sources! 1089 01:22:49,531 --> 01:22:51,192 And we begged you not to test in high pressure! 1090 01:22:51,333 --> 01:22:53,324 All right. 1091 01:23:01,543 --> 01:23:03,443 Sorry. 1092 01:23:04,713 --> 01:23:07,705 Normally, Velcro is not much of a fire risk. 1093 01:23:07,849 --> 01:23:10,784 This is Velcro in air at sea level. 1094 01:23:10,919 --> 01:23:13,444 Under intense direct heat... 1095 01:23:14,756 --> 01:23:18,351 it'll burn, it'll melt. 1096 01:23:18,493 --> 01:23:20,393 It will not support combustion. 1097 01:23:22,430 --> 01:23:26,298 This is Velcro in an atmosphere of 100% oxygen. 1098 01:23:36,344 --> 01:23:39,177 As for the spark that started it. 1099 01:23:39,281 --> 01:23:42,375 From our fire propagation test and analysis of the spacecraft... 1100 01:23:42,517 --> 01:23:44,985 we believe the fire started down here. 1101 01:23:45,887 --> 01:23:48,617 Because of the severity of the fire damage in this part of the spacecraft... 1102 01:23:48,757 --> 01:23:51,191 we'll never know for certain how the fire started. 1103 01:23:51,293 --> 01:23:54,126 Our best guess is... 1104 01:23:54,229 --> 01:23:58,131 that a wire was resting against the inside of this panel door here. 1105 01:23:58,266 --> 01:24:00,734 After the door opened and shut a few times... 1106 01:24:00,869 --> 01:24:03,804 the Teflon insulation became abraded in two spots. 1107 01:24:05,340 --> 01:24:08,776 When the current went through the wire, there was an arc and-- 1108 01:24:11,079 --> 01:24:12,979 You've heard the rest. 1109 01:24:14,115 --> 01:24:17,016 You're saying the fire was the result of frayed wiring? 1110 01:24:17,852 --> 01:24:18,784 Yes. 1111 01:24:36,838 --> 01:24:39,363 Disassembly of the Apollo 1 command module... 1112 01:24:39,507 --> 01:24:41,407 was completed at the Kennedy Space Center... 1113 01:24:41,509 --> 01:24:46,139 on March 27, 1967, during the first shift. 1114 01:25:13,141 --> 01:25:16,406 You keep working these hours, you're gonna have a heart attack. 1115 01:25:16,511 --> 01:25:20,072 - Did you read this thing? - It's 2,300 pages. 1116 01:25:20,215 --> 01:25:22,376 They're nailing us. They're saying it was all our fault. 1117 01:25:22,517 --> 01:25:25,111 There's a couple of references to the fact that maybe... 1118 01:25:25,253 --> 01:25:27,847 testing in highly pressurized pure oxygen might be a bit dangerous... 1119 01:25:27,989 --> 01:25:29,923 but other than that, we get our butt kicked. 1120 01:25:30,058 --> 01:25:31,719 - We gotta let 'em know-- - No, we don't. 1121 01:25:31,860 --> 01:25:34,556 - We're not just gonna take this? - Yes, we are. 1122 01:25:34,696 --> 01:25:38,598 We have got files filled with memos begging them not to test like that. 1123 01:25:38,700 --> 01:25:41,294 We are going to forget about those files. 1124 01:25:41,436 --> 01:25:44,234 We can't blame NASA. 1125 01:25:44,339 --> 01:25:47,308 We make NASA look bad, they could cancel the whole program. 1126 01:25:47,442 --> 01:25:50,343 Mondale's looking for any excuse to shut it down. 1127 01:25:51,546 --> 01:25:54,481 This way, we take a few hits... 1128 01:25:54,582 --> 01:25:56,345 but the program rolls on. 1129 01:25:56,451 --> 01:26:00,114 - With a new contractor. - It's too late to get a new contractor. 1130 01:26:00,255 --> 01:26:02,655 Kennedy promised the moon by the end of the decade. 1131 01:26:02,757 --> 01:26:05,749 They switch contractors now, they can forget about that. 1132 01:26:05,894 --> 01:26:09,193 And if it looks like they're gonna miss Kennedy's goal... 1133 01:26:09,297 --> 01:26:11,265 public sentiment will evaporate... 1134 01:26:11,399 --> 01:26:13,663 and Congress will pull the plug. 1135 01:26:13,768 --> 01:26:15,668 They can't replace us. 1136 01:26:16,471 --> 01:26:18,632 We put our cap in our hands, beg forgiveness... 1137 01:26:18,773 --> 01:26:20,900 and we promise it will never happen again. 1138 01:26:21,042 --> 01:26:23,476 We do not fight back. 1139 01:26:26,581 --> 01:26:29,846 And we forget those files exist. 1140 01:26:35,790 --> 01:26:37,690 What files? 1141 01:26:40,895 --> 01:26:42,795 He must be loving this. 1142 01:26:42,897 --> 01:26:44,694 - Who? - Joe Shea. 1143 01:26:44,799 --> 01:26:48,166 I can't believe how he's been able to skate through all this unscathed. 1144 01:26:49,938 --> 01:26:51,838 That's not what I hear. 1145 01:26:53,742 --> 01:26:57,803 From what I hear, Joe has been anything but... 1146 01:26:57,946 --> 01:26:59,379 unscathed. 1147 01:27:00,415 --> 01:27:03,282 I'm okay. I'm fine. 1148 01:27:04,119 --> 01:27:07,088 It's just that we got a lot of people worried about you. 1149 01:27:07,222 --> 01:27:08,280 Yeah? Well. 1150 01:27:09,424 --> 01:27:10,823 I'm just a little overtired. 1151 01:27:12,193 --> 01:27:14,718 Hey, I know. Hell, we're all feelin' the pressure. 1152 01:27:14,863 --> 01:27:16,694 Did you hear about Ron Tucker? 1153 01:27:16,798 --> 01:27:18,857 Got up in the middle of a review board meeting... 1154 01:27:19,000 --> 01:27:23,403 and started drawing an organizational chart of heaven on the blackboard. 1155 01:27:23,505 --> 01:27:26,406 At the top goes God, who we'll call "Big Daddy." 1156 01:27:27,976 --> 01:27:30,809 Ron's eating soft food in a soft room now... 1157 01:27:30,912 --> 01:27:32,607 but at least he's alive. 1158 01:27:32,747 --> 01:27:34,806 Quality control inspector out at the Cape... 1159 01:27:34,949 --> 01:27:37,349 that drove his whole family out in front of a train... 1160 01:27:38,520 --> 01:27:40,420 wasn't so lucky. 1161 01:27:41,523 --> 01:27:42,785 You, uh-- 1162 01:27:42,891 --> 01:27:45,223 You don't think I'm gonna snap like that, do you? 1163 01:27:46,594 --> 01:27:48,494 I don't know. 1164 01:27:50,598 --> 01:27:53,032 A lot of people heard you say that... 1165 01:27:53,134 --> 01:27:55,568 you wished you'd been in the spacecraft with the guys. 1166 01:27:55,670 --> 01:27:58,104 I'm not sayin' that I wish I was dead. 1167 01:27:59,207 --> 01:28:02,370 That's not what I'm saying at all. 1168 01:28:02,510 --> 01:28:04,569 It's just-- 1169 01:28:08,349 --> 01:28:10,112 Forget it. 1170 01:28:10,218 --> 01:28:11,344 What do they want me to do? 1171 01:28:11,486 --> 01:28:13,044 - Who? - The three wise men. 1172 01:28:13,188 --> 01:28:15,088 Webb, Seamans, Mueller. 1173 01:28:15,190 --> 01:28:18,819 They think I've gone over the edge. What would they like me to do? 1174 01:28:19,661 --> 01:28:21,185 I don't know. 1175 01:28:21,329 --> 01:28:23,456 I'll tell you what I think you should do. 1176 01:28:23,598 --> 01:28:25,122 Take a break. 1177 01:28:25,266 --> 01:28:29,362 Just a leave of absence. A couple of weeks and get some rest. 1178 01:28:32,807 --> 01:28:34,206 Come on, Joe. 1179 01:28:35,343 --> 01:28:38,710 - You said yourself you were overtired. - I got a lot of work to do. 1180 01:28:38,813 --> 01:28:40,781 You see that desk there? 1181 01:28:42,684 --> 01:28:44,515 Then maybe-- 1182 01:28:44,619 --> 01:28:48,111 I just think maybe you oughta just talk to somebody. 1183 01:28:50,925 --> 01:28:53,325 Maybe see a psychiatrist. 1184 01:28:56,164 --> 01:28:58,155 You really do think I've cracked. 1185 01:28:58,299 --> 01:29:00,859 It's just to put everybody's mind at ease. 1186 01:29:01,002 --> 01:29:03,436 Fine, I'll see a psychiatrist. A couple of psychiatrists. 1187 01:29:03,571 --> 01:29:05,664 Why don't you bring on a whole platoon of psychiatrists? 1188 01:29:05,807 --> 01:29:09,573 But I'm not leaving the program voluntarily till we get to the moon! 1189 01:29:13,681 --> 01:29:15,581 I'm gonna come right to the point. 1190 01:29:15,683 --> 01:29:18,151 We got letters from the two psychiatrists. 1191 01:29:18,286 --> 01:29:20,311 It seems-- 1192 01:29:20,455 --> 01:29:23,083 It seems like you passed with flyin' colors. 1193 01:29:23,224 --> 01:29:26,660 One of those psychiatrists complained that seein' you was a waste of time. 1194 01:29:28,663 --> 01:29:32,497 I don't want you to think that this reflects on what I think of you. 1195 01:29:32,600 --> 01:29:36,661 I honestly feel you're the most valuable man in NASA today. 1196 01:29:36,804 --> 01:29:40,331 And that's why I'm gonna say what I'm gonna say. 1197 01:29:43,611 --> 01:29:46,079 NASA is about more... 1198 01:29:46,214 --> 01:29:47,772 than just goin' to the moon. 1199 01:29:47,916 --> 01:29:51,943 We got the space station to think about and the manned mission to Mars. 1200 01:29:52,086 --> 01:29:53,951 I want you to be part of all of that. 1201 01:29:54,856 --> 01:29:56,551 It's time you left the detail work behind... 1202 01:29:56,691 --> 01:29:59,558 got involved in making policy. 1203 01:29:59,661 --> 01:30:01,652 I want you to join me here in Washington. 1204 01:30:01,796 --> 01:30:05,857 You won't have to report to anyone except maybe me. 1205 01:30:07,068 --> 01:30:07,966 What do you say? 1206 01:30:09,504 --> 01:30:11,438 What do I say? 1207 01:30:11,539 --> 01:30:13,200 How soon you want me? 1208 01:30:13,341 --> 01:30:16,003 - How does now sound? - That sounds great. 1209 01:30:16,144 --> 01:30:17,338 We got kids in school-- 1210 01:30:17,478 --> 01:30:19,412 You don't have to decide right now. 1211 01:30:19,547 --> 01:30:22,015 Go back to the hotel, phone your wife, talk about it. 1212 01:30:22,150 --> 01:30:24,710 I'll call you tomorrow. All right? 1213 01:30:25,453 --> 01:30:26,351 Thanks. 1214 01:30:27,288 --> 01:30:28,346 Call you tomorrow. 1215 01:30:40,835 --> 01:30:43,463 - You talk to Joe? - Yeah. 1216 01:30:43,604 --> 01:30:45,128 - Did he bite? - Mm-hmm. 1217 01:30:45,273 --> 01:30:48,242 And I feel like a complete and utter heel. 1218 01:30:48,376 --> 01:30:51,504 It had to be done. We had to get him outta the way before the hearings. 1219 01:30:51,646 --> 01:30:53,841 - They'd have torn him to shreds. - I don't know. 1220 01:30:53,982 --> 01:30:56,678 Maybe these hearings aren't gonna be as horrible as we think. 1221 01:30:56,818 --> 01:30:58,547 I'll see you in the mornin'. 1222 01:30:59,854 --> 01:31:01,617 Going back to your statement, Dr. Mueller... 1223 01:31:02,457 --> 01:31:05,449 I think I understood you to say there were nearly 500 inspectors... 1224 01:31:05,593 --> 01:31:08,027 in the Apollo program at the Cape. 1225 01:31:09,197 --> 01:31:10,095 Yes. 1226 01:31:10,198 --> 01:31:12,632 Now, for the life of me... 1227 01:31:12,734 --> 01:31:16,033 I cannot understand with all those people... 1228 01:31:16,137 --> 01:31:19,903 how a socket wrench could have gone undetected in the capsule... 1229 01:31:20,008 --> 01:31:22,408 from October until January 27. 1230 01:31:29,751 --> 01:31:32,379 You're saying it was not because NASA was in a hurry. 1231 01:31:32,520 --> 01:31:34,488 The contractor is responsible in some measure. 1232 01:31:34,622 --> 01:31:35,520 Wasn't that a failure? 1233 01:31:35,623 --> 01:31:39,252 Did you ever consider cancellation of North American's contract? 1234 01:31:39,394 --> 01:31:41,760 Wouldn't you say they were negligent? 1235 01:31:41,863 --> 01:31:45,526 Sir, I have not found anyone at North American or NASA... 1236 01:31:45,666 --> 01:31:48,260 who would not give anything they had to prevent what happened. 1237 01:31:48,403 --> 01:31:50,928 But there was negligence on the part of North American... 1238 01:31:51,072 --> 01:31:53,233 was there not? 1239 01:31:53,374 --> 01:31:55,934 I don't see how you can call what they did negligence... 1240 01:31:56,077 --> 01:31:59,012 unless you mean that a company is negligent... 1241 01:31:59,113 --> 01:32:01,638 if 100%of its work is not done without a mistake. 1242 01:32:01,783 --> 01:32:04,274 As someone with extensive experience... 1243 01:32:04,419 --> 01:32:06,319 in testing experimental aircraft... 1244 01:32:06,421 --> 01:32:09,481 I can tell you that that standard is just not achievable. 1245 01:32:10,625 --> 01:32:15,221 So I don't feel that "negligence" is the proper word. 1246 01:32:15,363 --> 01:32:16,295 Thank you, Senator. 1247 01:32:17,865 --> 01:32:19,059 Senator Mondale. 1248 01:32:20,601 --> 01:32:22,068 It seems that... 1249 01:32:22,203 --> 01:32:24,831 my colleagues have asked all the questions I was going to ask. 1250 01:32:28,076 --> 01:32:28,974 Except one. 1251 01:32:30,778 --> 01:32:35,272 I have been told, and I would like to have this set straight if I'm wrong... 1252 01:32:35,416 --> 01:32:39,819 that there was a report prepared for NASA by General Phillips... 1253 01:32:39,921 --> 01:32:41,320 in mid or late 1965... 1254 01:32:41,422 --> 01:32:45,051 which very strongly criticized the Apollo program... 1255 01:32:45,193 --> 01:32:48,594 for what were regarded as very serious inadequacies... 1256 01:32:48,696 --> 01:32:50,288 in terms of quality control. 1257 01:32:53,935 --> 01:32:56,130 Would you comment on that? 1258 01:32:57,271 --> 01:32:59,671 Was there a Phillips report? 1259 01:33:00,775 --> 01:33:01,833 Would you comment on that? 1260 01:33:06,881 --> 01:33:08,439 I'm not aware of it, sir. 1261 01:33:09,417 --> 01:33:11,749 Is it then your testimony that no such unusual... 1262 01:33:11,853 --> 01:33:14,947 General Phillips report existed? 1263 01:33:15,089 --> 01:33:17,887 Is this rumor unfounded? 1264 01:33:18,893 --> 01:33:20,793 That's something we gotta take a look at. 1265 01:33:25,666 --> 01:33:27,224 Let us look it up, sir. 1266 01:33:27,368 --> 01:33:28,926 Is there somethin' somebody forgot to tell me? 1267 01:33:29,070 --> 01:33:31,436 - It was a memo. It wasn't a big deal. - It is now! 1268 01:33:31,539 --> 01:33:34,007 It came out of the Tiger Team audit from North American. 1269 01:33:34,142 --> 01:33:37,134 - It's old news. - It's gonna be damaging to us! 1270 01:33:37,278 --> 01:33:41,339 "I heard a rumor." Rumor, my foot. Probably got a copy in his hand. 1271 01:33:41,482 --> 01:33:44,144 The only reason he didn't throw it in front of me like Perry Mason... 1272 01:33:44,285 --> 01:33:46,480 is because he knows the fool thing is classified! 1273 01:33:48,089 --> 01:33:50,250 He's gonna kill us. 1274 01:33:50,391 --> 01:33:53,451 We're dead before we even got off the damn launchpad. 1275 01:33:53,594 --> 01:33:55,528 We still don't know what Anderson's thinking. 1276 01:33:55,630 --> 01:33:57,723 He can steer the committee any way he wants. 1277 01:33:57,865 --> 01:34:00,925 Where were you this morning? He's got us twisting in the wind. 1278 01:34:01,068 --> 01:34:03,628 It's understandable. Clinton Anderson has to worry about getting reelected... 1279 01:34:03,771 --> 01:34:05,398 just like everybody else. 1280 01:34:06,974 --> 01:34:08,566 Who's left to testify? 1281 01:34:08,709 --> 01:34:11,337 Lee Atwood and some of the folks from North American. 1282 01:34:11,479 --> 01:34:14,004 They're gonna get torn to pieces right after lunch. 1283 01:34:14,148 --> 01:34:16,013 And then there's some members of the review board. 1284 01:34:16,117 --> 01:34:19,018 - Borman? - Frank's goin' at the end. 1285 01:34:19,120 --> 01:34:20,951 That's good. Everybody loves an astronaut. 1286 01:34:21,055 --> 01:34:22,647 Come on. Are you kidding me? 1287 01:34:22,790 --> 01:34:25,258 You really think Frank Borman is gonna paint a rosy picture? 1288 01:34:25,393 --> 01:34:27,224 It could have been him in that spacecraft and he knows it. 1289 01:34:27,328 --> 01:34:28,955 You're right. 1290 01:34:29,096 --> 01:34:30,723 Where you goin'? 1291 01:34:30,865 --> 01:34:32,958 I'm gonna do the only thing left for me to do. 1292 01:34:33,100 --> 01:34:33,998 Beg for mercy. 1293 01:34:35,770 --> 01:34:37,795 I'm sorry, Mr. Webb, but I've got a job to do. 1294 01:34:37,939 --> 01:34:40,237 And I'm going to do it. 1295 01:34:40,341 --> 01:34:42,775 With all due humility, Senator... 1296 01:34:42,877 --> 01:34:44,777 what did we do wrong? 1297 01:34:44,879 --> 01:34:46,278 That's what I'm going to find out. 1298 01:34:46,380 --> 01:34:48,280 Why are you so down on us? 1299 01:34:49,417 --> 01:34:52,045 You and I are both Democrats. 1300 01:34:52,186 --> 01:34:54,552 Going to the moon was Kennedy's dream. 1301 01:34:54,655 --> 01:34:56,782 It was one of his dreams. Jack Kennedy had a lot of dreams. 1302 01:34:57,992 --> 01:34:59,823 Do you really want to kill Apollo? 1303 01:35:02,096 --> 01:35:03,927 I'll tell you what I want, Mr. Webb. 1304 01:35:04,031 --> 01:35:07,660 I want there to be no American children going hungry in any of our cities. 1305 01:35:07,802 --> 01:35:10,600 I want to do something about our boys dying halfway around the world. 1306 01:35:11,272 --> 01:35:12,933 I want to do a lot of things. 1307 01:35:13,074 --> 01:35:15,338 And if getting what I want means we don't go to the moon... 1308 01:35:16,444 --> 01:35:17,843 then so be it. 1309 01:35:48,776 --> 01:35:51,370 Colonel Borman, would you have entered the spacecraft... 1310 01:35:51,512 --> 01:35:54,208 on the morning of the accident if your turn had been called? 1311 01:35:55,216 --> 01:35:56,376 Yes, sir. 1312 01:35:56,517 --> 01:35:58,417 Would you have had any hesitancy? 1313 01:36:02,156 --> 01:36:04,488 Were there defects in workmanship? 1314 01:36:05,459 --> 01:36:06,118 There were. 1315 01:36:07,061 --> 01:36:09,689 Did these defects go beyond workmanship? 1316 01:36:09,830 --> 01:36:12,663 Yes, sir, there were defects in design. 1317 01:36:14,368 --> 01:36:17,997 If you had entered the spacecraft on that morning... 1318 01:36:18,139 --> 01:36:21,074 would you have been motivated by a desire to take risks? 1319 01:36:25,246 --> 01:36:27,146 Sometimes there are... 1320 01:36:27,248 --> 01:36:32,618 romantic, silk-scarfed notions attributed to this business... 1321 01:36:32,720 --> 01:36:34,620 but we're professionals. 1322 01:36:34,722 --> 01:36:36,587 We will accept risk, certainly... 1323 01:36:36,691 --> 01:36:37,851 but not undue risk. 1324 01:36:37,992 --> 01:36:39,584 Let me rephrase the question. 1325 01:36:40,528 --> 01:36:42,052 Knowing what you know now... 1326 01:36:42,196 --> 01:36:44,687 would you have entered that spacecraft? 1327 01:36:53,107 --> 01:36:55,268 How did Commander Grissom and his crew... 1328 01:36:55,409 --> 01:36:57,775 feel about the readiness of the vehicle? 1329 01:36:57,878 --> 01:37:00,369 I talked to Ed White shortly before the accident. 1330 01:37:02,216 --> 01:37:04,946 He thought they were over most of their problems and were on their way. 1331 01:37:05,086 --> 01:37:08,283 Didn't Commander Grissom once hang a lemon... 1332 01:37:08,422 --> 01:37:10,322 on the simulator? 1333 01:37:12,860 --> 01:37:14,953 You had to know Gus. 1334 01:37:15,096 --> 01:37:17,257 Did Commander Grissom hang a lemon on the simulator? 1335 01:37:18,399 --> 01:37:19,297 Yes, sir. 1336 01:37:19,400 --> 01:37:21,994 Tell us about him, Colonel. 1337 01:37:23,304 --> 01:37:25,397 Sorry. I just have a couple of quick questions. 1338 01:37:25,539 --> 01:37:27,268 Will you yield for a minute or two? 1339 01:37:27,408 --> 01:37:29,137 - Actually, Mr. Chairman, I-- - Thanks. 1340 01:37:34,749 --> 01:37:37,217 You just said "You had to know Gus." 1341 01:37:38,619 --> 01:37:40,644 I think that's been missing in here... 1342 01:37:40,788 --> 01:37:42,722 this past two days. 1343 01:37:42,823 --> 01:37:45,485 I'd like for the record to contain at least a little bit... 1344 01:37:45,626 --> 01:37:48,527 about the men who perished in that fire. 1345 01:37:48,629 --> 01:37:50,290 Could you do that for us? 1346 01:37:56,670 --> 01:38:00,401 Gus Grissom was the first astronaut to be asked to fly three times. 1347 01:38:00,508 --> 01:38:02,601 Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. 1348 01:38:02,743 --> 01:38:04,643 He loved being an astronaut. 1349 01:38:05,746 --> 01:38:09,705 Except for the publicity and being on display that comes with the job. 1350 01:38:11,852 --> 01:38:15,982 There are no front windows on the house he built for Betty in Timber Cove... 1351 01:38:16,123 --> 01:38:19,524 because he didn't want people looking in. 1352 01:38:19,627 --> 01:38:22,824 If that gives you the impression that Gus was a cranky S.O.B.... 1353 01:38:22,963 --> 01:38:25,693 well, he was at times. 1354 01:38:27,201 --> 01:38:29,761 But I would have trusted him with my life. 1355 01:38:32,106 --> 01:38:35,041 Ed White was... 1356 01:38:35,176 --> 01:38:37,167 a big man for an astronaut. 1357 01:38:37,311 --> 01:38:39,745 A shade under six feet. 1358 01:38:39,847 --> 01:38:41,576 Exceptional athlete. 1359 01:38:41,715 --> 01:38:45,617 As you all know, Ed was the first American to walk in space. 1360 01:38:47,822 --> 01:38:50,188 There was a story going around... 1361 01:38:50,291 --> 01:38:53,988 that when he was on his space walk, he stayed out after being ordered in... 1362 01:38:54,128 --> 01:38:56,028 because he was having such a good time. 1363 01:38:57,898 --> 01:38:59,126 It's a funny story... 1364 01:38:59,266 --> 01:39:02,201 but it would have meant that Ed White disobeyed an order. 1365 01:39:04,305 --> 01:39:06,273 Not gonna happen. 1366 01:39:06,407 --> 01:39:08,034 Ed was a West Point man... 1367 01:39:08,175 --> 01:39:11,167 and duty, honor, country... 1368 01:39:11,312 --> 01:39:14,281 weren't just words to him, they were him. 1369 01:39:14,415 --> 01:39:16,315 He was one of my closest friends. 1370 01:39:18,352 --> 01:39:20,252 Roger Chaffee I-- 1371 01:39:21,355 --> 01:39:23,516 I didn't know that well. He was one of the new guys. 1372 01:39:25,259 --> 01:39:27,159 Very energetic, very excited. 1373 01:39:29,296 --> 01:39:31,287 I heard a story about him though. 1374 01:39:31,432 --> 01:39:33,832 He was out on Long Island visiting the Grumman facility... 1375 01:39:33,934 --> 01:39:37,062 where they're building the descent stage for the lunar module. 1376 01:39:37,204 --> 01:39:39,832 He saw a group of men standing in a corner. 1377 01:39:41,075 --> 01:39:43,908 He found out these were the fellows... 1378 01:39:44,011 --> 01:39:46,741 that make the tools that make the machines. 1379 01:39:47,915 --> 01:39:52,352 None of the bigwigs escorted through there ever talked to these guys. 1380 01:39:52,486 --> 01:39:57,321 But Roger made them feel like the most important part of the program. 1381 01:40:05,266 --> 01:40:07,826 This isn't a court of law, so I can ask you something... 1382 01:40:07,968 --> 01:40:10,493 that's completely hypothetical. 1383 01:40:11,972 --> 01:40:16,773 If we could somehow reach beyond the wall of death... 1384 01:40:16,877 --> 01:40:20,711 and talk to Grissom, White and Chaffee... 1385 01:40:20,814 --> 01:40:23,749 what do you imagine they would say about the fire? 1386 01:40:24,852 --> 01:40:28,288 I was hoping someone would ask that. 1387 01:40:28,422 --> 01:40:32,153 I don't know what Roger or Ed would say... 1388 01:40:33,861 --> 01:40:35,852 but I can let Gus speak for himself. 1389 01:40:35,996 --> 01:40:38,863 Back in January he talked to a group of reporters. 1390 01:40:38,966 --> 01:40:42,367 They asked him about the dangers involved in going to the moon. 1391 01:40:44,471 --> 01:40:47,634 The conquest of space is worth the risk of life. 1392 01:40:47,775 --> 01:40:50,767 Our God-given curiosity will force us to go there ourselves... 1393 01:40:50,911 --> 01:40:53,709 because, in the final analysis... 1394 01:40:53,814 --> 01:40:55,782 only man can fully evaluate the moon... 1395 01:40:55,916 --> 01:40:58,441 in terms understandable to other men. 1396 01:41:01,622 --> 01:41:03,681 At the risk of being gruesome... 1397 01:41:03,824 --> 01:41:06,725 we've heard about the fire from everyone who was there. 1398 01:41:06,827 --> 01:41:10,228 Everyone except the astronauts themselves, of course. 1399 01:41:11,565 --> 01:41:13,294 Can you tell us what they went through? 1400 01:41:13,434 --> 01:41:15,800 What it was like for them? 1401 01:41:15,903 --> 01:41:19,498 I can only tell you what we know, or at least what we think we know. 1402 01:41:21,842 --> 01:41:24,367 When it happened they were waiting... 1403 01:41:24,511 --> 01:41:26,411 for the test to resume. 1404 01:41:36,390 --> 01:41:39,450 How are we gonna get to the moon if we can't talk between three buildings? 1405 01:41:43,397 --> 01:41:46,093 I can't hear a thing you're saying. Jesus Christ. 1406 01:41:46,233 --> 01:41:48,360 I said, how are we gonna get to the moon... 1407 01:41:48,502 --> 01:41:50,970 if we can't talk between two or three buildings? 1408 01:41:57,211 --> 01:41:59,111 They wouldn't have seen the spark that started the fire... 1409 01:41:59,213 --> 01:42:01,579 because it was behind a panel door... 1410 01:42:01,682 --> 01:42:03,274 down below Gus' feet. 1411 01:42:03,417 --> 01:42:07,046 Because of the oxygen, the spark was able to jump out... 1412 01:42:07,187 --> 01:42:08,848 into the nylon netting under the seats. 1413 01:42:09,690 --> 01:42:12,557 Gus probably saw it first because it was closest to him. 1414 01:42:14,828 --> 01:42:15,726 Fire! 1415 01:42:16,764 --> 01:42:18,857 We got a fire in the cockpit! 1416 01:42:19,767 --> 01:42:23,464 The procedure would have had Gus push down Ed's headrest... 1417 01:42:23,604 --> 01:42:26,334 so that Ed could start turning the latch handle. 1418 01:42:29,643 --> 01:42:31,372 We got a bad fire! 1419 01:42:49,930 --> 01:42:51,397 We're burning up! 1420 01:42:52,866 --> 01:42:56,165 By now the temperature and the pressure were astronomical. 1421 01:42:58,272 --> 01:42:59,136 Let's get out! 1422 01:43:29,937 --> 01:43:31,336 Now. 1423 01:43:32,439 --> 01:43:35,306 It just took me a minute or more... 1424 01:43:35,409 --> 01:43:37,900 to tell you all that. 1425 01:43:38,045 --> 01:43:41,208 In actuality, from the first mention of the fire.... 1426 01:43:41,348 --> 01:43:44,215 to the rupture of the hull, only 15 seconds went by. 1427 01:43:51,859 --> 01:43:53,156 What caused the fire? 1428 01:43:53,260 --> 01:43:56,957 I'm not talking about wires and oxygen. 1429 01:43:57,097 --> 01:44:01,193 It seems that some people think that NASA pressured North American... 1430 01:44:01,335 --> 01:44:04,270 to meet unrealistic and arbitrary deadlines... 1431 01:44:04,404 --> 01:44:08,602 and that, in turn, North American allowed safety to be compromised. 1432 01:44:09,810 --> 01:44:13,075 I won't deny that there's been pressure to meet deadlines... 1433 01:44:13,213 --> 01:44:15,647 but safety has never been intentionally compromised. 1434 01:44:16,517 --> 01:44:17,916 Then what caused the fire? 1435 01:44:20,721 --> 01:44:22,052 A failure of imagination. 1436 01:44:23,824 --> 01:44:27,260 We've always known there was the possibility of fire in a spacecraft. 1437 01:44:27,394 --> 01:44:29,794 But the fear was that it would happen in space... 1438 01:44:29,897 --> 01:44:33,799 when you're 180 miles from terra firma and the nearest fire station. 1439 01:44:33,934 --> 01:44:35,424 That was the worry. 1440 01:44:36,603 --> 01:44:39,037 No one ever imagined that it would happen on the ground. 1441 01:44:39,173 --> 01:44:42,734 If anyone had, the test would have been classified as hazardous. 1442 01:44:43,944 --> 01:44:46,674 But it wasn't. We just didn't think of it. 1443 01:44:48,849 --> 01:44:50,749 Whose fault is that? 1444 01:44:52,352 --> 01:44:54,252 It's North American's fault. 1445 01:44:55,389 --> 01:44:57,516 It's NASA's fault. 1446 01:44:57,658 --> 01:45:01,059 It's the fault of every person who ever worked on Apollo. 1447 01:45:02,763 --> 01:45:04,594 It's my fault. 1448 01:45:04,698 --> 01:45:06,598 I didn't think the test was hazardous. 1449 01:45:08,001 --> 01:45:09,901 No one did. 1450 01:45:11,138 --> 01:45:13,038 I wish to God we had. 1451 01:45:17,578 --> 01:45:20,479 Now before we all go home... 1452 01:45:20,581 --> 01:45:23,049 is there any statement you personally would like to make? 1453 01:45:25,252 --> 01:45:29,086 I think I'm safe in speaking for all the astronauts when I say that... 1454 01:45:30,424 --> 01:45:31,823 we're confident in our management... 1455 01:45:31,925 --> 01:45:34,359 we're confident in our training... 1456 01:45:34,494 --> 01:45:38,191 in our engineering and in ourselves. 1457 01:45:38,332 --> 01:45:41,859 The real question is, are you confident in us? 1458 01:45:46,773 --> 01:45:48,866 What do you think we should do? 1459 01:45:51,245 --> 01:45:53,941 I think you should stop this witch hunt... 1460 01:45:54,081 --> 01:45:56,447 and let us go to the moon. 1461 01:45:58,719 --> 01:46:01,279 Please. 1462 01:46:03,891 --> 01:46:04,789 Back to you. 1463 01:46:06,393 --> 01:46:08,384 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 1464 01:46:12,332 --> 01:46:13,799 I have nothing further. 1465 01:46:14,668 --> 01:46:16,795 Thank you, Colonel. 1466 01:46:37,124 --> 01:46:38,284 Those are beautiful. 1467 01:46:38,425 --> 01:46:41,019 Well, thank you, dear. 1468 01:46:41,161 --> 01:46:42,185 Who called? 1469 01:46:45,632 --> 01:46:49,033 - He wants to see me. - On a Sunday? 1470 01:46:50,771 --> 01:46:52,500 I think this is it. 1471 01:47:05,485 --> 01:47:07,680 I wanted to see it through to the landing. 1472 01:47:10,557 --> 01:47:11,819 Oh, damn it. 1473 01:47:36,616 --> 01:47:39,084 - Yeah? - There's a Mr. Storms to see you. 1474 01:47:42,422 --> 01:47:44,447 They said I wouldn't have to report to anyone. 1475 01:47:44,591 --> 01:47:47,754 Trouble is there's no one to report to me either. 1476 01:47:47,894 --> 01:47:51,421 - What do you do? - I go to the movies, museums. 1477 01:47:51,565 --> 01:47:54,261 There's a lot of damn fine museums in this town. 1478 01:47:54,401 --> 01:47:56,596 - Did you know that? - Yeah, I think I've heard that. 1479 01:47:57,738 --> 01:48:00,536 - What's next? - I'm gettin' out. 1480 01:48:00,640 --> 01:48:04,041 Join a company in Boston. How about you? 1481 01:48:04,177 --> 01:48:07,237 They moved me over to the brake yard. I'm still a V.P., but-- 1482 01:48:07,381 --> 01:48:11,010 I still talk with my old buddies at the space division now and then. 1483 01:48:11,151 --> 01:48:14,951 They say that things have really improved since the fire. 1484 01:48:15,055 --> 01:48:17,285 Everybody's working together better than ever. 1485 01:48:17,424 --> 01:48:20,393 There's a whole new sense of purpose, sense of relief. 1486 01:48:20,527 --> 01:48:22,119 Relief? 1487 01:48:22,262 --> 01:48:24,662 Everyone knew an accident was inevitable. 1488 01:48:24,765 --> 01:48:25,663 I know. 1489 01:48:25,766 --> 01:48:29,827 I talked to some UPI reporters a couple of weeks before the fire. 1490 01:48:29,970 --> 01:48:34,430 I said to them I believed some kind of accident was probably inevitable. 1491 01:48:35,942 --> 01:48:40,606 I also said I thought it would be harder on those of us on the ground. 1492 01:48:40,747 --> 01:48:44,114 The astronauts are dead, God rest them... 1493 01:48:44,217 --> 01:48:47,675 but we have to live with the knowledge we could have done something different. 1494 01:48:47,821 --> 01:48:49,721 There's nothing you could have done. 1495 01:48:51,091 --> 01:48:54,026 I could have been in the cockpit that day. 1496 01:48:57,731 --> 01:49:02,532 Why is it every time I say that people assume I mean I wish I were dead? 1497 01:49:02,636 --> 01:49:05,628 The fire started on the left side... 1498 01:49:05,772 --> 01:49:07,569 below Gus' feet, right? 1499 01:49:07,707 --> 01:49:09,698 If I'd been on the spacecraft that day... 1500 01:49:09,843 --> 01:49:11,777 I would have been lying below the footrest... 1501 01:49:11,912 --> 01:49:14,039 right there where it started. 1502 01:49:14,181 --> 01:49:18,675 I figure I had a 50-50 chance of putting it out before it got out of control. 1503 01:49:18,819 --> 01:49:20,980 My years in flight test, I saw a number of crews... 1504 01:49:21,121 --> 01:49:22,611 slam into the desert floor. 1505 01:49:24,558 --> 01:49:26,458 Too many. 1506 01:49:26,560 --> 01:49:29,461 I love those guys, and each time that happened I wanted to die. 1507 01:49:30,630 --> 01:49:33,565 But I've learned that you gotta let go... 1508 01:49:33,700 --> 01:49:35,793 of the what ifs. 1509 01:49:35,936 --> 01:49:37,927 They're meaningless. 1510 01:49:38,071 --> 01:49:39,971 And they'll kill you. 1511 01:49:41,374 --> 01:49:43,274 Yeah. 1512 01:49:48,115 --> 01:49:50,049 Really meant a lot your coming by. 1513 01:49:50,150 --> 01:49:52,084 I know we didn't always see eye to eye. 1514 01:49:57,724 --> 01:49:59,214 I got mine up in the den. 1515 01:49:59,359 --> 01:50:00,223 Yeah? 1516 01:50:00,327 --> 01:50:02,227 I'm thinking about the front hall. 1517 01:50:03,964 --> 01:50:06,524 You had to know it was Gus' idea. 1518 01:50:14,241 --> 01:50:15,572 Take care. 1519 01:50:15,675 --> 01:50:17,370 - Good luck. - You too. 1520 01:50:28,021 --> 01:50:30,888 Then that leaves only one very important thing... 1521 01:50:30,991 --> 01:50:33,516 which is, of course, who's paying for dinner. 1522 01:50:33,660 --> 01:50:35,560 North American, I guess. 1523 01:50:36,663 --> 01:50:38,597 - That didn't take long. - Wait, gentlemen. 1524 01:50:38,698 --> 01:50:40,723 Before we go, Roger, Ed and I{{}}... 1525 01:50:40,867 --> 01:50:44,735 have a little presentation we'd like to make to Joe and Stormy here. 1526 01:50:44,838 --> 01:50:45,634 Oh, yeah? 1527 01:50:45,772 --> 01:50:48,969 It's just a little something from us. 1528 01:50:49,109 --> 01:50:51,805 From us to you. A little something from the guys. 1529 01:50:51,945 --> 01:50:54,311 Plain brown paper. I'm a little nervous. 1530 01:50:54,414 --> 01:50:56,473 Why am I frightened for my life? 1531 01:50:56,616 --> 01:50:58,743 - Because you know us. - It's not ticking, is it? 1532 01:50:58,885 --> 01:51:00,910 Probably designs for the power steering. 1533 01:51:05,859 --> 01:51:06,757 That's great. 1534 01:51:07,928 --> 01:51:10,624 That's very funny, you guys. Thank you. 1535 01:51:10,764 --> 01:51:13,198 - We have absolute faith in you. - Yeah, right. 1536 01:51:16,136 --> 01:51:18,070 Thank you. That's very nice. 1537 01:51:19,206 --> 01:51:21,538 "It isn't that we don't trust you, Joe, but this time... 1538 01:51:21,641 --> 01:51:23,233 we've decided to go over your head." 1539 01:51:31,685 --> 01:51:34,085 I got a call from some woman at NASA, Deke. 1540 01:51:34,187 --> 01:51:36,951 They don't wanna call it Apollo 1 anymore because it never flew. 1541 01:51:37,891 --> 01:51:39,825 They're gonna call it Apollo 20-- 1542 01:51:39,926 --> 01:51:43,657 204. That was the internal designation. 1543 01:51:44,497 --> 01:51:47,432 It's like they already want people to forget it happened. 1544 01:51:51,805 --> 01:51:54,740 This is the reason we wanted to see you. 1545 01:51:58,111 --> 01:51:59,510 Open it. 1546 01:52:05,518 --> 01:52:07,418 It's an astronaut pin. 1547 01:52:11,157 --> 01:52:14,149 The guys knew you would never get into space because of your heart problem... 1548 01:52:14,294 --> 01:52:16,956 but they wanted you to know they considered you... 1549 01:52:17,097 --> 01:52:19,327 as much of an astronaut as any of them. 1550 01:52:21,701 --> 01:52:24,568 They were gonna give that to you when they got back. 1551 01:52:25,375 --> 01:52:28,451 Best watched using Open Subtitles MKV Player 1552 01:52:28,501 --> 01:52:33,051 Repair and Synchronization by Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0