Original subtitles

Man: APOLLO 11, HOUSTON. OVER.

Astronaut: HOUSTON, APOLLO 11. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGO AHEAD.

\h\h\hMan: WE’RE GO FOR POWERED DESCENT.

\h\h\hMan: THE COMPUTERS STARTED GETTING GLITCHY

ON THE WAY DOWN.

Buzz Aldrin: AND, HOUSTON, \h\h\hWE GOT A 500 ALARM.

Man: ROGER, WE SAW THAT, BUZZ.

\h\hMan: IN MISSION CONTROL, THE TEAM WAS JUST THINKING,

\h\h\h\h\h"OH, MY GOD, WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?"

Man: YOU HAVE TO MAKE \h\h\h\h\hVERY RAPID,

TIME-CRITICAL-TYPE DECISIONS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND WE’RE DOING IT IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE WORLD.

Man: HOW’S THE FUEL?

Man: FIVE PERCENT.

Woman: YOU CAN HEAR THEM \h\h\h\h\h\hCOUNTING OFF

\h\h\hHOW MUCH FUEL THAT THEY HAVE LEFT.

Aldrin: DOWN THREE AND A HALF.

ALTITUDE-VELOCITY LIGHT.

Man: THE FINAL DESCENT \h\h\h\h\h\hTO LANDING

WAS THE MOST COMPLEX PART OF THE FLIGHT.

THERE WERE JUST A THOUSAND \h\hTHINGS TO WORRY ABOUT.

Man: IS IT SAFER TO ABORT

OR SLAM INTO THE SURFACE \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE MOON?

THAT’S A QUESTION NOBODY WANTED TO HAVE ANSWERED.

\h\h\hNarrator: IT’S BEEN EIGHT YEARS OF HOPE, LUCK,

AND SHEER DETERMINATION...

Man: THERE WERE HUGE RISKS WITH EVERY SINGLE MISSION.

\h\hNarrator: ...ALL TO GET A FOOTHOLD ON ANOTHER WORLD.

Man: IT WAS A PARADIGM SHIFT \h\hIN ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: NOW WITNESS HUMANKIND’S

MOST AMBITIOUS JOURNEY

WITH SECRETS FROM INSIDE \h\h\hTHE SMITHSONIAN...

Woman: THE COMMAND MODULE

WAS AN EXTRAORDINARILY \h\h\hCOMPLEX MACHINE.

Narrator: ...AND RARE \hARCHIVAL INTERVIEWS

\h\h\h\h\hFROM THE MEN WHO RISKED EVERYTHING.

\h\h\h\hMan: YOU’D GET A LOT OF UNEXPECTED THINGS HAPPEN,

AND USUALLY THEY’RE NOT \hTHE ONES YOU PRACTICE.

Narrator: WATCH AS HUMANITY DARES TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE--

TOUCH DOWN ON THE MOON.

♪

JULY 1969.

NEARLY A MILLION GATHER \h\h\h\h\h\hTO TAKE PART

IN ONE OF HISTORY’S \hMOST EPIC MOMENTS.

♪

IN JUST HOURS, NASA’S APOLLO 11 SPACECRAFT WILL BLAST OFF

WITH THREE AMERICANS INSIDE.

IN THE SUIT-UP ROOM,

\h\h\hASTRONAUTS NEIL ARMSTRONG, BUZZ ALDRIN, AND MICHAEL COLLINS

EASE INTO THEIR SPACESUITS.

\hJeffrey Kluger: THE MOOD WAS VERY MUCH HIGH STAKES,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHIGH TENSION, AND A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY

THAT THEY WEREN’T GOING TO SURVIVE.

Narrator: ARMSTRONG, ALDRIN, AND COLLINS

\h\hCARRY THE HOPES OF AN ENTIRE NATION.

\h\h\hAndrew Chaikin: WHEN PRESIDENT KENNEDY

CHALLENGED THE COUNTRY \h\hTO GO TO THE MOON,

\h\h\hHE DID IT WITH A DEADLINE ATTACHED.

\h\h\hWE HAD TO GET THERE BY THE END OF THE DECADE.

Margaret Weitekamp: \h\hNASA WAS WORKING

UNDER THE INHERENT PRESSURE \h\h\h\hOF HAVING COMMITTED

TO THIS REALLY AMBITIOUS, \h\h\h\hAUDACIOUS PROGRAM,

AND THEY WERE VERY AWARE

THAT 1969 REALLY NEEDED \h\hTO BE THEIR MOMENT.

\h\hNarrator: OVER THE LAST TEN MONTHS, NASA HAS TESTED

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEACH COMPONENT OF ITS DARING NEW SPACECRAFT.

\h\h\hKluger: THE COMMAND MODULE HAD BEEN TESTED IN EARTH ORBIT.

THE COMMAND MODULE HAD BEEN \h\h\hTESTED IN LUNAR ORBIT.

THE LUNAR MODULE HAD BEEN TESTED IN EARTH ORBIT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT THE COMPLETE SPACECRAFT

HAS NEVER BEEN TESTED \h\h\h\h\hAT THE MOON.

\hBill Barry: IT WAS CRITICAL, BEFORE YOU LANDED ON THE MOON,

\h\h\hFOR A FULL END-TO-END TEST OF ALMOST EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO

BEFORE YOU TOUCH DOWN \h\h\hON THE SURFACE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BEFORE APOLLO 11 CAN LAND,

NASA PLANS ONE LAST MISSION--

A DRESS REHEARSAL-- \h\h\h\h\hAPOLLO 10.

THE MISSION IS SCHEDULED \h\h\h\h\hFOR MAY 1969.

\h\h\h\h\h\hFLYING IT-- THREE VETERAN ASTRONAUTS

WITH FIVE SPACEFLIGHTS \h\h\h\hBETWEEN THEM.

\hWeitekamp: COMMANDER TOM STAFFORD HAD FLOWN

TWO MISSIONS BEFORE.

HE WAS BACKED UP BY JOHN YOUNG,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHO WAS KNOWN AS THE ASTRONAUT’S ASTRONAUT.

AND THEN GENE CERNAN, WHO WAS THE THIRD MEMBER OF THAT CREW.

\h\h\hTHE APOLLO 10 CREW WAS THE MOST EXPERIENCED ASTRONAUT CREW

THAT HAD EVER FLOWN A MISSION.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE WEEKS BEFORE THE MISSION ARE INTENSE.

THE APOLLO 10 CREW SPENDS COUNTLESS HOURS REHEARSING

\h\h\h\h\hEVERY DETAIL IN FLIGHT SIMULATORS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hA TOOL AT THE CORE OF EACH ASTRONAUT’S TRAINING.

♪

Allan Needell: WE’RE LOOKING \h\h\h\hAT THE INSTRUCTORS’

OPERATING STATION, \h\hWHERE THE TEAM

THAT RAN THE SIMULATED MISSIONS TO THE MOON

OPERATED ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT

\h\h\h\hTHAT WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THE ASTRONAUTS

WITH A VERY REALISTIC SIMULATION

OF WHAT THEY WOULD EXPERIENCE \h\hDURING AN APOLLO MISSION.

\hNarrator: ASTRONAUTS SQUEEZED INTO MOCKUPS

OF EACH DIFFERENT SPACECRAFT.

\h\hSUPERVISORS COOK UP THE WORST-CASE SCENARIOS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO SEE HOW THE ASTRONAUTS RESPOND.

\h\hNeedell: THE ASTRONAUTS WOULD MOVE THEIR CONTROLLERS

OR FLIP A BUTTON,

THE COMPUTERS WOULD ANALYZE \h\hWHAT THAT WOULD’VE DONE

\h\h\h\hTO THE REAL SYSTEM, AND THEN DISPLAY THE RESULTS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBOTH HERE AND IN THE COMMAND MODULE.

\h\h\h\hAND THEN AFTERWARDS, THERE WOULD BE A DEBRIEFING,

AND THEY WOULD SAY,

"YOU DID THE RIGHT THING. \hYOU DID THE WRONG THING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHAD YOU DONE THIS, YOU COULD’VE SAVED THE MISSION.

WHAT YOU DID WAS A DISASTER, \h\hAND YOU WOUND UP DEAD."

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: 10, 9. WE HAVE IGNITION SEQUENCE START.

Narrator: AT LAUNCHPAD B,

\h\h\h\h\hTHE FUEL VALVES OPEN ON THE MIGHTY SATURN V ROCKET,

\h\h\hSENDING APOLLO 10 TO SET THE STAGE FOR A MOON LANDING.

Man: LIFTOFF.

\h\h\h\h\hWE HAVE LIFTOFF 49 MINUTES PAST THE HOUR.

♪

\h\h\h\h\hCharlie Duke: EVERYTHING IS COPACETIC.

Tom Stafford: ROGER.

\hIT LOOKS GOOD TO BE BACK UP HERE, CHARLIE.

Duke: YEAH, I BET.

John Young: JUST LIKE OLD TIMES! IT’S BEAUTIFUL OUT THERE!

Duke: YOU GUYS SOUND ECSTATIC.

Stafford: MAN, THIS IS THE GREATEST, CHARLIE.

Gene Cernan: AS SOON AS IT LIT OFF, YOU CAN FEEL IT.

\hRIDING THAT SATURN V IS, IS, IT’S LIKE A MISTRESS.

\hIT’S LIKE A LOVE AFFAIR RIGHT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYBODY.

♪

Narrator: 8 1/2 MINUTES \h\h\h\hINTO THE FLIGHT,

THE SHIP ENTERS A PARKING ORBIT 118 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH.

\hDuke: OKAY, NOW, HOUSTON. THE SATURN’S IN GREAT SHAPE.

YOU’RE CONFIGURED FOR ORBIT. \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE’RE ALL GO.

\h\h\hStafford: ROGER. JUST LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.

Narrator: THE 42-TON SPACECRAFT

\h\hORBITS THE EARTH ONE AND A HALF TIMES

\hAND THEN SPEEDS TOWARDS THE MOON.

Stafford: RIGHT ON.

Duke: ROGER.

Stafford: YOU’RE BURNING.

Duke: ROGER. BURNING.

Stafford: WE’RE ON THE WAY.

\h\hNarrator: SOON, THE CREW MUST UNPACK THE SPACECRAFT.

THE COMMAND MODULE WILL SEPARATE FROM THE BOOSTER ROCKET,

FLIP AROUND,

DOCK WITH THE LUNAR MODULE,

AND PULL IT OUT INTO SPACE.

\hKluger: THESE WERE ALL EXTRAORDINARILY DELICATE

PROCEDURES THAT HAD TO BE \h\h\hEXECUTED PRECISELY.

Cernan: OKAY, AND THE S-IVB

OUGHT TO BE COMING IN HERE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN A SECOND.

Duke: ROGER.

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

MISSION CONTROL CALLS ON THE COMMAND MODULE,

NICKNAMED CHARLIE BROWN,

TO DOCK WITH THE LUNAR MODULE, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCALLED SNOOPY.

Kluger: AT THE BEGINNING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF 1969,

\h\h\h\hTHERE WERE NO MORE POPULAR CARTOONS

THAN CHARLIE BROWN AND SNOOPY,

\h\h\hSO THEY DECIDED THAT THE LUNAR MODULE SHOULD BE SNOOPY

BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO GO DOWN AS LOW AS IT COULD

AND SNOOP AROUND THE MOON.

Cernan: HOUSTON, CHARLIE BROWN...

Narrator: AS THE CREW \hBEGINS THE DOCKING,

\h\h\h\hTHEY WOW THE WORLD WITH A FIRST FROM SPACE--

COLOR TV...

Man: YOU’RE ON THE AIR, BABE.

Narrator: ...GIVING VIEWERS \h\h\h\h\h\hA CLOSE-UP VIEW

\h\h\h\h\hAS THEY DOCK WITH THE LUNAR LANDER.

\h\hDuke: YES, SIR. IT’S LOOKING GREAT!

Cernan: GOOD RESOLUTION. \hTHAT’S WHAT THEY WERE.

Weitekamp: IN THE MID-1960s,

ALL THREE OF THE MAJOR \hTELEVISION NETWORKS

START BROADCASTING IN COLOR,

\h\hAND NASA INCLUDING A COLOR TELEVISION CAMERA ON APOLLO 10

LITERALLY BRINGS IT TO LIFE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO COLOR, FOR AMERICAN AUDIENCES.

Man: ROGER.

Cernan: BE DOCKED IN A SECOND, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI HOPE.

Duke: GENE, WE CAN READ \h\h\h\h\h\hTHE NUMBERS

ON THE LM DOCKING WINDOW.

\h\h\h\h\h\hGlynn Lunney: WHEN WE FIRST GOT STARTED

\h\hWITH THE TELEVISION ON BOARD THE SPACECRAFT,

\h\hTHERE WERE MIXED VIEWS WITHIN THE CONTROL CENTER.

BUT ONCE WE STARTED USING IT,

\h\hIT WAS HARD TO IMAGINE GETTING ALONG WITHOUT IT.

\h"WHY HAVE WE WAITED SO LONG TO GET THESE CAMERAS ON BOARD?

WE CAN SEE WHAT’S GOING ON!"

Man: YOUR PICTURE’S COMING IN \h\h\h\hREAL GOOD, REAL CLEAR.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: OVER A BILLION PEOPLE TUNE IN

TO WATCH THE ASTRONAUTS \h\h\h\h\hLIVING IT UP,

OR DOWN.

Cernan: ONE OF OUR PROBLEMS \h\hIS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

\h\h\hWHICH WAY IS UP AND WHICH WAY IS DOWN.

Stafford: YOU HAVE YOUR CHOICE.

IF YOU DON’T LIKE THINGS \h\h\h\h\hRIGHT SIDE UP,

YOU CAN GO UPSIDE DOWN.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: OKAY. WE’VE GOT ONE OF YOU IN EACH DIRECTION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hStafford: IT’S REALLY A BALL UP HERE

LIVING IN ZERO G, BELIEVE ME.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCernan: IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO FLY.

\h\h\h\h\hWeitekamp: YOU CAN SEE HOW RELAXED THEY WERE ON CAMERA.

THEY HAD BEEN IN SPACE BEFORE,

\h\hSO THEY ADAPTED RELATIVELY QUICKLY,

\h\hAND THEY WERE REALLY ABLE TO SELL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

\h\h\hWHAT THEY WERE DOING AND SHOW OFF THEIR PERSONALITIES.

Stafford: I GOT YOU.

[LAUGHTER]

Man: TOM, THE FLIGHT ENGINEER \h\hHERE WANTS YOU TO BE SURE

TO LOG ALL YOUR EXERCISE.

\hNarrator: ARRIVING AT THE MOON MEANS GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS.

THE CREW PREPARES TO UNDOCK \h\h\h\h\h\hTHE LUNAR MODULE

AND DESCEND TO JUST 50,000 FEET.

\h\h\h\h\h\hChaikin: NOW, ON A REAL LANDING MISSION,

THAT’S WHEN THE FINAL DESCENT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWOULD BEGIN.

THAT WAS A GOOD PLACE TO SAY,

"OKAY, WE’RE NOT GONNA GO \hANY FURTHER THAN THIS."

WE’LL TAKE PICTURES,

AND THE ASTRONAUTS WILL OBSERVE THE LANDING SITE

THAT’S BEEN PICKED OUT \h\h\h\hFOR APOLLO 11.

\hNarrator: MISSION PLANNERS CONSIDERED GIVING APOLLO 10

THE NOD TO LAND.

\hLunney: WE HAD THE DEBATES THAT YOU COULD EXPECT, LIKE,

WELL, IF WE’RE GOING \hALL THE WAY THERE,

WHY DON’T WE GO AHEAD AND LAND?

THE IDEA WAS THAT,

\h\h\h\h\h\hLET’S BITE OFF A REASONABLE AMOUNT HERE,

AND THEN LET’S LEAVE \hTHE NEXT BIG BITE

FOR THE APOLLO 11 MISSION.

Teasel Muir-Harmony: LANDING ON THE MOON

IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED \h\hAND MUCH MORE RISKY

THAN ORBITING THE MOON,

AND BEING ABLE TO LAUNCH \hOFF THE LUNAR SURFACE

WAS ALSO UNTESTED \h\hAT THAT POINT.

Duke: CHARLIE BROWN, HOUSTON.

WATCH YOUR CABIN PRESSURE. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOVER.

Narrator: CERNAN AND STAFFORD \hCLIMB INTO THE LUNAR MODULE

AND PREPARE TO SEPARATE FROM THE COMMAND MODULE AND JOHN YOUNG.

Duke: OKAY, CHARLIE BROWN \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND SNOOP.

\h\h\hTHREE MINUTES GOING OVER THE HILL.

Narrator: JUST BEFORE UNDOCKING,

MISSION CONTROL NOTICES \h\h\h\hA SERIOUS ISSUE.

Duke: CHARLIE BROWN, HOUSTON.

\h\h\h\h\h\hWE’RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS APPARENT SLIPPAGE

OF THE DOCKING RING.

Young: ROGER.

Kluger: THERE WAS A MISALIGNMENT IN THE DOCKING MECHANISMS

AND IN THE DOCKING PINS

\h\h\h\hTHAT WOULD LOCK THE SPACECRAFT TOGETHER.

\h\hNarrator: MISSION CONTROL TRIES TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.

SEPARATING THE TWO SPACECRAFT

\hMIGHT SHEAR OFF THE LATCHING PINS,

MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE \hFOR THE TWO SHIPS

TO RE-DOCK AND COME HOME.

Duke: CHARLIE BROWN, HOUSTON.

IF IT IS APPARENT THAT THE INTERFACE

\h\hHAS SLIPPED AROUND TO ABOUT 6 DEGREES, DO NOT UNDOCK. OVER.

\h\h\hKluger: IF THESE TWO VERY DIFFERENT SPACECRAFT

\h\hWITH THIS APPARATUS THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO CLICK THEM TOGETHER

\h\hDIDN’T FIT PRECISELY, YOU’D HAVE A REAL PROBLEM.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: 60 MILES ABOVE THE LUNAR LANDSCAPE,

\h\h\hTHE APOLLO 10 CREW WAITS ANXIOUSLY TO LEARN

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIF IT’S SAFE TO UNDOCK THEIR SPACECRAFT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hKluger: IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT THE SEAL BETWEEN THE TWO SPACECRAFT

\h\h\h\hWOULD GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF THE CREWS

AS THEY TRIED TO TRANSFER \h\h\h\h\hBACK AND FORTH.

Duke: OKAY, TROOPS.

NOW, WE’D LIKE YOU TO GET \hA HATCH INTEGRITY CHECK

IN THE COMMAND MODULE. OVER.

Stafford: ROGER.

\h\hNarrator: MISSION CONTROL HUDDLES TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM

AND DETERMINES THAT SEPARATING \h\h\h\h\h\hTHE TWO SPACECRAFT

IS WORTH THE RISK.

Duke: OKAY, CHARLIE BROWN \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND SNOOP,

YOU’RE GO FOR UNDOCKING.

\h\h\h\hWE’LL SEE YOU AROUND THE OTHER SIDE.

Stafford: ROGER.

Young: ROGER.

\h\h\hNarrator: ALONE IN THE COMMAND MODULE,

\h\h\hASTRONAUT JOHN YOUNG WATCHES SNOOPY BREAK FREE.

Cernan: HAVE A GOOD TIME WHILE WE’RE GONE, BABE.

Stafford: YEAH, DON’T GET LONESOME OUT THERE, JOHN.

Young: ROGER.

\h\hKluger: THAT WAS A TRICKY SITUATION,

\h\h\h\h\hBEING ALONE IN THE COMMAND MODULE.

NO ONE HAD DONE IT YET \h\h\hIN LUNAR ORBIT,

AND THAT WAS A SCARY BUSINESS,

BECAUSE IF YOUR CREWMATES \h\h\hDO NOT MAKE IT BACK,

\hYOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE DARK AND HEARTBREAKING RESPONSIBILITY

OF FLYING HOME ALONE.

Stafford: WE’LL SEE YOU BACK \h\h\h\hIN ABOUT SIX HOURS.

Young: DON’T YOU WORRY.

Narrator: CERNAN AND STAFFORD \h\h\h\h\hFIRE UP THEIR ENGINE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND GUIDE SNOOPY ENTICINGLY CLOSE TO THE MOON.

Cernan: WE IS GO, AND WE IS \hDOWN AMONG THEM, CHARLIE.

\h\h\h\hDuke: ROGER. I HEAR YOU WEAVING YOUR WAY UP THE FREEWAY.

Barry: IT’S ONLY THE SECOND TIME THEY’VE FLOWN THE LUNAR MODULE,

\h\hAND THEY’RE FLYING WHERE THE LUNAR MODULE WAS INTENDED TO BE.

THAT’S A PRETTY UNIQUE HONOR, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S ONLY TWO PEOPLE GOT TO DO THAT, AND IT WAS THEM.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hStafford: ROGER, WE’RE COMING UP TO THE CRATER.

\hNarrator: SNOOPY RACES ABOVE THE MOON’S SURFACE

AT NEARLY 4,000 MILES AN HOUR,

DOCUMENTING THE INVISIBLE PATH

THEY HOPE THE NEXT CREW \h\h\hWILL TAKE TO LAND.

\hDuke: TOM, IF YOU’VE GOT A CHANCE TO TALK A MINUTE,

COULD YOU DESCRIBE LANDING SITE TWO FROM EIGHT MILES?

Stafford: YEAH, OKAY.

\h\hTHE APPROACH IN LOOKS A LOT SMOOTHER

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAN SOME OF THE ORBITER PHOTOS SHOW.

HOWEVER, IF YOU COME DOWN \h\h\h\hIN THE WRONG AREA

AND YOU DON’T HAVE \hTHE HOVER TIME,

\hYOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO SHOVE OFF.

Duke: WE COPY.

Narrator: EIGHT HOURS LATER,

STAFFORD AND CERNAN COMPLETE THEIR WORK

AND PREPARE TO REUNITE \hWITH CHARLIE BROWN.

BUT AS THEY RISE,

\hSOMETHING GOES TERRIBLY WRONG.

Cernan: SON OF A BITCH!

SOMETHING’S WRONG.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hChaikin: THEY SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED

\hA WILD GYRATION OF THE SPACECRAFT.

Stafford: OKAY, THRUST AFT. \h\h\h\hHOLD IT, THRUST AFT.

\hKluger: THEY WENT INTO AN OUT-OF-CONTROL TUMBLE

JUST 50,000 FEET ABOVE THE MOON.

Stafford: WE’RE IN TROUBLE!

Narrator: THE LUNAR HORIZON \h\h\hFLASHES BY EIGHT TIMES

IN JUST 15 SECONDS.

Stafford: GOD DAMN.

Chaikin: STAFFORD IMMEDIATELY \h\h\h\h\hPUNCHED THE BUTTON,

\h\hAND HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE GYRATION

AND GET IT UNDER CONTROL.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hStafford: WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?

Cernan: BABE, I DON’T KNOW!

Stafford: OKAY, CHARLIE, \h\h\h\hWE’RE WITH YOU.

I THINK WE GOT ALL OUR MARBLES.

Cernan: MAN, I’LL TELL YOU, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT WAS WILD!

\h\h\h\h\hChaikin: IT TURNED OUT THAT THE WHOLE THING WAS CAUSED

BY A MISTAKEN SWITCH SETTING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW, IT WAS A SCARY FEW MOMENTS FOR THEM,

\hBUT IT TURNED OUT THAT THEY WERE OKAY

AND THE MISSION COULD CONTINUE.

Cernan: LET’S GO UP AND GET ’EM.

Kluger: THIS IS PRECISELY \hTHE KIND OF IMPERFECTION

IN THE FLIGHT PLAN

\h\h\hTHAT THAT FINAL TEST WAS SUPPOSED TO DETERMINE.

AND THAT KIND OF ACCIDENT \h\hNEVER HAPPENED AGAIN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: EIGHT HOURS AFTER SNOOPY

AND CHARLIE BROWN PART WAYS,

\h\h\hTHE LATCHING PINS SNAP THE TWO SPACECRAFT TOGETHER,

\hAND THE LANDER SAFELY RE-DOCKS.

Chaikin: THERE WERE \h\h\hSO MANY THINGS

THAT COULD HAVE GONE WRONG.

\h\h\h\hTHE FLIGHT WAS A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.

\h\hNarrator: THREE DAYS LATER, THE CREW ARRIVES BACK ON EARTH.

[APPLAUSE]

Muir-Harmony: IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT IT WAS A STEP

TOWARDS THE ULTIMATE GOAL

THAT KENNEDY HAD SET OUT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 1961,

WHICH WAS TO LAND HUMANS \h\h\h\h\h\hON THE MOON.

[PEOPLE TALKING]

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: NOW, THE NEXT THREE ASTRONAUTS

STEP INTO THE LIMELIGHT.

\h\h\h\hTHEIR MISSION-- ATTEMPT A LUNAR LANDING.

\h\h\hKluger: THE POSITION OF FIRST MAN ON THE MOON WAS ONE

\h\hOF THOSE ODD POSITIONS THAT HAD BEEN BOOKMARKED IN HISTORY.

FROM THE TIME OF THE ANCIENTS, \h\h\h\h\hPEOPLE WERE SAYING,

"WHO IS THAT PERSON \h\h\hGOING TO BE?"

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IF THE MISSION GOES WELL,

THAT PERSON WILL BE \h\hNEIL ARMSTRONG.

A FORMER NAVAL AVIATOR \h\h\h\hAND TEST PILOT

WITH A GEMINI MISSION \h\h\hUNDER HIS BELT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHE’LL COMMAND THE HISTORIC APOLLO 11 FLIGHT.

Neil Armstrong: WE WERE \hVERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

WE TRIED TO BE AS FOCUSED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS WE COULD,

\h\h\h\h\hWORK ON THE THINGS WE COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT,

AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THE THINGS

\h\h\hTHAT WERE BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO CHANGE.

Narrator: ARMSTRONG’S COPILOT--

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUZZ ALDRIN, THE FIRST ASTRONAUT WITH A PhD.

\hTHE GEMINI VETERAN AND SPACEWALK EXPERT

TOOK THE FIRST SELFIE IN SPACE.

\h\h\h\hAldrin: ALL OF US WERE GOING TO DO THE BEST WE COULD.

\h\h\hWE CERTAINLY DON’T WANT TO GET OVERWHELMED

WITH GRANDEUR OF SUCCESS BEFORE WE’VE SUCCEEDED.

\h\h\h\h\h\hAS YOGI BERRA SAYS, "IT’S NOT OVER TILL IT’S OVER."

\hNarrator: PILOTING THE COMMAND MODULE,

\hMICHAEL COLLINS, A WEST POINT GRAD

AND FORMER AIR FORCE \h\h\hFIGHTER PILOT.

\h\h\hAFTER A GEMINI MISSION, HE TRAINED TO FLY ON APOLLO 8,

BUT FATE STEPPED IN.

\h\h\h\hMichael Collins: I HAD A DISC COME LOOSE

BETWEEN TWO CERVICAL VERTEBRAE,

\h\hAND THAT GROUNDED ME FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS,

\hAND THEN I RETURNED TO THE SELECTION POOL

ABOUT THE TIME FOR APOLLO 11.

Chaikin: ALL THREE OF THE ASTRONAUTS

ON APOLLO 11 WERE VETERANS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THAT GAVE THEM AN EXTRA MEASURE OF CONFIDENCE

THAT CAME IN VERY HANDY

\hWHEN YOU’RE TRYING TO DO THE ULTIMATE TEST FLIGHT.

Narrator: THE CONFIDENCE \hDOESN’T COME CHEAPLY.

\h\hIT’S THE PRODUCT OF HUNDREDS OF HOURS

\h\h\h\h\h\hSPENT PRACTICING EVERY ASPECT OF THE MISSION.

Barry: WHILE THE APOLLO 11 CREW HAVE BEEN TRAINING

\h\hFOR THE MISSION FOR SEVERAL MONTHS,

THE REAL INTENSE LEVEL \h\h\h\h\hOF TRAINING

\h\h\hSORT OF KICKED OFF AFTER APOLLO 10 HAPPENS,

AND THEY’RE REALLY SURE WHAT THEIR MISSION’S GOING TO BE.

Kluger: THE EIGHT WEEKS \h\h\h\hLEADING UP TO IT

WERE AN EXERCISE IN CONTINUING \h\h\h\hTO TEST THE PROTOCOLS,

\h\h\h\hCONTINUING TO TEASE OUT THOSE LAST ELEMENTS OF UNKNOWNS,

THOSE LAST ELEMENTS OF RISK.

Narrator: COLLINS FOCUSES \h\hON THE COMMAND MODULE.

\h\hARMSTRONG AND ALDRIN TRY TO MASTER THE LUNAR MODULE,

\h\h\hKNOWING THAT IT CAN BE ONLY SO REALISTIC ON EARTH.

Barry: THEY WERE PILOTS.

THEY WERE TRAINED TO FLY \hIN EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE.

THOSE SKILLS ARE COMPLETELY \h\h\h\hUSELESS ON THE MOON

BECAUSE THERE’S NO ATMOSPHERE.

Chaikin: THEY NEEDED SOMETHING

CALLED THE LUNAR LANDING \h\h\hTRAINING VEHICLE,

WHICH WAS A SPECIAL MACHINE DESIGNED TO REPLICATE FLYING

IN THE MOON’S ONE-SIXTH GRAVITY,

\h\h\h\h\h\hEVEN THOUGH YOU WERE STILL ON EARTH.

Narrator: ASTRONAUTS CALL IT \h\h\h\hTHE FLYING BEDSTEAD.

IN THE CENTER, A BIG JET ENGINE THAT POINTS STRAIGHT DOWN,

WITH A PILOT’S SEAT \h\h\hBOLTED ON TOP.

\h\h\h\h\h\hEACH FLIGHT IS A PRECARIOUS VENTURE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hChaikin: THERE WAS NO SAFETY NET.

IF YOU TILTED TOO FAR, YOU COULD JUST FALL OUT OF THE SKY.

YOU REALLY HAD TO BE \h\h\hON YOUR TOES.

\h\h\hNarrator: IN 1968, NEIL ARMSTRONG PREPARES

\h\h\h\hFOR HIS 21st FLIGHT IN THE LUNAR LANDER TRAINER.

♪

THE FIRST 20 WENT WELL,

BUT THIS ONE SUFFERS A RARE MALFUNCTION.

Chaikin: ALL OF A SUDDEN, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT LURCHED,

KIND OF TIPPED OVER \h\h\h\hON ONE SIDE.

[EXPLOSION]

[EXPLOSION]

\h\h\hMuir-Harmony: HE ALMOST PERISHED.

HE WAS ABLE TO EJECT \h\h\h\hJUST IN TIME

AND WITH NO, NO TIME TO SPARE.

HE WAS REALLY CLOSE \h\h\hTO, UM, UH...

A FATAL ACCIDENT.

\h\hWeitekamp: NEIL ARMSTRONG HAD A PARTICULARLY COOL HEAD.

\h\h\hHE WENT BACK TO HIS DESK AND FINISHED OUT HIS WORK DAY

BECAUSE HE DIDN’T SEE ANY REASON

THAT, HAVING JUST NARROWLY \h\h\h\h\h\hESCAPED DEATH,

HE WOULD CLOCK OUT AND GO HOME EARLY.

Narrator: IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE LAUNCH,

THE CONTROL CENTER \hAT CAPE KENNEDY

BUZZES WITH NASA VIPs,

INCLUDING ADMINISTRATOR \h\h\h\h\hTHOMAS PAINE.

\hOUTSIDE THE GATES, ANOTHER VIP ARRIVES.

\hCIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST REVEREND RALPH ABERNATHY

\h\hBRINGS A SMALL GROUP OF DEMONSTRATORS TO ASK

FOR A PIECE OF THE MOON SHOT’S \h\h\hMULTIBILLION-DOLLAR PIE.

Aaron Bryant: THIS IS A DONATION CAN THAT DR. RALPH ABERNATHY

AND THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN \h\hLEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

USED TO HELP RAISE MONEY DURING THE POOR PEOPLE’S CAMPAIGN.

\hTHE POOR PEOPLE’S CAMPAIGN WAS AN ANTIPOVERTY MOVEMENT

\h\h\hTHAT WOULD BRING PEOPLE OF MULTIPLE RACES AND CULTURES

ACROSS THE COUNTRY TOGETHER \h\hTO FIGHT FOR EDUCATION,

\h\hHEALTHCARE, JOB TRAINING, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES.

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY SHOWED UP AT THE APOLLO 11 LAUNCH

\h\hBECAUSE THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION.

\h\h\hAND SO, THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ABERNATHY

AND THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN \h\hLEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO PUT POVERTY ON AN INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM.

\hNarrator: THOMAS PAINE MEETS ABERNATHY’S GROUP

TO DISCUSS THEIR CONCERNS.

\hRalph Abernathy: PLEASE PERMIT ME TO EXPRESS MY PROFOUND THANKS

AND APPRECIATION TO YOU.

\h\hBryant: THE PROTEST WASN’T REALLY AGAINST SENDING PEOPLE

TO THE MOON.

THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE \h\h\h\hOF THESE MISSIONS.

IT WAS JUST REALLY \h\hAN OPPORTUNITY

TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM

\h\h\hTO HAVE CONVERSATIONS TO MAKE THIS NATION BETTER.

Thomas Paine: WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU HITCH YOUR WAGONS

TO OUR ROCKETS.

\h\h\hBryant: THOMAS PAINE WAS PRETTY UNDERSTANDING.

\hPaine: AND TO TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

THAT THE NASA PROGRAM \h\h\hIS AN INDICATION

OF WHAT THIS COUNTRY CAN DO.

Bryant: HE ACTUALLY \hINVITED ABERNATHY

\h\hAND ALL THE FOLKS WHO HAD COME WITH HIM

TO WATCH THE LAUNCH.

\h\hKluger: SO, AT ONE VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT,

THOSE TWO GROUPS WERE ABLE \h\hTO BEGIN THE DIALOGUE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT WOULD LEAD TO SOME KIND OF RECONCILIATION.

Narrator: JULY 16, 1969, \h\h\h\h\h\hLAUNCH DAY.

[APPLAUSE]

NEIL ARMSTRONG, BUZZ ALDRIN, \h\h\h\hAND MICHAEL COLLINS

BOARD THE VAN FOR THE LAUNCHPAD.

Walter Cronkite: AT 9:32 A.M.,

\hMAN BEGINS THE GREATEST ADVENTURE IN HIS HISTORY.

\h\h\hTHERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PERSONS

GATHERED HERE.

THEY HOPE TO GET A GLIMPSE \hOF THAT ASCENDING ROCKET

ON THIS HISTORIC DAY.

Narrator: IN THE GRANDSTANDS,

\h\h\hEX-PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON

AND VICE PRESIDENT \hSPIRO T. AGNEW,

\hJOINED BY MORE THAN 3,000 REPORTERS FROM 56 COUNTRIES.

Muir-Harmony: HAVING A GLOBAL \h\hAUDIENCE BE ABLE TO FOLLOW

WAS SEEN AS REALLY ESSENTIAL \h\h\h\hBY PRESIDENT KENNEDY

\h\hWITH HIS GOAL OF INFLUENCING AND WINNING THE HEARTS AND MINDS

\hOF THE WORLD PUBLIC AND POLITICAL LEADERS.

\h\hNarrator: ARMSTRONG LEADS THE WAY TO THE COMMAND MODULE,

\h\hTRYING TO BALANCE EXCITEMENT WITH CALM.

Armstrong: YOU ALWAYS FEEL THAT THE CHANCES

\h\h\hOF ACTUALLY LIFTING OFF ARE FAIRLY DISTANT AND REMOTE,

AND SO YOU HAVE TO TEMPER \h\h\h\h\hYOUR ENTHUSIASM

WITH THE REALIZATION THAT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN FACT, YOU MAY BE COMING BACK IN

\h\h\h\hAND TRYING TO GO ANOTHER DAY.

Man: TOWER TRANSFER \h\h\h\hIS COMPLETE.

GUIDANCE IS INTERNAL.

10, 9, IGNITION SEQUENCE STARTS.

6, 5, 4,

3, 2, 1, 0.

ALL ENGINES RUNNING.

LIFTOFF. WE HAVE A LIFTOFF.

[CHEERING]

\h\h\h\hMan: 11, HOUSTON. THRUST IS GO, ALL ENGINES.

YOU’RE LOOKING GOOD.

\h\h\h\h\hArmstrong: AH, ROGER. YOU’RE LOUD AND CLEAR, HOUSTON.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: A DECADE OF HUMANITY’S HOPE

DISAPPEARS INTO A BLINDING SKY,

BUT THE MISSION’S SUCCESS \h\h\hIS FAR FROM ASSURED.

Weitekamp: SPACEFLIGHT CAN BE \h\hA VERY UNFORGIVING PLACE,

AND THERE WERE VERY REAL CHANCES

THAT THEIR MISSION MIGHT NOT SUCCEED.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AFTER A THREE-DAY JOURNEY,

APOLLO 11 SLIPS SMOOTHLY \h\h\hINTO LUNAR ORBIT.

\h\h\h\hTHE CREW MARVELS AT THE LANDSCAPE BELOW.

♪

Armstrong: IT LOOKS VERY MUCH \h\h\h\h\h\hLIKE THE PICTURES,

BUT LIKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WATCHING A REAL FOOTBALL GAME

AND ONE ON TV.

\hTHERE’S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR ACTUALLY BEING HERE.

Man: ROGER.

WE CERTAINLY WISH WE COULD \h\hSEE IT FIRSTHAND ALSO.

\h\h\h11, HOUSTON. LOOKS LIKE IT’S PRETTY CROWDED IN THERE.

Man: YOU BET.

Narrator: ARMSTRONG AND ALDRIN HEAD OVER TO THE LUNAR MODULE

TO MAKE FINAL CHECKS.

\hCollins: WE’LL PUT UP A COUPLE OF HOSES IN THE COMMAND MODULE.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: TOMORROW, IF EVERYTHING GOES AS PLANNED,

\h\h\h\hTHEY WILL ATTEMPT TO DO SOMETHING NO ONE HAS EVER DONE--

LAND.

Man: ROGER.

\h\hKluger: BIG PROBLEM WITH LANDING ON THE MOON

\h\hIS THAT YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO DO IT RIGHT,

\h\h\h\hAND IF YOU DO IT WRONG, YOU ARE NEVER COMING HOME AGAIN.

\hMan: ROGER, LET US KNOW WHEN YOU’RE READY TO COPY.

Narrator: JULY 20, 1969. \h\h\h\h\h\hLANDING DAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\hGene Kranz: PROCEDURES FROM FLIGHT.

WILL YOU SECURE THE DOORS?

Man: ROGER.

\hNarrator: THE DOORS TO MISSION CONTROL HAVE BEEN FIRMLY LOCKED.

FLIGHT DIRECTOR GENE KRANZ \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND HIS TEAM

DON’T WANT ANY DISTRACTIONS.

\hTHEY’RE FACING ONE OF THE MOST AUDACIOUS ENGINEERING CHALLENGES

IN HISTORY.

Kranz: I CALLED THE CONTROLLERS, AND I TOLD THEM

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT I BELIEVED THAT FROM THE DAY WE WERE ALL BORN,

\h\hWE WERE DESTINED TO MEET IN THIS ROOM

AND THAT WE WOULD REMEMBER \h\h\h\hTHIS DAY FOREVER.

AND I SAID, "WHATEVER HAPPENS,

I WILL NEVER SECOND-GUESS \h\h\h\hANY OF YOUR CALLS.

NOW, LET’S GO LAND ON THE MOON."

Man: APOLLO 11, THIS IS HOUSTON.

DO YOU READ? OVER.

Narrator: A QUARTER OF A MILLION MILES AWAY,

\h\h\h\hTHE CREW OF APOLLO 11 IS FEELING THE PRESSURE, TOO.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hArmstrong: WE WERE CERTAINLY AWARE

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT THIS WAS A CULMINATION OF THE WORK

OF 300,000 OR 400,000 PEOPLE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOVER A DECADE

\h\h\hAND THAT THE NATION’S HOPES AND OUTWARD APPEARANCE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLARGELY RESTED ON HOW THE RESULTS CAME OUT.

LOOKING GOOD.

Man: ROGER, NEIL.

Narrator: ON ITS 13th ORBIT, APOLLO 11 CAREFULLY UNDOCKS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND BECOMES TWO SEPARATE SPACECRAFT--

THE COMMAND MODULE, COLUMBIA,

AND THE LUNAR MODULE, EAGLE.

Duke: HOW DOES IT LOOK, NEIL?

Armstrong: THE EAGLE HAS WINGS.

\h\hNarrator: EAGLE CARRIES JUST OVER 12 MINUTES OF DESCENT FUEL.

Armstrong: OKAY, I’M READY TO START MY YAW MANEUVER.

Narrator: 12 MINUTES TO LAND, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hABORT, OR CRASH.

Armstrong: THE FINAL DESCENT TO LANDING WAS FAR AND AWAY

THE MOST COMPLEX PART \h\h\h\hOF THE FLIGHT.

THE UNKNOWNS WERE RAMPANT.

THERE WERE JUST A THOUSAND \h\hTHINGS TO WORRY ABOUT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: COLLINS WATCHES HIS FRIENDS

BEGIN THEIR PERILOUS \hJOURNEY DOWNWARD.

\h\h\h\h\h\hDuke: YOU ARE GO TO CONTINUE POWERED DESCENT.

YOU ARE GO TO CONTINUE \h\h\hPOWERED DESCENT.

Aldrin: ROGER.

Narrator: WITH SEVEN MINUTES \h\h\h\h\hOF FUEL REMAINING,

\h\h\hARMSTRONG’S VOICE SUDDENLY BECOMES TENSE.

Armstrong: PROGRAM ALARM.

Aldrin: 1202.

Chaikin: THEY LOOK DOWN AT THE COMPUTER DISPLAY,

\hAND IT’S FLASHING AN ALARM CODE, 1202.

\h\h\hTHEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT CODE MEANS.

Narrator: FLIGHT CONTROLLERS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDESPERATELY

SCAN THEIR CHECKLISTS.

\h\h\h\hIF THEY CAN’T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM,

THEY MAY HAVE TO ABORT \h\h\h\h\hTHE MISSION.

Lunney: YOU HAVE TO MAKE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hVERY RAPID, TIME-CRITICAL-TYPE DECISIONS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND WE’RE DOING IT IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE WORLD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hChaikin: 1202 BASICALLY TRANSLATES

INTO THE COMPUTER SAYING,

"I HAVE TOO MANY THINGS TO DO \h\h\hIN MY COMPUTATION CYCLE.

\h\h\hIF THIS KEEPS RECURRING, I’M GONNA ABORT THE LANDING."

Narrator: THE GROUND CREW \h\h\h\h\hWEIGHS THE RISKS

AND DECIDES TO GAMBLE \h\hON A SAFE LANDING.

Duke: ROGER. WE GOT YOU. WE’RE GO ON THAT ALARM.

Armstrong: ROGER. 6 PLUS 25.

Narrator: THE ASTRONAUTS \h\h\hCONTINUE DOWNWARD,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT JUST MOMENTS BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TOUCHDOWN,

ARMSTRONG DISCOVERS THAT HE’S \hOVERSHOT THEIR LANDING ZONE.

Weitekamp: WHEN ARMSTRONG \h\hLOOKED OUT THE WINDOW,

\h\h\h\h\h\hHE SAW A FIELD STREWN WITH SMALL BOULDERS

AND A CRATER THAT WAS JUST RIGHT IN THE PATH

OF WHERE THEY WERE GOING.

Armstrong: PRETTY ROCKY AREA.

Aldrin: 600 FEET, DOWN AT 19.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: MISSION CONTROL STANDS BY

AS ARMSTRONG WEIGHS HIS OPTIONS.

THERE’S A SMOOTHER LANDING SPOT A HALF MILE AWAY,

IF THE ASTRONAUTS CAN REACH IT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE PROBLEM-- THEY’RE RUNNING OUT OF FUEL.

\h\h\h\h\h\hArmstrong: OKAY, HOW’S THE FUEL?

Aldrin: EIGHT PERCENT.

\h\hBarry: NEIL AND BUZZ ARE IN THE LUNAR MODULE SAYING,

\h\h\hIS THIS SOMETHING THAT MEANS I CAN’T LAND

\h\h\h\h\hOR IS THERE JUST ENOUGH FUEL LEFT

\h\hTHAT I CAN GET OVER TO THAT SPOT OVER THERE

WHERE THE BOULDERS AREN’T SO BIG AND I CAN LAND SAFELY?

Narrator: A TENSE AND LISTENING WORLD HOLDS ITS BREATH.

Aldrin: ALTITUDE-VELOCITY LIGHT.

47 FORWARD, 2 1/2 DOWN.

Narrator: ALDRIN CALLS OUT THE DIMINISHING ALTITUDE AND FUEL.

\h\hAldrin: 100 FEET. 3 1/2 DOWN. 9 FORWARD.

Duke: ROGER.

Aldrin: FIVE PERCENT.

Kranz: ALL OF A SUDDEN,

\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU START BECOMING INTENSELY AWARE OF THE CLOCK.

WE HAVE 60 SECONDS BEFORE WE’RE EITHER GOING TO LAND

OR WE’RE GOING TO ABORT.

Aldrin: 6 FORWARD.

\h40 FEET DOWN, 2 1/2, KICKING UP SOME DUST.

Chaikin: THEY CAME DOWN \h\h\hCLOSER AND CLOSER.

Aldrin: 30 FEET, 2 1/2 HALF DOWN.

4 FORWARD, 4 FORWARD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hChaikin: AND FINALLY A BLUE LIGHT

ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THAT LIGHT WAS LABELED "LUNAR CONTACT."

Armstrong: OKAY, ENGINE STOP.

ENGINE ARM OFF.

HOUSTON, TRANQUILITY BASE HERE.

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED.

Duke: ROGER, TWANK, \h\h\h\hTRANQUILITY.

WE COPY YOU ON THE GROUND.

YOU GOT A BUNCH OF GUYS \h\hABOUT TO TURN BLUE.

WE’RE BREATHING AGAIN. \h\h\h\hTHANKS A LOT.

\h\h\h\hWeitekamp: THEY ESTIMATE THAT THEY HAD SOMEWHERE BETWEEN

17 AND ABOUT 47 SECONDS \h\h\h\h\hOF FUEL LEFT.

Cronkite: MAN ON THE MOON.

\h\h\h\h\h\hWally Schirra: THAT IS REALLY SOMETHING.

Cronkite: PHEW! BOY!

\h\hChaikin: THE WORLD STOPPED IN ITS TRACKS,

AND NO MATTER WHAT COUNTRY \h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY WERE IN,

\h\h\h\hTHEY SAID, "OH, MY GOD, THE AMERICANS ARE ON THE MOON."

Narrator: APOLLO 11 HAS JUST \hMADE ITS HISTORIC LANDING

ON THE MOON.

AT THE MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER IN HOUSTON,

\h\h\h\h\hMISSION CONTROL ISN’T READY TO CELEBRATE.

\h\h\hKranz: I SAY, "MY GOD! WE’RE ACTUALLY ON THE MOON!"

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE, \hALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY,

WHETHER THE SPACECRAFT \h\h\hIS SAFE TO LEAVE

\hON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON OR SHOULD WE IMMEDIATELY LIFT OFF?

\hBarry: THOSE GUYS ARE STAYING FOCUSED

BECAUSE THEY HAD A JOB TO DO.

ARE ALL THE SYSTEMS \hWORKING PROPERLY?

\h\hIS IT TILTED TOO MUCH TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER?

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS \h\h\h\hTHEY WERE DOING

IS THEY’RE RUNNING THROUGH \hSTAY/NO STAY CHECKLISTS.

Kranz: OKAY, T1. STAY/NO STAY.

\h\h\hRETRO. Retro: STAY.

Kranz: FIDO? FIDO: STAY.

Kranz: GUIDANCE. Guidance: STAY.

Kranz: CONTROL. \hControl: STAY.

Kranz: DELTCOM. \hDeltcom: STAY.

Kranz: GNC? EECOM? SURGEON? \h\hMen: STAY...STAY...STAY.

\hKranz: CAP COMM, WE’RE STAY FOR T1.

\h\hBarry: IT’S NOW CLEAR THAT IT’S SAFE TO STAY ON THE MOON.

\h\h\h\h\hDuke: ROGER, EAGLE, AND YOU ARE STAY FOR T1. OVER.

EAGLE, YOU ARE STAY FOR T1.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FROM INSIDE THE LANDER,

ASTRONAUTS LOOK OUT \h\h\hAT A LANDSCAPE

THAT HAS BEEN UNDISTURBED \h\hFOR BILLIONS OF YEARS.

Aldrin: THOSE FIRST FEW SECONDS WHEN NEIL AND I TOUCHED DOWN,

AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS THINGS \h\h\h\hTHAT WE NEEDED TO DO,

BUT WE ALSO NEEDED TO PAUSE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR A MOMENT.

WE GAZED OUT THE WINDOW, AND IT WAS JUST A MAGNIFICENT VIEW.

♪

\hNarrator: THE FLIGHT PLAN CALLS FOR A FOUR-HOUR REST,

BUT THE ADRENALINE OF LANDING

HAS THE ASTRONAUTS EAGER TO EXPLORE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hArmstrong: HOUSTON, TRANQUILITY.

Duke: GO, TRANQUILITY. OVER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hArmstrong: ROGER. OUR RECOMMENDATION AT THIS POINT

\h\h\h\h\hIS PLANNING AN EVA ABOUT THREE HOURS FROM NOW.

Narrator: THE TIME CHANGE \hMEANS THAT THE MOONWALK

WILL NOW HAPPEN AT 9:30 P.M. \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHOUSTON TIME,

\h\hPRIME-TIME VIEWING FOR THE UNITED STATES.

\hMuir-Harmony: IT WOULD BE A LIVE TELEVISION BROADCAST

FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE,

\h\h\h\hSO EVERYONE THAT HAD A TELEVISION COULD TUNE IN.

Cronkite: GOOD EVENING.

\h\h\hMISSION CONTROL GAVE THE SPACECRAFT PERMISSION

TO GO FOR THE EXTRAVEHICULAR \h\h\h\hACTIVITY. THAT IS...

\h\hNarrator: AT 9:54 P.M., NASA BROADCASTS THE EXCHANGE

BETWEEN THE ASTRONAUTS \hAND MISSION CONTROL.

Man: NEIL, THIS IS HOUSTON.

\h\h\hWHAT’S YOUR STATUS ON HATCH OPENING? OVER.

Narrator: OVER 500 MILLION \h\h\h\hPEOPLE LISTEN IN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hArmstrong: ...CABIN PRESSURE TO BLEED SO--

TO BLOW ENOUGH PRESSURE \h\h\hTO OPEN THE HATCH.

IT’S ABOUT .1 ON OUR GAUGE NOW.

Narrator: THE TALK IS TECHNICAL, BUT GRIPPING.

BEHIND IT IS THE PROMISE \h\h\h\h\h\hOF A MOMENT

THAT THE WORLD HAS BEEN ANTICIPATING FOR YEARS.

\h\hMan: DO YOU THINK YOU CAN OPEN THE HATCH

AT THIS PRESSURE, \h\hABOUT .12 PSI?

\h\h\h\h\h\hArmstrong: WE’RE GOING TO TRY IT.

Man: ROGER.

\hAND WE’RE GETTING A PICTURE ON THE TV.

Armstrong: OKAY, HOUSTON. \h\h\h\hI’M ON THE PORCH.

Man: ROGER, NEIL.

Narrator: AT 9:56 P.M.,

38-YEAR-OLD COMMANDER \h\h\h\hNEIL ARMSTRONG

STEPS OUT OF THE LUNAR MODULE.

Aldrin: NO, HOLD IT \h\h\hJUST A MINUTE.

Armstrong: OKAY.

Chaikin: AND AT THAT POINT,

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS \hOF PEOPLE ON EARTH

\h\h\h\hSAW THIS SILHOUETTE OF ARMSTRONG’S BOOT AND LEG

\h\h\h\hAS HE STARTED TO DESCEND THE LADDER.

♪

Man: OKAY, NEIL,

WE CAN SEE YOU COMING \hDOWN THE LADDER NOW.

ROGER, WE COPY.

\h\h\hArmstrong: IT TAKES A PRETTY GOOD LITTLE JUMP.

Man: ROGER.

\h\h\h\hChaikin: HOLDING ON WITH ONE HAND ON THE LADDER,

HE PICKED UP HIS LEFT BOOT, RAISED IT OVER THE FOOTPAD,

AND PLACED IT ON THE MOON.

\h\h\hArmstrong: THAT’S ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN,

ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND.

[LAUGHTER]

Man: COME ON!

[ALL TALKING]

Chaikin: ARMSTRONG LATER SAID \h\h\h\h\hTHAT HE HAD INTENDED

TO SAY ONE SMALL STEP FOR A MAN,

BUT PROBABLY IN THE EXCITEMENT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE EVENT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHE LEFT OUT THAT LITTLE, LITTLE WORD.

Armstrong: THERE SEEMS TO BE \h\h\h\h\h\hNO DIFFICULTY...

Narrator: JUST NINE YEARS \h\h\h\h\hAFTER THE START

OF NASA’S AUDACIOUS \h\hAPOLLO PROGRAM,

THE FIRST HUMAN BEING \hSTANDS ON THE MOON.

Man: NEIL, THIS IS HOUSTON. \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE’RE COPYING.

Narrator: ALDRIN TAKES PHOTOS THROUGH EAGLE’S TINY WINDOWS.

Aldrin: OKAY, ARE YOU READY \h\h\h\hFOR ME TO COME OUT?

Armstrong: ALL SET.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: 20 MINUTES AFTER ARMSTRONG’S FIRST STEPS,

IT’S ALDRIN’S TURN TO HEAD OUT.

Aldrin: IT’S A GOOD STEP. \h\h\h\h\hArmstrong: YEAH.

Aldrin: BEAUTIFUL VIEW!

Armstrong: ISN’T THAT SOMETHING!

MAGNIFICENT SIGHT OUT HERE.

Aldrin: MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION.

\hNarrator: THE ASTRONAUTS DON’T HAVE LONG TO MARVEL.

\hTHEY HAVE ONLY TWO HOURS TO COMPLETE A LONG LIST OF TASKS.

Chaikin: THEY HAD TO DEPLOY \h\h\h\h\hTHE AMERICAN FLAG,

TAKE PICTURES, SET OUT A COUPLE

\h\h\h\h\hOF VERY BASIC SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS,

\h\hAND GET A DECENT COLLECTION OF ROCKS

\hTHAT THEY COULD BRING HOME FOR THE SCIENTISTS ON EARTH.

Narrator: WHILE ARMSTRONG \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND ALDRIN

MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR TIME,

\h\h\h\hCOLLINS ORBITS IN THE COMMAND MODULE,

WAITING TO SEE IF HIS FRIENDS \h\h\h\h\h\hWILL RETURN ALIVE.

Collins: MY CONCERNS WERE NOT \h\hWITHIN THE COMMAND MODULE,

SIMPLY THAT SOMETHING \h\h\h\hMIGHT GO WRONG

WITH THE LUNAR MODULE,

AND THESE TWO GUYS \hMIGHT GET STUCK

ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON.

Narrator: THE SMITHSONIAN \h\h\h\h\h\hOWNS THE SHIP

THAT MICHAEL COLLINS \h\h\h\hMADE FAMOUS

\h\h\h\h\hAND IS BRINGING ITS 50-YEAR-OLD SECRETS TO LIGHT.

♪

A SMITHSONIAN CONSERVATION TEAM

SCANS EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY \h\h\hOF COLUMBIA’S BODY...

♪

...ASSEMBLING THE DIGITAL FILES INTO A HIGHLY DETAILED 3D MODEL.

\h\hNOW ANYONE CAN EXPLORE THE ARTIFACT’S INTRICATE INTERIOR,

INCLUDING A SURPRISE-- \h\h\hSPACE GRAFFITI.

THE ASTRONAUTS OF APOLLO 11

\h\h\h\hWROTE LOVE NOTES TO THEIR HOME IN SPACE,

\h\hREMINDERS ABOUT ESSENTIAL OPERATION,

\h\h\hWARNINGS ABOUT THINGS THAT COULD RUIN THE MISSION,

\h\hAND TRIED TO TRACK TIME IN A PLACE THAT HAD NO DAY OR NIGHT.

Collins: I WROTE THE CALENDAR,

AND THE OTHER SCRATCHINGS \h\hON THE WALL IN THERE,

I WOULD, I WOULD BLAME THOSE \h\h\h\h\hON NEIL ARMSTRONG

OR, OR BUZZ ALDRIN.

BUT THE CALENDAR PUT THE DAY THAT WE WERE

INTO SOME SORT OF PERSPECTIVE.

HOW MANY DAYS HAVE WE DONE,

HOW MANY DAYS WE HAVE LEFT, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSORT OF THING.

\hMan: COLUMBIA, THIS IS HOUSTON.

\hI GUESS YOU’RE ABOUT THE ONLY PERSON AROUND

\h\h\h\hTHAT DOESN’T HAVE TV COVERAGE OF THE SCENE.

Collins: THAT’S ALL RIGHT. \h\h\hI DON’T MIND A BIT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: 60 MILES BELOW COLLINS,

\h\h\hARMSTRONG AND ALDRIN MOVE THROUGH THE MOONWALK

AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN.

Aldrin: YOU DO HAVE TO BE \h\h\h\h\hRATHER CAREFUL.

\h\h\hSOMETIMES IT TAKES ABOUT TWO OR THREE PACES

TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU’VE GOT \hYOUR FEET UNDERNEATH YOU.

Narrator: THE ASTRONAUTS ARE RUNNING WELL BEHIND SCHEDULE

WHEN MISSION CONTROL INTERRUPTS THEM WITH AN IMPORTANT CALL.

\h\h\hMan: NEIL AND BUZZ, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

IS IN HIS OFFICE NOW

\h\hAND WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO YOU. OVER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hArmstrong: THAT WOULD BE AN HONOR.

Man: GO AHEAD, MR. PRESIDENT. \h\h\h\hTHIS IS HOUSTON. OUT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMuir-Harmony: NIXON CALLED THE ASTRONAUTS

DURING THEIR EVA AND MENTIONED \h\h\h\h\hTHAT IT WAS PROBABLY

\h\hTHE MOST HISTORIC PHONE CALL EVER MADE.

\h\h\hRichard Nixon: FOR EVERY AMERICAN,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS HAS TO BE THE PROUDEST DAY OF OUR LIVES

\h\h\hAND FOR PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

I AM SURE THEY, TOO, JOIN WITH AMERICANS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN RECOGNIZING WHAT AN IMMENSE FEAT THIS IS.

Muir-Harmony: NIXON HAD \h\hORIGINALLY SUGGESTED

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT THEY PLAY "THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER"

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND HAVE A MORE ELABORATE CEREMONY,

BUT THE NASA LIAISON SAID

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT IT WAS A DANGEROUS, RISKY MISSION

AND THAT THEY SHOULD KEEP THE CEREMONIAL ACTIVITIES

AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE.

\h\h\h\hNixon: BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE,

THE HEAVENS HAVE BECOME \hA PART OF MAN’S WORLD.

Armstrong: THANK YOU, \h\h\h\hMR. PRESIDENT.

Narrator: WITH ONLY AN HOUR \h\h\hLEFT IN THE MOONWALK,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE TWO MEN TRY THEIR BEST TO DOCUMENT

\h\h\h\hEVERY NUANCE OF A WORLD THEY WILL NEVER RETURN TO AGAIN.

Aldrin: WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE \h\h\h\hBEEN OUT THERE LONGER,

BUT WE KNEW THAT THIS IS \hA DISCIPLINED MISSION.

\h\h\h\h\hYOU GOT TO DO WHAT YOU’RE TOLD TO DO.

Narrator: THE CREW BRINGS BACK

OVER 50 POUNDS OF SOIL \h\h\h\hAND MOON ROCKS

\h\h\hAND TAKES OVER 100 DRAMATIC PHOTOS,

INCLUDING ONE OF HUMANKIND’S \h\h\hMOST DEFINITIVE IMAGES

OF EXPLORATION.

Aldrin: WE CALL IT THE VISOR PICTURE

BECAUSE THE REFLECTION \h\h\h\h\hIN THE VISOR

WILL SHOW THE LANDING CRAFT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IT’LL SHOW THE WHITE-SUITED ASTRONAUT,

NEIL, THAT TOOK THE PICTURE.

Man: NEIL AND BUZZ, \h\hTHIS IS HOUSTON.

I’D LIKE TO REMIND YOU...

Narrator: THE 2.5-HOUR MOONWALK GOES BY TOO QUICKLY.

MISSION CONTROL GIVES THE CUE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO WRAP UP.

Man: PRESS ON WITH CLOSING OUT.

Chaikin: THEY LEFT \hTHESE FOOTPRINTS

IN THIS VERY FINE SOIL,

WHICH WILL REMAIN FOR PERHAPS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hA MILLION YEARS,

KIND OF AN ULTIMATE KIND \h\h\h\hOF IMMORTALITY.

\h\h\hAldrin: ANYTHING MORE BEFORE I HEAD ON UP, BRUCE?

\h\h\h\h\h\hBruce: NEGATIVE. HEAD ON UP THE LADDER, BUZZ.

\hNarrator: ARMSTRONG AND ALDRIN HEAD BACK INTO THE LUNAR LANDER

TO GET SOME REST.

\h\hTOMORROW THEY HAVE A TASK JUST AS TOUGH AS THE LANDING--

TAKING OFF FROM THE MOON.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSIX DAYS INTO APOLLO 11’S MISSION,

FLIGHT CONTROLLERS PREPARE

FOR THE VERY FIRST LAUNCH \h\h\hFROM ANOTHER WORLD.

\h\hKluger: THIS WAS THE TRICKIEST PART,

TO SEPARATE THE TWO HALVES \h\h\hOF THE LUNAR MODULE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE DESCENT HALF THAT WOULD BE LEFT ON THE MOON

AND THE ASCENT HALF THAT WOULD \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOME BACK HOME.

IT WAS A VERY COMPLICATED \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPROCEDURE,

AND IT HAD NEVER BEEN TRIED \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT THE MOON.

\h\hNarrator: THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSION DEPENDS ON THIS MOMENT.

IF EAGLE CAN’T GET OFF THE MOON,

THE MISSION WILL COME \h\hTO A TERRIBLE END.

\h\h\h\h\hKluger: THEY STILL HAD TO AVOID THAT TERRIBLE PROSPECT

OF TWO MEN BEING STRANDED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE MOON.

IF THEY CAN’T REACH \h\hTHE MOTHER SHIP,

THEY CAN’T COME HOME.

\h\h\h\hMan: EAGLE, HOUSTON, YOU’RE CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF.

\h\h\hAldrin: ROGER. UNDERSTAND. WE’RE NUMBER ONE ON THE RUNWAY.

Man: ROGER.

\hKranz: THE ADRENALINE IN THE CONTROL ROOM WAS BUILDING UP.

YOU COULD FEEL IT. \hIT WAS PALPABLE.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A HEAVY FOG, IT WAS SO REAL.

Aldrin: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5,

ABORT STAGE, ENGINE ARM ASCENT, PROCEED.

[WHOOSH]

Narrator: THE LUNAR MODULE’S \h\h\h\h\h\h\hENGINE FIRES.

\h\h\h\hAldrin: BEAUTIFUL. 26, 36 FEET PER SECOND UP.

VERY SMOOTH.

\h\h\hNarrator: MISSION CONTROL BREATHLESSLY WATCHES THEM RISE.

Aldrin: VERY QUIET RIDE.

THERE’S THAT ONE CRATER \h\h\h\h\h\hDOWN THERE.

\h\h\hMan: EAGLE, HOUSTON. EVERYTHING’S LOOKING GOOD.

Armstrong: WE’RE GOING \h\hRIGHT DOWN U.S. 1.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AS HE WAITS FOR HIS COLLEAGUES TO JOIN HIM,

COLLINS MARVELS AT THE SIGHT.

\h\h\h\hCollins: THE THING I REMEMBER MOST, VISUALLY,

IS SEEING THE HORIZON,

THE LUNAR MODULE,

AND THE EARTH, ALL IN A ROW.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMETHING

THAT WOULD RARELY BE SEEN AGAIN.

Narrator: EAGLE AND COLUMBIA \h\hRE-DOCK WITHOUT A HITCH.

ASTRONAUTS SETTLE BACK IN THE COMMAND MODULE

\h\h\h\h\hAND RELEASE EAGLE TO CRASH BACK INTO THE MOON.

\h\h\hON THE LAST NIGHT OF THEIR THREE-DAY JOURNEY BACK TO EARTH,

THE ASTRONAUTS MAKE ONE FINAL \h\h\h\hBROADCAST FROM SPACE.

Collins: THIS TRIP OF OURS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE MOON

MAY HAVE LOOKED TO YOU \h\h\hSIMPLE OR EASY.

I’D LIKE TO ASSURE YOU THAT THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE.

\h\hAldrin: WE’VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS HAS BEEN

FAR MORE THAN THREE MEN ON A VOYAGE TO THE MOON.

WE FEEL THAT THIS STANDS \h\h\h\h\h\hAS A SYMBOL

OF THE INSATIABLE CURIOSITY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF ALL MANKIND

TO EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN.

Armstrong: WE’D LIKE TO GIVE \h\h\h\h\h\hA SPECIAL THANKS

\h\hTO ALL THOSE AMERICANS WHO BUILT BOTH SPACECRAFT.

\h\hTO THOSE PEOPLE, TONIGHT WE GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU,

AND TO ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE

\h\hTHAT ARE LISTENING AND WATCHING TONIGHT,

GOD BLESS YOU.

GOOD NIGHT FROM APOLLO 11.

♪

Narrator: EIGHT DAYS \h\h\hAFTER LAUNCH,

COLUMBIA BLAZES THROUGH \hTHE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE

AT 36,000 FEET PER SECOND.

IT SPLASHES DOWN IN THE PACIFIC.

THE USS HORNET IS WAITING.

THE NAVY DEPLOYS A SIKORSKY SEA KING AND THREE SWIMMERS

TO RETRIEVE THE TRIUMPHANT CREW.

\h\hBEFORE THE CREW CAN BOARD THE SHIP,

\h\hTHEY MUST PUT ON A NEW KIND OF SUIT--

A BIOLOGICAL ISOLATION GARMENT

DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE SPREAD \h\hOF GERMS FROM OUTER SPACE.

[APPLAUSE]

Aldrin: WE WERE THE FIRST CREW, OF COURSE,

\h\hTHAT WAS GONNA BE EXPOSED TO THE LUNAR SURFACE MATERIAL,

AND THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT \h\h\h\hOF SCIENTIFIC DEBATE

AS TO WHETHER THAT MIGHT, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN ANY WAY,

\h\h\h\hPOSE ANY HAZARD TO PEOPLE BACK ON EARTH.

Narrator: APOLLO 11’S VOYAGE FOR THE AGES ENDS IN THIS TRAILER,

\h\h\hCALLED A MOBILE QUARANTINE FACILITY...

♪

...ON VIEW AT THE NATIONAL \h\hAIR AND SPACE MUSEUM.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNeedell: NASA KNEW FAIRLY WELL

\hTHAT THE ENVIRONMENT ON THE MOON WAS QUITE HOSTILE TO LIFE

WITH THE BRIGHT ULTRAVIOLET RAYS FROM THE SUN,

\h\h\hWHICH WE USE ON EARTH TO KILL GERMS ALL THE TIME.

BUT JUST TO BE SURE, THEY AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT

\h\h\h\hTO QUARANTINE RETURNING ASTRONAUTS.

\h\h\h\hCollins: I COULD HAVE STAYED IN THERE A LOT LONGER.

THAT WAS FINE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA HOT SHOWER, THAT WAS THE MAIN THING, REALLY,

BECAUSE I LOVE HOT SHOWERS,

AND, OF COURSE, THERE’S NOT ONE ON THE COMMAND MODULE.

\h\hSO, I WAS GRUBBY AND GLAD TO BE BACK.

HOT SHOWER, GIN, AND STEAK. WOW!

\hNeedell: THERE WAS A LITTLE KITCHENETTE

THAT HAD A VERY STATE-OF-THE-ART

\hMODERN CONVENIENCE OF A MICROWAVE OVEN.

TO HAVE MICROWAVE-COOKED MEALS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS A REAL TREAT

\hFOR THE ASTRONAUTS AFTER THEIR JOURNEY.

AND THEN THERE WERE BUNKS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO SLEEP IN.

FOR THEM, IT WAS SPACIOUS

COMPARED TO ALL THE TIME \h\h\h\h\hTHEY HAD SPENT

IN THE COMMAND MODULE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

Narrator: SOON, QUARANTINE \h\h\h\hENDS WITH A ROAR.

THE RETURNING ASTRONAUTS \hARE TREATED AS HEROES.

THEIR GOODWILL TOUR TAKES THEM \hTO 24 COUNTRIES IN 45 DAYS.

\hTHROUGH IT ALL, ASTRONAUTS STRESS THAT THE ACHIEVEMENT

\h\h\hDOESN’T JUST BELONG TO THREE MEN ON A ROCKET.

Muir-Harmony: ONE THING \h\hTHAT NEIL ARMSTRONG

WOULD EMPHASIZE AGAIN \hAND AGAIN AND AGAIN

\h\hWAS THAT IT WASN’T JUST THE TWO OF THEM LANDING ON THE MOON,

\hBUT IT WAS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

HAD WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK AND THROUGH THE WEEKEND FOR YEARS

TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING \h\h\h\h\h\hWOULD GO RIGHT.

Narrator: WITH THE SUCCESS \h\h\h\h\h\hOF APOLLO 11,

NASA DREAMS UP NEW MISSIONS,

EACH MORE AMBITIOUS \h\h\hTHAN THE LAST.

THEY WANT LONGER MISSIONS.

THEY WANT TO MAKE NEW TRACKS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND TO LEARN WHAT THE MOON CAN TELL US

ABOUT THE MYSTERIES \h\hOF THE UNIVERSE.

\h\hWeitekamp: NASA’S LEADERSHIP NEVER SAW APOLLO 11 AS THE END.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY SAW IT AS THE PROOF OF CONCEPT.

\h\hNOW THEY COULD REALLY BEGIN THE PROGRAM OF LUNAR EXPLORATION

AND SCIENCE THAT THEY HAD \h\h\hBEEN PREPARING FOR.

Narrator: LANDING ON THE MOON

\h\hONCE SEEMED LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM,

\h\hBUT NASA’S FAITH, WORK, AND IMAGINATION

\h\hHAVE ACCOMPLISHED A FEAT THAT TRANSCENDS ANY NATION.

Armstrong: WE WERE REALLY \h\h\h\h\hVERY PRIVILEGED

TO LIVE IN THAT

THIN SLICE OF HISTORY

WHERE WE, WE CHANGED

HOW MAN LOOKS AT HIMSELF

AND WHAT HE MIGHT BECOME

AND WHERE HE MIGHT GO,

AND SO I’M VERY THANKFUL

THAT WE GOT TO SEE THAT \h\h\hAND BE PART OF IT.