Original subtitles

Man: APOLLO 8, HOUSTON. OVER.

♪

APOLLO 8, HOUSTON. OVER.

\h\h\hWoman: THERE’S THIS PERIOD OF TIME

\h\h\h\hWHERE EVERYONE SITS AT THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS.

Man: APOLLO 8, HOUSTON. OVER.

\h\h\hWoman: YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND HOPE.

Man: THEY WERE ON THEIR OWN--

THREE PEOPLE ON THE FAR SIDE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE MOON

WITH NO COMMUNICATION TO EARTH \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF ANY KIND.

\h\h\h\hMan: CLEARLY THERE WAS NO SIGNAL FROM THE SPACECRAFT.

\hIT WAS LIKE WE HAD THIS BIG SHADOW HANGING OVER OUR HEAD.

Woman: THERE WERE STILL \h\hREALLY BIG QUESTIONS

ABOUT HOW TO SAFELY BRING \h\hTHOSE ASTRONAUTS BACK.

Man: ONE OF THE ASTRONAUTS’ \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWIVES SAID,

"IF THAT ENGINE DOESN’T FIRE,

YOU WILL RUIN THE MOON \h\h\hFOR EVERYBODY."

THOSE WERE THE STAKES.

Narrator: THREE DARING MISSIONS

\h\h\h\h\hON AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TIMELINE...

Man: NOBODY FORGOT FOR A MOMENT

\h\h\hTHAT THE GOAL WAS MAN, MOON, 1970.

Narrator: ...ON THE MOST \hCOMPLICATED SPACECRAFT

EVER BUILT.

Woman: THEY’VE ACCOMPLISHED \h\hA HUGE NUMBER OF FIRSTS.

\h\hNarrator: FEATURING RARE ARCHIVAL INTERVIEWS

WITH THE ASTRONAUTS \h\h\hTHEMSELVES...

\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: YOU KNOW, YOU HAD TO PINCH YOURSELF.

\h"HEY, WE’RE REALLY GOING TO THE MOON!"

Narrator: ...IMAGES THAT STILL \h\h\hRESONATE WITH WONDER...

Woman: THE PHOTOGRAPH HAS HAD \h\h\hA HUGE CULTURAL IMPACT.

Narrator: ...AND STORIES DRAWN FROM THE ARTIFACTS THEMSELVES.

Man: I’M JUST AMAZED

\h\h\h\h\hAT THE INCREDIBLE MECHANICAL COMPLEXITY OF IT.

\h\hNarrator: RELIVE A TIME WHEN NASA GAMBLED EVERYTHING

TO GET ITS FIRST SHOT \h\h\h\h\hAT THE MOON.

1968,

ONE OF THE MOST TUMULTUOUS YEARS THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

BITTER DIVISIONS THREATEN TO FRAY THE SOCIAL FABRIC

BEYOND REPAIR.

\hJeffrey Kluger: 1968 WAS THE BLOODIEST, MOST TRAUMATIC YEAR

IN MODERN AMERICAN HISTORY.

WE WERE IN VIETNAM.

MARTIN LUTHER KING DIED.

BOBBY KENNEDY DIED.

THE CITIES EXPLODED IN VIOLENCE.

CAMPUSES EXPLODED IN VIOLENCE.

THE WORLD WAS COMING UNHINGED.

Narrator: AMID THE TURMOIL, NASA TRIES TO STAY FOCUSED.

ITS HIGH-PROFILE APOLLO PROGRAM IS HOPELESSLY FAR BEHIND.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNOT ONE PART OF ITS MOON-CAPABLE SPACECRAFT

\h\hHAS BEEN TESTED BY HUMANS IN FLIGHT.

Bill Barry: PRESIDENT KENNEDY \hSAYS WE’RE GOING TO THE MOON

BY THE END OF THE DECADE,

\h\h\h\hAND WE’VE GOT TWO YEARS TO GET ALL THESE MISSIONS FLOWN

AND MAKE IT TO THE MOON SAFELY \h\h\h\h\hAND GET BACK AGAIN,

\h\hAND EVERYBODY AT NASA FELT THAT, UM, INTENSELY.

\hNarrator: THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PRESS HARD TO MEET THE DEADLINE

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND FULFILL THE PRESIDENT’S PROMISE.

FOR NASA, FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE COMMAND MODULE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DELAYS.

NASA HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT \h\hFOR NEARLY EIGHT YEARS.

Barry: THE COMMAND MODULE \hIS WHERE THE CREW LIVED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S WHERE THE NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT WAS

AND THREE SEATS FOR THE CREW,

ALL THE CONTROL PANELS \h\h\h\h\hWERE THERE,

\hSO THAT WAS THE LIVING AND WORKING COMPARTMENT.

\h\h\hIT’S ALSO THE ONLY PART THAT EVER COMES BACK TO EARTH.

♪

Narrator: ENGINEERS \h\hWORK FURIOUSLY,

TRYING TO BALANCE SPEED \h\h\h\h\hWITH CAUTION.

AN ACCIDENT NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO

IS STILL VERY MUCH \hON THEIR MINDS.

\h\h\h\h\hBarry: THEY KNEW THEY WERE DOING RISKY WORK

\h\hAND THAT THEY WERE PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES

AND THAT THEY WERE PUSHING FAST,

BUT NOBODY EXPECTED \h\h\hTHAT ACCIDENT.

IT WAS A HUGE SHOCK.

\h\hNarrator: FLAWS IN AN EARLIER DESIGN

CAUSED A DEVASTATING FIRE...

...KILLING ASTRONAUTS GUS GRISSOM, ED WHITE,

AND ROGER CHAFFEE

BEFORE THEY EVEN LEFT THE GROUND.

Teasel Muir-Harmony: THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE WIRING.

\h\hTHE HATCH WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN,

AND IT SEALED,

AND THE ASTRONAUTS WERE NOT ABLE TO, TO GET IT OPEN IN TIME.

\hNarrator: NOW THE COMMAND MODULE HAS BEEN REDESIGNED,

\h\h\hWITH NEW WIRING, A FIREPROOF INTERIOR,

AND A HATCH THAT’S EASIER \h\h\hTO OPEN FROM INSIDE.

THE SMITHSONIAN’S AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM GIVES VISITORS A CHANCE

\hTO TAKE A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT THIS ENGINEERING FEAT.

\h\hMuir-Harmony: THE COMMAND MODULE

WAS AN EXTRAORDINARILY \h\h\hCOMPLEX MACHINE.

IT HAD TO BE VERY COMPACT

IN ORDER TO BE LAUNCHED \h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE MOON,

AND IT HAD TO ACCOMPLISH FEATS

THAT HAD NEVER BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: ITS BODY’S HONEYCOMB STRUCTURE PROTECTS IT

FROM THE 5,000-DEGREE RE-ENTRY \h\hAND THE ICY COLD OF SPACE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hALTOGETHER IT HAS OVER TWO MILLION WORKING PARTS.

\h\h\h\hNOW NASA BELIEVES IT HAS THE PERFECT DESIGN,

AND THEY’RE READY TO RISK SENDING IT

ON ITS FIRST HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT.

\h\h\hIT WILL ORBIT THE EARTH IN A MISSION CALLED APOLLO 7.

\h\h\h\hAndrew Chaikin: THE MISSION OF APOLLO 7

WAS TO JUST GET THIS THING \h\h\h\h\h\h\hUP IN SPACE,

LET IT STAY UP THERE \h\h\h\hFOR 11 DAYS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS SPACE-WORTHY.

Barry: THE STAKES \hARE REALLY HIGH.

\h\hTHERE WAS A NEED TO REGAIN CONFIDENCE BOTH OF THE PUBLIC

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND ALSO OF THE NASA TEAM ITSELF.

Narrator: TO COMMAND IT,

NASA NEEDS SOMEONE WHO CAN FLY \hA TEXTBOOK-PERFECT MISSION.

THEY CHOOSE THE CELEBRATED \hSPACEMAN WALLY SCHIRRA.

\h\h\h\hChaikin: WALLY SCHIRRA WAS ONE OF THE GREAT VETERANS

OF SPACEFLIGHT, RIGHT?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI MEAN, HE’D FLOWN A SIX-ORBIT MISSION ON MERCURY.

THEN HE HAD COMMANDED GEMINI 6.

Narrator: ROOKIES DONN EISELE \h\h\h\hAND WALTER CUNNINGHAM

ROUND OUT THE CREW.

Chaikin: DONN EISELE AND WALT CUNNINGHAM

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE BOTH MEMBERS OF THE THIRD GROUP OF ASTRONAUTS

THAT HAD BEEN SELECTED IN 1963.

THEY WERE ALL VERY GUNG HO \h\h\h\hAND READY TO FLY.

[APPLAUSE]

Narrator: IN THE PRESS ROOM,

SCHIRRA HOLDS FORTH \h\h\hWITH BRAVADO,

HAPPY TO BE IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

\h\h\hWally Schirra: I THINK YOU’LL FIND

\hTHAT YOU’LL SEE A GOOD PERFORMANCE

OUT OF THIS TOTAL CREW,

AND WE’VE TRIED VERY HARD

TO MAKE THIS MACHINE WORK \hJUST THE WAY IT SHOULD.

Narrator: THE APOLLO 7 TEAM \h\h\hKNOWS THE RISKS WELL.

THEY WERE THE BACKUP CREW \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR APOLLO 1

AND LOST THREE GOOD FRIENDS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THAT FIRE.

\hBarry: WALLY SCHIRRA AND HIS CREW WERE REALLY UNDER THE GUN

TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT MISSION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hGOES AS SMOOTHLY

AND AS SUCCESSFULLY AS POSSIBLE.

Narrator: OCTOBER 11th, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h9:00 A.M.

SCHIRRA, CUNNINGHAM, AND EISELE ARRIVE AT THE LAUNCH PAD,

\h\h\hMAKE THEIR WAY TO THE LAUNCH TOWER,

AND ASCEND TO THEIR FATE.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE SURFACE, THE CREW IS CALM AND MEASURED.

♪

UNDERNEATH, EMOTIONS RUN HIGH.

NO ASTRONAUT HAS LIFTED OFF \h\h\h\h\hFROM CAPE KENNEDY

IN NEARLY TWO YEARS.

JUST A THOUSAND FEET AWAY \h\h\hFROM THE LAUNCH PAD,

DIRECTORS RUN THE FINAL CHECKS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT 11:00 A.M., THE SPACESHIP GETS THE GO-AHEAD.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: ONE MINUTE, 10 SECONDS, AND COUNTING.

WE STILL ARE "GO" AT THIS TIME.

5, 4, 3, 2,

WE HAVE IGNITION.

♪

[RUMBLING]

[RUMBLING]

Man: APOLLO 7, HOUSTON, \h\h\h\hHOW DO YOU READ?

Man: JETTISONED BEAUTIFULLY. \h\h\h\h\h\hDID YOU READ US?

Man: ROGER. SHE LOOKS REAL GOOD. LITTLE BUMPY RIDE.

Man: YOU’RE LOOKING REAL FINE, APOLLO 7.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: ROGER. SHE’S RIDING LIKE A DREAM.

♪

Narrator: JUST MINUTES \h\h\h\hAFTER LIFTOFF,

\h\hAPOLLO 7 ORBITS THE EARTH AT OVER 17,000 MILES PER HOUR.

\h\h\hWalter Cunningham: I REMEMBER MY THOUGHTS.

THE FIRST TIME I LOOKED OUT,

\h\h\hFILLING MY WINDOW WAS THE SINAI PENINSULA.

AND I REMEMBER THINKING,

"GEE, IT LOOKS JUST LIKE IN THE DRAWINGS THEY HAD IN THE PAPER."

Man: APOLLO 7, HOUSTON.

Narrator: AS MISSION CONTROL \hCALLS FOR THE FIRST TEST,

WONDER QUICKLY TURNS \h\h\h\hTO WORKLOAD.

FIRST, SCHIRRA MUST SEPARATE

FROM THE LAST STAGE \h\h\hOF THE ROCKET

AND TURN AROUND IN SPACE.

Barry: THAT’S A CRITICAL TEST.

IS THE COMMAND MODULE \hMANEUVERABLE ENOUGH

TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO?

Man: BEAUTIFUL.

Man: YEAH, IT WAS OUTSTANDING.

Man: REAL FINE, OUTSTANDING.

Narrator: NEXT, THE CREW MUST TEST THE SPACECRAFT’S ENGINE.

Barry: THAT ENGINE HAS TO FIRE \h\h\h\hTO GET YOU INTO ORBIT,

\h\h\h\hAND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT HAS TO WORK TO GET YOU BACK

AWAY FROM THE MOON BACK TO EARTH

BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU’RE STUCK IN LUNAR ORBIT FOREVER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: ASTRONAUTS BURN THE ENGINE

AND HEAD BACK TO THE LAST STAGE OF THE ROCKET.

FUTURE MOON MISSIONS WILL REQUIRE THE TWO SPACECRAFT

TO RENDEZVOUS AND DOCK.

IT’S A DIFFICULT MOVE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT NASA’S FAITH IN SCHIRRA’S TEAM PAYS OFF.

Man: COMING RIGHT DOWN THE LINE.

\h\h\h\h\hChaikin: WALLY SCHIRRA HAD EXPERIENCE WITH RENDEZVOUS.

\h\hHE CARRIED OUT THE FIRST RENDEZVOUS ON, ON GEMINI 6,

\hAND SO THIS WAS KIND OF REVISITING

OLD TERRITORY FOR HIM.

Man: ROGER, HOUSTON. \h\h\hIT’S APOLLO 7.

HOW DO YOU READ THIS TIME?

Narrator: BY DAY TWO, IT’S CLEAR THAT THE COMMAND MODULE WORKS,

BUT THINGS WITH THE CREW \h\hARE NOT GOING WELL.

Man: ...AND THEN SHUT IT DOWN.

Chaikin: WALLY SCHIRRA CAME DOWN WITH A MONSTER HEAD COLD,

AND IT WAS NOT A LOT OF FUN.

Narrator: SCHIRRA’S COLD \h\hIS MISERY IN ORBIT.

\hIN THE ZERO-GRAVITY CAPSULE, HIS SINUSES JUST WON’T DRAIN,

\h\hAND HE QUICKLY BECOMES IRRITABLE.

\h\h\hON EARTH, ASTRONAUTS MIGHT TURN TO COMFORT FOOD

WHEN THEY’RE SICK.

IN SPACE, THERE’S REALLY \h\h\h\h\hNO SUCH THING.

\hJennifer Levasseur: TODAY WE’RE LOOKING AT A SELECTION

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF SPACE FOOD FROM EARLY APOLLO MISSIONS.

\hTHE SPACE FOODS ON THE TABLE HERE

REPRESENT DIFFERENT PARTS

OF A MEAL AND DIFFERENT MEALS

THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

SO, WE HAVE SUGAR COATED CEREAL,

SAUSAGE PATTIES,

SO THIS WOULD MAKE A NICE BREAKFAST.

WE HAVE CHICKEN STEW,

\h\hWHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A LUNCH OR A DINNER ITEM,

AND THEN BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING \h\h\h\hAND GRAPEFRUIT DRINK.

Narrator: FIRST EXPERIMENTS IN SPACE FOOD WERE CAUTIOUS.

\h\h\hCOULD ASTRONAUTS EVEN SWALLOW IN SPACE?

NOBODY REALLY KNEW.

IN 1962, JOHN GLENN PROVED \hTHAT ASTRONAUTS CAN EAT,

AT LEAST FROM A TUBE.

HE COULD CHOOSE APPLESAUCE \h\h\h\h\hOR PUREED BEEF.

\h\h\hEARLY SPACE FOOD ISN’T VERY APPETIZING.

SCIENTISTS FREEZE-DRY \h\h\hAND DEHYDRATE IT

INTO BITE-SIZED MORSELS

AND COAT IT WITH GELATIN \h\hTO STOP DOWN CRUMBS.

\h\h\h\h\hLevasseur: IN SPACE, CRUMBS DON’T FALL, THEY FLOAT,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND AIR FILTERS COULD PICK UP THOSE CRUMBS,

AND IT WOULD JUST CREATE \hA MAINTENANCE PROBLEM

FOR THE ASTRONAUTS,

WHERE THEY WOULD NEED TO CLEAN \h\hTHOSE FILTERS MORE OFTEN,

\h\h\hAND WHEN YOU’RE REALLY BUSY IN SPACE,

\h\h\hTHE LAST THING YOU WANT TO BE DOING

IS ADDING MORE ACTIVITIES TO YOUR ROUTINE EVERY DAY.

Narrator: BY THE TIME \h\h\h\h\hOF APOLLO 7,

ADDED FEATURES MAKE SPACE FOOD \h\h\h\hA BIT MORE DELICIOUS.

\h\h\hLevasseur: WALLY SCHIRRA, DONN EISELE, AND WALT CUNNINGHAM

COULD REHYDRATE THINGS THAT HAD

\h\hA BIT MORE FLAVOR AND DIMENSION TO THEM,

DISHES THAT MIGHT BE \h\h\hMORE ENJOYABLE

\h\h\h\hAND HAVE SOME ADDED FLAVORS AS WELL.

Man: THERE’S QUITE A LOT \hOF CONCERN DOWN HERE.

Narrator: BUT NONE OF IT \hIS MOM’S CHICKEN SOUP.

THE MOOD IN THE COMMAND MODULE \h\h\h\h\hQUICKLY GOES SOUTH.

Cunningham: THERE WAS SOME, \h\h\h\hSOME REAL BICKERING

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBACK AND FORTH BETWEEN WALLY AND THE GROUND.

\h\h\hWALLY WAS ALREADY STARTING TO FEEL THE EFFECTS OF HIS COLD,

\hAND WALLY WAS OBVIOUSLY INTO THE "WHO IS IN CHARGE?" MODE.

\h\hSchirra: I SUGGEST SOMEBODY FOR TOMORROW

GET TO WORK ON THE SLEEP PLAN.

Man: ROGER.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSchirra: I ASKED FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF SLEEP

\h\h\hFOR EACH OF US LAST NIGHT, AND THAT APPARENTLY WAS IGNORED.

\h\hChaikin: IT MADE SCHIRRA IN PARTICULAR A LITTLE BIT GRUMPY,

\h\hAND THAT ALSO SPREAD TO SOME OF THE EXCHANGES

\h\hBETWEEN THE CREW AND MISSION CONTROL.

\h\h\hNarrator: THREE DAYS INTO THE APOLLO PROGRAM’S

FIRST HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE MISSION IS THREATENING TO CRACK.

\hChaikin: ANY PROBLEM THAT CAME UP IS GOING TO THREATEN

THIS CAREFULLY PLANNED SEQUENCE OF MISSIONS.

Kluger: ALL WE HAD LEFT \h\h\h\h\hAT THAT POINT

\h\h\h\h\hWAS 14 MONTHS TO GET MEN TO THE MOON.

THAT WAS ALMOST NO TIME AT ALL.

Man: I’VE GOT TO DO \hBETTER THAN THAT.

[RADIO CHATTER]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE APOLLO 7 FLIGHT CREW

IS IN A BATTLE OF WILLS \hWITH MISSION CONTROL.

NASA IS READY TO START

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hITS FIRST LIVE PUBLIC BROADCAST FROM SPACE,

BUT ASTRONAUT WALLY SCHIRRA \h\h\h\hIS SICK, OVERWORKED,

AND NOT IN THE MOOD TO COMPLY.

Schirra: WE DO NOT HAVE \h\h\hTHE EQUIPMENT OUT.

WE HAVE NOT EATEN AT THIS POINT.

\h\hI REFUSE TO FOUL UP OUR TIMELINES THIS WAY.

Barry: YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THESE GUYS ARE TEST PILOTS,

\h\h\hAND TEST PILOTS NORMALLY DON’T BROADCAST TO THE PUBLIC

ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE DOING \hIN THEIR TEST FLIGHTS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE BUSILY DOING THE MISSION ON THE TEST FLIGHT,

\h\h\h\h\hMAKING SURE THINGS WORK PROPERLY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FLIGHT DIRECTOR GLYNN LUNNEY

\h\hISN’T USED TO HEARING NO, EVEN FROM ONE OF NASA’S STARS.

\h\h\h\hGlynn Lunney: IT WAS THE FIRST TIME

\h\h\hWE ACTUALLY HAD A SERIOUS FALLING-OUT

BETWEEN THE GROUND CREWS \hAND THE FLIGHT CREWS.

\h\hI WAS KIND OF UPSET WITH, WITH WHAT WENT ON.

Chaikin: MISSION CONTROL \h\hREALLY IS ESSENTIAL

TO CARRYING OUT THE MISSION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSUCCESSFULLY,

\hAND I THINK IT CAME AS A, A BIT OF A SHOCK

TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE \h\h\h\hON THE GROUND

THAT YOU HAVE A SPACE CREW

THAT’S NOT NECESSARILY GONNA DO EVERYTHING YOU WANT THEM TO DO.

Man: THERE IT IS. \h\h\hTHERE IT IS.

Narrator: A DAY LATER, \h\h\hTHE CREW RELENTS

AND AGREES TO SQUEEZE IN \hSOME TIME ON CAMERA...

Man: WE’RE RECEIVING \h\h\h\hTHE PICTURE.

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S A LITTLE BRIGHT. COULD YOU BRING IT IN A LITTLE?

Narrator: ...GIVING THE PUBLIC

ITS FIRST REAL-TIME LOOK \h\h\h\h\h\hINTO SPACE.

Man: ROGER.

FROM THE LOVELY APOLLO ROOM, \h\h\hHIGH ATOP EVERYTHING.

\hMuir-Harmony: EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THE ASTRONAUTS WERE CRITICAL

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF HAVING THE LIVE TELEVISION BROADCAST,

\hNASA SAW IT AS A PRIORITY TO, TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE

\hOF SPACE EXPLORATION WITH THE WORLD PUBLIC,

\h\hAND THIS OPENNESS WAS IN DIRECT CONTRAST

TO THE SOVIET UNION’S \hMORE CLOSED PROGRAM.

Man: WE’RE STARTING \h\hTO PICK YOU UP.

\hYOU’RE LOOKING GOOD. THAT’S A GOOD PICTURE.

Man: OKAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE BROADCASTS ARE A HIT,

BUT BEHIND THE SCENES, TROUBLE.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: I THINK WE CAN WORK THAT OUT.

\h\h\hNarrator: SCHIRRA THINKS THE WORKLOAD IS WAY TOO MUCH.

Schirra: WE SHOULD FIND OUT \h\hWHO THE IDIOT’S NAME IS

WHO THOUGHT UP THIS TEST.

I WANT TO FIND OUT,

\h\h\hAND I WANT TO TALK TO HIM PERSONALLY WHEN I GET BACK DOWN.

\h\h\h\h\hCunningham: WALLY WAS ONE OF THOSE

\h\h\h\h\hWITH, LIKE, KIND OF A GENERAL BULL MOOSE COMPLEX,

\h\hSO WHEN WALLY HAD A COLD, EVERYBODY HAD TO BE MISERABLE.

Man: AND THERE’S NO EXPERIENCE \hWITH THE HELMET ON, EITHER,

THAT ONE.

Narrator: ON THE FINAL DESCENT,

MISSION CONTROL TELLS THE CREW \h\h\hTO PUT ON THEIR HELMETS.

Man: WE TRIED THEM ON \h\h\h\hTHIS MORNING.

Narrator: THE CREW REFUSES.

Man: IF WE HAD AN OPEN VISOR, \h\h\hI’D GO ALONG WITH THAT.

Chaikin: SCHIRRA DIDN’T \h\h\h\hWANT TO DO THIS

BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO BE ABLE \h\h\h\h\hTO CLEAR THEIR EARS

AS THE PRESSURE CHANGED \h\hDURING THE DESCENT.

\h\h\hMan: OKAY, I GUESS YOU’D BETTER BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS

IN SOME DETAIL WHEN WE LAND WHY WE HAVEN’T GOT THEM ON.

\h\h\h\h\hBUT IT’S YOUR NECK, AND I HOPE YOU DON’T BREAK IT.

Man: THANK YOU.

\h\hNarrator: EVEN BEFORE THE ASTRONAUTS ARE BACK ON EARTH,

MISSION CONTROLLERS SWEAR

\hTHAT NONE OF THEM WILL EVER FLY AGAIN.

\h\h\hLunney: IT LEFT A KIND OF A SOUR TASTE IN PEOPLE’S MOUTH.

WHEN YOU’RE IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE WORLD,

THERE’S A WAY TO MAKE A POINT \hTHAT’S LESS CONFRONTATIONAL.

Narrator: 11 DAYS AFTER TAKEOFF,

\h\h\h\h\hAPOLLO 7 SPLASHES DOWN JUST 350 MILES SOUTH OF BERMUDA.

SAILORS FROM THE U.S.S. ESSEX \h\h\h\h\hARE QUICKLY ON HAND.

THE CREW MAY HAVE GONE ROGUE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THEY FLEW AN ALMOST PERFECT MISSION,

PROVING THAT THE COMMAND MODULE

\h\h\h\h\h\hCAN WEATHER THE WORLD OF DEEP SPACE.

\h\h\h\hMuir-Harmony: AFTER THE EXPERIENCE OF APOLLO 1,

\h\hAPOLLO 7 MADE IT FEEL LIKE THE COUNTRY WAS BACK ON TRACK

AND THAT THE LUNAR MISSION \h\h\h\hWAS WITHIN REACH.

Narrator: BUT WHILE NASA \h\hSAVORS ITS SUCCESS,

U.S. INTELLIGENCE REVEALS A SHOCK--

THE SOVIET SPACE PROGRAM APPEARS TO BE BACK ON TRACK, TOO.

Barry: THE COMMON CONCEPTION \h\h\h\hWAS THAT THE SOVIETS

HAD SORT OF DROPPED OUT \h\h\hOF THE SPACE RACE.

THAT’S ANYTHING BUT THE TRUTH.

♪

Narrator: THE LATEST REPORTS SAY THAT THE SOVIETS MAY BE READY

TO SEND ONE OF THEIR SPACECRAFT AROUND THE MOON.

Muir-Harmony: THE UNITED STATES HAD BEEN TRAILING

\hBEHIND THE SOVIET UNION SINCE 1957 WITH THE LAUNCH OF SPUTNIK.

\h\hTHEY SENT THE FIRST HUMAN INTO SPACE WITH YURI GAGARIN.

THEY SENT THE FIRST WOMAN \h\h\h\h\h\h\hINTO SPACE.

\h\h\hTHEY HAD THE FIRST EXTRA-VEHICLE ACTIVITY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND SO, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN

\h\h\h\hTHAT THIS WOULD BE YET ANOTHER BLOW TO U.S. PRESTIGE.

\h\h\h\h\hKluger: RUSSIAN EYES WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST EYES

TO SEE THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON.

DURING THE SPACE RACE, THAT MADE AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE.

Narrator: AFTER EIGHT YEARS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF EFFORT,

\h\hNASA IS DETERMINED NOT TO COME IN SECOND.

\h\h\hBUT THE PLAN THEY HAD FOR THE APOLLO 8 TEST FLIGHT

ISN’T GOING TO WORK.

\h\hBarry: THEY HAD FLOWN THE COMMAND MODULE IN EARTH ORBIT.

THE NEXT LOGICAL THING

IS TO TEST THE LUNAR MODULE \h\h\h\h\h\hIN EARTH ORBIT.

\h\hKluger: IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE LUNAR MODULE WASN’T READY.

NOBODY KNEW WHAT THEY COULD DO \h\h\hUNTIL THE LEM WAS READY

IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THE MISSION.

Narrator: NASA’S BRAIN TRUST COOLLY CONSIDERS ITS OPTIONS

AND REVISITS A RADICAL IDEA.

\h\hBarry: THEY CAME TOGETHER WITH THIS REALLY BOLD PLAN OF,

OKAY, WE DON’T HAVE \h\hA LUNAR MODULE.

LET’S TAKE THIS COMMAND \h\hAND SERVICE MODULE.

\hWE’RE GONNA PUT THREE GUYS ON IT,

WE’RE GONNA SEND THEM \h\h\h\h\hTO THE MOON.

Narrator: THE COMMAND MODULE \h\h\h\hHAS FLOWN ONLY ONCE,

AND NAVIGATION TO THE MOON \hHAS YET TO BE MASTERED.

Kluger: THE THINKING WAS, IT’S THE RISKIEST MISSION,

IT’S THE SCARIEST MISSION,

\h\h\h\hBUT IT’S A MISSION WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FLY,

\hAND WE ARE GOING TO FLY IT BECAUSE IT’S WHAT IS NEEDED.

Narrator: THE SCHEDULED LAUNCH-- DECEMBER 21st.

THE CREW WILL SPEND CHRISTMAS \h\h\h\h\h\hCIRCLING THE MOON.

NASA HAS JUST 16 WEEKS \h\hTO MAKE THE SHIFT.

ASTRONAUTS, SOFTWARE TEAMS, \h\h\h\h\h\hFLIGHT PLANNERS,

\hALL STEP INTO HIGH GEAR TO ACCOMMODATE THE CHANGE.

Kluger: IN TERMS OF PLANNING \h\h\h\hFOR A SPACE MISSION,

THAT WAS LIKE SAYING,

"HERE’S OUR PLAN ON A MONDAY. \h\hLAUNCH IT ON A THURSDAY."

THAT’S HOW TIGHT IT WAS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: MOST OF THE U.S. NAVY’S PACIFIC FLEET

SCRAMBLES TO ACCOMMODATE \h\h\h\h\h\hTHE EFFORTS,

\h\hCANCELLING THEIR SHORE LEAVE TO HEAD OUT TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN

TO HELP IN THE RECOVERY.

\h\h\h\h\hKluger: EVERY ELEMENT OF THE GREAT NASA SPACE MACHINE

HAD TO MOVE AHEAD AT A SPEED

THAT IT WAS NOT ACCUSTOMED \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO MOVING.

♪

Narrator: DECEMBER 21st,

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA.

\hNEARLY FOUR MILES FROM THE LAUNCH PAD,

A QUARTER OF A MILLION PEOPLE LINE UP TO WATCH NASA ATTEMPT

SOMETHING NO ONE HAS EVER DONE--

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPUT MEN IN ORBIT AROUND ANOTHER CELESTIAL BODY.

BLASTING THEM INTO THE HEAVENS,

NASA’S MIGHTY SATURN V,

MAKING ITS VERY FIRST \h\hHUMAN SPACEFLIGHT.

THIS 36-STORY BEHEMOTH WEIGHS 6 AND A HALF MILLION POUNDS--

FIVE AND A HALF MILLION \h\h\hOF THEM ARE FUEL.

Kluger: THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY \h\h\h\h\hTHAT WAS GENERATED

WAS THE EQUIVALENT \hOF RECHANNELING

EVERY RIVER IN THE UNITED STATES

THROUGH A SINGLE HYDROELECTRIC \h\h\hDAM AT THE SAME MOMENT.

IT WAS HUGE, IT WAS TERRIBLE, \h\h\h\h\h\hIT WAS WONDERFUL,

\hIT WAS VIOLENT, IT WAS REMARKABLE.

\h\h\hNarrator: THE FIVE MASSIVE ENGINES IN THE FIRST STAGE ALONE

PRODUCE OVER 7,500,000 \h\hPOUNDS OF THRUST.

PUTTING A CREW ON TOP OF THE NEW ROCKET IS A RISKY VENTURE.

THE APOLLO 6 TEST FLIGHT \h\h\h\h\hSIX MONTHS AGO

SHOOK SO MUCH THAT THE CREW \h\hCOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.

Kluger: CHRIS KRAFT, \h\h\h\hTHE DIRECTOR

OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS AT NASA, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS NEVER A MAN

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO PUT ANY KIND OF FAVORABLE SPIN ON SOMETHING,

AND AFTER THAT APOLLO 6 TEST,

HE SAID, "I WILL NOT CALL IT \hANYTHING BUT WHAT IT WAS.

IT WAS A DISASTER."

Narrator: FOUR HOURS \hBEFORE THE LAUNCH,

\h\hTHE CREW GATHERS IN THE SPACE CENTER.

FIRST, A MEDICAL CHECK.

\hTHEN, THEY’RE READY TO PUT ON THEIR SUITS.

\h\h\hLEADING THE TEAM, ASTRONAUT FRANK BORMAN,

COMMANDER OF THE 14-DAY \h\h\h\hGEMINI 7 FLIGHT.

\h\hHE’S A COLD WARRIOR WITH A FOCUSED MISSION.

\h\h\h\h\h\hFrank Borman: MY REASON FOR JOINING NASA

\h\hWAS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE APOLLO PROGRAM,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE LUNAR PROGRAM, AND HOPEFULLY BEAT THE RUSSIANS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hI NEVER LOOKED FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL GOALS.

Narrator: JOINING HIM, \h\h\h\h\hJIM LOVELL,

A NAVAL AVIATOR AND TEST PILOT.

HE FLEW WITH BORMAN IN GEMINI 7 AND COMMANDED GEMINI 12.

Jim Lovell: WE WERE SO CURIOUS, SO EXCITED.

WE DIDN’T HAVE ANY KIND OF FEAR

\h\hOR "ARE WE GOING TO GET BACK OR NOT?"

IT WAS JUST, JUST TO BE THERE.

Narrator: BILL ANDERS \h\h\h\hIS THE ROOKIE.

THE AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT

\h\h\h\h\hIS ONE OF NASA’S THIRD GROUP OF ASTRONAUTS.

\h\h\h\hAPOLLO 8 WILL BE HIS FIRST TIME IN SPACE.

Bill Anders: I FRANKLY THOUGHT \hTHAT, WELL, THERE’S PROBABLY

\h\h\h\h\hA ONE-THIRD CHANCE OF THE TOTALLY SUCCESSFUL MISSION.

\hTHERE’S PROBABLY A ONE-THIRD CHANCE

WHERE YOU WENT BUT YOU DIDN’T \h\h\h\h\hACCOMPLISH THE GOAL,

AND THERE WAS A ONE-THIRD CHANCE THAT YOU DIDN’T COME BACK.

Narrator: CAPE KENNEDY, FLORIDA.

65 YEARS TO THE MONTH

AFTER THE FIRST AMERICAN \h\hAIRPLANE LIFTED OFF,

HUMANKIND IS ON ITS WAY \h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE MOON.

♪

ALL EYES ARE ON THE NEW ROCKET \hON ITS FIRST MANNED FLIGHT.

♪

THE SPACECRAFT RACES UPWARD \hAT 7,000 FEET PER SECOND.

♪

Man: OKAY, THE FIRST STAGE \h\h\h\h\hWAS VERY SMOOTH,

AND THIS ONE IS SMOOTHER.

\h\hMan: UNDERSTAND, SMOOTH AND SMOOTHER.

LOOKS GOOD HERE.

♪

APOLLO 8, HOUSTON.

YOUR TRAJECTORY AND GUIDANCE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE GO, OVER.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: SO FAR, THE SATURN V ROCKET WORKS.

Man: OKAY, YOU’RE LOOKING \h\h\h\hREAL GOOD, FRANK.

Borman: VERY GOOD.

Narrator: 118 MILES \h\hABOVE THE EARTH,

THE CREW SETTLES IN \h\hFOR THE FLIGHT.

Man: ALL RIGHT, HOUSTON,

WE’RE RECORDING ALTITUDE \h\h\hHA 1026, HP 96.8.

RVI, 25 560.

Man: ROGER, APOLLO 8.

Narrator: IF ALL GOES WELL,

APOLLO 8 WILL ORBIT THE EARTH \h\h\h\h\hTWO AND A HALF TIMES

AND SPEED OFF 233,000 MILES \h\h\h\h\h\hINTO DEEP SPACE.

ONCE THEY REACH THE MOON, THEY WILL ORBIT TEN TIMES

AND THEN HEAD BACK TO EARTH.

Man: APOLLO 8, HOUSTON.

Man: THIS IS 8. GO AHEAD.

Narrator: IN HOUSTON,

\hMISSION CONTROL MONITORS THE SPACECRAFT’S PROGRESS.

THE CREW IS ABOUT TO FACE ITS FIRST MAJOR MANEUVER,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE TLI, OR TRANSLUNAR INJECTION.

\h\h\h\hIT WILL SHOOT THEM OUT OF THE EARTH’S ORBIT.

FLIGHT CONTROLLERS WATCH

\h\hAS THE SPACECRAFT STRAINS AGAINST THE BONDS OF GRAVITY.

\h\h\h\hTWO AND A HALF HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT, IT’S TIME.

Man: APOLLO 8, HOUSTON.

Man: GO AHEAD, HOUSTON.

\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: APOLLO 8, YOU ARE GO FOR TLI. OVER.

Man: ROGER, UNDERSTAND. \h\h\hWE ARE GO FOR TLI.

Narrator: MINUTES LATER, THE MAP ON THE WALL OF MISSION CONTROL

\h\h\h\hCHANGES TO SOMETHING NASA’S NEVER USED UNTIL NOW,

THE FLIGHT PATH TO THE MOON.

Lovell: IT WAS QUITE A, QUITE \hA SENSATION TO THINK ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, AND YOU HAD \h\hTO PINCH YOURSELF.

\h"HEY, WE’RE REALLY GOING TO THE MOON!"

♪

Narrator: ON DAY THREE, THE CREW CROSSES AN INVISIBLE BORDER,

\h\hBECOMING THE FIRST HUMANS TO FEEL THE GRAVITATIONAL PULL

OF ANOTHER CELESTIAL BODY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: BY THE WAY, WELCOME TO THE MOON’S SPHERE.

Man: THE MOON’S FAIR?

Man: THE MOON’S SPHERE. YOU’RE IN THE INFLUENCE.

Barry: AT SOME POINT,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE MOON’S GRAVITY BEGINS TO BE A BIGGER EFFECT.

THEY CAN SEE IN THE WINDOWS

\h\hTHAT THE MOON IS GETTING BIGGER

AND THE EARTH IS GETTING SMALLER,

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,

WOW, THIS IS THE MOON, AND IT’S REALLY CLOSE.

♪

\h\h\h\hNarrator: NAVIGATING A QUARTER OF A MILLION MILES

THROUGH THE VASTNESS OF SPACE \hHAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE,

AND THEY’RE TRYING TO HIT \h\h\h\h\hA MOVING TARGET.

THE SMALLEST DEVIATION \hFROM THE FLIGHT PATH

CAN RESULT IN MISSING THE MOON \h\h\h\hBY THOUSANDS OF MILES.

TO HELP, ASTRONAUTS \h\h\hRELY ON A TOOL

USED BY CENTURIES OF EXPLORERS.

Paul Ceruzzi: THIS IS A SEXTANT FROM AN APOLLO COMMAND MODULE,

\h\hAND IT WAS USED TO NAVIGATE FROM EARTH TO THE MOON AND BACK

BY TAKING READINGS ON STARS

JUST THE WAY SHIPS AT SEA \h\h\h\hDID FOR CENTURIES.

WHEN I LOOK AT THIS ARTIFACT \h\h\hTODAY, I’M JUST AMAZED

\h\h\h\h\hAT THE INCREDIBLE MECHANICAL COMPLEXITY OF IT.

\h\h\h\hIT’S BUILT LIKE THE FINEST SWISS WATCH.

\h\h\hTHE CRAFTSMANSHIP WAS INCREDIBLY DETAILED.

\hTHE FACT THAT IT HAD A VERY COMPLEX NETWORK

OF GEARS AND MIRRORS

SO THAT YOU COULD LINE UP \hA STAR ON THE CROSSHAIRS

\h\h\hBY TURNING SOMETHING TO MAKE IT LINE PROPERLY,

THAT’S QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT.

\h\hNarrator: TO DETERMINE THE SPACESHIP’S POSITION,

ASTRONAUTS LOCATED \hA SPECIFIC STAR

USING A SINGLE-POWER WIDE-FIELD TELESCOPE

AND THEN TOOK A FIX \hWITH THE SEXTANT.

\h\hCeruzzi: THE ASTRONAUTS HAD TO MEMORIZE THE CONSTELLATIONS,

AND THE MAJOR STARS WERE GIVEN NUMBERS,

AND THEY WOULD KEY THOSE NUMBERS INTO THE COMPUTER.

Narrator: THE COMPUTER SENT THAT INFORMATION

DOWN TO TRACKING STATIONS

\hAT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ALL AROUND THE EARTH.

\h\hTHESE TRACKING STATIONS WORKED WITH MISSION CONTROL

\h\h\hTO VERIFY THE SPACESHIP’S LOCATION WITH EXTREME PRECISION,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hALLOWING IT TO MAKE MICRO-ADJUSTMENTS

TO ITS COURSE AS IT FLEW.

Ceruzzi: IT WAS QUITE AN EFFORT BY A LOT OF PEOPLE

TO DO THE PLANNING.

WE MAY TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED \hTODAY BECAUSE YOU’VE GOT,

YOUR CAR HAS A NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN IT OR SOMETHING,

\h\h\hBUT THIS WAS QUITE AN, AN ACHIEVEMENT FOR ITS DAY,

AND IT STILL AMAZES ME

THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PULL \h\hSOMETHING LIKE THIS OFF.

Man: SIRIUS, RIGEL, 137 311.

Narrator: MANNING THE GUIDANCE \h\h\h\hAND NAVIGATION STATION

\h\h\h\hON APOLLO 8 FALLS TO JIM LOVELL.

Lovell: APOLLO 8, HOUSTON.

Man: GO AHEAD, HOUSTON.

Narrator: MISSION CONTROL \h\h\hHAS SOME GOOD NEWS--

HE’S ON AN ALMOST PERFECT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOURSE.

\hMan: APOLLO 8, HOUSTON. YOU’RE LOOKING GOOD HERE.

RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER LINE.

Lovell: ROGER, APOLLO 8.

Narrator: NOW, IT’S TIME FOR ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL MANEUVERS

OF THE ENTIRE MISSION--

\h\hTO FIRE UP THEIR ENGINE AND THEN SLOW THE SPACECRAFT

\h\h\h\h\hJUST ENOUGH TO ENTER LUNAR ORBIT.

THE MOOD IN THE CONTROL ROOM \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS TENSE.

THE SPACECRAFT MUST FLY \h\h\h\hINTO THIS ORBIT

AT A PRECISE SPEED AND LOCATION.

GOING TOO CLOSE OR TOO SLOW WILL CAUSE IT TO CRASH INTO THE MOON.

TOO FAR OR TOO FAST WILL SEND IT ON A ONE-WAY JOURNEY INTO SPACE.

MAKING IT EVEN MORE COMPLICATED,

\hASTRONAUTS WON’T HAVE MISSION CONTROL TO HELP.

Kluger: THE KEY MANEUVERS \h\h\h\hHAD TO TAKE PLACE

\hWHEN THE ASTRONAUTS WERE BEHIND THE MOON,

SO THEY WERE COMPLETELY \h\hCUT OFF FROM EARTH.

\h\h\hBarry: A REALLY CRITICAL FLIGHT MANEUVER IS HAPPENING,

AND THERE’S NO WAY TO KNOW UNTIL AFTER IT’S ALL OVER.

\hNarrator: ALL THE TRAINING HAS BUILT UP TO THIS MOMENT.

\h\h\h\h\hNOW THE CREW WILL BE ON THEIR OWN.

Man: APOLLO 8, HOUSTON.

YOU’RE RIDING THE BEST BIRD \h\h\h\h\hWE CAN FIND. OVER.

Kluger: PEOPLE HAD NAVIGATED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hACROSS OCEANS.

PEOPLE HAD FOUND THEIR WAY \h\h\h\hACROSS CONTINENTS.

NOBODY HAD EVER FOUND THEIR WAY

\hACROSS A QUARTER OF A MILLION MILES

\h\h\hOF INTERPLANETARY, INTERWORLD VOID BEFORE.

Narrator: ON CHRISTMAS EVE,

\h\hMISSION CONTROL GIVES THE GO-AHEAD.

Man: APOLLO 8, HOUSTON. \h\hONE MINUTE TO L.O.S.

ALL SYSTEMS GO.

Man: ROGER. SAFE JOURNEY, GUYS.

Man: THANKS A LOT, TROOPS.

Lovell: WE’LL SEE YOU \h\hON THE OTHER SIDE.

♪

Narrator: CHRISTMAS EVE, 1968.

THE MEN IN MISSION CONTROL \h\h\h\h\h\hWAIT ANXIOUSLY

\h\h\hTO SEE IF APOLLO 8 HAS SURVIVED ITS JOURNEY

TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON.

\h\h\hKluger: THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN, OF COURSE,

\h\h\hWOULD HAVE BEEN IF THEY HEARD NOTHING.

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT WOULD HAVE MEANT THAT THE ASTRONAUTS HAD CRASHED

ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT WAS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY.

\hNarrator: 32 MINUTES AFTER LOSING CONTACT,

\h\h\h\hGROUND CONTROL SENDS A TEST CALL OUT INTO SPACE.

Man: APOLLO 8, HOUSTON. OVER.

APOLLO 8, HOUSTON. OVER.

Man: GO AHEAD, HOUSTON. \h\h\hTHIS IS APOLLO 8.

BURN COMPLETE.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: APOLLO 8, THIS IS HOUSTON. ROGER.

GOOD TO HEAR YOUR VOICE.

Kluger: IT WAS A CRITICAL STEP

\h\h\hIN BEING ABLE TO LAND ON THE MOON.

\h\h\hDEEP SPACE TRAVEL WOULD ULTIMATELY REQUIRE

HAVING THE ABILITY TO ENTER ORBIT AROUND ANOTHER WORLD.

Man: OKAY, JIM.

Lovell: SOMEBODY SUDDENLY \h\h\h\h\h\hCAME IN THERE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: 60 MILES ABOVE THE MOON,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE ASTRONAUTS TAKE IN THE LUNAR LANDSCAPE,

\h\hDOCUMENTING FOR HUMANITY A RADICALLY DIFFERENT WORLD.

Levasseur: BY THE TIME \h\h\h\h\hOF APOLLO 8,

\hASTRONAUTS HAD A VARIETY OF PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT.

USING HASSELBLAD 70-MILLIMETER

CAMERAS LIKE THIS ONE,

THEY COULD TAKE A SERIES OF

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE LUNAR SURFACE

THAT GEOLOGISTS AND SCIENTISTS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOULD STUDY

IN ORDER TO LEARN \hABOUT THE MOON,

\h\hBUT ALSO TO PLAN FOR FUTURE MISSIONS.

\h\hHASSELBLAD DID THINGS LIKE ADDING LARGE BUTTONS AND DIALS

TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW AN ASTRONAUT

EVEN WITH THE GLOVES \h\h\hOF A SPACESUIT

TO OPERATE A CAMERA LIKE THIS.

[SHUTTER CLICKING]

Narrator: AS THE CAPSULE ORBITS, ASTRONAUTS TRY TO CAPTURE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEVERY NUANCE OF THE POCKMARKED LANDSCAPE.

Man: APOLLO 8, HOUSTON.

WHAT DOES THE OL’ MOON LOOK LIKE FROM 60 MILES? OVER.

Man: OKAY, HOUSTON.

THE MOON IS ESSENTIALLY GRAY,

NO COLOR,

LOOKS LIKE PLASTER OF PARIS.

\h\h\h\h\hYOU CAN SEE QUITE A BIT OF DETAIL.

THE CRATERS ARE ALL ROUNDED OFF.

THERE’S QUITE A FEW OF THEM. \h\hSOME OF THEM ARE NEWER.

\hMANY OF THEM LOOK LIKE, ESPECIALLY THE ROUND ONES,

LOOK LIKE HITS BY METEORITES OR PROJECTILES OF SOME SORT.

Man: ROGER. UNDERSTAND.

Narrator: ON THE THIRD ORBIT,

BORMAN TILTS THE SPACECRAFT \hTO ADJUST ITS TRAJECTORY,

\hAND A STARTLING OBJECT SLOWLY APPEARS ABOVE THE LUNAR HORIZON,

TAKING ASTRONAUTS BY SURPRISE.

\h\hAnders: HAND ME A ROLL OF COLOR QUICK, WOULD YOU?

Lovell: OH, MAN!

Anders: QUICK, QUICK. \h\h\hANYTHING QUICK.

\h\h\hNarrator: BILL ANDERS IS THE MISSION PHOTOGRAPHER.

HE BEGINS TO SHOOT.

Anders: I JUST STARTED \h\hSNAPPING PICTURES

AND CHANGING THE F-STOP.

[SHUTTER CLICKING]

Lovell: OH, THAT’S A BEAUTIFUL SHOT.

250 AT F-11.

Anders: AND FORTUNATELY ONE \hOF THEM WAS CHOSEN BY NASA

\hTO BE THE ICONIC EARTHRISE PICTURE.

♪

Kluger: EARTHRISE,

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S ONE OF THE GREAT, MOST ICONIC PICTURES IN HISTORY.

\h\hMuir-Harmony: THERE WEREN’T POLITICAL BOUNDARIES FROM SPACE.

IT REALLY SHOWED THAT THE,

\h\h\h\hTHAT WE WERE ALL ON ONE PLANET TOGETHER.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FAR AWAY ON THE FRAGILE BLUE PLANET,

AMERICA SETTLES IN FOR A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVE BROADCAST,

HOPING TO GET A GLIMPSE \h\h\h\hOF THE HEAVENS.

Borman: WE WERE TOLD BY NASA

\hTHAT WE WOULD HAVE THE LARGEST AUDIENCE

\hTHAT HAD EVER LISTENED TO A HUMAN VOICE BEFORE

ON CHRISTMAS EVE,

AND THE ONLY INSTRUCTIONS \h\hTHAT WE GOT FROM NASA

WAS "DO SOMETHING APPROPRIATE."

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AT 9:31 ON CHRISTMAS EVE,

ASTRONAUTS TURN THE CAMERA \h\h\h\h\hTOWARD THE MOON

AND BEGIN THE BROADCAST.

\h\h\h\h\h\hLovell: WE HAD THIS RUDIMENTARY TV CAMERA

\hPOINTING OUT THE WINDOW WATCHING THE CRATERS GO BY

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND SLOWLY SLIPPING INTO DAYLIGHT.

\hMan: OKAY, FRANK. THERE WE, WE GOT IT.

IT’S COMING IN LOUD AND CLEAR. \h\h\h\hIT LOOKS LIKE WE’RE...

Narrator: EACH ONE OF THE CREW

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTAKES A TURN SHARING A SINGLE MESSAGE.

Anders: IN THE BEGINNING,

GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN \h\h\h\hAND THE EARTH,

AND THE EARTH WAS WITHOUT FORM,

\h\h\h\hAND VOID, AND DARKNESS WAS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP.

Muir-Harmony: IT WAS DECIDED

THAT THEY SHOULD READ \h\h\h\hFROM GENESIS.

Anders: AND GOD SAID LET THERE BE LIGHT,

\hAND THERE WAS LIGHT. AND GOD SAW THE LIGHT.

\hMuir-Harmony: THE IDEA BEHIND THAT WAS THAT IT WOULD RESONATE

WITH AS MANY PEOPLE \h\h\hAS POSSIBLE...

\h\h\hLovell: AND GOD CALLED THE LIGHT DAY,

AND THE DARKNESS HE CALLED NIGHT.

AND THE EVENING AND THE MORNING WERE THE FIRST DAY.

Muir-Harmony: ...BECAUSE GENESIS WAS SORT OF THE FOUNDATION

OF MULTIPLE WORLD RELIGIONS...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBorman: GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD.

\h\h\h\hMuir-Harmony: ...THAT IT WOULDN’T BE

JUST A CHRISTIAN MESSAGE,

BUT IT’D BE A MESSAGE \h\h\hFOR ALL MANKIND.

Borman: GOD SAW THAT IT WAS...

Narrator: THE CHRISTMAS EVE \h\h\h\h\hBROADCAST REACHES

OVER A BILLION PEOPLE \h\h\hIN 64 COUNTRIES.

Borman: GOOD NIGHT, GOOD LUCK, \h\h\h\h\h\hA MERRY CHRISTMAS,

\h\hAND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU, ALL OF YOU ON THE GOOD EARTH.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: TWO AND A HALF DAYS LATER,

THE THREE MEN ARE BACK \h\hON THE GOOD EARTH.

\hBarry: APOLLO 8 WAS A HUGE SUCCESS

AND A BIG CONFIDENCE BOOSTER,

IN EFFECT, WE MIGHT ACTUALLY \h\h\hPUT PEOPLE ON THE MOON

BEFORE THE END OF THE DECADE.

\hTHAT WAS A REALLY BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT’S THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT NASA COULD HAVE-- THE SECOND PERFECT TEST FLIGHT.

THE FLIGHT TEAM INDULGES \hIN A RARE CELEBRATION.

TOMORROW THEY’LL BE \h\h\hBACK AT WORK.

THEY HAVE JUST ONE YEAR LEFT \hTO PUT A MAN ON THE MOON,

\h\h\h\h\hAND THEY STILL HAVE TO TEST THE LANDER.

Kluger: THERE WERE HUGE PARTIES,

\hAND THEN EVERYBODY WAS GONNA BE RUNNING FLIGHT SIMULATIONS

BECAUSE APOLLO 9 WAS LAUNCHING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h10 WEEKS LATER.

[CHEERING]

Narrator: DECEMBER 1968.

WHILE THE ASTRONAUTS OF APOLLO 8

CELEBRATE THEIR TRIP \h\hAROUND THE MOON,

\hANOTHER TEAM IS HARD AT WORK PREPARING FOR THE NEXT LAUNCH.

Lunney: IT WAS LIKE WE JUST GOT THROUGH

\h\h\hONE MAJOR SET OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS,

AND BEFORE WE HAD TIME TO SAVOR AND ENJOY THE ACCOMPLISHMENT,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWE WERE OFF WORKING ON THE NEXT ONE.

Narrator: THE COMMAND MODULE \h\hAND THE SATURN V ROCKET

HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THEIR TEST FLIGHTS.

\h\h\hNOW NASA MUST PROVE THE LUNAR MODULE AS WELL.

\h\h\h\h\hKNOWING WHAT THEY WANT THE LUNAR MODULE TO DO IS EASY,

BUT IT TAKES A SEVEN-YEAR SPRINT TO FIGURE OUT HOW.

Barry: THE LUNAR MODULE \h\h\hWAS DESIGNED TO BE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBASICALLY A LITTLE SHUTTLE VEHICLE

TO GET YOU FROM LUNAR ORBIT DOWN TO THE MOON AND BACK UP AGAIN.

\h\hNarrator: IT’S A PUZZLE THAT TAXES EVEN THE BRIGHTEST MINDS--

BUILDING SOMETHING ON EARTH

\h\hTHAT WILL ONLY WORK IN THE VACUUM OF SPACE.

\hBarry: THEY’RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, CREATE THIS THING

IN THAT ATMOSPHERE

WHERE THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY NEED TO MEET

ARE NOT REALLY CLEAR YET.

Narrator: BY MARCH 1969,

\h\h\h\h\h\hENGINEERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE PERFECT DESIGN.

Margaret Weitekamp: BEHIND ME IS THE LUNAR MODULE, WHICH IS LM-2,

\h\h\h\hTHE SECOND ONE CREATED AND DEVELOPED,

\h\h\h\hAND THIS IS A REAL LUNAR MODULE

THAT COULD HAVE LANDED \h\h\h\h\hON THE MOON.

♪

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS \hTHAT WE OFTEN GET

IS THAT CAN’T BE REAL

AND THAT CAN’T BE THE WAY \h\h\hTHAT IT REALLY FLEW

BECAUSE IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE

\h\h\h\hWHAT PEOPLE EXPECT A SPACESHIP TO LOOK LIKE.

Narrator: WITH ITS STUBBY BODY, SPINDLY LEGS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND GOLD FOIL WRAPPED AROUND ITS WAIST,

THE LUNAR MODULE LOOKS LIKE \hNOTHING THAT’S EVER FLOWN.

\hWeitekamp: THE FACT THAT THE LUNAR MODULE

DIDN’T NEED TO BE AERODYNAMIC

\hWAS A CHALLENGE FOR THE ENGINEERS

BECAUSE THEY WERE SO USED \h\h\h\h\hTO BUILDING THAT

INTO HOW THEY WOULD CONSTRUCT A VEHICLE

FOR AVIATION OR FOR SPACEFLIGHT,

\h\hSO THIS REALLY REQUIRED SOME OUT-OF-THE-BOX THINKING

\h\h\h\hABOUT WHAT WOULD A SPACECRAFT LOOK LIKE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: TESTING THE 16-TON TAXI,

ASTRONAUTS JIM McDIVITT, \h\h\h\h\h\hDAVE SCOTT,

AND RUSTY SCHWEICKART.

THEY’LL TAKE IT ABOVE THE EARTH FOR A TEST FLIGHT CLOSE TO HOME.

Kluger: DAVE SCOTT ONCE DESCRIBED IT

AS THE CONNOISSEUR’S MISSION.

\h\h\hTHEY HAD TO TAKE THIS UNTRIED VEHICLE,

THEY HAD TO FLY IT AROUND THE EARTH,

SEPARATING FROM THE SAFETY \h\h\h\hOF THE MOTHERSHIP,

AND THEN RE-DOCK AND COME HOME.

Narrator: THE MISSION STARTS \h\h\hWITH A DISAPPOINTMENT.

THE LAUNCH HAS TO BE POSTPONED

WHEN ALL THREE ASTRONAUTS \h\hCOME DOWN WITH COLDS.

\hFLIGHT DIRECTORS ARE STILL REELING

FROM SCHIRRA’S PERFORMANCE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON APOLLO 7.

THEY DON’T WANT TO CHANCE ANOTHER DIFFICULT FLIGHT.

Man: ALL ENGINES RUNNING. \h\h\h\hCOMMENCE LIFTOFF.

WE HAVE LIFTOFF.

\h\hNarrator: ON MARCH 3rd, THE FLIGHT TEAM TRIES AGAIN.

THIS TIME, IT’S A GO.

\hMan: GO ALL THE WAY. EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.

Narrator: IT’S NOT A MOON SHOT,

\hBUT IF THE LEM DOESN’T PASS THE TEST, THERE WON’T BE ONE.

Man: AND, ROOKIE, EVERYTHING \h\h\h\hIS GOING REAL GREAT.

Man: ROGER.

Narrator: THREE HOURS \h\h\h\hAFTER LAUNCH,

THE FLIGHT CREW SEPARATES FROM THE THIRD STAGE OF THE ROCKET.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY TURN THE COMMAND MODULE AROUND

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND DOCK FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

Man: ROGER.

Man: THIS IS HOUSTON.

Man: ROGER. IT’S OUT THERE,

AND WE’RE TURNED AROUND \h\h\h\h\hAND PROCEEDING

WITH THE STATION-KEEPING \h\h\h\h\h\hAND DOCKING.

Man: AH, TREMENDOUS, APOLLO 9. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHANK YOU.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: SCOTT SLOWLY ACCELERATES THE COMMAND MODULE,

EXTRACTING THE 16-TON LM \h\h\h\hFROM THE ROCKET

AND INTO ITS NEW HOME IN SPACE.

Man: ROGER, APOLLO 9, UNDERSTAND, HARD DOCK.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: NEXT, SCHWEICKART AND McDIVITT

\h\h\h\hCLEAR THE TUNNEL BETWEEN THE SPACECRAFT,

MAKING SURE THE TWO SHIPS ARE LOCKED TOGETHER TIGHT.

Man: ...NOT FAR AT ALL.

Man: WE’RE READY TO GO. PREPPED.

Man: ROGER.

Narrator: NOW MISSION CONTROL \h\h\hCALLS FOR THE NEXT TEST,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAN EVA, OR EXTRAVEHICULAR ACTIVITY,

COMMONLY KNOWN AS A SPACE WALK,

\h\h\hPLAN B TO KEEP ASTRONAUTS FROM GETTING STRANDED IN SPACE.

Chaikin: IF YOU HAD \hA PROBLEM DOCKING

WHEN THE LUNAR MODULE CAME BACK FROM THE SURFACE OF THE MOON,

YOU HAD TO BE ABLE TO SPACE WALK FROM THE LUNAR MODULE

BACK TO THE COMMAND MODULE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND SO IT WAS A "WHAT IF" EXERCISE TO SAY,

"WE’VE GOT TO TEST THIS OUT \h\h\hTO MAKE SURE IT WORKS

IN CASE WE ACTUALLY \hDO HAVE A PROBLEM

\hON ONE OF THESE LANDING MISSIONS."

Narrator: THE SPACE WALK \hFALLS TO SCHWEICKART.

\hHE’LL BE TESTING A BRAND-NEW SUIT FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

Kluger: ALL OTHER ASTRONAUTS WHO HAD EVER WALKED IN SPACE

HAD BEEN ATTACHED TO THEIR SPACECRAFT VIA UMBILICALS.

IN ORDER TO WALK ON THE MOON, \hYOU HAD TO CUT THAT TETHER.

YOU HAD TO HAVE A COMPLETE \h\h\hLIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEM

ON YOUR BACK.

Man: MR. SCHWEICKART, \hPROCEED ON FORWARD.

Chaikin: RUSTY GOT OUT \hOF THE LUNAR MODULE.

HE WAS GOING TO BE THE FIRST \h\h\hTO TEST THE MOON SUIT

IN THE VACUUM OF SPACE.

Man: THAT LOOKS COMFORTABLE.

Chaikin: MEANWHILE, DAVE SCOTT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS STICKING OUT

\h\hOF THE COMMAND MODULE HATCH AND PHOTOGRAPHING AND OBSERVING

\h\h\h\h\hWHILE RUSTY CHECKED OUT THE SUIT.

Rusty Schweickart: OH, DAVE, \hI’M GLAD WE STOPPED HERE.

\hDAVE WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE MOVIES OF IT

SO THAT WE WOULD DOCUMENT

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE STABILITY OF BEING ABLE TO DO THIS.

I STARTED UP THE HAND RAIL,

\h\h\h\h\hAND DAVE SAID, "UH, THE CAMERA JAMMED."

\h\h\hAND SO JIM SAID, "OKAY, DAVE, YOU’VE GOT FIVE MINUTES.

RUSTY, DON’T GO AWAY. \h\hSTAY RIGHT THERE."

\hNarrator: SCOTT DUCKS INTO THE COMMAND MODULE,

\h\hLEAVING SCHWEICKART TO AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD EXPERIENCE.

Schweickart: I JUST SPUN AROUND, AND I LOOKED AT THE EARTH,

\hAND I JUST SAID, "MY JOB RIGHT NOW

IS TO JUST BE A HUMAN BEING, \h\h\h\h\hJUST BE A PERSON."

\h\h\h\hAND I JUST, YOU KNOW, I STOPPED BEING AN ASTRONAUT.

THERE I WAS, A HUMAN BEING \h\h\h\hIN SPACE, SAYING,

ABSORB THIS, YOU KNOW. \h\hJUST SOAK THIS UP.

JUST LET IT ALL COME IN.

\h\hTHAT FIVE MINUTES WAS A VERY, VERY SPECIAL TIME.

♪

Man: APOLLO 9...

\hNarrator: SOON, THE ASTRONAUTS ARE BACK INSIDE THE SPACECRAFT.

\h\h\h\hMISSION CONTROL CAN BREATHE EASIER NOW.

BUT THEIR BIGGEST TEST \h\h\hIS YET TO COME.

\hSCHWEICKART AND McDIVITT MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE LUNAR MODULE.

\h\h\h\h\hSCOTT STAYS IN THE COMMAND MODULE.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE PLAN IS FOR THE TWO SPACECRAFT

TO GO THEIR SEPARATE WAYS,

A CRITICAL PART OF THE MISSION.

Barry: UP UNTIL THIS POINT,

NASA HAD BEEN FLYING MISSIONS \h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT WERE LARGELY,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW, ONE SPACECRAFT AT A TIME.

WHEN YOU GET TO APOLLO 9,

THEY WERE ACTUALLY HAVING \h\h\hMULTIPLE SPACECRAFT

WITH MULTIPLE CREWS ON BOARD,

SO IT’S A REALLY COMPLEX \h\h\h\hCHANGE OF PACE.

Narrator: WITH TWO SPACECRAFT \h\h\h\h\h\hNOW IN OPERATION,

THE TEAM NEEDS NEW CODE NAMES \h\h\h\h\hTO TELL THEM APART.

Barry: YOU’RE TALKING TO THEM ON THE RADIO.

WHICH ONE ARE YOU TALKING TO?

SO, THEY HAD TO COME UP \h\h\h\hWITH CALL SIGNS

FOR THE SEPARATE VEHICLES, \h\h\h\hAND THE CREW SAID,

WELL, THE COMMAND MODULE KIND \hOF LOOKS LIKE A BIG GUMDROP,

AND SO WE’RE GONNA CALL THAT GUMDROP,

\h\h\h\hAND THE LUNAR MODULE LOOKS SORT OF LIKE A SPIDER,

SO WHEN THEY WERE FLYING SEPARATELY,

\h\hTHEY WERE CALLED GUMDROP AND SPIDER.

Man: SPIDER AND GUMDROP...

\hNarrator: NOW THE CREW MUST BEGIN THE MANEUVER.

THEY SLOWLY UNDOCK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hUNTIL NOW, THE CREW HAD THE SECURITY

OF BEING IN A SPACESHIP \h\hTHEY COULD LAND IN,

BUT SPIDER ISN’T DESIGNED \hTO COME BACK FROM SPACE.

Kluger: RUSTY SCHWEICKART \h\h\h\hAND JIM McDIVITT,

THEY WERE THE FIRST HUMAN BEINGS INSIDE A SPACECRAFT

THAT WAS UNEQUIPPED TO BRING THEM HOME.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE LUNAR MODULE, THAT WAS JUST FOIL ORIGAMI.

\h\hTHERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF ENTERING THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE

IN THAT SPACECRAFT.

Man: OH, VERY GOOD.

HEY, IT’S A TREMENDOUS \h\h\hPICTURE, SPIDER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: McDIVITT AND SCHWEICKART

START A BROADCAST \h\hDOWN TO EARTH

\h\h\h\hAS THEY FLY SPIDER MORE THAN 100 MILES AWAY.

Man: GOING DOWN THE CHECKLIST \h\h\h\h\h\hLIKE A GOOD PILOT.

Man: GREAT.

Narrator: SCOTT SITS PATIENTLY \h\h\h\hIN THE COMMAND MODULE,

\h\hWAITING FOR SPIDER TO RETURN AND RE-DOCK.

Kluger: THEY BOTH KNEW,

\hIF WE CANNOT RENDEZVOUS AND DOCK WITH DAVE AGAIN,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE WILL DIE, DAVE WILL COME HOME ALONE.

FOR THAT SPACECRAFT TO COME BACK WITH JUST ONE PERSON INSIDE

\h\h\h\h\h\hWOULD HAVE BEEN A WRENCHING NATIONAL TRAUMA.

Man: SPIDER, GUMDROP, \h\h\h\h\hI CAN SEE...

\h\hNarrator: A BURST FROM ITS ASCENT ENGINE

BRINGS SPIDER CLOSE TO TARGET.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE RE-DOCKING GOES EVEN MORE SMOOTHLY THAN PLANNED.

Man: ...RIGHT SIDE UP \h\hON THE BELLY BAND,

THEN WE GET BACK TO MAYBE ABOUT THE RIGHT ATTITUDE,

AT LEAST IN PLANE.

\hNarrator: A BUZZER INDICATES THAT THE DOCKING IS COMPLETE.

Man: GOOD WORK.

\h\hNarrator: THE CREW STAYS IN ORBIT FOR FIVE MORE DAYS

AND THEN SPLASHES DOWN IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

\hAFTER APOLLO 9, NASA IS CONFIDENT

THAT THE LUNAR MODULE’S \h\hTOUGH DESIGN PROCESS

HAS FINALLY PAID OFF.

Chaikin: IT WOULD NOT HAVE SURPRISED ANYBODY

IF THEY’D COME BACK \h\h\hFROM APOLLO 9

AND THEY’D SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE GOT TO DO ANOTHER EARTH ORBIT MISSION,

\h\hUH, BEFORE WE CAN GO BACK TO THE MOON."

BUT APOLLO 9 WENT PERFECTLY.

Narrator: THAT’S THREE \hPERFECT TEST FLIGHTS

IN JUST UNDER FIVE MONTHS.

Kluger: THE EXTRAORDINARY THING ABOUT THE APOLLO MISSIONS

\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS THAT THEY CAME IN SUCH GATLING GUN SEQUENCE.

\h\h\hTHEY WERE BASICALLY, ACHIEVE ONE AMAZING THING,

COME HOME, SHOWER UP, \h\h\h\hHIT THE BOOKS,

SEND THE NEXT THREE GUYS UP, \h\h\h\h\h\hAND DO IT AGAIN.

Narrator: A DEEP SPACE CAPSULE, A POWERFUL ROCKET,

AND NOW THE LUNAR LANDER.

Chaikin: NASA WAS IN A POSITION

\h\h\hWHERE THEY COULD BUILD ON THAT SUCCESS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND CARRY OUT AN EVEN MORE AMBITIOUS MISSION--

LANDING ON THE MOON.

♪