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1
00:00:00,835 --> 00:00:03,569
Three, two, one.
2
00:00:03,571 --> 00:00:06,038
Launch.
3
00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,674
Soviet russia scores
a dramatic victory.
4
00:00:08,676 --> 00:00:11,744
The soviet union was
winning the race to space,
5
00:00:11,746 --> 00:00:14,713
And the united states
was struggling to catch up.
6
00:00:14,715 --> 00:00:15,948
I ask you, sir.
7
00:00:15,950 --> 00:00:18,083
What are we going to do
about it?
8
00:00:18,085 --> 00:00:21,220
After so many setbacks,
what lengths would the americans.
9
00:00:21,222 --> 00:00:24,623
Go to to surpass
their superpower rival?
10
00:00:24,625 --> 00:00:26,992
Seeing if they can
knock a russian satellite.
11
00:00:26,994 --> 00:00:31,296
Out of orbit or completely
destroying a russian satellite.
12
00:00:31,298 --> 00:00:34,333
So it sounds crazy.
It sounds like a movie plot.
13
00:00:34,335 --> 00:00:35,968
Did the u.S. Military create.
14
00:00:35,970 --> 00:00:40,105
An undercover astronaut program
to spy on the soviets?
15
00:00:40,107 --> 00:00:41,907
Liftoff.
16
00:00:41,909 --> 00:00:44,576
The whole idea was to
put one of the biggest cameras.
17
00:00:44,578 --> 00:00:48,147
Ever created into
an orbiting space station.
18
00:00:48,149 --> 00:00:49,481
That was totally secret.
19
00:00:49,483 --> 00:00:51,350
The public had no knowledge
about that.
20
00:00:51,352 --> 00:00:53,252
Wow.
21
00:00:53,254 --> 00:00:55,421
And would the u.S. Go so far.
22
00:00:55,423 --> 00:00:59,825
As to kidnap a soviet spacecraft
to obtain new technologies?
23
00:00:59,827 --> 00:01:02,861
If there was ever any hint that
the soviets knew what happened,
24
00:01:02,863 --> 00:01:04,830
You know the cia
never caught wind of it.
25
00:01:04,832 --> 00:01:08,434
So it seems like they got away
with this epic, historic thing.
26
00:01:08,436 --> 00:01:10,969
That is insane.
27
00:01:10,971 --> 00:01:12,738
A former fbi agent,
28
00:01:12,740 --> 00:01:16,775
A conspiracy theorist
and former aerospace consultant,
29
00:01:16,777 --> 00:01:20,112
And an american astronaut
are investigating...
30
00:01:20,114 --> 00:01:22,681
Captions by vitac...
www.Vitac.Com.
31
00:01:22,683 --> 00:01:25,918
The "truth behind
the moon landing."
32
00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:28,954
Captions paid for by
discovery communications.
33
00:01:30,324 --> 00:01:32,458
The conspiracy theory
is alive and well,
34
00:01:32,460 --> 00:01:34,993
And so is our investigation.
35
00:01:34,995 --> 00:01:37,229
We've discovered
some surprising secrets.
36
00:01:37,231 --> 00:01:40,532
Lurking at the edges
of the space race to the moon.
37
00:01:40,534 --> 00:01:43,502
I believe that this
nation should commit itself.
38
00:01:43,504 --> 00:01:45,337
To achieving the goal.
39
00:01:45,339 --> 00:01:49,041
Before this decade is out
of landing a man on the moon.
40
00:01:49,043 --> 00:01:53,178
And returning him safely
to the earth.
41
00:01:53,180 --> 00:01:56,915
President john f. Kennedy boldly
challenged the united states.
42
00:01:56,917 --> 00:02:00,285
And nasa to put a man on the
moon by the end of the decade.
43
00:02:00,287 --> 00:02:01,920
The space race was on.
44
00:02:01,922 --> 00:02:04,690
Yeah, and we were behind.
45
00:02:04,692 --> 00:02:07,493
It would take much more
than president kennedy's dreams.
46
00:02:07,495 --> 00:02:10,095
To get the u.S. To the moon
before the soviet union.
47
00:02:10,097 --> 00:02:12,431
The u.S. Was trailing
far behind the soviets.
48
00:02:12,433 --> 00:02:13,732
In the race to space.
49
00:02:13,734 --> 00:02:16,702
Even before nasa had
opened its doors in 1958,
50
00:02:16,704 --> 00:02:19,471
The ussr had already launched
sputnik into space,
51
00:02:19,473 --> 00:02:23,675
The world's first
artificial earth satellite.
52
00:02:23,677 --> 00:02:27,646
Mr. President, russia has
launched an earth satellite.
53
00:02:27,648 --> 00:02:31,717
They also claim to have had
a successful firing.
54
00:02:31,719 --> 00:02:35,020
Of the intercontinental
ballistic missile.
55
00:02:35,022 --> 00:02:37,856
What are we going to
do about it?
56
00:02:37,858 --> 00:02:40,025
Nasa didn't seem to have
the right stuff.
57
00:02:40,027 --> 00:02:41,927
To develop the rocket technology.
58
00:02:41,929 --> 00:02:44,663
To get to the moon
and leap past the soviets.
59
00:02:44,665 --> 00:02:48,200
The united states
space effort takes a giant step.
60
00:02:48,202 --> 00:02:51,236
As scientists and technicians
prepare to orbit enos,
61
00:02:51,238 --> 00:02:54,506
A five-year-old chimpanzee,
around the earth.
62
00:02:54,508 --> 00:02:56,188
That's why many
conspiracy theorists think.
63
00:02:56,212 --> 00:02:57,509
There was a cover-up,
64
00:02:57,511 --> 00:03:00,078
And we didn't actually land
on the moon in 1969.
65
00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,080
How could we have caught up
to the soviets.
66
00:03:02,082 --> 00:03:03,715
And beat them to the moon?
67
00:03:03,717 --> 00:03:06,118
I mean, the russians have
already sent a man into space,
68
00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:08,420
And we're still sending chimps.
69
00:03:08,422 --> 00:03:10,923
The u.S. Had already
brought over
70
00:03:10,925 --> 00:03:13,792
1,600 former nazi scientists
and engineers.
71
00:03:13,794 --> 00:03:16,128
To work on military
and space programs.
72
00:03:16,130 --> 00:03:18,964
It was clear that the u.S.
Wasn't playing games.
73
00:03:18,966 --> 00:03:21,533
Would we use cold war
espionage tactics.
74
00:03:21,535 --> 00:03:23,635
To gain an advantage
and catch up?
75
00:03:30,644 --> 00:03:33,745
Mike and I are here at
the kgb museum in new york city.
76
00:03:33,747 --> 00:03:36,782
To sit down with
astro journalist tariq malik.
77
00:03:36,784 --> 00:03:39,117
He's editor-in-chief
of space.Com.
78
00:03:39,119 --> 00:03:40,686
What's the craziest story.
79
00:03:40,688 --> 00:03:42,654
About this period of time
we don't know?
80
00:03:42,656 --> 00:03:45,958
The cia actually kidnapped
a soviet spacecraft.
81
00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:47,326
To see how it ticked.
82
00:03:47,328 --> 00:03:48,448
Wait, wait, wait. Kidnapped?
83
00:03:48,472 --> 00:03:49,761
Yes. Okay, listen.
84
00:03:49,763 --> 00:03:51,496
Give us more detail, please.
85
00:03:51,498 --> 00:03:52,738
Yeah, yeah. So it sounds crazy.
86
00:03:52,762 --> 00:03:55,229
It sounds like a movie plot.
87
00:03:57,304 --> 00:03:58,704
Well, in 1959, you know,
88
00:03:58,706 --> 00:04:00,839
The soviet union
was really riding high.
89
00:04:03,477 --> 00:04:06,478
They had launched sputnik
and wowed the world.
90
00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,348
They built the first spacecraft
to touch the moon...
91
00:04:09,350 --> 00:04:12,517
Luna 1, also known
as the lunik program.
92
00:04:12,519 --> 00:04:14,853
Soviet russia scores
a dramatic victory.
93
00:04:14,855 --> 00:04:16,355
In the exploration of space.
94
00:04:16,357 --> 00:04:19,224
With the launching of the first
rocket to hit the moon.
95
00:04:19,226 --> 00:04:21,627
Western observers monitored
lunik's two radios.
96
00:04:21,629 --> 00:04:24,696
To the very moment of impact.
97
00:04:24,698 --> 00:04:26,398
They went on a global road show.
98
00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,600
To show off their successes
to other countries,
99
00:04:28,602 --> 00:04:31,770
To show just kind of how
far ahead that they were.
100
00:04:31,772 --> 00:04:34,740
One of the exhibits that was
in this road show.
101
00:04:34,742 --> 00:04:37,843
Was a lunik spacecraft.
102
00:04:37,845 --> 00:04:40,045
The lunik wasn't just
some russian satellite.
103
00:04:40,047 --> 00:04:43,148
It was the first man-made object
to ever reach the moon.
104
00:04:43,150 --> 00:04:44,850
The lunik made impact
with the moon.
105
00:04:44,852 --> 00:04:48,320
At a velocity of about
7,500 miles per hour.
106
00:04:48,322 --> 00:04:50,689
At that point, the u.S. Thought
its guidance systems.
107
00:04:50,691 --> 00:04:52,658
Were superior to the russians'.
108
00:04:52,660 --> 00:04:54,760
But when the lunik
hit its target,
109
00:04:54,762 --> 00:04:57,296
It proved that their
guidance systems were better.
110
00:04:57,298 --> 00:04:58,797
The closest that
the united states.
111
00:04:58,799 --> 00:05:02,601
Had ever gotten to the moon
was 37,000 miles away.
112
00:05:02,603 --> 00:05:05,704
The lunik also made history by,
for the first time,
113
00:05:05,706 --> 00:05:07,606
Photographing
the far side of the moon,
114
00:05:07,608 --> 00:05:09,941
Which is not
viewable from earth.
115
00:05:09,943 --> 00:05:14,946
So the cia think,
"this is the real deal."
116
00:05:14,948 --> 00:05:17,349
And it would be nice
if we could actually.
117
00:05:17,351 --> 00:05:20,919
"Get access to this thing,
if we could see how it ticks."
118
00:05:22,923 --> 00:05:25,624
The more you know about
this spacecraft.
119
00:05:25,626 --> 00:05:27,359
Or how much it weighs dry,
120
00:05:27,361 --> 00:05:31,663
Then you can infer how much
it weighs with fuel on-board.
121
00:05:31,665 --> 00:05:34,199
But they have this guard
that's there 24 hours a day,
122
00:05:34,201 --> 00:05:35,334
Watching over this thing,
123
00:05:35,336 --> 00:05:37,035
So how are you going
to get access to it?
124
00:05:37,037 --> 00:05:40,639
So what was their plan?
125
00:05:40,641 --> 00:05:42,341
They watched,
and they figured out.
126
00:05:42,343 --> 00:05:44,042
That at the end of the exhibit,
127
00:05:44,044 --> 00:05:45,711
When it's going to move
to a new location,
128
00:05:45,713 --> 00:05:47,112
They can arrange for it
to get on.
129
00:05:47,114 --> 00:05:50,682
The last truck out to the train.
130
00:05:50,684 --> 00:05:53,352
And as it goes out,
they have a car in the front.
131
00:05:53,354 --> 00:05:55,194
And a car in the back
to make sure the soviets.
132
00:05:55,218 --> 00:05:58,290
Aren't following them
or caught wind of their plan.
133
00:05:58,292 --> 00:06:00,492
And when they're confident,
then they pull the car over.
134
00:06:00,494 --> 00:06:02,728
At the last turn-off
to the train station.
135
00:06:02,730 --> 00:06:04,863
Tariq tells us that many of
the facts in this mission.
136
00:06:04,865 --> 00:06:08,100
Have been redacted by the cia,
but the best we can tell,
137
00:06:08,102 --> 00:06:10,969
This took place sometime
in mexico in 1959.
138
00:06:10,971 --> 00:06:13,071
The driver was probably
a non-russian,
139
00:06:13,073 --> 00:06:15,107
And the cia convinced him
to rest overnight.
140
00:06:15,109 --> 00:06:17,876
At a hotel rather than drive on.
141
00:06:17,878 --> 00:06:19,811
The cia had their own driver,
142
00:06:19,813 --> 00:06:21,480
And they drove it to a scrapyard.
143
00:06:21,482 --> 00:06:23,115
That they had rented out
just for this,
144
00:06:23,117 --> 00:06:25,217
And they have
a whole team come in.
145
00:06:25,219 --> 00:06:28,220
They had already been
watching this crate...
146
00:06:28,222 --> 00:06:30,022
You know, it's one big crate...
On this truck.
147
00:06:30,046 --> 00:06:32,691
They got to go in
through the roof.
148
00:06:32,693 --> 00:06:35,460
They take their shoes off,
so they have just their socks on.
149
00:06:35,462 --> 00:06:37,822
Because they don't want to leave
any footprints or evidence.
150
00:06:37,846 --> 00:06:39,011
Behind that they're there.
151
00:06:41,635 --> 00:06:44,603
At 7:00 at night, when they
think that the coast is clear,
152
00:06:44,605 --> 00:06:46,405
They open up the top
of this crate,
153
00:06:46,407 --> 00:06:48,874
They go inside,
they took it apart.
154
00:06:48,876 --> 00:06:52,210
They kept a close record.
They have people with cameras.
155
00:06:54,648 --> 00:06:57,349
They took a bunch of pictures,
and then they sent the film.
156
00:06:57,351 --> 00:06:58,884
Back to the field office.
157
00:06:58,886 --> 00:07:00,385
To make sure
the camera was working,
158
00:07:00,387 --> 00:07:03,455
So that they wouldn't find out
they left the lens cap on later.
159
00:07:03,457 --> 00:07:05,257
Or had a bad batch of film.
160
00:07:05,259 --> 00:07:06,958
You don't take on a mission
like this.
161
00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:08,326
Unless you're fully committed.
162
00:07:08,328 --> 00:07:11,029
The risk of getting exposed
or caught would have been.
163
00:07:11,031 --> 00:07:15,000
More significant in the cold war
than the actual intel itself.
164
00:07:15,002 --> 00:07:16,701
So the details
they were looking for.
165
00:07:16,703 --> 00:07:18,737
Must have been considered
very important.
166
00:07:18,739 --> 00:07:21,006
They do that until 4:00
in the morning.
167
00:07:21,008 --> 00:07:22,741
They put it back together again,
168
00:07:22,743 --> 00:07:25,811
And then they put the lid
on the crate.
169
00:07:25,813 --> 00:07:27,112
You know, woke up the driver.
170
00:07:27,114 --> 00:07:29,114
That they had sequestered
overnight.
171
00:07:29,116 --> 00:07:32,284
And just drove the lunik back
and left the truck there.
172
00:07:32,286 --> 00:07:34,453
It seemed like no one
was the wiser,
173
00:07:34,455 --> 00:07:37,289
But at the end of the day,
they had detailed information.
174
00:07:37,291 --> 00:07:40,058
About what
this spacecraft looked like,
175
00:07:40,060 --> 00:07:42,527
How it was put together,
what it weighed,
176
00:07:42,529 --> 00:07:44,729
What the rocket they needed
to launch it,
177
00:07:44,731 --> 00:07:47,032
And they could use
that information to infer.
178
00:07:47,034 --> 00:07:49,301
So many other things
about the rocket.
179
00:07:49,303 --> 00:07:51,303
It sounds insane.
180
00:07:51,305 --> 00:07:53,905
Still, any way we could get new
and important information,
181
00:07:53,907 --> 00:07:55,140
We had to do it.
182
00:07:55,142 --> 00:07:56,541
And the americans did come away.
183
00:07:56,543 --> 00:07:58,143
With the kind of
specific details.
184
00:07:58,145 --> 00:08:00,645
They needed to send a spacecraft
to the moon,
185
00:08:00,647 --> 00:08:03,748
Details like how much the lunik
weighed, how big it was,
186
00:08:03,750 --> 00:08:05,417
And how much fuel
it had on board.
187
00:08:05,419 --> 00:08:08,420
If there was ever any hint that
the soviets knew what happened,
188
00:08:08,422 --> 00:08:10,255
You know,
the cia never caught wind of it,
189
00:08:10,257 --> 00:08:12,023
So it seems like they got away.
190
00:08:12,025 --> 00:08:14,926
With this kind of epic,
historic thing,
191
00:08:14,928 --> 00:08:16,368
And we only found out
about it later.
192
00:08:16,370 --> 00:08:18,136
When they declassified it
in the early 2000s.
193
00:08:18,138 --> 00:08:20,198
Straight-up spy movie stuff,
right?
194
00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:22,634
To conspiracy theorists,
this feeds into the idea.
195
00:08:22,636 --> 00:08:24,402
That the americans had no choice.
196
00:08:24,404 --> 00:08:27,506
But to resort to
a moon-landing hoax.
197
00:08:27,508 --> 00:08:30,242
Because u.S. Space technology
just wasn't good enough.
198
00:08:30,244 --> 00:08:31,844
They would say,
"that's why we had to go.
199
00:08:31,868 --> 00:08:33,172
To desperate extremes."
200
00:08:33,174 --> 00:08:35,514
We had to steal
russian information.
201
00:08:40,874 --> 00:08:42,354
So, were there
other purposes to this.
202
00:08:42,356 --> 00:08:43,788
Besides just the reconnaissance?
203
00:08:43,790 --> 00:08:47,959
Yeah, it was very, very serious
in terms of actual warfare.
204
00:08:47,961 --> 00:08:50,362
So they actually fired a cannon
in space.
205
00:08:50,364 --> 00:08:52,697
They... they fired
a cannon in space.
206
00:09:09,616 --> 00:09:12,050
Here at the kgb museum
in new york city,
207
00:09:12,052 --> 00:09:14,319
It's been amazing to discover
the details.
208
00:09:14,321 --> 00:09:18,089
Of the secret american
space espionage plot.
209
00:09:18,091 --> 00:09:20,725
So far, what we've heard
seems to be proof.
210
00:09:20,727 --> 00:09:23,128
That the u.S. Was far behind
the soviet union.
211
00:09:23,130 --> 00:09:25,290
In developing the technology
to land a man on the moon.
212
00:09:25,314 --> 00:09:28,533
So the americans had to resort
to desperate measures.
213
00:09:28,535 --> 00:09:30,655
Conspiracy theorists think
that one of those measures.
214
00:09:30,657 --> 00:09:32,657
Was to cover up that we couldn't
actually pull off.
215
00:09:32,681 --> 00:09:36,007
A moon landing.
216
00:09:36,009 --> 00:09:37,409
Mike and I are here to sit down.
217
00:09:37,411 --> 00:09:40,145
With intelligence expert
james bamford.
218
00:09:40,147 --> 00:09:41,646
He is the author of three books.
219
00:09:41,648 --> 00:09:44,749
About the united states
national security agency.
220
00:09:44,751 --> 00:09:47,319
We want to find out to
what lengths the u.S. Would go.
221
00:09:47,321 --> 00:09:48,820
To win the race to the moon.
222
00:09:48,822 --> 00:09:51,456
And whether they had
a secondary objective...
223
00:09:51,458 --> 00:09:53,992
To militarize space.
224
00:09:53,994 --> 00:09:57,395
The u.S. And, at the time,
soviet space program...
225
00:09:57,397 --> 00:09:58,697
There was this competition.
226
00:09:58,699 --> 00:09:59,998
To see
who would get to the moon,
227
00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:01,933
But it was not
just a space race.
228
00:10:01,935 --> 00:10:03,835
It was kind of like a space war.
229
00:10:03,837 --> 00:10:05,157
Yeah, there were two space races.
230
00:10:05,181 --> 00:10:09,507
That went on largely
in the '60s.
231
00:10:09,509 --> 00:10:12,210
The space race that everybody
saw on television...
232
00:10:12,212 --> 00:10:15,780
Astronauts going up to space,
building satellites,
233
00:10:15,782 --> 00:10:18,383
Ticker tape parades,
and then going to the moon.
234
00:10:18,385 --> 00:10:22,454
That's one small step for man...
235
00:10:22,456 --> 00:10:24,055
But besides that,
236
00:10:24,057 --> 00:10:27,058
The u.S. Was basically at war
with russia.
237
00:10:27,060 --> 00:10:28,460
In terms of intelligence.
238
00:10:28,462 --> 00:10:30,862
Were these space war programs
known to the public.
239
00:10:30,864 --> 00:10:32,430
And other government agencies?
240
00:10:32,432 --> 00:10:34,532
Did nasa even know about them?
241
00:10:34,534 --> 00:10:37,335
No, they were totally secret.
242
00:10:37,337 --> 00:10:40,505
The public saw the astronauts,
but what they didn't see.
243
00:10:40,507 --> 00:10:43,008
Were these other astronauts
that were being trained.
244
00:10:43,010 --> 00:10:44,530
This is kind of shocking to me,
I mean,
245
00:10:44,554 --> 00:10:47,312
To have a whole separate secret
kind of space program.
246
00:10:47,314 --> 00:10:49,547
With separate astronauts
is amazing.
247
00:10:49,549 --> 00:10:51,389
They weren't even allowed
to tell their family.
248
00:10:51,413 --> 00:10:53,546
That they were training
as astronauts.
249
00:10:55,589 --> 00:10:58,089
And they spent a large part
of the 1960s.
250
00:10:58,091 --> 00:11:00,625
Training to be
secret astronauts.
251
00:11:00,627 --> 00:11:02,127
Now, what was that program?
252
00:11:02,129 --> 00:11:04,562
That was the m.O.L. Program...
253
00:11:04,564 --> 00:11:06,965
Manned orbiting laboratory
program.
254
00:11:09,302 --> 00:11:11,336
The manned orbiting
laboratory would have been.
255
00:11:11,338 --> 00:11:14,406
A space station
orbiting the earth.
256
00:11:14,408 --> 00:11:16,474
It would have been 72 feet long,
257
00:11:16,476 --> 00:11:17,742
10 feet in diameter,
258
00:11:17,744 --> 00:11:20,979
And weighed close
to 32,000 pounds.
259
00:11:20,981 --> 00:11:22,647
That's about a third of the size.
260
00:11:22,649 --> 00:11:25,350
Of the modern day
international space station.
261
00:11:25,352 --> 00:11:27,485
Two astronauts would fly
into the station.
262
00:11:27,487 --> 00:11:30,588
In a modified version
of the gemini space capsule.
263
00:11:30,590 --> 00:11:31,990
They would dock with
the laboratory.
264
00:11:32,014 --> 00:11:33,947
And stay there for 40 days.
265
00:11:37,864 --> 00:11:39,030
It had two sides.
266
00:11:39,032 --> 00:11:41,399
You can't really do this
totally in secret,
267
00:11:41,401 --> 00:11:44,302
So you had to have
sort of a cover for it.
268
00:11:44,304 --> 00:11:47,939
I am today instructing
the department of defense.
269
00:11:47,941 --> 00:11:49,661
To immediately proceed
with the development.
270
00:11:49,685 --> 00:11:52,477
Of a manned orbiting laboratory.
271
00:11:52,479 --> 00:11:55,680
The cover was this laboratory
that they would put in space.
272
00:11:55,682 --> 00:12:00,752
To see how military people
actually survive in space.
273
00:12:00,754 --> 00:12:04,456
This program will bring us
new knowledge.
274
00:12:04,458 --> 00:12:08,159
About what man
is able to do in space.
275
00:12:08,161 --> 00:12:11,362
That was all nonsense.
276
00:12:11,364 --> 00:12:12,964
The manned orbiting
laboratory...
277
00:12:12,966 --> 00:12:16,434
The whole idea was to put
one of the biggest cameras.
278
00:12:16,436 --> 00:12:20,405
Ever created into
an orbiting space station.
279
00:12:20,407 --> 00:12:25,243
And take pictures of russia
very close up.
280
00:12:25,245 --> 00:12:26,544
That was totally secret.
281
00:12:26,546 --> 00:12:28,446
The public had no knowledge
about that.
282
00:12:28,448 --> 00:12:31,015
Wow.
283
00:12:31,017 --> 00:12:32,684
So were there
other purposes to this.
284
00:12:32,686 --> 00:12:33,966
Besides just the reconnaissance?
285
00:12:33,990 --> 00:12:35,687
I mean,
was that m.O.L. Program...
286
00:12:35,689 --> 00:12:38,156
Was that involved in
anything, like, nefarious?
287
00:12:38,158 --> 00:12:40,225
Yeah. The u.S., in addition to.
288
00:12:40,227 --> 00:12:43,394
Just putting the m.O.L. Up there
to spy on russia...
289
00:12:43,396 --> 00:12:46,030
It also looked into experiments,
290
00:12:46,032 --> 00:12:50,101
Seeing if we could actually
kidnap a russian satellite.
291
00:12:50,103 --> 00:12:52,771
Wrap their satellite
in a heat shield.
292
00:12:52,773 --> 00:12:55,774
And put a pack on it
that could be remotely operated.
293
00:12:55,776 --> 00:12:59,778
That would send it out of orbit
and back down to earth.
294
00:12:59,780 --> 00:13:01,700
The other things were seeing
if they could knock.
295
00:13:01,724 --> 00:13:03,815
A russian satellite out of orbit.
296
00:13:03,817 --> 00:13:07,418
Or completely
destroying a russian satellite.
297
00:13:07,420 --> 00:13:08,853
Wow.
298
00:13:08,855 --> 00:13:11,623
Those were some of the options
that they were looking for.
299
00:13:11,625 --> 00:13:13,258
It's just like... it's crazy.
300
00:13:13,260 --> 00:13:15,593
Seems bunk. Yeah.
301
00:13:15,595 --> 00:13:18,029
He's telling us
of space combat plans.
302
00:13:18,031 --> 00:13:20,031
It wasn't about only landing
on the moon.
303
00:13:20,033 --> 00:13:22,233
The u.S. Needed to establish
dominance over russia.
304
00:13:22,235 --> 00:13:24,636
By militarizing space, too.
305
00:13:24,638 --> 00:13:26,004
Was this actually done?
306
00:13:26,006 --> 00:13:28,673
It wasn't done, but it was
actually contemplated.
307
00:13:32,112 --> 00:13:34,646
The russians found out
about the plans,
308
00:13:34,648 --> 00:13:38,149
So they tried
to make countermeasures.
309
00:13:38,151 --> 00:13:41,886
They were building a very
similar space station to m.O.L.
310
00:13:45,091 --> 00:13:47,826
It was called almaz,
311
00:13:47,828 --> 00:13:53,398
And they armed their space
station with an actual cannon.
312
00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:55,567
So they actually fired a cannon
in space?
313
00:13:55,569 --> 00:13:57,902
They fired a cannon in space.
314
00:13:57,904 --> 00:13:59,137
They fired a bullet.
315
00:13:59,139 --> 00:14:01,239
If it hadn't hit an asteroid
or a planet,
316
00:14:01,241 --> 00:14:03,208
It's still going someplace...
317
00:14:03,210 --> 00:14:05,977
Wow... Out there.
318
00:14:05,979 --> 00:14:08,479
The soviets were shooting
cannons in space.
319
00:14:08,481 --> 00:14:11,182
The u.S. Wanted to
have astronauts grab satellites.
320
00:14:11,184 --> 00:14:16,387
The space war was filled
with truly insane ideas.
321
00:14:16,389 --> 00:14:18,156
What did this program
ultimately lead to?
322
00:14:18,158 --> 00:14:20,458
I mean, what was the legacy
of m.O.L.?
323
00:14:20,460 --> 00:14:22,861
The major legacy, I think,
was training.
324
00:14:22,863 --> 00:14:26,331
Some of these people to go up
as astronauts in the m.O.L.
325
00:14:26,333 --> 00:14:28,867
They spent a lot of time
training to be astronauts.
326
00:14:28,869 --> 00:14:31,035
Certain technologies that
were developed...
327
00:14:31,037 --> 00:14:32,570
The camera.
328
00:14:32,572 --> 00:14:35,506
The camera was very, very useful
because some of the same optics.
329
00:14:35,508 --> 00:14:38,676
That they used for the m.O.L.
Went into the optics.
330
00:14:38,678 --> 00:14:41,880
That they put into
later reconnaissance spacecraft,
331
00:14:41,882 --> 00:14:46,284
Plus signals intelligence,
what nsa does, eavesdropping.
332
00:14:46,286 --> 00:14:49,888
So we had satellites to spy
on russia.
333
00:14:49,890 --> 00:14:52,156
The americans couldn't beat
the soviets in technology,
334
00:14:52,158 --> 00:14:54,859
So they had to resort
to covert measures.
335
00:14:54,861 --> 00:14:58,096
The cold war pretty much
handcuffed the u.S.
336
00:14:58,098 --> 00:14:59,738
Americans were splitting
their focus into,
337
00:14:59,762 --> 00:15:02,567
A... going to the moon,
and b... militarizing space.
338
00:15:02,569 --> 00:15:04,369
If we were going to fight
the russians,
339
00:15:04,371 --> 00:15:08,840
The next war front was likely
to be in zero gravity.
340
00:15:08,842 --> 00:15:11,542
Because of this rivalry
that's taking place.
341
00:15:11,544 --> 00:15:13,711
Between the united states
and the soviet union,
342
00:15:13,713 --> 00:15:16,514
The future belongs
to one nation or the other.
343
00:15:16,516 --> 00:15:18,816
Science and technology
defines the future.
344
00:15:40,807 --> 00:15:43,574
Our investigation heads
back to washington, d.C.,
345
00:15:43,576 --> 00:15:46,544
Where leland and I meet with
former nasa chief historian
346
00:15:46,546 --> 00:15:48,046
Roger launius.
347
00:15:48,048 --> 00:15:49,314
Roger, how are you? Hi.
348
00:15:49,316 --> 00:15:50,581
Chad jenkins. Good to see you.
349
00:15:50,583 --> 00:15:51,743
Hi, roger. I'm leland melvin.
350
00:15:51,767 --> 00:15:52,717
How you doing? Alright.
351
00:15:52,719 --> 00:15:53,985
Roger's going to fill us in.
352
00:15:53,987 --> 00:15:56,487
On how the soviets'
superior rocket technology.
353
00:15:56,489 --> 00:15:58,957
Developed a massively
powerful vehicle.
354
00:15:58,959 --> 00:16:01,859
Designed to get them to the moon
before the united states.
355
00:16:01,861 --> 00:16:03,227
Prevailing wisdom at the time.
356
00:16:03,229 --> 00:16:05,309
Was if we were going to beat
the soviets to the moon,
357
00:16:05,333 --> 00:16:07,532
We had to start doing
what they were doing,
358
00:16:07,534 --> 00:16:10,935
And that meant
building big rockets.
359
00:16:10,937 --> 00:16:15,173
The soviet union had a very
aggressive program early on.
360
00:16:15,175 --> 00:16:18,009
Notable for some of
the really tremendous successes.
361
00:16:18,011 --> 00:16:19,978
That sort of got
the space age rolling.
362
00:16:19,980 --> 00:16:23,081
And for americans,
we looked at that,
363
00:16:23,083 --> 00:16:24,215
And we thought, "my gosh."
364
00:16:24,217 --> 00:16:26,184
They're so good
at what they're doing."
365
00:16:26,186 --> 00:16:29,253
Can you give us an idea of what
the goals were of the soviets.
366
00:16:29,255 --> 00:16:31,723
And how badly did they want
to get to the moon?
367
00:16:31,725 --> 00:16:34,459
Well, the fundamental goal
was to best the americans.
368
00:16:34,461 --> 00:16:37,595
Because of this
larger geopolitical rivalry.
369
00:16:37,597 --> 00:16:39,397
That's taking place
between the united states.
370
00:16:39,421 --> 00:16:44,035
And the soviet union over the
political and economic systems.
371
00:16:44,037 --> 00:16:46,204
That were going
to dominate the world.
372
00:16:46,206 --> 00:16:48,539
I do not regard the first man
in space.
373
00:16:48,541 --> 00:16:51,376
As a sign of the weakening
of the free world.
374
00:16:51,378 --> 00:16:54,312
The future belongs to one nation
or the other.
375
00:16:54,314 --> 00:16:57,181
Science and technology
defines the future.
376
00:16:57,183 --> 00:17:02,253
But I do regard the mobilization
of the communist bloc.
377
00:17:02,255 --> 00:17:05,556
Over the last years as a source
of great danger to us.
378
00:17:05,558 --> 00:17:07,658
Whoever leads the world
in those things.
379
00:17:07,660 --> 00:17:10,561
Is going to take
a leading role in the world.
380
00:17:10,563 --> 00:17:13,765
As americans, when we think
about the cold war,
381
00:17:13,767 --> 00:17:16,200
We think about things like
the cuban missile crisis,
382
00:17:16,202 --> 00:17:18,669
The proliferation
of nuclear weapons.
383
00:17:18,671 --> 00:17:21,906
People building bomb shelters
in their backyards.
384
00:17:21,908 --> 00:17:24,475
It would be a good idea
to secure plans.
385
00:17:24,477 --> 00:17:26,644
For the type of shelter
you want.
386
00:17:28,715 --> 00:17:31,582
But the space race was
a major part of the cold war,
387
00:17:31,584 --> 00:17:32,884
Especially with developments.
388
00:17:32,886 --> 00:17:35,420
On the scientific
and technological fronts.
389
00:17:35,422 --> 00:17:38,489
Gemini 8 has brought us
closer to lunar exploration.
390
00:17:38,491 --> 00:17:42,026
By demonstrating the first
successful dock in space.
391
00:17:42,028 --> 00:17:44,362
Whichever country
landed on the moon first.
392
00:17:44,364 --> 00:17:46,998
Could claim
worldwide superiority.
393
00:17:50,437 --> 00:17:54,205
The u.S. Space program
by nasa... civilian driven.
394
00:17:54,207 --> 00:17:56,607
What was the soviet equivalent?
395
00:17:56,609 --> 00:17:59,010
Was that by civilians
or was it more.
396
00:17:59,012 --> 00:18:02,180
Under a cloak of secrecy
and the military?
397
00:18:02,182 --> 00:18:04,816
Yeah, the soviet program
was all military.
398
00:18:04,818 --> 00:18:07,952
The program was under
the control of the red army.
399
00:18:07,954 --> 00:18:11,322
The russian orbits were in
a thick fog of secrecy.
400
00:18:11,324 --> 00:18:13,357
The united states
stands or falls.
401
00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:16,194
In the white-hot glare
of worldwide publicity.
402
00:18:16,196 --> 00:18:17,795
So what were the big differences.
403
00:18:17,797 --> 00:18:20,665
Between the soviet program
and the nasa program?
404
00:18:20,667 --> 00:18:22,500
Well, there were
conflicting priorities.
405
00:18:22,502 --> 00:18:24,302
All the way
through the soviet program.
406
00:18:24,304 --> 00:18:26,671
If you talked to the generals,
they want ballistic missiles,
407
00:18:26,673 --> 00:18:29,507
And so, if you're going to put
efforts into rocketry,
408
00:18:29,509 --> 00:18:32,577
Let's make sure we build
good ballistic missiles.
409
00:18:32,579 --> 00:18:37,148
And have good warheads
to put on top of them.
410
00:18:37,150 --> 00:18:39,584
They don't care about
putting a cosmonaut.
411
00:18:39,586 --> 00:18:41,052
Into earth orbit necessarily.
412
00:18:41,054 --> 00:18:42,220
Right.
413
00:18:42,222 --> 00:18:45,556
That comes largely from
the kremlin leadership.
414
00:18:45,558 --> 00:18:49,260
Who view it not as something
again about exploring space,
415
00:18:49,262 --> 00:18:50,862
Because they didn't care
much about that,
416
00:18:50,864 --> 00:18:54,465
But they did care
about the propaganda value.
417
00:18:56,669 --> 00:18:58,736
Propaganda was already
the backbone.
418
00:18:58,738 --> 00:19:01,305
Of the soviet government
and military.
419
00:19:01,307 --> 00:19:03,107
Now the soviets wanted the world
to think.
420
00:19:03,109 --> 00:19:05,376
They were number one
in the space race,
421
00:19:05,378 --> 00:19:07,912
But propaganda
only gets you so far.
422
00:19:07,914 --> 00:19:09,514
You still need to deliver.
423
00:19:09,516 --> 00:19:11,015
In the case of space,
424
00:19:11,017 --> 00:19:14,185
That meant focusing on
developing rockets to get there,
425
00:19:14,187 --> 00:19:16,954
And not just adapting
weaponized missile technology.
426
00:19:16,956 --> 00:19:18,723
For space exploration.
427
00:19:18,725 --> 00:19:22,493
Who was the soviets'
point person to lead the charge?
428
00:19:22,495 --> 00:19:24,295
Sergei korolev.
429
00:19:24,297 --> 00:19:25,630
If there's one central character.
430
00:19:25,632 --> 00:19:28,733
That's there all the way
through, it's korolev.
431
00:19:28,735 --> 00:19:32,503
In the 1940s and '50s,
his team was able to build.
432
00:19:32,505 --> 00:19:35,673
The first ballistic missiles
for the soviet union.
433
00:19:35,675 --> 00:19:37,842
That naturally turned
into a process.
434
00:19:37,844 --> 00:19:41,279
To build space exploration
vehicles as well.
435
00:19:41,281 --> 00:19:43,047
And he was able to sort of
hold things.
436
00:19:43,049 --> 00:19:46,184
Together through
the early part of the 1960s.
437
00:19:46,186 --> 00:19:48,386
The soviets and korolev
put their efforts.
438
00:19:48,388 --> 00:19:50,054
Into the development of a large,
439
00:19:50,056 --> 00:19:55,493
Super-heavy lift vehicle
they called the n1.
440
00:19:55,495 --> 00:19:58,329
This was the rocket that
the soviets planned to use.
441
00:19:58,331 --> 00:20:00,698
To send a manned spacecraft
to the moon.
442
00:20:00,700 --> 00:20:02,433
The n1 was 32 stories tall.
443
00:20:02,435 --> 00:20:04,635
It weighed 3,030 tons.
444
00:20:04,637 --> 00:20:06,470
60 feet in diameter.
445
00:20:06,472 --> 00:20:08,472
The n1's first stage.
446
00:20:08,474 --> 00:20:11,309
Was the most powerful
rocket stage ever built.
447
00:20:11,311 --> 00:20:14,979
It delivered more than
14,000 kilonewtons of thrust.
448
00:20:14,981 --> 00:20:18,349
That's more than any rocket
in the world at that time.
449
00:20:21,621 --> 00:20:24,689
The n1 was built by
sergei korolev's company,
450
00:20:24,691 --> 00:20:27,525
The s.P. Korolev rocket
and space corporation,
451
00:20:27,527 --> 00:20:30,928
Which was already manufacturing
ballistic missiles at the time.
452
00:20:30,930 --> 00:20:32,630
Nasa tried to follow their lead.
453
00:20:32,632 --> 00:20:35,866
And started work on their own
equivalent of the n1.
454
00:20:39,205 --> 00:20:40,972
There was an american effort
called nova,
455
00:20:40,974 --> 00:20:42,506
Which was going to be
a big rocket.
456
00:20:42,508 --> 00:20:45,977
That would enable us to do
a direct descent to the moon.
457
00:20:45,979 --> 00:20:48,412
A liquid hydrogen/
liquid oxygen engine.
458
00:20:48,414 --> 00:20:49,981
For initial use in the second.
459
00:20:49,983 --> 00:20:52,583
And third stages
of the nova program for nasa.
460
00:20:52,585 --> 00:20:55,786
Will have a thrust
of 1,200,000 pounds.
461
00:20:55,788 --> 00:20:58,122
The u.S. Was already
a couple of years behind.
462
00:20:58,124 --> 00:21:00,491
We had to play catch up
to the massive rocket.
463
00:21:00,493 --> 00:21:01,993
The soviets had built.
464
00:21:01,995 --> 00:21:06,530
The united states worked on the
nova rocket from 1959 to 1962.
465
00:21:06,532 --> 00:21:08,933
The rocket would have
been powered by the f-1 engine.
466
00:21:08,935 --> 00:21:12,370
With its 1.5 million pounds
of thrust.
467
00:21:12,372 --> 00:21:13,771
But we gave up.
468
00:21:13,773 --> 00:21:17,608
It was too complicated and would
take too long to accomplish.
469
00:21:17,610 --> 00:21:20,611
In April 1961,
when president kennedy announced.
470
00:21:20,613 --> 00:21:23,781
That he wanted a man
on the moon before 1970,
471
00:21:23,783 --> 00:21:26,450
Nasa felt the nova
could not be developed in time.
472
00:21:26,452 --> 00:21:27,585
Because it would require.
473
00:21:27,587 --> 00:21:30,054
Building new
manufacturing facilities.
474
00:21:33,459 --> 00:21:35,760
This is another reason
conspiracy theorists.
475
00:21:35,762 --> 00:21:38,062
Don't believe we could have
landed a man on the moon.
476
00:21:38,064 --> 00:21:40,064
How could we eventually
build a proper rocket.
477
00:21:40,066 --> 00:21:41,999
To get there
if we abandon building.
478
00:21:42,001 --> 00:21:44,335
A powerful, large rocket?
479
00:21:44,337 --> 00:21:47,772
Let's see what testing
we were doing out here.
480
00:21:47,774 --> 00:21:50,608
We got to get to the remnants
of that rocket engine.
481
00:21:50,610 --> 00:21:52,977
There's got to be
something underground.
482
00:21:52,979 --> 00:21:54,679
Watch yourself.
483
00:21:54,681 --> 00:21:55,746
Wow.
484
00:22:13,533 --> 00:22:14,865
In the early 1960s,
485
00:22:14,867 --> 00:22:17,368
The soviets was way ahead
in the space race.
486
00:22:17,370 --> 00:22:19,870
What we heard from
our soviet space expert.
487
00:22:19,872 --> 00:22:22,473
Was that the russians
were all in.
488
00:22:22,475 --> 00:22:24,141
First great success in space.
489
00:22:24,143 --> 00:22:26,444
When the russians pushed
a man across the threshold.
490
00:22:26,446 --> 00:22:27,978
He was yuri gagarin,
491
00:22:27,980 --> 00:22:29,847
The astronaut
the russians lionized.
492
00:22:29,849 --> 00:22:33,117
As the first to orbit the earth.
493
00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:35,486
The u.S. Was still
far behind the soviets,
494
00:22:35,488 --> 00:22:37,128
And that's why
conspiracy theorists think.
495
00:22:37,152 --> 00:22:39,623
The u.S. Tried to cover up
their lack of technology.
496
00:22:39,625 --> 00:22:41,492
Now it is time for this nation.
497
00:22:41,494 --> 00:22:45,930
To take a clearly leading role
in space achievement.
498
00:22:45,932 --> 00:22:48,099
If you want an example
of how far behind.
499
00:22:48,101 --> 00:22:49,967
The u.S. Was in the space race,
500
00:22:49,969 --> 00:22:51,569
We should head down
to an abandoned.
501
00:22:51,571 --> 00:22:54,305
Rocket testing facility
in the florida everglades.
502
00:22:54,307 --> 00:22:57,007
It's proof we were trailing
in the race to the moon.
503
00:22:57,009 --> 00:23:00,411
Wait a minute.
Are we going to the swamp?
504
00:23:00,413 --> 00:23:02,046
Pack your bags.
505
00:23:06,586 --> 00:23:08,386
Leland and I are heading to
the former.
506
00:23:08,388 --> 00:23:10,921
Aerojet dade
rocket testing compound,
507
00:23:10,923 --> 00:23:13,557
Outside homestead, florida.
508
00:23:13,559 --> 00:23:15,593
Aerojet-general was
a rocket-and-missile.
509
00:23:15,595 --> 00:23:17,194
Propulsion manufacturer.
510
00:23:17,196 --> 00:23:20,765
That employed over 33,000 people
across the united states.
511
00:23:20,767 --> 00:23:24,101
In 1963, the u.S. Air force
awarded aerojet.
512
00:23:24,103 --> 00:23:26,237
A $3 million contract.
513
00:23:26,239 --> 00:23:28,873
To build a manufacturing
and testing site.
514
00:23:28,875 --> 00:23:30,674
Where they would test
the effectiveness of,
515
00:23:30,676 --> 00:23:34,879
In particular,
solid fuel rockets.
516
00:23:34,881 --> 00:23:36,881
From aerojet's beginning,
chemical research.
517
00:23:36,883 --> 00:23:38,682
Has been pressed
without intermission.
518
00:23:38,684 --> 00:23:40,451
Creation of propellent formulae.
519
00:23:40,453 --> 00:23:42,186
Progressively
increasing rocket power.
520
00:23:42,188 --> 00:23:44,789
Is one primary objective
of the chemical division,
521
00:23:44,791 --> 00:23:46,757
The largest group
of chemical-research people.
522
00:23:46,759 --> 00:23:48,125
In the missile industry.
523
00:23:48,127 --> 00:23:50,027
In order to conduct these tests,
524
00:23:50,029 --> 00:23:53,164
They built a 150-foot-deep
underground silo.
525
00:23:53,166 --> 00:23:55,900
That housed the largest
solid-fuel rocket motor.
526
00:23:55,902 --> 00:23:57,134
Ever built.
527
00:23:57,136 --> 00:23:59,637
We need to get an up-close
look at that rocket silo.
528
00:23:59,639 --> 00:24:02,173
And show how nasa was still
toying with technologies.
529
00:24:02,175 --> 00:24:04,708
The soviets
had already moved past.
530
00:24:08,648 --> 00:24:11,315
Man, there is nothing out here.
531
00:24:11,317 --> 00:24:13,751
That's where you want
a rocket test facility.
532
00:24:16,823 --> 00:24:18,889
"Authorized personnel only."
533
00:24:21,127 --> 00:24:22,626
This has got to be it. Yeah.
534
00:24:22,628 --> 00:24:24,795
Let's try it.
535
00:24:24,797 --> 00:24:26,497
"No admittance" signs.
536
00:24:28,868 --> 00:24:30,367
It's desolate. It's remote.
537
00:24:30,369 --> 00:24:35,239
It's got high power lines, so
this could be our rocket place.
538
00:24:35,241 --> 00:24:38,742
I see a building
over to the left.
539
00:24:38,744 --> 00:24:40,444
Early on in
the race to the moon,
540
00:24:40,446 --> 00:24:43,647
Nasa thought solid-fuel rockets
were the way to get to the moon.
541
00:24:43,649 --> 00:24:46,484
Solid fuel, while not
as efficient as liquid fuel,
542
00:24:46,486 --> 00:24:49,053
Was much more stable
and easier to execute.
543
00:24:49,055 --> 00:24:50,821
Nasa had been having
more success.
544
00:24:50,823 --> 00:24:52,690
With their early
solid-fuel testing,
545
00:24:52,692 --> 00:24:54,758
Even though the soviets
already knew liquid fuel.
546
00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:56,393
Was the way to go.
547
00:24:58,564 --> 00:25:00,798
Now, there are basically
two types of rocket fuel.
548
00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,200
Solid-fuel rockets
consist of a fuel.
549
00:25:03,202 --> 00:25:06,704
And an oxidizer that are
pre-mixed in a solid form.
550
00:25:06,706 --> 00:25:09,106
Once ignited, though,
you can't control the thrust.
551
00:25:09,108 --> 00:25:12,042
Or turn it off.
552
00:25:12,044 --> 00:25:14,445
On the other hand,
liquid-fuel rockets.
553
00:25:14,447 --> 00:25:17,648
Consist of fuel
and oxygen in liquid state.
554
00:25:17,650 --> 00:25:20,584
Both the original titan I
engines using liquid oxygen.
555
00:25:20,586 --> 00:25:23,587
And rp-1 fuel
and the advanced titan ii.
556
00:25:23,589 --> 00:25:25,723
Using storable
liquid propellants.
557
00:25:25,725 --> 00:25:27,791
They're combined
in a combustion chamber.
558
00:25:27,793 --> 00:25:29,093
And then ignited.
559
00:25:29,095 --> 00:25:32,296
The advantage is you can control
the fuel flow,
560
00:25:32,298 --> 00:25:35,733
Regulate the amount of thrust,
and turn the rocket off and on.
561
00:25:35,735 --> 00:25:38,636
It's more complex,
but much more efficient.
562
00:25:41,574 --> 00:25:43,607
Alright, so we've got to get
to the building.
563
00:25:43,609 --> 00:25:46,744
Where there might be remnants
of that rocket engine.
564
00:25:46,746 --> 00:25:50,214
Supposedly, you could see
the flames from 30 miles away.
565
00:25:50,216 --> 00:25:52,283
I mean, in the blast,
you know, coming out,
566
00:25:52,285 --> 00:25:54,151
You would want it back
far enough away.
567
00:25:54,153 --> 00:25:55,473
From the road
and other buildings,
568
00:25:55,497 --> 00:25:58,255
So maybe this cluster
of buildings right here?
569
00:25:58,257 --> 00:26:00,157
And we'll check this building
out first.
570
00:26:00,159 --> 00:26:01,825
Teamwork.
571
00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:09,967
Let's see what testing
we were doing out here.
572
00:26:13,873 --> 00:26:15,472
Nasa and aerojet conducted.
573
00:26:15,474 --> 00:26:17,308
Three solid-fuel rocket tests.
574
00:26:17,310 --> 00:26:20,444
Here between 1965 and 1967.
575
00:26:20,446 --> 00:26:23,013
Now under study are solid
propellant rockets.
576
00:26:23,015 --> 00:26:24,915
Of equal or greater thrust.
577
00:26:24,917 --> 00:26:27,785
The florida everglades
was the site of the test firing.
578
00:26:27,787 --> 00:26:30,588
Of a powerful
solid-fuel rocket motor.
579
00:26:33,593 --> 00:26:36,026
Their first test here
generated an impressive.
580
00:26:36,028 --> 00:26:38,362
Three million pounds of thrust,
581
00:26:38,364 --> 00:26:40,898
More than enough to get
the 100,000-pound
582
00:26:40,900 --> 00:26:43,000
Apollo payload off the ground.
583
00:26:43,002 --> 00:26:46,236
Their second test
reportedly generated even more.
584
00:26:52,845 --> 00:26:53,978
Watch yourself.
585
00:26:53,980 --> 00:26:55,613
Yes, sir.
586
00:26:58,250 --> 00:27:02,453
Look at this hardware, man.
This is all dilapidated.
587
00:27:02,455 --> 00:27:04,922
And these concrete
pillars here...
588
00:27:04,924 --> 00:27:07,558
It's almost like
they held something here.
589
00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:09,493
See those bolts right there
on the corners?
590
00:27:09,495 --> 00:27:11,161
Yeah.
Like they may have had maybe.
591
00:27:11,163 --> 00:27:13,364
A strap that came over
and held down...
592
00:27:13,366 --> 00:27:15,065
I mean, this could be
an engine casing.
593
00:27:15,067 --> 00:27:16,600
That's been held down
right here.
594
00:27:16,602 --> 00:27:19,036
Do you think anything
could be underground right here?
595
00:27:19,038 --> 00:27:21,271
I don't know.
We have to keep looking.
596
00:27:35,821 --> 00:27:37,721
Look. It gets deep.
597
00:27:37,723 --> 00:27:40,424
Yeah, look at all these pipes.
598
00:27:40,426 --> 00:27:43,193
So those conduits...
You can actually see some wire.
599
00:27:43,195 --> 00:27:44,995
Coming out
of some of that conduit.
600
00:27:44,997 --> 00:27:46,230
Right.
601
00:27:46,232 --> 00:27:50,167
Maybe going to a test item
or a piece of hardware.
602
00:27:50,169 --> 00:27:52,936
Let's try to find another way
into that area.
603
00:27:52,938 --> 00:27:56,006
Okay.
604
00:27:56,008 --> 00:27:57,608
Wow.
605
00:28:04,784 --> 00:28:06,417
Another dead end.
606
00:28:09,588 --> 00:28:11,308
I mean, if you're doing
underground testing,
607
00:28:11,332 --> 00:28:14,358
It's more contained than
if you were above ground.
608
00:28:14,360 --> 00:28:15,959
Right.
609
00:28:27,973 --> 00:28:29,039
Whoa.
610
00:28:29,041 --> 00:28:31,141
My goodness. Look at this.
611
00:28:34,447 --> 00:28:37,781
These are rocket engine motors.
612
00:28:37,783 --> 00:28:39,950
This is where they were
burning those rockets.
613
00:28:39,952 --> 00:28:42,820
Yeah.
614
00:28:42,822 --> 00:28:45,556
These are some huge rocket
engines they were burning.
615
00:28:45,558 --> 00:28:46,824
Yeah.
616
00:28:46,826 --> 00:28:49,693
In fact, this was
the sl-3 test rocket,
617
00:28:49,695 --> 00:28:52,930
The largest solid-fuel
rocket engine ever built.
618
00:28:52,932 --> 00:28:55,933
It was 10 stories high,
21 feet in diameter.
619
00:28:55,935 --> 00:28:59,369
The walls of the silo
are four feet thick to withstand.
620
00:28:59,371 --> 00:29:02,039
The blast of this gargantuan
rocket engine.
621
00:29:02,041 --> 00:29:06,443
I mean, this was an attempt
to develop a big rocket.
622
00:29:06,445 --> 00:29:09,279
That could maybe
get us to the moon.
623
00:29:09,281 --> 00:29:12,649
By 1967 and after
the third test at aerojet,
624
00:29:12,651 --> 00:29:15,552
Nasa had finally figured out
how to successfully use.
625
00:29:15,554 --> 00:29:18,122
The more efficient
liquid-fuel rocket,
626
00:29:18,124 --> 00:29:20,891
And they stopped pursuing
the solid-fuel option.
627
00:29:20,893 --> 00:29:22,359
Two short years later,
628
00:29:22,361 --> 00:29:24,294
After the government funding
dried up,
629
00:29:24,296 --> 00:29:26,029
Aerojet abandoned the facility.
630
00:29:26,031 --> 00:29:28,832
And testing
with solid-fuel rockets.
631
00:29:28,834 --> 00:29:30,300
We can see for ourselves.
632
00:29:30,302 --> 00:29:32,503
That the u.S. Tested
solid-fuel rockets here.
633
00:29:32,505 --> 00:29:34,004
And shut down the facility.
634
00:29:34,006 --> 00:29:36,406
Because our scientists
and engineers figured out.
635
00:29:36,408 --> 00:29:39,409
That the solid-fuel approach
wasn't going to work.
636
00:29:39,411 --> 00:29:43,814
We just walked away
and left the remains.
637
00:29:43,816 --> 00:29:46,083
Some technology pans out.
Some doesn't.
638
00:29:46,085 --> 00:29:47,985
Right. This wasn't the path.
639
00:29:58,297 --> 00:29:59,997
Our trip to
the florida everglades.
640
00:29:59,999 --> 00:30:01,799
Was pretty interesting.
641
00:30:01,801 --> 00:30:02,966
Snakes and alligators?
642
00:30:02,968 --> 00:30:04,868
No alligators,
but it was a workout.
643
00:30:04,870 --> 00:30:08,472
This guy had me climbing
through these underground silos.
644
00:30:08,474 --> 00:30:11,809
In that silo, we found remnants
of a massive rocket engine.
645
00:30:11,811 --> 00:30:13,377
That they tested,
646
00:30:13,379 --> 00:30:15,679
But it was abandoned
for a reason.
647
00:30:15,681 --> 00:30:18,081
Nasa went with a different
rocket technology,
648
00:30:18,083 --> 00:30:20,951
So they closed down the site.
649
00:30:20,953 --> 00:30:22,719
To me, this is just
further evidence.
650
00:30:22,721 --> 00:30:25,455
Of how far behind the americans
were in the space race.
651
00:30:25,457 --> 00:30:27,724
Soviets had already
committed to liquid fuel,
652
00:30:27,726 --> 00:30:29,092
And we were still
wasting our time.
653
00:30:29,094 --> 00:30:31,261
Comparing liquid to solid fuel.
654
00:30:33,833 --> 00:30:35,599
It's no wonder
conspiracy theorists think.
655
00:30:35,601 --> 00:30:37,561
The u.S. Couldn't have really
made it to the moon.
656
00:30:37,585 --> 00:30:38,802
With apollo 11.
657
00:30:38,804 --> 00:30:41,538
If americans were still trying
to decide on what fuel to use,
658
00:30:41,540 --> 00:30:44,007
Couldn't they have been behind
on the rest of the technology.
659
00:30:44,009 --> 00:30:45,542
Needed to actually land
on the moon?
660
00:30:45,544 --> 00:30:47,177
How could the americans surpass.
661
00:30:47,179 --> 00:30:50,280
The technologically superior
soviet union?
662
00:30:52,651 --> 00:30:54,051
Alright. Everybody ready?
663
00:30:54,053 --> 00:30:55,586
I'm ready.
664
00:30:55,588 --> 00:30:58,789
So is a bigger rocket like the
russians' n1 necessarily better?
665
00:30:58,791 --> 00:31:03,060
3, 2, 1.
666
00:31:03,062 --> 00:31:04,428
Holy cow.
667
00:31:04,430 --> 00:31:06,196
- Wow.
- Look at that smoke.
668
00:31:29,154 --> 00:31:31,622
What we heard from
our soviet space expert.
669
00:31:31,624 --> 00:31:34,825
Was that the russians
were completely around the idea.
670
00:31:34,827 --> 00:31:37,327
Of building a massive rocket.
671
00:31:39,491 --> 00:31:41,331
Yeah, they were the biggest
rockets ever built.
672
00:31:41,333 --> 00:31:43,267
I mean, you know, their guy
sergei korolev.
673
00:31:43,269 --> 00:31:44,701
Was a master rocket builder.
674
00:31:44,703 --> 00:31:49,072
The 1960s... he was working on
this massive new rocket, the n1.
675
00:31:49,074 --> 00:31:52,910
This thing was a 300-foot-tall,
6-million-pound behemoth.
676
00:31:52,912 --> 00:31:54,444
6 million? Yeah.
677
00:31:54,446 --> 00:31:57,047
6-million-pound monster.
678
00:31:57,049 --> 00:32:00,918
That had 30 individual
rocket engines built into it.
679
00:32:05,324 --> 00:32:06,823
The u.S. Gave up
on their program.
680
00:32:06,825 --> 00:32:08,358
To build a really big rocket,
681
00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:10,760
So this is where the conspiracy
theorists get all up in arms.
682
00:32:10,784 --> 00:32:13,163
They focus on a quote
from rocket technology pioneer.
683
00:32:13,165 --> 00:32:14,431
Wernher von braun.
684
00:32:14,433 --> 00:32:16,466
In his book
"conquest of the moon,".
685
00:32:16,468 --> 00:32:18,828
He claimed it would have been
impossible to get to the moon.
686
00:32:18,852 --> 00:32:20,237
Unless we used three rockets,
687
00:32:20,239 --> 00:32:22,306
Each taller than
the empire state building.
688
00:32:22,308 --> 00:32:24,508
And weighed ten times
more than the> queen mary,
689
00:32:24,510 --> 00:32:28,378
Or 800,000 tons each.
690
00:32:28,380 --> 00:32:30,100
So what happens in
the conspiracy community.
691
00:32:30,124 --> 00:32:31,014
Is that they see this,
692
00:32:31,016 --> 00:32:33,216
And they assume
bigger means better,
693
00:32:33,218 --> 00:32:34,952
And they're questioning
whether or not.
694
00:32:34,954 --> 00:32:37,321
The u.S. Could compete.
695
00:32:37,323 --> 00:32:38,655
Well, nasa was learning.
696
00:32:38,657 --> 00:32:41,725
They received secret information
stolen from the russians.
697
00:32:41,727 --> 00:32:43,360
They had conducted tests
to determine.
698
00:32:43,362 --> 00:32:45,495
What was the best fuel
to get to the moon,
699
00:32:45,497 --> 00:32:47,564
And they decided they didn't
need a massive rocket.
700
00:32:47,566 --> 00:32:48,999
Like the russians were using.
701
00:32:49,001 --> 00:32:52,302
Instead, the americans
designed the saturn v rocket,
702
00:32:52,304 --> 00:32:54,604
Which was more aerodynamic
and better designed.
703
00:32:54,606 --> 00:32:56,239
Than the soviets' n1 rocket.
704
00:32:56,241 --> 00:32:57,674
The saturn v is the rocket.
705
00:32:57,676 --> 00:33:00,444
That took the apollo 11 mission
to orbit around the moon.
706
00:33:00,446 --> 00:33:03,714
Where the soviets used
30 engines to launch their n1,
707
00:33:03,716 --> 00:33:05,482
The americans had only
five engines.
708
00:33:05,484 --> 00:33:07,584
To lift their saturn v
from the earth.
709
00:33:07,586 --> 00:33:10,120
But those were very powerful
f-1 engines.
710
00:33:10,122 --> 00:33:11,621
The five engines combined.
711
00:33:11,623 --> 00:33:14,791
Blasted 7,500,000 pounds
of thrust,
712
00:33:14,793 --> 00:33:19,930
Taking the craft to a speed
of 6,000 miles per hour.
713
00:33:19,932 --> 00:33:22,132
So is a bigger rocket like
the russians' n1.
714
00:33:22,134 --> 00:33:25,202
Necessarily better, as the
conspiracy theorists believe?
715
00:33:25,204 --> 00:33:29,206
We travelled to the
mojave desert for an answer.
716
00:33:29,208 --> 00:33:32,009
We are meeting up with rocketeer
william walby,
717
00:33:32,011 --> 00:33:34,578
Who's going to show us how
sometimes better engineering.
718
00:33:34,580 --> 00:33:37,848
Can take a rocket higher
than a rocket that is just big.
719
00:33:40,319 --> 00:33:41,651
William and his team...
720
00:33:41,653 --> 00:33:43,854
They've built two types
of rockets.
721
00:33:43,856 --> 00:33:46,289
For us to go ahead
and test and to compare.
722
00:33:46,291 --> 00:33:47,891
So the first one is bigger.
723
00:33:47,893 --> 00:33:52,796
And then we have a two-stage,
smaller, lighter rocket as well.
724
00:33:52,798 --> 00:33:54,698
This would be an example
of smarter design.
725
00:33:54,700 --> 00:33:56,033
Versus sheer size.
726
00:33:56,035 --> 00:33:58,235
The americans may have been
behind the soviets.
727
00:33:58,237 --> 00:34:02,239
In developing nasa rockets,
but nasa refocused its efforts.
728
00:34:02,241 --> 00:34:05,175
On what it considered to be
more intelligent engineering.
729
00:34:05,177 --> 00:34:08,345
Like creating streamlined
rockets like the saturn.
730
00:34:08,347 --> 00:34:10,647
That they considered
more efficient than the massive
731
00:34:10,649 --> 00:34:12,082
Soviet rockets.
732
00:34:12,084 --> 00:34:15,285
Saturn uses
the building-block principle.
733
00:34:15,287 --> 00:34:17,587
It is made up of various stages,
734
00:34:17,589 --> 00:34:20,223
Each of which will
drop behind in space.
735
00:34:20,225 --> 00:34:23,360
As its fuel becomes exhausted.
736
00:34:23,362 --> 00:34:28,532
Saturn can be a two-, three-,
or four-stage rocket.
737
00:34:28,534 --> 00:34:31,435
Saturn is a type of rocket that
we developed to go to the moon.
738
00:34:31,437 --> 00:34:33,904
What we want to prove here
in the desert is simple.
739
00:34:33,906 --> 00:34:36,740
The conspiracy theorists say
that a rocket has to be massive.
740
00:34:36,742 --> 00:34:38,241
Like the size
of what the soviets.
741
00:34:38,243 --> 00:34:40,043
Were building
to get to the moon.
742
00:34:40,045 --> 00:34:41,645
Nasa said no.
743
00:34:41,647 --> 00:34:46,650
Being big doesn't matter as much
as being intelligently designed.
744
00:34:46,652 --> 00:34:48,018
Now, the big thing on this.
745
00:34:48,020 --> 00:34:50,854
Is both have the same amount
of thrust or power.
746
00:34:50,856 --> 00:34:52,089
And this is a solid rocket?
747
00:34:52,091 --> 00:34:53,523
It's a solid rocket. Okay.
748
00:34:53,525 --> 00:34:58,728
And the two-stage has the same
total amount of power or thrust,
749
00:34:58,730 --> 00:35:01,298
Just in a different
configuration.
750
00:35:01,300 --> 00:35:03,567
Verne here has a product
that will give us.
751
00:35:03,569 --> 00:35:06,670
Real-time values
during the entire launch.
752
00:35:06,672 --> 00:35:07,904
Yeah, so during the flight,
753
00:35:07,906 --> 00:35:09,539
I'll be tracking it
the whole way.
754
00:35:09,541 --> 00:35:12,142
Hello. My name is kate.
755
00:35:12,144 --> 00:35:15,212
I will be reporting gps
down-link information.
756
00:35:15,214 --> 00:35:18,215
In real time during the flight.
757
00:35:18,217 --> 00:35:20,417
We're 300 feet away
from the pads,
758
00:35:20,419 --> 00:35:22,152
And we're going to do
a countdown,
759
00:35:22,154 --> 00:35:25,555
And our motto is
"look, listen, and point."
760
00:35:25,557 --> 00:35:27,457
- Alright.
- Y'all ready for this?
761
00:35:27,459 --> 00:35:28,492
- Yeah.
- Right.
762
00:35:28,494 --> 00:35:34,364
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
763
00:35:34,366 --> 00:35:35,999
Go.
764
00:35:40,606 --> 00:35:44,341
Launch detected, 1,000 feet.
765
00:35:44,343 --> 00:35:46,810
5,000 feet.
766
00:35:46,812 --> 00:35:49,446
Max altitude... 7,000 feet.
767
00:35:49,448 --> 00:35:51,948
Distance... 1.3 miles.
768
00:35:51,950 --> 00:35:53,416
Holy cow.
769
00:35:53,418 --> 00:35:55,852
- Wow.
- Look at that smoke.
770
00:35:57,856 --> 00:35:59,256
Thank you, guys.
771
00:35:59,258 --> 00:36:01,418
That was so much better
than those little model rockets
772
00:36:01,442 --> 00:36:02,692
I used to put up as a kid.
773
00:36:02,694 --> 00:36:04,394
That was amazing.
774
00:36:07,232 --> 00:36:09,933
The bigger rocket
flew pretty high... 7,000 feet.
775
00:36:09,935 --> 00:36:11,268
That is impressive.
776
00:36:11,270 --> 00:36:13,503
I can't believe the lighter,
more streamlined rocket.
777
00:36:13,505 --> 00:36:15,772
That's modeled after
the american saturn rocket.
778
00:36:15,774 --> 00:36:17,040
Is going to do any better.
779
00:36:17,042 --> 00:36:19,309
So, william, tell us
about this rocket.
780
00:36:19,311 --> 00:36:22,312
And how it's different
than the first rocket we had.
781
00:36:22,314 --> 00:36:23,747
Well, it's got two motors.
782
00:36:23,749 --> 00:36:26,016
Once the first motor
has burned out,
783
00:36:26,018 --> 00:36:27,651
It will separate.
784
00:36:27,653 --> 00:36:31,421
And then approximately
two seconds after separation,
785
00:36:31,423 --> 00:36:34,691
It will fire
the second-stage motor,
786
00:36:34,693 --> 00:36:36,193
And away it goes. Alright.
787
00:36:36,195 --> 00:36:38,476
Well, let's get this one fired
up and ready to go as well.
788
00:36:38,500 --> 00:36:41,331
Absolutely. Yeah, let's do it.
789
00:36:41,333 --> 00:36:44,401
If this lighter rocket goes
further than the solid rocket,
790
00:36:44,403 --> 00:36:47,003
It could debunk
the conspiracy theorists' claims.
791
00:36:47,005 --> 00:36:48,305
That bigger is better.
792
00:36:48,307 --> 00:36:50,840
And prove that the u.S.'s
version of a lighter rocket.
793
00:36:50,842 --> 00:36:52,709
Was the way to get to the moon.
794
00:36:52,711 --> 00:36:54,277
So this is hot. Okay.
795
00:36:54,279 --> 00:36:57,047
Press "a" and hold "a"
till the rocket leaves.
796
00:36:57,049 --> 00:36:58,181
Alright. Everybody ready?
797
00:36:58,183 --> 00:36:59,549
- Is everyone ready?
- I'm ready.
798
00:36:59,551 --> 00:37:01,484
The sky is clear.
799
00:37:01,486 --> 00:37:02,552
Clear skies.
800
00:37:02,554 --> 00:37:04,554
Range is clear.
801
00:37:04,556 --> 00:37:06,523
Light that candle, buddy.
802
00:37:06,525 --> 00:37:11,928
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
803
00:37:11,930 --> 00:37:14,197
Launch.
804
00:37:14,199 --> 00:37:16,233
Launch detected.
805
00:37:16,235 --> 00:37:17,968
1,000 feet.
806
00:37:17,970 --> 00:37:19,603
Yeah, boy.
807
00:37:19,605 --> 00:37:22,672
- Wow.
- Second stage, baby.
808
00:37:22,674 --> 00:37:24,641
- There it goes.
- Nice.
809
00:37:24,643 --> 00:37:26,843
My goodness. Look at that.
810
00:37:26,845 --> 00:37:27,978
10,000 feet.
811
00:37:27,980 --> 00:37:29,300
Feel like I'm going back
to space.
812
00:37:29,324 --> 00:37:30,180
That is sweet.
813
00:37:30,182 --> 00:37:32,382
11,000.
814
00:37:32,384 --> 00:37:33,717
12,000.
815
00:37:33,719 --> 00:37:34,818
Come on, kate.
816
00:37:34,820 --> 00:37:38,788
Max altitude... 12,871 feet.
817
00:37:38,790 --> 00:37:40,890
Wow.
818
00:37:40,892 --> 00:37:42,926
Man, it's coming down
pretty quick.
819
00:37:42,928 --> 00:37:44,527
That was unbelievable.
820
00:37:44,529 --> 00:37:46,997
The smaller, more smartly
designed rocket.
821
00:37:46,999 --> 00:37:49,766
Still got higher altitude
than the bigger rocket.
822
00:37:49,768 --> 00:37:52,168
Based on the simulations
that we ran,
823
00:37:52,170 --> 00:37:54,371
It worked the way
it was supposed to.
824
00:37:54,373 --> 00:37:57,340
Well, seeing the second stage
come off of the first stage...
825
00:37:57,342 --> 00:38:00,310
That was awesome to see that
transition take place as well.
826
00:38:00,312 --> 00:38:02,545
Yeah, that's the tricky part,
even for nasa,
827
00:38:02,547 --> 00:38:06,049
To get the second stage
to light reliably.
828
00:38:08,387 --> 00:38:09,853
Well, then, houston,
thrust is go.
829
00:38:09,855 --> 00:38:12,355
All engines are looking good.
830
00:38:12,357 --> 00:38:15,191
You don't need
the big, giant, mega-rocket.
831
00:38:15,193 --> 00:38:17,360
Like the russians
were trying to perfect.
832
00:38:19,398 --> 00:38:21,464
I have to say that I...
I think that puts a real.
833
00:38:21,466 --> 00:38:23,099
Big crimp into the argument.
834
00:38:23,101 --> 00:38:24,741
That you have to have
this massive rocket.
835
00:38:24,765 --> 00:38:25,835
To go to the moon.
836
00:38:25,837 --> 00:38:27,671
Seems pretty clear to me
that this claim.
837
00:38:27,673 --> 00:38:29,472
From the conspiracy theorists
is just wrong.
838
00:38:29,474 --> 00:38:31,908
Von braun may have once said
that bigger rockets are better,
839
00:38:31,910 --> 00:38:33,910
But that's not necessarily true.
840
00:38:33,912 --> 00:38:36,413
It took lots of careful testing,
planning,
841
00:38:36,415 --> 00:38:38,948
And even some covert espionage
for the americans.
842
00:38:38,950 --> 00:38:41,518
To design a rocket that possibly
could perform better.
843
00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:43,386
Than a rocket from the russians.
844
00:38:47,125 --> 00:38:52,295
This video footage shows some of
their horrible rocket failures.
845
00:38:52,297 --> 00:38:55,265
It's like a one-way
ticket to an extremely big.
846
00:38:55,267 --> 00:38:56,587
Fireworks display
on a launch pad.
847
00:38:56,611 --> 00:38:57,901
Look at that.
848
00:38:57,903 --> 00:38:59,035
Wow.
849
00:39:18,990 --> 00:39:21,057
So, our rocket test
in the desert.
850
00:39:21,059 --> 00:39:24,527
Went right to the heart
of the conspiracy theory.
851
00:39:24,529 --> 00:39:27,297
The conspiracy theorists assume
that bigger means badder,
852
00:39:27,299 --> 00:39:29,259
And they're questioning
whether the united states.
853
00:39:29,283 --> 00:39:30,600
Could actually
compete with that.
854
00:39:30,602 --> 00:39:32,936
Both the soviets
and the americans knew.
855
00:39:32,938 --> 00:39:35,538
That it would take a powerful
rocket to get to the moon,
856
00:39:35,540 --> 00:39:37,173
But the united states
was able to move.
857
00:39:37,175 --> 00:39:38,641
Ahead of the soviet union.
858
00:39:38,643 --> 00:39:42,045
Because we came up with better-
designed engine technology.
859
00:39:42,047 --> 00:39:43,947
We know the soviets' n1 rocket.
860
00:39:43,949 --> 00:39:45,482
Never made it to the moon.
861
00:39:45,484 --> 00:39:47,150
Since that's the case,
862
00:39:47,152 --> 00:39:51,921
Then the question is,
why did it fail?
863
00:39:51,923 --> 00:39:53,223
This video footage,
864
00:39:53,225 --> 00:39:56,192
Which the soviets
actually tried to keep a secret,
865
00:39:56,194 --> 00:39:59,562
Shows some of their horrible
rocket failures.
866
00:40:03,769 --> 00:40:06,770
Just after liftoff,
a major malfunction occurred.
867
00:40:06,772 --> 00:40:08,972
And the rocket exploded
on the launch pad.
868
00:40:08,974 --> 00:40:13,343
With the force
of a small nuclear weapon.
869
00:40:13,345 --> 00:40:15,445
The rocket's engine
had not been perfected,
870
00:40:15,447 --> 00:40:18,314
And the result
was a disastrous one.
871
00:40:18,316 --> 00:40:22,018
The wreckage on the floor of
the kazakh desert was telling.
872
00:40:22,020 --> 00:40:25,989
The race to the moon was over,
and the soviets had failed.
873
00:40:25,991 --> 00:40:28,625
The n1 was
the soviet moon rocket,
874
00:40:28,627 --> 00:40:30,126
But they never got it to work.
875
00:40:30,128 --> 00:40:32,328
The rocket had 30 engines.
876
00:40:32,330 --> 00:40:34,230
The problem for the soviets was.
877
00:40:34,232 --> 00:40:37,133
They were never able to get
those engines to work together.
878
00:40:37,135 --> 00:40:38,902
That was a fundamental problem.
879
00:40:38,904 --> 00:40:41,171
They kept shutting off
and unbalancing the rocket.
880
00:40:41,173 --> 00:40:42,272
As it launched.
881
00:40:42,274 --> 00:40:44,007
They had four test launches.
882
00:40:44,009 --> 00:40:45,642
All of them failed.
883
00:40:48,847 --> 00:40:50,480
Wow.
884
00:40:58,957 --> 00:41:02,192
Trying to get to the moon
that way is a one-way ticket.
885
00:41:02,194 --> 00:41:06,663
To an extremely big fireworks
display on a launch pad.
886
00:41:06,665 --> 00:41:08,631
We had a smarter design
than the soviets.
887
00:41:08,633 --> 00:41:11,668
Where the soviets had 30 engines
on their n1 rocket,
888
00:41:11,670 --> 00:41:13,903
We had only five engines
on our moon rocket,
889
00:41:13,905 --> 00:41:17,373
The saturn v, but those engines
were really powerful.
890
00:41:20,078 --> 00:41:22,345
The engines that powered
the saturn v...
891
00:41:22,347 --> 00:41:23,980
They were called the f-1 engine.
892
00:41:23,982 --> 00:41:26,115
They were the most powerful
engines in the world.
893
00:41:26,117 --> 00:41:27,383
These engines delivered
894
00:41:27,385 --> 00:41:30,520
7.5 million pounds of thrust
at liftoff.
895
00:41:32,537 --> 00:41:33,857
And in
the two and a half minutes.
896
00:41:33,859 --> 00:41:36,059
Before the first stage
burned out,
897
00:41:36,061 --> 00:41:39,162
The rocket reached
6,000 miles an hour.
898
00:41:42,968 --> 00:41:44,234
They've convinced me.
899
00:41:44,236 --> 00:41:46,669
The u.S. May have been behind
in the space race,
900
00:41:46,671 --> 00:41:48,271
But when it came
to developing a rocket.
901
00:41:48,273 --> 00:41:49,633
That would send a crew
to the moon,
902
00:41:49,657 --> 00:41:52,075
The soviets failed miserably,
and we surpassed them.
903
00:41:52,077 --> 00:41:54,477
Seems pretty clear that
we had the technology.
904
00:41:54,479 --> 00:41:56,412
Yeah, I think that
we've conclusively proven.
905
00:41:56,414 --> 00:41:58,114
That the soviets' fascination
with big,
906
00:41:58,116 --> 00:42:00,617
Heavy rockets is the very thing
that doomed them.
907
00:42:00,619 --> 00:42:04,020
Case closed on that one,
but we're talking about the fact.
908
00:42:04,022 --> 00:42:07,257
That nasa did get to the moon
eventually.
909
00:42:07,259 --> 00:42:10,226
That doesn't mean that apollo 11.
910
00:42:10,228 --> 00:42:12,929
Was a legitimate landing
way back in 1969.
911
00:42:12,931 --> 00:42:16,132
Because we simply weren't ready
to go to the moon yet.
912
00:42:16,134 --> 00:42:18,568
Here we go.
913
00:42:18,570 --> 00:42:21,538
Alright.
Our investigations continue.
72399
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