Original subtitles

[EXPLOSION]

Astronaut: HOUSTON, WE’VE HAD A PROBLEM.

\h\h\h\hMan: STAND BY. THEY’VE GOT A PROBLEM.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAstronaut: MAIN B BUS UNDERVOLT...

Man: OK. STAND BY, 13. \hWE’RE LOOKING AT IT.

Man: THERE WAS THIS LOUD BANG.

THE WHOLE SPACECRAFT SHUDDERED.

Man: WE MIGHT HAVE LOST \h\h\h\h\h\hFUEL CELL 1.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE FUEL CELL 2.

Man: THAT CAN’T BE.

\h\hMan: NOTHING MADE SENSE IN THOSE FIRST FEW SECONDS.

Astronaut: LOOKS TO ME LOOKING OUT THE HATCH

THAT WE ARE VENTING SOMETHING.

\hWE ARE VENTING SOMETHING OUT INTO THE...INTO SPACE.

Man: THEY SOON REALIZED

THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY NOT \hGONNA LAND ON THE MOON,

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THEY’RE IN A LIFE-OR-DEATH SITUATION.

Woman: AND EVERYONE WAS WATCHING

AND THEY WERE HOPING THAT THE ASTRONAUTS

WOULD RETURN HOME SAFELY.

Man: MISSION SEQUENCE START...

[RUMBLING]

Narrator: TWO EMERGENCIES.

Man: TRY SCE TO AUXILIARY.

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?

HANG ON. HANG ON.

Narrator: ONE CREW WOULD REACH \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE MOON...

THE OTHER WOULD RACE \h\h\hTO ESCAPE IT.

\h\h\hMan: WHEN YOU HAVE A SPARK INSIDE A TANK OF LIQUID OXYGEN,

IT’S BASICALLY A BOMB.

Narrator: THESE ARE THE APOLLO MISSIONS,

FROM INSIDE THE SMITHSONIAN...

\h\h\h\h\hFEATURING RARE ASTRONAUT INTERVIEWS...

Man: AND WE WERE DOING THIS \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR ALL MANKIND.

Narrator: ...IMAGES THAT ARE \h\h\h\h\hOUT OF THIS WORLD

\h\h\h\hAND ARTIFACTS WITH A STORY TO TELL.

RELIVE THE GLORY AND AGONY

OF A TIME WHEN THE NATION \h\h\h\h\h\hTOOK RISKS...

AND FAILURE WAS NOT AN OPTION.

Astronaut: REACHING DOWN...

GETTING MY SUIT DIRTY \h\h\h\hAT THIS STAGE.

Narrator: JULY 20, 1969.

HALF A BILLION PEOPLE

WATCH AMERICA BEAT THE SOVIETS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE MOON.

Astronaut: FAIRLY EASY.

Newscaster: THAT’S ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN...

Narrator: APOLLO 11 RETURNS \h\hTO A JUBILANT PRESIDENT.

[APPLAUSE]

WEARING ISOLATION GARMENTS,

\hTHE CREW ENTERS QUARANTINE IN CASE OF LUNAR INFECTION.

[APPLAUSE]

\h\h\h\h\h\hNewscaster: THE PRESIDENT SIGNALING

FOR APPLAUSE FROM THE CROWD.

ASTRONAUTS GATHER IN THE WINDOW.

\h\h\hRichard Nixon: NEIL, BUZZ AND MIKE,

I WAS THINKING, AS YOU KNOW, \h\h\h\h\hAS YOU CAME DOWN,

AND WE KNEW IT WAS A SUCCESS, \hAND IT HAD ONLY BEEN 8 DAYS,

THAT THIS IS THE GREATEST WEEK \hIN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD

SINCE THE CREATION.

\h\h\hTeasel Muir-Harmony: WHEN MICHAEL COLLINS HEARD

PRESIDENT NIXON SAY THAT,

THAT IT HAD BEEN, "THE GREATEST WEEK SINCE CREATION,"

HE WAS REALLY TAKEN ABACK, \hAND IT WAS HARD FOR HIM

TO FOCUS ON ANYTHING ELSE \h\h\hTHE PRESIDENT SAID.

Narrator: THREE WEEKS LATER,

NEIL ARMSTRONG, MICHAEL COLLINS AND BUZZ ALDRIN

LEAVE THE COCOON OF ISOLATION \h\h\h\hFOR THE CRUSH OF FAME.

\h\h\h\h\h\hMuir-Harmony: NIXON WAS VERY INTERESTED

IN HAVING THE ASTRONAUTS TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD

\hALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEIR FLIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT WAS A VERY STRATEGICALLY PLANNED TOUR.

\hHE WAS VERY HANDS-ON IN THE PLANNING OF IT.

Narrator: THE WHITE HOUSE EVEN LOANS THE CREW AIR FORCE TWO.

[CHEERING]

THEY VISIT 20 COUNTRIES

AND RECEIVE AN OUTPOURING \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF GIFTS...

ONE OF WHICH IS IN THE NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM.

IN AUSTRALIA, COMMAND MODULE \h\h\hPILOT MICHAEL COLLINS

RECEIVED THIS BOOMERANG--

"THE FIRST AERODYNAMIC SHAPE \h\h\h\h\hCONCEIVED BY MAN."

Michael Collins: I JUST HAVE \h\hA FOND SPOT IN MY HEART

FOR AUSTRALIA.

THEY WERE SO WELCOMING THERE,

\h\hAS WERE PEOPLE IN 20-SOME OTHER CITIES THAT WE VISITED.

TRAVELING WITH NEIL ARMSTRONG \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND BUZZ ALDRIN

WAS VERY FULFILLING.

NEIL WAS MORE OUR SPOKESMAN,

AND HE HAD A WONDERFUL QUALITY \h\h\h\h\hOF TALKING TO PEOPLE

IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY FELT

THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY PART \h\h\h\h\hOF THIS ADVENTURE.

\h\h\hTHEY WERE ON BOARD THE SPACECRAFT WITH US.

THAT ADDED TO THE FEELING OF, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h"WE DID IT."

WHEREVER WE WENT, "WE DID IT," \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE HUMANS.

[CHEERING]

THEY SHARED WITH US \h\h\hTHE JUBILATION

OF THE SUCCESS OF THE EVENT

AND FELT VERY MUCH A PART OF IT, LIVING HERE ON EARTH.

AND WE WERE DOING THIS \h\h\hFOR ALL MANKIND.

[CHEERING]

Narrator: FLUSH WITH SUCCESS, \h\hNASA ROLLS OUT APOLLO 12--

\hTHE FIRST OF A NEW BREED OF SCIENCE-BASED MISSIONS.

\h\h\hITS GOAL: PUSH BEYOND APOLLO 11’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

Man: SEEING 0-2 NOW.

Bill Barry: APOLLO 11 IS GET TO THE SURFACE OF THE MOON,

PICK UP A FEW SAMPLES, PROVE IT CAN BE DONE,

AND THEN GET BACK HOME SAFELY.

WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY,

THE APOLLO 12 CREW IS FREE \h\h\hTO GO DO ITS THING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: APOLLO 12’S GUTSY COMMANDER

\hIS CHARLES "PETE" CONRAD, WHO’S FLOWN TWICE IN SPACE.

\hLIKE MOST OF THE ASTRONAUTS, CONRAD WAS A NAVY TEST PILOT.

BUT HIS SKILL AND CHARISMA \h\h\h\hALWAYS STOOD OUT.

\h\h\h\hBarry: PETE’S A LEGEND IN TERMS OF HIS SENSE OF HUMOR

AND HIS READY LAUGH,

\h\hBUT A VERY SERIOUS GUY WHO REALLY KNEW HIS STUFF.

\h\h\h\hINCREDIBLY BRILLIANT. HE ACTUALLY WENT TO PRINCETON.

\hAND HE’S KIND OF AN ODD DUCK IN SOME WAYS AMONG ASTRONAUTS

BECAUSE OF THAT BACKGROUND.

Narrator: ON APOLLO 12, \h\h\h\hCONRAD WILL FLY

WITH NAVY BUDDIES RICHARD GORDON AND ALAN BEAN.

\hFOR SIX YEARS, THEY’VE TRAINED FOR EVERY EMERGENCY IMAGINABLE--

EXCEPT THE ONE THEY’LL FACE.

Announcer: APOLLO 12 SPACECRAFT AND THAT SATURN V LAUNCH VEHICLE

ALL STILL GOING WELL \h\h\hAT THIS TIME.

Barry: WHEN YOU’RE FLYING \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE MOON,

\h\h\h\hNO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU’VE DONE IT, IT’S NOT SIMPLE.

Narrator: NOVEMBER 14, 1969.

\hKENNEDY SPACE CENTER ON THE FLORIDA COAST.

APOLLO 12 COUNTS DOWN UNDER DARKENING SKIES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAnnouncer: THE COUNT IS GOING WELL,

BUT THE WEATHER APPEARS \h\hTO BE DETERIORATING.

THE FRONT THAT HAS BEEN \h\h\h\hNORTHWEST OF US

APPEARS TO BE COMING IN.

Narrator: FOR THE FIRST TIME, \hA SITTING PRESIDENT ATTENDS.

Announcer: WE HAVE A REPORT

\h\h\h\hTHAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS ARRIVED.

Barry: HE HAD CLEARLY, \h\h\h\hEARLY IN 1969,

\h\h\h\hHAD BENEFITED HEAVILY FROM THE SUCCESS OF APOLLO 11.

\h\h\h\h\hGREAT TRIUMPH ON THE FOREIGN POLICY FRONT.

AND SO HE GOES TO THE LAUNCH,

THE ONLY SITTING PRESIDENT TO GO TO AN APOLLO LAUNCH.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAnnouncer: PETE CONRAD HAS COMPLETED

HIS GUIDANCE AND CONTROL CHECKS IN THE SPACECRAFT.

\h\h\h\h\hPete Conrad: THE NAVY PRIDES ITSELF

ON ITS ALL-WEATHER OPERATION.

\h\hAND WHEN THE WEATHER WAS SUITABLE TO LAUNCH, WE WENT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAnnouncer: COUNTDOWN FOR APOLLO 12

STILL GOING AT THIS TIME.

IGNITION SEQUENCE STARTS.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.

ALL ENGINES RUNNING.

COMMIT.

LIFTOFF! WE HAVE LIFTOFF!

\h\h\h\h\h\h11:22 A.M. EASTERN STANDARD TIME.

\hPETE CONRAD REPORTS THE YAW PROGRAM IS IN!

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hConrad: A PITCH AND A ROLL PROGRAM,

AND THIS BABY IS REALLY GOING.

Narrator: WITHIN 20 SECONDS, \h\hCLOUDS SWALLOW THE SHIP.

Conrad: ROLL IS COMPLETE.

CAP COMM: ROGER, PETE.

Narrator: IN HOUSTON,

MISSION CONTROL SCRUTINIZES \h\h\h\h\hAPOLLO 12’S DATA.

\h\h\hConrad: APOLLO 12 WAS AN EXTREMELY ROUTINE FLIGHT

FOR THE FIRST 36 SECONDS.

\hCAP COMM: ALTITUDE A MILE AND A HALF NOW, VELOCITY...

Narrator: THEN... \h\h\h\h\h[STATIC]

\h\h\hA BURST OF STATIC SIGNALS A MAJOR PROBLEM.

Conrad: WE JUST LOST THE PLATFORM, GANG.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

WE HAD EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDROP OUT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: DATA TURNS TO GIBBERISH--

AND CONRAD LISTS ALL THE ALARMS.

Conrad: FUEL CELL LIGHTS, \h\h\h\h\hAN AC BUS LIGHT,

A FUEL CELL DISCONNECT, AC BUS OVERLOAD 1 AND 2,

MAIN BUS A AND B OUT.

Andrew Chaikin: PETE CONRAD SAID

THAT THERE WERE SO MANY \h\h\h\h\hWARNING LIGHTS

\h\h\hON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, IT WAS LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE.

\h\h\h\h\hHE’D NEVER SEEN THAT MANY LIGHTS AT ONCE.

\h\h\hBarry: THE COCKPIT WAS INCREDIBLY COMPLEX.

THE PANEL JUST INCHES AWAY \h\h\h\hFROM THEIR FACES,

PACKED FULL OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND SWITCHES

AND INDICATORS AND DIALS.

Narrator: THE CREW IS GOING \h\h\h5,000 MILES PER HOUR--

BUT THEY CAN STILL ABORT.

Barry: PETE CONRAD’S OVER THERE, HE’S THE COMMANDER.

HE’S GOT THE ABORT HANDLE.

AND HE’S, HE’S LIKE,

\h"DO I PULL THE ABORT HANDLE OR DON’T I PULL THE ABORT HANDLE?"

THAT WAS A REAL TEST.

Narrator: ALL EYES TURN \h\h\hTO THE CONTROLLER

IN CHARGE OF SHIP ELECTRICITY.

Chaikin: A GUY NAMED JOHN AARON.

AND JOHN AARON WAS SUDDENLY \h\hLOOKING AT HIS CONSOLE,

\hAND ALL OF THIS DATA HAD TURNED TO GARBAGE.

JUST A MEANINGLESS MUSH \h\h\h\h\h\hOF NUMBERS.

\h\hNarrator: SUDDENLY, AARON REMEMBERS SEEING THIS BEFORE--

DURING A TRAINING SESSION \h\h\h\hTHE PREVIOUS YEAR.

John Aaron: SO IT WASN’T \h\h\hTHAT I UNDERSTOOD

EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

\h\hI RECOGNIZED A PATTERN AND HOW TO GET OUT OF IT.

Chaikin: AND JOHN AARON \h\h\h\h\h\hFLASHES BACK

TO THAT PRACTICE COUNTDOWN \hAND WHAT HE HAD LEARNED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND HE SAYS TO THE FLIGHT DIRECTOR, GERRY GRIFFIN,

"FLIGHT, TELL THEM TO TRY \h\h\h\hSCE TO AUXILIARY."

GERRY GRIFFIN DOESN’T KNOW \h\h\h\h\hWHAT THAT MEANS,

BUT HE DUTIFULLY REPEATS IT TO THE CAP COMM, GERRY CARR.

GERRY CARR DOESN’T KNOW \h\h\h\h\hWHAT IT MEANS,

BUT HE RADIOS THE INSTRUCTIONS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hUP TO APOLLO 12.

Gerry Carr: APOLLO 12, HOUSTON.

TRY SCE TO AUXILIARY. OVER.

Conrad: NCE TO AUXILIARY...

Carr: S-C-E.

S-C-E TO AUXILIARY.

Narrator: CONRAD IS CONFUSED.

Chaikin: PETE CONRAD RESPONDS, \hHE SAYS, "NCE TO AUXILIARY."

AND CARR GOES, "NO, NO. SCE. \h\h\h\h\hSCE TO AUXILIARY."

Narrator: AS THE CREW CAREENS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hINTO SPACE,

THEY CAN’T NAVIGATE...

BUT THEIR ROCKET CAN.

CURATOR PAUL CERUZZI STANDS

\hNEXT TO THE SATURN V’S NAVIGATIONAL COMPUTER--

WHICH IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM CONRAD’S.

\h\hPaul Ceruzzi: WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SATURN V INSTRUMENT UNIT

THAT IS REALLY THE BRAINS \hOF THE SATURN V ROCKET.

THIS UNIT WAS MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF THE SATURN V ROCKET

AND CONTAINED A NUMBER \h\h\h\hOF COMPONENTS,

INCLUDING A SET OF GYROSCOPES, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hACCELEROMETERS,

A DIGITAL COMPUTER.

\h\hSO IT’S A VERY COMPLICATED SYSTEM THAT WE’RE LOOKING AT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE MASSIVE COMPUTER WAS BUILT

\h\h\hSO THE ROCKET COULD STEER ITSELF.

\h\hAND IT’S THE ONLY THING KEEPING APOLLO 12 ON COURSE.

\h\hCeruzzi: WE FORGET HOW IMPORTANT THIS WAS

\hDURING THE LAUNCHES OF ALL THE SATURN Vs.

THEY ALL WORKED PERFECTLY,

\hAND THE COMPUTERS NEVER MALFUNCTIONED.

THE GYROSCOPE WORKED.

AND IT REALLY WAS CRUCIAL

\hTO THE WHOLE SUCCESS OF THE APOLLO PROGRAM.

Narrator: THE SATURN V NAVIGATES DURING THE LAUNCH PHASE...

BUT THAT’S ABOUT TO END.

THE CREW NOW HAS 60 SECONDS \h\h\hTO SAVE THEIR FLIGHT.

Controller: ONE, ONE CHARLIE.

\hNarrator: HOUSTON STRUGGLES TO FIX APOLLO 12’S COMPUTER CRASH.

[RADIO CHATTER]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THEY’VE BEEN ASKING THE CREW

TO FIND AN OBSCURE SWITCH.

Carr: TRY SCE TO AUXILIARY. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOVER.

Conrad: SCE TO AUXILIARY.

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?

HANG ON, HANG ON.

Carr: 32.

\hNarrator: FLIGHT COMMANDER PETE CONRAD CAN’T FIND IT...

BUT CREWMATE ALAN BEAN CAN.

Barry: THEN ALAN BEAN GOES, "OH, I KNOW WHERE THAT IS."

CLICK. BWOOP!

THE POWER ALL COMES UP, \hTHINGS ALL WORK AGAIN.

AND VOILA, THEY’RE ON THEIR WAY TO THE MOON STILL.

Conrad: I DON’T KNOW \h\h\hWHAT HAPPENED.

I’M NOT SURE WE DIDN’T GET HIT BY LIGHTNING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: CONRAD IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

\hConrad: THINK WE NEED TO DO A LITTLE MORE ALL-WEATHER TESTING.

Carr: AMEN.

Narrator: NASA LATER REALIZES THE LAUNCH CAUSED A PHENOMENON

NO ONE KNEW EXISTED-- \hTRIGGERED LIGHTNING.

[THUNDER]

Chaikin: ABOUT 30 SECONDS \h\h\h\h\h\hAFTER LIFTOFF,

\h\h\hTHE SATURN V WAS TRAILING THIS HUGE PLUME OF IONIZED GAS.

AND AS PETE CONRAD LATER SAID,

THEY BECAME THE WORLD’S \hLONGEST LIGHTNING ROD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE LAUNCH ACTUALLY TRIGGERED

TWO BOLTS OF LIGHTNING--

36 AND 52 SECONDS AFTER LIFTOFF.

[THUNDER]

"SCE TO AUX" ALLOWED FOR A RESET OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

[BEEPING]

Carr: APOLLO 12, HOUSTON.

YOU’RE RIGHT SMACK DAB \h\hON THE TRAJECTORY.

YOUR IU IS DOING A BEAUTIFUL JOB.

Conrad: OK. WE’RE ALL CHUCKLING UP HERE OVER THE LIGHTS.

\h\h\h\h\hWE ALL SAID THERE WERE SO MANY ON WE COULDN’T READ ’EM.

\h\h\hChaikin: THEY’RE LAUGHING THE REST OF THE WAY INTO ORBIT.

Bean: THERE WERE SO MANY LIGHTS I COULDN’T READ ’EM ALL!

[LAUGHTER]

\h\h\hChaikin: AND IT’S JUST A GREAT MOMENT OF THIS CREW,

THESE THREE BEST FRIENDS WHO GOT TO GO TO THE MOON TOGETHER,

AND THEY JUST GOT THROUGH \h\hKIND OF A CLOSE CALL.

AND THIS IS THE SENSE OF RELIEF AND ALSO MASTERY.

♪

CAP COMM: THOSE ARE GREAT. \h\h\h\hYOU’RE GO FOR DOI.

\hNarrator: FIVE DAYS LATER, APOLLO 12 CIRCLES THE MOON,

\h\hPREPARING FOR NASA’S MOST AMBITIOUS GOAL YET:

A PINPOINT LANDING.

Conrad: ONE MINUTE.

Bean: WHY DON’T YOU \h\hSTART IT, PETE?

Narrator: NASA INSISTED ON IT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAFTER APOLLO 11,

WHEN THEY COULDN’T FIGURE OUT \h\hWHERE THE CREW HAD LANDED.

\hAPOLLO 12’S TARGET IS SURVEYOR CRATER,

NAMED AFTER A ROBOTIC SPACECRAFT CALLED "SURVEYOR III."

IT LANDED TWO YEARS EARLIER, PAVING THE WAY FOR APOLLO--

\h\hAND ONE OF ITS ENGINEERING MODELS IS AT THE SMITHSONIAN.

Matthew Shindell: FROM 1966 TO 1968,

NASA SENT SEVEN SURVEYORS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE MOON,

FIVE OF WHICH WORKED PERFECTLY.

BEFORE THESE LANDINGS,

\h\h\h\hTHERE ACTUALLY WAS VERY LITTLE UNDERSTANDING

\hOF HOW DEEP THE DUST WAS ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON

\h\h\hAND WHETHER OR NOT THE SURFACE OF THE MOON

WOULD BE STABLE ENOUGH

\h\h\hTO HOLD A CRAFT THAT WOULD WEIGH SEVERAL TONS.

SO IF YOU’RE GOING TO SEND ASTRONAUTS UP TO THE MOON

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND HAVE HUMANS WALKING AROUND ON THE MOON,

YOU WANTED TO KNOW BOTH

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT THEIR CRAFT WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO LAND

AND NOT SINK INTO THE MOON

AND ALSO THAT THEY THEMSELVES

\h\h\h\hWERE NOT GOING TO SINK INTO THE SURFACE OF THE MOON.

SO, IT WAS PRETTY IMPORTANT

TO ACTUALLY SEND A CRAFT UP \h\h\hAND TEST THOSE THINGS.

\h\hNarrator: THE ARTIFACT IS UNDERGOING CONSERVATION

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS.

\h\h\h\h\hShindell: WE ARE IN THE CONSERVATION SPACE

OF OUR RESTORATION HANGAR

OUT AT THE UDVAR-HAZY CENTER \h\hIN CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS WHERE OUR MUSEUM’S CONSERVATORS

AND OUR RESTORATION EXPERTS MAKE OUR ARTIFACTS DISPLAY-READY.

SO, WE’VE HAD THIS ENGINEERING MODEL OF SURVEYOR SINCE 1968,

\h\h\h\h\hSINCE THE END OF THE SURVEYOR PROGRAM,

SO IT’S BEEN WITH US NOW \h\h\h\h\hFOR ALMOST...

FOR BASICALLY 50 YEARS.

AND DURING THAT TIME, IT’S BEEN ALMOST CONSTANTLY ON DISPLAY.

SO, ONE THING WE DID RECENTLY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS WE TOOK THIS

\h\h\hAND SOME OF THE OTHER LUNAR ARTIFACTS OFF DISPLAY

SO THAT WE COULD GIVE THEM \h\h\h\h\h\h\hA GOOD CLEAN

\h\h\h\h\hAND MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE MATERIALS,

ALL THE PAINTS, METALS, PLASTICS WERE IN GOOD SHAPE

AND WE COULD STABILIZE ANYTHING THAT NEEDED TO BE STABILIZED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE ORIGINAL SURVEYOR III

REMAINS ON THE MOON.

AND FOR APOLLO 12, IT WOULD \h\hSERVE ANOTHER PURPOSE...

\hBean: DESCENT ENGINE COMMAND OVERRIDE OFF.

Narrator: ...AS PETE CONRAD’S \h\h\h\h\h\h\hLANDING TARGET.

Bean: OK, THROTTLE UP AT 26.

Narrator: CONRAD AND BEAN \hSTEER THE LUNAR LANDER,

\h\h\hNAMED INTREPID, TOWARDS SURVEYOR III.

Bean: HEY, LOOK AT THAT CRATER, RIGHT WHERE IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE!

YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL.

10 PERCENT.

257 FEET, COMING DOWN AT 5.

240 COMING DOWN AT 5.

COME ON DOWN, PETE.

Conrad: OK.

Bean: 10% FUEL.

COMING DOWN AT 3.

COME ON DOWN.

CONTACT LIGHT!

CAP COMM: ROGER. COPY CONTACT.

INTREPID, WE READ YOU \h\h\hLOUD AND CLEAR.

Narrator: CONRAD NAILS IT--

LANDING EVEN CLOSER TO SURVEYOR THAN PLANNED.

\h\h\h\h\hBean: THAT’S GOOD! RIGHT WHERE WE WANTED TO BE.

\h\hConrad: I BET YOU WHEN I GET DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LADDER

I CAN SEE YOUR SURVEYOR.

WE’RE ABOUT 25 FEET IN FRONT \h\hOF THE SURVEYOR CRATER.

CAP COMM: SOUNDS GOOD, PETE. \h\h\hJUST LIKE YOU WANTED.

Conrad: JUST SWING HER OUT HERE.

Narrator: FOR THE SECOND TIME, \h\hMEN WALK ON ANOTHER WORLD.

Bean: OUTSTANDING, MAN!

MASTER ARM ON.

BEAUTIFUL!

\h\hConrad: I LIKED IT SO MUCH, I’D GO BACK TOMORROW, RIGHT NOW.

I ENJOYED THE LUNAR SURFACE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hACTIVITIES

NOT JUST FOR THE FUN \hOF BOUNCING AROUND

\h\h\h\hBUT THE REAL WORK THAT WE COULD DO UP THERE.

\h\h\hNarrator: THE ASTRONAUTS HAVE ANOTHER "FIRST" PLANNED--

COLOR TV FROM THE MOON.

BEAN UNPACKS A NEW CAMERA...

BUT POINTS IT AT THE SUN, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hRUINING IT.

Barry: I WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONLY GEEKY PEOPLE--

\hIN FACT I KNOW I WAS THE ONLY GEEKY PERSON

IN MY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL \h\h\h\h\hWHO SAT THERE

AND ACTUALLY WATCHED THE CROOKED LINE ON THE TV SCREEN

SO I COULD LISTEN \hTO THE CREW TALK

WHILE THEY WERE WALKING \h\h\h\h\h\hON THE MOON.

Narrator: ONE NETWORK \h\hHAS A BACKUP PLAN

TO FILL THE AIRTIME--

ACTORS IN SPACESUITS.

SOME VIEWERS CAN’T TELL \h\h\h\hTHE DIFFERENCE.

OTHERS CHANGE THE CHANNEL.

DESPITE THE SNAFU, \hCONRAD AND BEAN

WILL TAKE SOME OF APOLLO’S FINEST STILL PHOTOGRAPHS.

Bean: I KNOW IT. HOLY CRUD, \h\hIT’S BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE!

Conrad: IT SURE IS. IT’S SOMETHING ELSE!

\h\hNarrator: THEY PERFORM EIGHT HOURS OF MOONWALKS--

TRIPLE THE TIME OF APOLLO 11.

Conrad: THE THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS THE GREATEST

\h\h\hABOUT THE LUNAR SURFACE IS THAT WE GOT 8 HOURS ON IT.

WE GOT ALL OUR JOB DONE, \h\hPLUS A LITTLE MORE.

Narrator: THE MEN’S LAST TASK IS A MOONWALK TO SURVEYOR III,

WHERE THEY REMOVE A CAMERA.

IT’S NOW AT THE SMITHSONIAN--

\h\hAND ONE OF THE FEW OBJECTS THAT SPENT YEARS ON THE MOON.

Chaikin: IT WAS A REALLY \h\h\hCRITICAL MILESTONE

JUST TO SHOW THAT YOU COULD LAND AT A PRE-CHOSEN SPOT.

ALL THE REST OF THE MISSIONS

\hTHAT THE SCIENTISTS WERE GOING TO PICK OUT

THE MOST INTERESTING PLACES \h\hTHAT APOLLO COULD GO TO,

THEY HAD TO KNOW THAT THEY COULD REALLY REACH THOSE PLACES,

AND APOLLO 12 SHOWED THAT.

Newscaster: SO THEY REALLY \hSHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT.

THERE YOU SEE SPLASHDOWN!

\hAPOLLO 12 HAS ENDED ITS FLIGHT TO THE MOON

\h\hAND HAS RETURNED TO THE MID-PACIFIC.

[APPLAUSE]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE ASTRONAUTS REDEFINE

WHAT A MOON MISSION CAN BE--

IF NASA CAN KEEP FLYING THEM.

AFTER APOLLO 12,

\h\h\hTHE AGENCY IS PREPARING FOR EIGHT MORE LUNAR LANDINGS.

\hTHEY WANT TO PUSH FURTHER ON THE MOON

WITH IMPROVED SPACESUITS \hAND NEW LUNAR ROVERS.

BUT SPACE ENTHUSIASM IS WANING,

\h\h\h\h\hAS MASS PROTESTS AND SOCIAL CHANGE DIVIDE AMERICA.

Muir-Harmony: ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN 11,

AND THERE WAS STILL QUITE A LOT OF INTEREST IN APOLLO 12,

THERE WERE SO MANY OTHER \h\hMAJOR, MAJOR ISSUES

PEOPLE WERE GRAPPLING WITH \h\h\h\h\h\hAT THAT TIME.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: ISSUES LIKE CIVIL RIGHTS,

THE ECONOMY AND THE VIETNAM WAR.

Newscaster: ALL OVER THE COUNTRY

PROTESTS WERE STAGED \h\hAGAINST THE WAR.

\h\hNarrator: THE PRESIDENT QUESTIONS APOLLO’S WORTH...

\hJUST AS NASA UNVEILS BOLD LONG-TERM PLANS.

\hTHE AGENCY PUSHES FOR REUSABLE SPACESHIPS AND SPACE STATIONS--

\hSOME EVEN DREAM OF SPACE COLONIES.

BUT THE PRESIDENT \hIS NOT ON BOARD.

\h\h\hBarry: NASA COMES UP WITH A VERY AMBITIOUS PLAN

THAT THEY LAY OUT,

\hAND THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT RESPOND TO THAT PLAN.

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY BASICALLY JUST SORT OF IGNORE IT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: NIXON-- AND THE NATION--ARE DISTRACTED.

BUT THE NEXT MISSION, APOLLO 13,

WILL GET UNPRECEDENTED \h\h\h\h\h\hATTENTION.

APRIL 1970.

APOLLO 13 PREPARES TO LAUNCH.

\h\hTHE COMMANDER IS NASA’S MOST EXPERIENCED ASTRONAUT,

JIM LOVELL.

HE FLEW ON APOLLO 8,

THE FIRST TIME HUMANS \h\hORBITED THE MOON.

\h\h\hJeffrey Kluger: JIM IS A NATURAL ENGAGER OF PEOPLE.

AND THAT, I THINK, \hIS WHAT MADE HIM

\hTHE EXCEPTIONAL ASTRONAUT HE WAS.

Narrator: ON APOLLO 13,

HIS CREWMATES ARE FRED HAISE \h\h\h\h\hAND KEN MATTINGLY.

THEY’VE BEEN TRAINING \h\h\h\hFOR A MISSION

PACKED WITH GEOLOGY AND NEW EXPERIMENTS.

72 HOURS BEFORE LIFTOFF, \h\h\h\h\hSOME BAD LUCK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMATTINGLY-- THE COMMAND MODULE PILOT--

IS GROUNDED AFTER BEING EXPOSED TO THE MEASLES.

BACK-UP PILOT JACK SWIGERT \h\h\h\h\h\hREPLACES HIM.

Jim Lovell: JACK HAPPENED \h\h\h\h\hTO HAVE WRITTEN

THE MALFUNCTION PROCEDURES \hFOR THE COMMAND MODULE.

SO HE KNEW THE COMMAND MODULE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPRETTY GOOD.

Narrator: AFTER APOLLO 12’S \h\h\h\h\hLIGHTNING STRIKE,

NASA LAUNCHES IN PURE SUNSHINE.

\h\hTHE SKIES ARE CLEAR, BUT THE CROWDS ARE THIN.

AT PREVIOUS LAUNCHES,

THE BLEACHERS AND ROADS \h\h\h\hWERE JAM-PACKED.

♪

[APPLAUSE]

Announcer: APOLLO 13 IS GO.

3, 2, 1, 0.

\h\h\h\h\h\hWE HAVE COMMIT, AND WE HAVE LIFTOFF AT 2:13.

[APPLAUSE]

\h\h\h\hTHE SATURN V BUILDING UP TO 7.6 MILLION POUNDS OF THRUST,

AND IT HAS CLEARED THE TOWER.

Newscaster: APOLLO 13’S TARGET,

A MOUNTAINOUS REGION \h\h\h\hOF THE MOON.

AND ITS MISSION IS ALMOST \h\h\hENTIRELY SCIENTIFIC.

\h\h\h\hSwigert: THE COMPUTER IS TELLING ME WE’RE 121,000...

\h\hNarrator: TWO DAYS LATER, MARILYN LOVELL AND MARY HAISE

VISIT MISSION CONTROL TO WATCH THEIR HUSBANDS’ TV BROADCAST.

THE ASTRONAUTS GIVE A TOUR OF THE COMMAND MODULE, ODYSSEY...

Man: THERE HE IS. \h\h\hWE SEE HIM.

Narrator: ...AND THE LUNAR \h\h\h\hMODULE, AQUARIUS.

BUT NONE OF THE NETWORKS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCARRY IT.

Muir-Harmony: WITH APOLLO 13, \h\h\h\hA LOT OF THE INTEREST,

\hAT LEAST WITHIN THE UNITED STATES,

HAD STARTED TO WANE A BIT.

PEOPLE WEREN’T FOLLOWING \h\h\h\h\h\hTHE FLIGHT.

THERE WAS A BROADCAST, BUT IT \hDIDN’T SHOW ON PRIMETIME TV.

Man: WE’RE AT 55 HOURS, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h38 MINUTES

INTO THE FLIGHT OF APOLLO 13.

Narrator: IN MISSION CONTROL,

VETERAN FLIGHT DIRECTOR GENE KRANZ AND HIS TEAM

ENTER THE LAST HOUR \h\hOF THEIR SHIFT.

KEN MATTINGLY, SHOWING NO SIGNS OF THE MEASLES, SITS IN.

Lovell: ROGER, SOUNDS GOOD,

AND THIS IS THE CREW \h\h\h\hOF APOLLO 13

WISHING EVERYBODY THERE \h\h\h\h\hA NICE EVENING

AND A GOOD NIGHT.

Narrator: THE ASTRONAUTS’ \hFAMILIES SAY GOOD NIGHT

TO MISSION CONTROL.

\h\h\h\hTHE TEAM’S NEXT TASK IS ROUTINE SHIP MAINTENANCE,

SO THE CREW CAN SLEEP.

\hODYSSEY IS POWERED BY THREE FUEL CELLS

THAT RUN ON HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN.

THE OXYGEN IS STORED HERE, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS A LIQUID,

\h\h\hIN CRYOGENIC TANKS THAT NEED TO BE STIRRED.

Kluger: THIS SLUSHY \h\h\hLIQUID OXYGEN

WOULD SOMETIMES SEPARATE \h\h\h\h\hA LITTLE BIT.

IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE LIQUIDY ON THE TOP;

IT WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE ICY \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE BOTTOM.

AND IN ORDER FOR IT \hTO FLOW PROPERLY,

YOU HAD TO RUN A FAN INSIDE IT \h\h\h\h\hAND SWISH IT AROUND,

LIKE A BLENDER.

Narrator: ONLY ONE CONTROLLER \hCOMMUNICATES WITH THE CREW--

A FELLOW ASTRONAUT KNOWN AS CAP COMM.

TONIGHT, IT’S JACK LOUSMA.

\h\hKluger: A COMMAND WENT UP TO THE SHIP TO STIR THE TANKS.

Jack Lousma: 13, WE’VE GOT \h\hONE MORE ITEM FOR YOU

WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE.

WE’D LIKE YOU TO STIR UP \h\h\h\hYOUR CRYO TANKS.

Swigert: STAND BY.

Lovell: THE MAIN B BUS \h\h\h\h\hUNDERVOLT...

Man: MIGHT HAVE LOST \h\h\h\hFUEL CELL 1.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE FUEL CELL 2... 3 IS GONE, TOO.

\h\hSwigert: OK, HOUSTON. WE’VE HAD A PROBLEM HERE.

Lousma: SAY AGAIN, PLEASE.

\h\hLovell: HOUSTON, WE’VE HAD A PROBLEM.

\h\hLousma: STAND BY. THEY’VE GOT A PROBLEM.

Man: 73, IT HASN’T MOVED.

Man: IS THAT REFLECTED ANYWHERE?

\h\h\h\h\hMan: NEGATIVE. Man: NO, IT’S NEGATIVE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hChaikin: THERE WAS THIS LOUD BANG.

THE WHOLE SPACECRAFT SHUDDERED.

\hLOVELL’S FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT HAISE WAS SCARING THEM

\h\h\h\h\hWITH THE CABIN RE-PRESSURIZATION VALVE

AS A KIND OF PRACTICAL JOKE

BECAUSE HE’D ALREADY \h\hDONE THAT ONCE.

BUT HE LOOKED DOWN THE TUNNEL \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT FRED HAISE,

\hAND HE COULD SEE HAISE’S EXPRESSION

AS IF TO SAY, "IT WASN’T ME."

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSwigert: WE HAD A PRETTY LARGE BANG

ASSOCIATED WITH THE CAUTION \h\h\h\h\hAND WARNING THERE.

Narrator: COMPUTERS CRASH, \h\hAND WHEN THEY REBOOT,

CONTROLLERS AND KRANZ DON’T TRUST THE DATA.

Gene Kranz: NOTHING MADE SENSE \h\hIN THOSE FIRST FEW SECONDS

BECAUSE THE CONTROLLERS’ DATA \h\h\hHAD GONE STATIC BRIEFLY.

AND THEN WHEN IT WAS RESTORED,

MANY OF THE PARAMETERS \hJUST DIDN’T INDICATE

ANYTHING THAT WE HAD \hEVER SEEN BEFORE.

\h\hMan: OK, FLIGHT. WE’VE GOT SOME INSTRUMENTATION, FLIGHT.

LET ME ADD ’EM UP.

DCS, WHAT DO YOU GOT?

BROWNIE, YOU COPYING THIS?

AIR TO GROUND.

Man: THE VOLTAGE IS...

\h\h\hNarrator: THE MONITORS SHOW SOMETHING UNBELIEVABLE.

THE COMMAND MODULE’S MAIN POWER SOURCES--

ITS FUEL CELLS-- \h\hARE FAILING.

Man: I WANT TO SUSS OUT

WHAT THOSE FUEL CELLS \h\h\hARE DOING HERE.

TWO FUEL CELLS SIMULTANEOUSLY.

Man: THAT CAN’T BE.

Man: I, I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT \h\h\h\h\hRIGHT OFF THE BAT.

Narrator: THEN, THINGS \h\h\hGET EVEN WORSE.

\hOXYGEN LEVELS PLUMMET... AND LOVELL LOOKS OUTSIDE.

Lovell: IT LOOKS TO ME, \hLOOKING OUT THE HATCH,

THAT WE ARE VENTING SOMETHING.

\hWE ARE VENTING SOMETHING OUT INTO THE...INTO SPACE.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: HE COMES TO A CHILLING REALIZATION.

Kluger: WHEN HE SAW THAT,

HE KNEW "MY SHIP HAS SUSTAINED \h\h\h\hA BATTLEFIELD INJURY,

AND IT IS NOT AN INJURY THAT WE ARE IN A POSITION TO FIX."

THIS SHIP WILL SOON DIE.

Lousma: OK, CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT THE VENTING?

Chaikin: FROM THERE THINGS JUST CASCADE.

AND THEY SOON REALIZED

THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY NOT \hGONNA LAND ON THE MOON,

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THEY’RE IN A LIFE-OR-DEATH SITUATION.

Lousma: STAND BY, 13, \hWE’RE LOOKING AT IT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FLIGHT DIRECTOR GENE KRANZ

PRESSES HIS TEAM FOR ANSWERS.

\h\h\hALL THEY KNOW IS THAT AN EXPLOSION

HAS CRIPPLED APOLLO 13.

Man: WE MIGHT MIGHT HAVE \h\h\hA PRESSURE PROBLEM

IN A FUEL CELL, IT LOOKS LIKE.

Kranz: AND I CALL THE CONTROLLERS UP

AND I TELL THEM THAT, \h\h"OK, ALL YOU GUYS,

QUIT YOUR GUESSING.

LET’S START WORKING \h\h\hTHIS PROBLEM."

Kranz: CAN WE REVIEW OUR STATUS HERE, SY,

\h\h\hAND SEE WHAT WE’VE GOT FROM A STANDPOINT OF STATUS?

\h\h\hWHAT DO YOU THINK WE GOT IN THE SPACECRAFT THAT’S GOOD?

\h\h\hKluger: WHAT HE MEANT WAS, "WHAT’S IN OUR BACK POCKETS NOW?

WHAT’S FUNCTIONING?

WHAT CAN WE USE OR REAPPLY \h\h\h\h\h\hOR REIMAGINE?"

\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: STAND BY EXCHANGE CONFIGURATION...

Narrator: KRANZ CALLS FOR REINFORCEMENTS...

AND OFF-DUTY CONTROLLERS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCROWD IN.

Kranz: YOU’VE CALLED IN YOUR BACKUP EECOMs NOW,

SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME MORE \hBRAIN POWER IN THIS THING?

Man: WE GOT ONE HERE. \h\h\h\hKranz: ROGER.

Narrator: MISSION CONTROL RELIES ON DOZENS OF OTHER EXPERTS,

CALLED THE BACKROOMS.

\hKluger: ONE OF THE NEVER FULLY APPRECIATED ASPECTS

\hOF MISSION CONTROL WERE THE BACKROOMS.

\h\hEACH MAN AT A CONSOLE HAD A BACKUP TEAM IN HIS BACKROOM

THAT WAS WORKING FOR HIM

THE WAY THEY WERE ALL WORKING \h\h\hFOR THE FLIGHT DIRECTOR.

Lousma: OK, 13.

\hWE’VE GOT LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS.

WE’LL GIVE YOU SOME DOPE \hAS SOON AS WE HAVE IT,

\h\h\h\hAND YOU’LL BE THE FIRST ONE TO KNOW.

Narrator: AFTER HEATED DEBATE,

KRANZ AND HIS TEAM DEVELOP \h\h\h\h\h\hA RESCUE PLAN.

THEN, THEY RETREAT TO A BACKROOM TO SWEAT OUT THE DETAILS.

Kranz: FLIGHT CONTROLLERS, I’M HANDING OVER TO GLYNN.

I ASSUME THE MAJORITY OF OTHER TEAM GUYS...

Narrator: FLIGHT DIRECTOR \hGLYNN LUNNEY TAKES OVER.

Glynn Lunney: IF YOU WERE \h\hDESIGNING A TEST CASE,

\h\h\h\hIT WAS PERHAPS THE MAXIMUM TEST CASE

\h\hYOU COULD PROVIDE IN TERMS OF DAMAGE...

AND THE AMOUNT OF MARGIN \h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT EXISTED

TO SOLVE YOUR WAY THROUGH IT \h\h\h\hAND GET BACK ALIVE.

♪

Narrator: LUNNEY’S FIRST JOB: MOVE THE CREW OUT OF ODYSSEY,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE DYING COMMAND SERVICE MODULE.

AQUARIUS--THE LUNAR MODULE-- \h\hWILL BE THEIR LIFEBOAT.

Man: WE’D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND POWER DOWN THE CSM ALL WE CAN,

\h\h\h\h\h\hEXCEPT LEAVE THAT BATTERY CHARGER ON.

OF COURSE, LEAVE ’EM \h\hA LITTLE LIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE MOVE IS COMPLICATED AND TIME-CONSUMING.

THE CREW NEEDS TO POWER DOWN \h\h\h\h\h\h\hONE SPACECRAFT

AND POWER UP THE OTHER--

AN HOURS-LONG PROCEDURE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCAP COMM: PANEL 11 AND PANEL 16...

Narrator: THEY’RE IN THE MIDST \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE STEPS

WHEN LUNNEY GETS DIRE NEWS:

\h\hODYSSEY IS LOSING POWER FASTER THAN ANYONE THOUGHT.

\h\hLousma: WE FIGURE WE’VE GOT ABOUT 15 MINUTES’ WORTH OF POWER

LEFT ON THE COMMAND MODULE,

SO WE WANT YOU TO START GETTING OVER IN THE LEM

AND GETTING SOME POWER ON THAT.

Narrator: BUT THEY STILL \h\h\h\hHAVE TO TRANSFER

CRITICAL NAVIGATIONAL DATA.

Man: PANELS 11 TO 16...

Narrator: SWIGERT COPIES COORDINATES FROM ODYSSEY

AND SHOUTS THEM TO LOVELL \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN AQUARIUS.

Lunney: HAVE WE GOT ANYBODY \hOVER IN THE LEM YET, JACK?

CAN YOU TELL?

SOMEBODY ELSE CLIMBED \h\h\h\h\hOVER THERE?

THEY BOTH OVER THERE?

Swigert: WE’RE STILL WORKING \h\h\h\h\h\hON THAT, FLIGHT.

Narrator: HOUSTON DOUBLE CHECKS THE NUMBERS...

Man: WE GOT THEM BOTH \h\h\h\h\hOVER THERE.

AND THEY’VE JUST TAKEN \h\h\h\hTHE PROCEDURE

FOR THE ACTIVATION OF THE...

Narrator: WITH ONLY MINUTES \h\h\hTO SPARE, THEY FINISH.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, \hA COMMAND MODULE--

THE CREW’S RE-ENTRY VEHICLE-- \h\h\h\hIS SHUT DOWN IN SPACE.

NO ONE KNOWS IF IT WILL \h\h\h\h\hPOWER BACK UP.

\h\hBUT RE-ENTRY WON’T MATTER IF THE CREW CAN’T TURN AROUND.

THEY’RE FLYING AWAY FROM EARTH

\h\h\h\h\hAT MORE THAN 20,000 MILES AN HOUR.

THE CREW’S ONLY SHOT AT SURVIVAL IS A GRAVITATIONAL PATH

THAT WILL SWING THEM AROUND THE MOON AND BACK TO EARTH--

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCALLED THE "FREE RETURN TRAJECTORY."

\h\h\hTO REACH IT, LOVELL HAS TO DO SOMETHING RISKY:

STEER WITH THE SMALL LEM ENGINE.

Kluger: THEY HAD TO FIGURE OUT \h\h\h\h\h\hA WAY TO DO THAT--

TO TURN THAT ENTIRE STACK \h\h\h\h\h\hOF SPACECRAFT

AT JUST THE RIGHT ANGLE.

JIM DESCRIBED IT AS TRYING TO FLY

WITH AN ELEPHANT \hON YOUR BACK.

Narrator: THE LEM WASN’T \h\h\hDESIGNED FOR THIS,

BUT NASA TESTED IT ANYWAY, \h\h\h\hFOUR MISSIONS AGO.

Chaikin: ONE OF THE THINGS \h\h\hTHEY DID ON APOLLO 9

THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT

\h\hWAS THEY TRIED FIRING THE LUNAR MODULE’S ENGINE,

THE DESCENT ENGINE,

WHILE IT WAS STILL ATTACHED \h\h\hTO THE COMMAND MODULE,

TO BE ABLE TO CHECK OUT WHAT THE DYNAMICS WERE--

\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW, HOW THE SPACECRAFT RESPONDED

TO THAT UNUSUAL CONFIGURATION \h\h\h\h\hFOR A ROCKET FIRING.

Narrator: IF IT DOESN’T WORK,

APOLLO 13 WILL BE \hLOST IN SPACE--

SOMETHING LOVELL’S \hALREADY WEIGHED.

Lovell: MY THOUGHTS WERE THIS: \h\h\h\h\hIF EVERYTHING FAILED

AND WE STILL HAD LIFE SUPPORT \h\h\h\h\hIN THE LUNAR MODULE

BUT WE COULDN’T GET BACK TO THE EARTH...

\hI SAID THAT WE WILL SEND BACK INFORMATION.

WE’LL KEEP ON OPERATING \h\h\hAS LONG AS WE CAN.

AND THEN THAT’S THE END \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE DEAL.

\h\h\hMan: AQUARIUS, WE’D LIKE TO VERIFY

\h\h\hTHAT YOUR THROTTLE IS IN THE MIN POSITION.

Narrator: HOUSTON CUES \h\h\hTHE ENGINE BURN.

Lousma: ROGER, AQUARIUS. YOU’RE GO FOR THE BURN.

Lovell: 40 PERCENT.

Man: WE HAVE IGNITION, \hLOW THROTTLE POINT.

Lousma: OK, AQUARIUS, \hYOU’RE LOOKING GOOD.

\h\hMan: HE’S GOT IT. Lovell: AUTO SHUTDOWN.

Swigert: OK, YOU’RE LOOKING \h\h\h\h\hAT 1685 NOW, JACK.

DON’T TRIM THEM. IS THAT RIGHT?

Lousma: THAT’S AFFIRMATIVE. \h\h\h\h\hNO TRIM REQUIRED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE BURN TAKES FIVE MINUTES...

AND IT’S PERFECT.

Lovell: ROGER.

Man: OK.

Kluger: THIS IS WHY YOU PUT TEST PILOTS

\h\h\h\h\hAND MILITARY AVIATORS IN COMMAND OF THESE SPACECRAFT.

Man: THEN WE’D LIKE YOU \hTO POWER DOWN THE CMC.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE CREW IS HEADED HOME;

NOW THEY HAVE TO STAY ALIVE \hLONG ENOUGH TO GET THERE.

\h\h\hAQUARIUS WAS ONLY DESIGNED TO SUPPORT TWO MEN FOR TWO DAYS.

\hLovell: NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT TRYING TO USE THE LUNAR MODULE

\h\h\hFOR A 4-DAY MISSION TO GET BACK TO THE EARTH.

BECAUSE THE LUNAR MODULE WAS ONLY BUILT TO LAST 45 HOURS.

ONLY BUILT TO SUPPORT \h\h\h\h\hTWO PEOPLE.

\h\h\hNarrator: JOHN AARON, THE CONTROLLER WHO SAVED APOLLO 12,

INSISTS ON AN EXTREME MEASURE-- MINIMAL ELECTRICITY.

\hAaron: EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN’T TRAIN ON THIS SPECIFIC THING,

THE FLIGHT CONTROL TEAM

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE TRAINED ON HOW TO HANDLE PROBLEMS.

AND IT PAID OFF.

Narrator: THE ASTRONAUTS \h\hWILL GRADUALLY LOSE

THEIR LAST COMFORT: WARMTH.

\h\h\h\hKluger: BASICALLY, THEY WERE IN AN IDLING CAR

\h\hWITH NOTHING MORE THAN THE FANS RUNNING.

Narrator: THE CREW HAS SURVIVED ONE NIGHT OF THE CRISIS...

AND EARTH IS STILL \hTHREE DAYS AWAY.

\h\hTHE NEXT MORNING, AMERICA AWAKES TO NEWS

OF THE APOLLO 13 EMERGENCY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWalter Cronkite: APOLLO 13 ASTRONAUTS JIM LOVELL,

FRED HAISE, AND JOHN SWIGERT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTONIGHT...

Narrator: TELEVISIONS CLICK ON \h\h\h\h\hACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Cronkite: THEIR COMMAND SHIP \h\h\h\h\h\hIS ALL BUT DEAD

AFTER A MYSTERIOUS ACCIDENT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLAST NIGHT

\h\h\h\hFORCED CANCELLATION OF PROGRAMMED MOON LANDING.

\hMuir-Harmony: AND EVERYONE WAS ON THE EDGE OF THE SEAT,

AND THEY WERE WATCHING,

AND THEY WERE HOPING THAT THE ASTRONAUTS

WOULD RETURN HOME SAFELY.

AND SO IT REALLY CAPTURED \h\h\h\h\hATTENTION AGAIN

FOR A VERY DIFFERENT REASON.

Narrator: NIXON DEMANDS UPDATES TWICE AN HOUR.

\h\h\hBarry: REPORTS ARE THAT PRESIDENT NIXON WAS VERY UPSET

AND DID NOT WANT TO LOSE A CREW ON HIS WATCH.

Muir-Harmony: PRESIDENT NIXON \hWAS REALLY SORT OF CONCERNED

AND MOVED BY APOLLO 13.

HE FOLLOWED THE FLIGHT \h\h\hVERY CAREFULLY.

\h\h\h\hHE WAS REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE ASTRONAUTS’ SAFETY.

\h\hHE WAS QUITE FOND OF ALL THE ASTRONAUTS

\h\hAND HE WAS, HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE FLIGHT.

Narrator: IN HOUSTON,

MISSION CONTROL FACES \h\hANOTHER PROBLEM--

EVERY BREATH THE ASTRONAUTS TAKE IS POISONING THEM.

Kluger: WHEN A CREW IS IN A SPACECRAFT,

THEY ARE INHALING GOOD, CLEAN, \h\h\hFRESH LIFE-GIVING OXYGEN

\h\hFROM THEIR SUPPOSEDLY FUNCTIONING OXYGEN TANKS,

AND THEY ARE EXHALING \h\h\h\hCARBON DIOXIDE

INTO A CONTAINED ENVIRONMENT.

DO THAT LONG ENOUGH,

THE CARBON DIOXIDE \h\hWILL BUILD UP.

IT ONLY TAKES A CONCENTRATION \hOF ABOUT 10% CO2 IN ROOM AIR

\h\hFOR CONVULSIONS, UH, UNCONSCIOUSNESS

AND ULTIMATELY DEATH TO RESULT.

Narrator: BOTH THE LUNAR MODULE AND COMMAND MODULE

USE FILTERS TO SCRUB OUT CO2--

BUT THEY’RE DIFFERENT SHAPES.

Lovell: NOW, IN THE DEAD \h\h\h\hCOMMAND MODULE,

THEY USE IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEM SQUARE CANISTERS.

HAD PLENTY OF THEM.

BUT YOU CAN’T PUT A SQUARE CANISTER

\h\h\h\h\hIN THE ROUND HOLE OF THE LUNAR MODULE SYSTEM.

BIG ENGINEERING GOOF.

WHY WE HAD SQUARE THERE, WE HAD ROUND OVER THERE,

WE’LL NEVER KNOW.

Narrator: OUT OF THE BACKROOMS, A SOLUTION EMERGES--

A MAKESHIFT FILTER.

THEY CALL IT "THE MAILBOX"

\h\hBECAUSE OF ITS RECTANGULAR SHAPE.

HOUSTON ALSO MAKES ONE \hFOR THE SMITHSONIAN.

Allan Needell: CARBON DIOXIDE WAS BUILDING UP FAIRLY RAPIDLY

\hTO AN ALARMING RATE IN THE LUNAR MODULE--

MONITORED BY EQUIPMENT.

AND SO THE FOLKS ON THE GROUND

COLLECTED IN ONE PLACE \hALL OF THE EQUIPMENT

THEY KNEW TO BE AVAILABLE \h\h\h\hTO THE ASTRONAUTS

AND TRIED TO JURY-RIG A SYSTEM.

SO ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS \hARE REALLY QUITE SIMPLE.

\hTHERE’S DUCT TAPE; THERE’S PLASTIC BAG;

THERE’S A CARD; THERE’S A HOSE.

\h\h\h\hAND THAT’S BASICALLY ALL THAT THEY REALLY NEEDED

TO SAVE THE DAY.

Narrator: HOUSTON TELLS THE CREW HOW TO BUILD THE FILTER.

\h\hCAP COMM: YOU USE PLASTIC AS A COVERING FOR THE WHOLE THING.

Lovell: ESSENTIALLY JACK AND I \hSTARTED TO BUILD THIS THING.

AND WE--JUST ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS--

THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE EXPLICIT.

\h\hAND IF YOU LOOK AT THE ONE THAT THE CREW SYSTEMS HAD MADE

\h\hTO SHOW THE PEOPLE IN THE CONTROL CENTER

AND YOU LOOK AT THE ONE

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT’S HANGING ON THE LUNAR MODULE WALL,

THEY’RE IDENTICAL.

Narrator: SOON, CO2 LEVELS FALL.

THE ASTRONAUTS BREATHE EASIER,

BUT THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDETERIORATE.

Lovell: VERY SORT OF CLAMMY. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hVERY COLD.

THE TEMPERATURE KEPT DROPPING \h\h\h\h\h\hALL THE WAY DOWN.

Narrator: THEY ATTEMPT TO SLEEP IN THE COMMAND MODULE,

BUT IT’S ONLY 40 DEGREES.

\h\hLovell: ACTUAL SLEEP WAS VERY, VERY LIMITED.

\h\h\h\h\hMAYBE I HAD ONE HOUR, IF YOU WANT TO COUNT IT, IN 40.

\h\hNarrator: EXHAUSTION AND DEHYDRATION SET IN.

THEY RATION DRINKING WATER AND FORCE DOWN COLD FOOD.

FRED HAISE SPIKES A FEVER--

THE RESULT OF A PAINFUL URINARY TRACT INFECTION.

AND THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THE MISSION IS STILL TO COME.

NATIONWIDE, HEADLINES REPORT

APOLLO 13 WILL APPROACH EARTH \h\h\h\hAT NOON THE NEXT DAY.

CAP COMM: AQUARIUS, HOUSTON...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT THE CREW STILL FACES

THE MOST DANGEROUS PART: \h\h\h\h\h\h\hRE-ENTRY.

Kluger: WHEN YOU’RE COMING BACK FROM THE MOON,

\h\hYOU ARE SLAMMING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE

AT 25,000 MILES AN HOUR.

THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE THAT \hIS NOT SO MUCH TO GO DOWN

\h\hIN MORE OR LESS A STRAIGHT RE-ENTRY.

YOU KIND OF HAVE TO RIDE IT \h\h\hLIKE A ROLLERCOASTER.

IT’S CALLED A SKIP RE-ENTRY.

Narrator: AND RE-ENTRY \hDEPENDS ON ODYSSEY--

\h\hTHE COMMAND MODULE THAT’S BEEN SHUT DOWN

AND FREEZING FOR THREE DAYS.

KRANZ’S TEAM HAS BEEN AGONIZING OVER A POWER-UP PROCEDURE--

\h\h\hAND JOHN AARON FINALLY DELIVERS IT.

Kluger: IT WAS UP TO JOHN AARON TO FIGURE OUT

\h\h\h\hHOW CAN WE BRING BACK A FULLY FUNCTIONING SPACECRAFT

THAT CAN WORK ON LIMITED ENERGY.

WHAT CAN WE LEAVE OUT?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF STEPS,

AND ONE MISTAKE COULD BE DEADLY.

\hAnnouncer: KEN MATTINGLY WILL READ THE PROCEDURES.

Narrator: MATTINGLY BEGINS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hKen Mattingly: HELLO, AQUARIUS. HOUSTON.

HOW DO YOU READ?

Swigert: OK, VERY GOOD, KEN.

Mattingly: LET ME TAKE IT \h\h\h\hFROM THE TOP HERE.

THERE MIGHT BE SOME OVERLAP.

Narrator: HOURS TICK BY...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSwigert: PRIMARY EVAPORATE WATER...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: SWIGERT FIGHTS EXHAUSTION--

DOUBLE CHECKING EACH STEP.

Swigert: THIS IS ON 382?

OK. LET’S REPEAT IT.

STAND BY. CUT OUT.

OK, PERFORM IMU POWER-UP. OK...

Narrator: THE PROCEDURE WORKS.

ODYSSEY IS ALIVE AGAIN.

THE TIME HAS COME TO RELEASE THE CRIPPLED SERVICE MODULE.

CAP COMM: AQUARIUS, HOUSTON, \h\h\h\hTHAT’S AFFIRMATIVE.

YOU CAN JETTISON THE SERVICE \hMODULE WHEN YOU’RE READY.

Lovell: OK. SOUNDS GOOD.

Narrator: FOR THE FIRST TIME,

\h\h\h\h\h\hLOVELL SEES THE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE.

Lovell: WE JETTISONED \h\hTHE SERVICE MODULE

AND IT FLOATED ON BY,

AND WE SAW THIS BIG GAPING HOLE, THIS PANEL BLOWN OUT.

\hLovell: AND THERE’S ONE WHOLE SIDE OF THAT SPACECRAFT MISSING.

RIGHT BY THE HIGH-GAIN ANTENNA.

THE WHOLE PANEL IS BLOWN OUT,

ALMOST FROM THE BASE \h\h\hTO THE ENGINE.

\hNarrator: THE PHOTOS WILL LATER SHED LIGHT

ON THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION:

\h\h\hFAULTY COMPONENTS INSIDE THE OXYGEN TANK.

WHEN THE CREW STIRRED THE TANKS, THEY LIT A FUSE.

\hChaikin: WHEN YOU HAVE A SPARK INSIDE A TANK OF LIQUID OXYGEN,

IT’S BASICALLY A BOMB.

Narrator: THE EXPLOSION MAY HAVE DONE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE--

TO THE HEATSHIELD--

\h\h\h\hTHE ONE SAFEGUARD DURING THE FIERY RE-ENTRY.

Lovell: THAT WORRIED US THAT OUR HEATSHIELD WAS DAMAGED.

\hAND THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO ABOUT THAT.

WE WERE AIMED FOR THE EARTH.

WE’RE GOING TO COME \h\hINTO THE EARTH.

THAT WAS THE END OF THE DEAL.

IF WE’RE GONNA BURN UP, \h\hWE’RE GONNA BURN UP.

CAP COMM: AND, JIM, WHEN YOU \h\h\hHAVE LEISURE TO COPY,

I HAVE YOUR NOUN 46...

Narrator: THE CREW AND HOUSTON \h\h\h\h\h\h\hDO FINAL CHECKS.

Lovell: OK. GO AHEAD.

Lunney: SO, YOU KNOW, HERE WE \hARE, 30 YEARS OLD, YOU KNOW,

DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.

WE TRAINED AND THOUGHT AND PREPARED OURSELVES

\h\h\h\hTO BE ABLE TO HANDLE EVENTUALITIES AS BAD AS THAT

WITH THE CONFIDENCE THAT

\h\hIF THERE WAS A WAY TO THREAD THROUGH IT,

\hTHAT WE WOULD FIND IT AND BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.

Narrator: FOR THE ASTRONAUTS, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hONE LAST TASK:

RELEASE THE SHIP THAT SAVED THEM.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\hAnnouncer: APOLLO CONTROL HOUSTON

AT 141 HOURS, 31 MINUTES \h\h\h\hINTO THE FLIGHT,

WE’VE HAD LUNAR MODULE JETTISON.

\h\h\h\hAND FOR APOLLO 13, THE AGE OF AQUARIUS ENDED

AT 141 HOURS, 30 MINUTES \h\hGROUND ELAPSED TIME.

♪

CAP COMM: FAREWELL, AQUARIUS, \h\h\h\h\h\hAND WE THANK YOU.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AS RE-ENTRY CREEPS CLOSER,

THE CREW ALSO THANKS HOUSTON-- \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hJUST IN CASE.

Swigert: I KNOW ALL OF US HERE

\h\h\h\h\hWANT TO THANK ALL YOU GUYS DOWN THERE

FOR THE VERY FINE JOB YOU DID.

Lovell: THAT’S AFFIRM, JOE.

CAP COMM: TELL YOU, WE ALL HAD \h\h\h\hA GOOD TIME DOING IT.

\h\h\hNarrator: WITH 14 MINUTES TO RE-ENTRY, THE WORLD PAUSES--

AND PRAYS.

Announcer: RANGE TO GO NOW, \h\h\h3,271 NAUTICAL MILES.

CAP COMM: ODYSSEY, HOUSTON. \hYOUR DSKY IS DOING ALL...

\hNarrator: CONTROLLERS HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN.

Swigert: OK. THANK YOU.

Narrator: NOW, THE CREW HOPES FOR SOMETHING THEY’VE LACKED:

LUCK.

APOLLO 13 IS SEVEN MINUTES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM EARTH

\h\h\h\h\hAND MAY HAVE A DAMAGED HEATSHIELD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAnnouncer: ONBOARD DISPLAY NOW SHOWS

A VELOCITY OF 33,383 FEET \h\h\h\h\h\h\hPER SECOND.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: HOUSTON GIVES ONE LAST ROUND OF REASSURANCES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCAP COMM: ODYSSEY, HOUSTON. OVER.

Swigert: GO AHEAD.

\h\hCAP COMM: OK, WE JUST HAD ONE LAST TIME AROUND THE ROOM,

\h\hAND EVERYBODY SAYS YOU’RE LOOKING GREAT.

Swigert: THANK YOU.

Narrator: DURING RE-ENTRY,

\h\h\h\hTHE CAPSULE WILL REACH TEMPERATURES OF 5,000 DEGREES.

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT WILL CAUSE A COMMUNICATIONS BLACKOUT

WHICH USUALLY LASTS \h\h\hTHREE MINUTES.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hKluger: NO RETURNING APOLLO SPACECRAFT

HAD EVER GONE THROUGH A BLACKOUT

THAT LASTED MORE THAN, SAY, \h3 MINUTES AND 15 SECONDS.

Narrator: THE THREE-MINUTE MARK COMES...AND GOES.

Kluger: AND THEN 3:30 PASSED, \h\h\hAND THEN 3:45 PASSED...

AND THEN 4 MINUTES PASSED, \h\hAND THEN 4:15 PASSED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCAP COMM: ODYSSEY, HOUSTON. OVER.

Kluger: THERE WERE SURELY PEOPLE IN MISSION CONTROL

AND IN THE HOMES WHO THOUGHT...

\h\h\h\hWE’VE NEVER HIT FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES.

IT’S NAIVE TO THINK THESE GUYS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE STILL ALIVE.

[RADIO CHATTER]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: SPECIALIZED TRACKING AIRCRAFT--

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCALLED ARIA-- SEARCH FOR ODYSSEY’S SIGNAL.

Announcer: WE WILL ATTEMPT \h\h\hTO CONTACT APOLLO 13

THROUGH ONE OF THE ARIA \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAIRCRAFT.

\h\h\h\h\hAPOLLO 13 SHOULD BE OUT OF BLACKOUT AT THIS TIME.

\hWE’RE STANDING BY FOR ANY REPORTS OF ARIA ACQUISITION.

Narrator: HOUSTON TRIES AGAIN.

CAP COMM: ODYSSEY, HOUSTON. \h\h\h\h\hSTANDING BY. OVER.

Lovell: OK, JOE.

CAP COMM: OK, WE READ YOU, JACK.

Announcer: THAT WAS JIM LOVELL RESPONDING WITH THE "OK, JOE."

[APPLAUSE]

CAP COMM: ODYSSEY, HOUSTON, \hWE SHOW YOU ON THE MAINS.

IT REALLY LOOKS GREAT!

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAnnouncer: AN EXTREMELY LOUD APPLAUSE

AS APOLLO 13 ON MAIN CHUTES COMES THROUGH LOUD AND CLEAR

ON THE TELEVISION DISPLAY HERE.

\h\h\h\hMan: APOLLO 13, THIS IS RECOVERY. OVER.

Narrator: NASA WILL LATER \h\h\h\h\hLEARN THE CAUSE

OF THE AGONIZING DELAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\hKluger: IT HIT AT A SLIGHTLY WRONG ANGLE

WHEN IT FIRST HIT \hTHE ATMOSPHERE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THAT CAUSED THE LONGEST RE-ENTRY BLACKOUT

\h\h\h\hIN THE HISTORY OF THE SPACE PROGRAM.

\h\hAnnouncer: THE FLOOR OF THE MISSION OPERATIONS CONTROL ROOM

NOW CROWDED.

AND THERE ARE VISIBLE SMILES

\h\h\hON THE FACES OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLLERS

AND ASTRONAUTS IN THIS ROOM.

Lovell: I KNEW I WAS HOME FREE-- EVENTUALLY HOME FREE COMPLETELY,

WHEN THE SPACECRAFT BOBBED UP AND I SAW WATER ON THE WINDOWS

AND THE THING DIDN’T SINK.

[APPLAUSE]

Narrator: FOR ANOTHER MOMENT,

\h\h\hAPOLLO BRINGS THE WORLD TOGETHER.

Reporter: AND HERE THEY ARE!

JAMES LOVELL, JOHN SWIGERT...

Lunney: I WAS FRANKLY \hSOMEWHAT OVERWHELMED

\h\h\h\h\hAT THE RESPONSE OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD

\h\h\h\hDURING THE COURSE OF THE APOLLO 13 MISSION.

\h\hI MEAN, IT WAS REALLY GRATIFYING.

Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING, \hIN HOUSTON, THE PRESIDENT

\hGIVES THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM TO MISSION CONTROL.

\h\h\h\h\h\hAFTERWARDS, HE GOES TO PEARL HARBOR

TO HONOR THE CREW.

PRIVATELY, NIXON WANTS TO CANCEL THE NEXT SIX APOLLO MISSIONS--

BUT HIS ADVISORS DISSUADE HIM.

\h\h\hNixon: YOUR MISSION SERVED THE CAUSE OF THE SPACE PROGRAM.

BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU DID,

\h\hIT MEANS THAT FUTURE MANNED FLIGHTS TO SPACE,

\h\hWHICH WILL BE MADE BY OUR SPACE PROGRAM,

WILL BE SAFER.

Narrator: APOLLO 13’S MOON LANDING FAILED--

BUT MISSION CONTROL TRIUMPHED.

♪

FOR EIGHT YEARS, NASA HAD BEEN \h\h\h\hSHOOTING FOR THE MOON.

LITTLE DID THEY KNOW THEIR ULTIMATE TEST

WOULD BE REACHING PLANET EARTH.

[RADIO CHATTER]

\hAFTERWARDS, THE AGENCY LOOKS AHEAD WITH CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM.

\hMuir-Harmony: THERE WAS A LOT OF HOPE AND A LOT OF EXPECTATION

THAT THE UNITED STATES

\h\hWOULD CONTINUE TO PUSH THE BOUNDS OF OUTER SPACE

AND EXPLORATION AS WELL.

Narrator: POLITICAL PRESSURE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWILL MOUNT...

\h\hBarry: UNDER NIXON, THERE’S GROWING CONCERN

THAT THEY’RE NOT MAKING \h\hANY DECISION AT ALL

ABOUT WHERE WE GO NEXT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT NASA WILL KEEP EXPLORING...

AS APOLLO ENTERS ITS NEXT, \h\h\hAND FINAL, CHAPTER.