1 00:00:14,148 --> 00:00:17,215 Narrator: On July 21, 1969, 2 00:00:17,251 --> 00:00:20,936 The eagle takes off from the moon with neil armstrong 3 00:00:20,971 --> 00:00:25,074 And buzz aldrin aboard to meet michael collins in the orbiting ship. 4 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:34,299 Two men had just walked on the moon. 5 00:00:34,335 --> 00:00:36,635 A triumphant moment for america, 6 00:00:36,670 --> 00:00:39,338 One that could almost obliterate the numerous incidents 7 00:00:39,373 --> 00:00:41,306 That led up to this moment. 8 00:00:41,342 --> 00:00:44,643 Gene: The most stressful part occurred about, uh, 9 00:00:44,678 --> 00:00:47,246 Halfway down to the surface of the moon. 10 00:00:47,281 --> 00:00:49,515 Jack: It was awful, just awful. 11 00:00:49,550 --> 00:00:51,900 Homer: I was worried that we were gonna have a surprise 12 00:00:51,936 --> 00:00:54,536 That nobody had really thought about. 13 00:00:54,572 --> 00:00:57,940 Narrator: Very quickly, the public would turn away from apollo, 14 00:00:57,975 --> 00:01:02,244 The most expensive space program in history. 15 00:01:02,279 --> 00:01:07,900 Only the dramatic flight of apollo 13 could capture the world's attention again. 16 00:01:07,935 --> 00:01:11,270 Jeffrey: When it became a life and death mission, 17 00:01:11,305 --> 00:01:15,307 People paid unbreakable attention at that point. 18 00:01:15,342 --> 00:01:18,811 Fred: People have asked, could you take a poison pill or something? 19 00:01:18,846 --> 00:01:22,815 Glynn: This was not a fixable problem. 20 00:01:22,850 --> 00:01:25,901 Narrator: More than 50 years later, we thought we knew everything 21 00:01:25,936 --> 00:01:28,070 There was to know about apollo. 22 00:01:28,105 --> 00:01:34,042 But this nasa program still holds mysteries waiting to be revealed. 23 00:01:34,078 --> 00:01:38,614 Jay: Neil told me in confidence and I'll never break that confidence. 24 00:01:38,649 --> 00:01:42,101 Matthew: What happens on the moon often stays on the moon. 25 00:01:42,136 --> 00:01:46,305 Narrator: Why did the apollo program end so abruptly? 26 00:01:46,340 --> 00:01:51,577 What are the final secrets of an epic adventure that saw four presidents come and go, 27 00:01:51,612 --> 00:01:56,048 Caused the deaths of three astronauts, and flirted with several other disasters? 28 00:01:59,336 --> 00:02:02,638 This phenomenal story is not fiction. 29 00:02:02,673 --> 00:02:09,678 It was a bet made by a president and 400,000 people, all focused on a single goal: 30 00:02:09,713 --> 00:02:11,914 Bringing america to the moon. 31 00:02:11,949 --> 00:02:21,974 (music) 32 00:02:21,976 --> 00:02:38,473 (music) 33 00:02:45,349 --> 00:02:49,401 Narrator: Before leaving the moon, where they'd spent more than 21 hours, 34 00:02:49,436 --> 00:02:53,405 Neil armstrong and buzz aldrin tossed a package out the door of the lunar module, 35 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,641 Which was still open. 36 00:02:55,676 --> 00:03:00,345 Inside was a patch with the names of white, grissom, and chaffee, 37 00:03:00,381 --> 00:03:03,448 The three astronauts killed in the apollo 1 mission. 38 00:03:07,171 --> 00:03:11,673 But the package also contained symbolic objects, of a more personal nature, 39 00:03:11,709 --> 00:03:13,842 That were authorized by nasa. 40 00:03:13,878 --> 00:03:16,378 Fred: We were, were allowed to carry this ppk, 41 00:03:16,413 --> 00:03:17,913 Or personal preference kit. 42 00:03:17,948 --> 00:03:20,432 Had to be very small, limited in weight, 43 00:03:20,467 --> 00:03:22,267 It was vacuum packed. 44 00:03:22,303 --> 00:03:27,773 What I had done, and most did, was you canvassed family members, friends, 45 00:03:27,808 --> 00:03:29,408 To what you might carry for them. 46 00:03:32,746 --> 00:03:39,835 Narrator: Neil armstrong's kit, though, wasn't detailed in any mission reports. 47 00:03:39,870 --> 00:03:44,406 It may have included a personal item in memory of his daughter karen, 48 00:03:44,441 --> 00:03:50,245 Passed away at 2 and a half years old. 49 00:03:50,281 --> 00:03:52,414 Jay: Neil had lost a little girl. 50 00:03:52,449 --> 00:03:54,199 And he called her "muffy." 51 00:03:54,235 --> 00:03:57,336 Well, one of the craters on the moon on that he walked over to, 52 00:03:57,371 --> 00:04:02,708 He called it a baby crater and he named it "muffy's crater." 53 00:04:02,743 --> 00:04:06,511 He also left something of muffy's on the moon. 54 00:04:06,547 --> 00:04:12,801 I know what it is, but I have never shared that with anyone because neil told me 55 00:04:12,836 --> 00:04:17,439 In confidence and I'll never break that confidence. 56 00:04:19,243 --> 00:04:24,846 Narrator: Very few people know what neil armstrong left on the moon for his daughter muffy. 57 00:04:24,882 --> 00:04:31,303 When he died on August 25, 2012, at 82 years old, the astronaut took this secret, 58 00:04:31,338 --> 00:04:34,506 Along with many others, to the grave. 59 00:04:34,541 --> 00:04:38,777 Right or wrong, these secrets continue adding to the legend that began almost 60 00:04:38,812 --> 00:04:42,014 45 years earlier, in the middle of July. 61 00:04:48,806 --> 00:04:51,940 July 16, 1969. 62 00:04:51,976 --> 00:04:56,712 At 9:32 in the morning in florida, an immense crowd gathered around the official 63 00:04:56,747 --> 00:04:59,915 Stands at cape kennedy. 64 00:04:59,950 --> 00:05:04,303 Some camped on site so as not to miss the event. 65 00:05:04,338 --> 00:05:08,807 Jay: You had over a million people that had surrounded the cape. 66 00:05:08,842 --> 00:05:11,243 They couldn't cram in any more. 67 00:05:11,312 --> 00:05:14,846 Clogging the roads and everything. 68 00:05:14,882 --> 00:05:20,902 Narrator: 3,500 journalists traveled from 55 countries to witness one event: 69 00:05:20,938 --> 00:05:23,472 The liftoff of the saturn v rocket, 70 00:05:23,507 --> 00:05:28,877 Destined to bring three men to the moon. 71 00:05:28,912 --> 00:05:31,947 At the top of the rocket, more than 300 feet in the air, 72 00:05:31,982 --> 00:05:35,534 Seated on the equivalent of 540 tons of tnt, 73 00:05:35,569 --> 00:05:38,970 Three astronauts await the countdown. 74 00:05:39,006 --> 00:05:43,775 Jean-françois: The crew was in a tiny cabin all the way at the very top; in other words, 75 00:05:43,811 --> 00:05:47,112 Just 1 percent of all that lifted off was actually used 76 00:05:47,147 --> 00:05:50,399 For the mission to the moon and back. 77 00:05:51,935 --> 00:05:55,337 Philippe: Outside of the atomic bomb, at the moment when it lifted off, 78 00:05:55,372 --> 00:06:02,310 The saturn v rocket made the loudest sound ever recorded by a manmade object. 79 00:06:02,346 --> 00:06:05,080 At the time of the apollo 4 launch in 1967, 80 00:06:05,115 --> 00:06:09,000 The vibrations were so strong that three miles away, 81 00:06:09,036 --> 00:06:12,904 The ceiling tiles in the press area fell down and the windows vibrated. 82 00:06:17,277 --> 00:06:21,079 Narrator: As they watched the incredible rocket disappearing in the blue florida sky, 83 00:06:21,115 --> 00:06:25,200 No one was thinking any longer about the challenge faced by the saturn v designers. 84 00:06:27,838 --> 00:06:32,674 Because when kennedy launched america toward conquering the moon in the early 1960s, 85 00:06:32,709 --> 00:06:36,278 It didn't seem that such a machine could see the light of day. 86 00:06:36,313 --> 00:06:40,599 Matthew: In 1961, neither the united states nor the soviet union had rockets powerful 87 00:06:40,634 --> 00:06:44,069 Enough to send astronauts to the moon and bring them all the way back to earth. 88 00:06:44,104 --> 00:06:46,138 No rocket like this had ever been constructed, 89 00:06:46,173 --> 00:06:50,208 And people weren't entirely sure that it could work. 90 00:06:50,244 --> 00:06:54,079 Narrator: To succeed at such a feat, america would stop at nothing. 91 00:06:54,114 --> 00:06:56,648 Including enlisting the help of the one who, surely, 92 00:06:56,683 --> 00:07:00,569 Was alone in the ability to design such a device, 93 00:07:00,604 --> 00:07:05,941 And who would be named director of nasa marshall space flight center. 94 00:07:05,993 --> 00:07:10,178 Wernher von braun, a brilliant german engineer. 95 00:07:10,214 --> 00:07:12,781 Who was also a supporter of adolf hitler. 96 00:07:18,906 --> 00:07:22,774 Jeffrey: Wernher von braun is a complicated historical figure. 97 00:07:22,810 --> 00:07:24,409 He was a nazi. 98 00:07:24,445 --> 00:07:29,047 The people who came over with him all worked for the nazi cause. 99 00:07:29,082 --> 00:07:30,665 Roger: They knew a lot about building rockets. 100 00:07:30,701 --> 00:07:32,767 They had built the v2 in world war ii, 101 00:07:32,803 --> 00:07:36,605 That's the first ballistic missile that had any capability. 102 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:40,041 Narrator: Wernher von braun put his skills at nasa's disposal, 103 00:07:40,077 --> 00:07:45,280 Just as he had several years earlier for the nazi dictatorship. 104 00:07:45,315 --> 00:07:49,634 But without him, america would certainly never have been able to develop the most powerful 105 00:07:49,670 --> 00:07:54,306 Rocket in history and beat the soviets. 106 00:07:54,341 --> 00:07:57,108 The result was mind-boggling. 107 00:07:57,144 --> 00:08:05,033 Saturn v was 363 feet tall with the command and service module, and 33 feet wide. 108 00:08:05,068 --> 00:08:07,602 Matthew: The saturn 5 was a monster of a rocket. 109 00:08:07,638 --> 00:08:11,523 No launch vehicle since the apollo moon landings has equaled the power 110 00:08:11,558 --> 00:08:13,542 And capability of the saturn 5. 111 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:20,866 Narrator: When the final stage of the rocket left terrestrial orbit to go to the moon, 112 00:08:20,901 --> 00:08:26,104 The crew had to manage a very delicate procedure: 113 00:08:26,139 --> 00:08:29,908 The command and service module made a 180-degree rotation 114 00:08:29,943 --> 00:08:34,579 While in space and re-docked with the eagle, the lunar module, 115 00:08:34,615 --> 00:08:37,766 So it would be pointed ahead. 116 00:08:37,801 --> 00:08:43,038 The rest of the rocket was then abandoned in space. 117 00:08:43,073 --> 00:08:47,275 Then, the most crucial steps of apollo 11 began. 118 00:08:47,311 --> 00:08:53,114 They all relied on a theory that was untested in real conditions: 119 00:08:53,150 --> 00:08:54,799 Entering lunar orbit. 120 00:08:59,072 --> 00:09:04,409 As early as 1959, even before kennedy's prophetic declaration, 121 00:09:04,444 --> 00:09:07,279 Nasa had launched a series of studies on the best way 122 00:09:07,314 --> 00:09:10,966 To send men to the moon, but no solution had been chosen. 123 00:09:11,001 --> 00:09:16,071 Roger: There were three options that were possible that people were talking about 124 00:09:16,106 --> 00:09:18,740 In terms of flying to the moon. 125 00:09:18,775 --> 00:09:22,477 Narrator: At the start, the engineers had considered sending a single rocket, 126 00:09:22,512 --> 00:09:25,313 Which would then take off again from the moon. 127 00:09:25,349 --> 00:09:31,303 Or even to build a sort of space station to serve as a rear base. 128 00:09:31,338 --> 00:09:34,339 The third option was not very popular. 129 00:09:34,374 --> 00:09:40,245 It consisted of using a single, powerful rocket to send a combination of three modules: 130 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:44,232 Only one module, the lunar module, would descend to the moon, 131 00:09:44,268 --> 00:09:49,971 While the command and service module, or csm, would wait for it in lunar orbit. 132 00:09:50,007 --> 00:09:53,808 But few believed it was possible. 133 00:09:53,844 --> 00:09:58,947 And at this historic moment, one man was particularly nervous. 134 00:09:58,982 --> 00:10:00,865 His name was john houbolt. 135 00:10:14,348 --> 00:10:17,182 The option of a single rocket propelling three modules 136 00:10:17,217 --> 00:10:21,803 To the destination was far from a unanimous choice. 137 00:10:21,838 --> 00:10:26,574 It would take one man's perseverance to bring this vision to life. 138 00:10:26,610 --> 00:10:30,879 Roger: John houbolt, who was only one of many engineers 139 00:10:30,914 --> 00:10:34,232 Who was thinking about these possibilities, 140 00:10:34,267 --> 00:10:37,268 Decided to take it upon himself to carry that word 141 00:10:37,304 --> 00:10:40,905 Forward to the nasa leadership and washington dc, 142 00:10:40,941 --> 00:10:44,242 Which he did in 1961. 143 00:10:44,277 --> 00:10:49,547 Jeffrey: Lunar orbit rendezvous was more complex in terms of moving parts, 144 00:10:49,583 --> 00:10:52,934 But it was the kind of complexity that could be worked out 145 00:10:52,969 --> 00:10:58,173 With just smart rendezvous and smart trajectory techniques. 146 00:10:58,208 --> 00:11:02,077 Narrator: Nasa leadership was eventually convinced: 147 00:11:02,112 --> 00:11:06,281 In 1962, lunar orbit rendezvous was chosen as the method 148 00:11:06,316 --> 00:11:09,634 To go to the moon and return home. 149 00:11:17,077 --> 00:11:22,147 On July 20, after 13 orbits of the moon to prepare for landing, the eagle, 150 00:11:22,182 --> 00:11:27,202 With neil armstrong and buzz aldrin inside, prepared to disengage from the command 151 00:11:27,237 --> 00:11:32,807 Module, piloted by michael collins. 152 00:11:32,843 --> 00:11:40,765 For the first time in history, two astronauts approached the moon, to stand there. 153 00:11:40,801 --> 00:11:46,504 In houston, in the control room, the engineers hold their breath. 154 00:11:46,540 --> 00:11:49,674 Gene: Once the lunar module had separated from the command module 155 00:11:49,710 --> 00:11:51,543 You could see the energy. 156 00:11:51,578 --> 00:11:56,915 They were ready to go down to the surface of the moon. 157 00:11:56,950 --> 00:12:00,635 Narrator: When the lunar module began its propelled descent to the moon, 158 00:12:00,670 --> 00:12:05,673 Armstrong and aldrin again felt gravity on their bodies. 159 00:12:05,709 --> 00:12:12,046 They knew then that the moon was close enough to exert its power of attraction. 160 00:12:12,082 --> 00:12:16,367 Neil armstrong spotted the landing site, and everything was going according to plan. 161 00:12:19,172 --> 00:12:21,773 But six thousand feet above the lunar surface, 162 00:12:21,808 --> 00:12:24,976 The eagle's computers began flashing. 163 00:12:25,011 --> 00:12:32,300 Alarms sounded, and errors 1202 and 1201 appeared on the screen. 164 00:12:32,335 --> 00:12:35,603 Gene: The most stressful part occurred about, uh, 165 00:12:35,639 --> 00:12:38,173 Halfway down to the surface of the moon. 166 00:12:38,208 --> 00:12:41,142 When we started having a series of program alarms. 167 00:12:41,178 --> 00:12:45,980 Where the computer indicated that it was too busy to get all the jobs done, 168 00:12:46,016 --> 00:12:48,399 And it basically would work only the priority: 169 00:12:48,435 --> 00:12:51,669 The guidance, navigation and control things. 170 00:12:51,705 --> 00:12:57,642 Jay: They had found in simulations just a couple of days before that if they ran 171 00:12:57,677 --> 00:13:01,146 Both systems that they had on board for landing, 172 00:13:01,181 --> 00:13:06,401 That it would overload the computer and they'd get a 1201 alarm. 173 00:13:06,436 --> 00:13:08,069 Narrator: Distracted by the alarm, 174 00:13:08,104 --> 00:13:10,805 Armstrong didn't realize the onbod computer 175 00:13:10,841 --> 00:13:15,176 Was taking them right toward a rocky slope of a crater. 176 00:13:15,212 --> 00:13:18,379 The eagle was on a crash course with the lunar surface. 177 00:13:21,468 --> 00:13:26,104 But something amazing happened in the cockpit: With tremendous calm, 178 00:13:26,139 --> 00:13:31,376 Neil armstrong switches to manual mode and gives the mission everything he's got. 179 00:13:33,313 --> 00:13:34,913 Jean-françois: We are trained to be what they call 180 00:13:34,948 --> 00:13:36,981 "problem solvers" in english, 181 00:13:37,017 --> 00:13:40,168 And neil armstrong had this mentality. 182 00:13:40,203 --> 00:13:42,804 Narrator: The fuel reserves were running out. 183 00:13:42,839 --> 00:13:48,576 A site had to be found immediately: There were only 60 seconds left. 184 00:13:48,612 --> 00:13:53,281 Jeffrey: They had about three percent of their fuel left when they landed. 185 00:13:53,316 --> 00:13:58,236 Roger: If they had gone a few more seconds, they probably would have been forced to abort. 186 00:13:58,271 --> 00:14:05,210 Jeffrey: Unlike your car, when you're on empty, you know, "I bet I can squeeze 10 more miles 187 00:14:05,245 --> 00:14:09,814 Out of this baby, just enough time to get off the road and get to a gas station." 188 00:14:09,850 --> 00:14:14,369 In the lunar module, when you hit 0, whhh, your engine stops. 189 00:14:20,410 --> 00:14:25,246 Narrator: With the lunar module's rocket fuel almost completely spent, 190 00:14:25,282 --> 00:14:30,134 Armstrong manages to land in the sea of tranquility. 191 00:14:30,170 --> 00:14:38,610 It is Sunday, July 20, 1969, at 3:17 pm and 39 seconds houston time. 192 00:14:38,645 --> 00:14:44,999 He touches down so gently that buzz aldrin had to look at the control display. 193 00:14:45,035 --> 00:14:47,735 Time stands still. 194 00:14:47,771 --> 00:14:51,406 It is then neil armstrong broke the silence 195 00:14:51,441 --> 00:14:55,677 With a sentence we would ever forget: 196 00:14:55,712 --> 00:14:59,581 Neil: "houston, tranquility base here. 197 00:14:59,616 --> 00:15:01,766 The eagle has landed." 198 00:15:04,604 --> 00:15:09,741 Narrator: Capcom charlie duke had to raise his voice to reply amid the applause 199 00:15:09,776 --> 00:15:16,314 And outing in the houston control room. 200 00:15:16,349 --> 00:15:19,334 Without neil armstrong's calm under pressure, 201 00:15:19,369 --> 00:15:23,404 Apollo 11 would have surely met a different end. 202 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:29,444 And behind his surprising personality, nasa knew early on that in this discreet man 203 00:15:29,479 --> 00:15:32,080 Was the stuff heroes are made of. 204 00:15:35,669 --> 00:15:38,636 Jean-françois: The thing that was a little frustrating with neil armstrong was, 205 00:15:38,672 --> 00:15:40,371 When you asked him, "how was it on the moon?" 206 00:15:40,407 --> 00:15:43,841 His classic response was, "I was just doing my job." 207 00:15:43,877 --> 00:15:46,177 Jeffrey: He was extremely self-contained, 208 00:15:46,212 --> 00:15:48,479 And it was hard for people to get close to him. 209 00:15:48,515 --> 00:15:51,899 And like many astronauts, his first marriage failed. 210 00:15:51,935 --> 00:15:57,138 And I think one of the reasons was he was a person who was so hard to reach. 211 00:15:57,173 --> 00:16:02,243 Narrator: Besides the crew, there was another key element of the mission's success: 212 00:16:02,278 --> 00:16:07,948 The lunar module, or lem, an unprecedented machine, 213 00:16:07,984 --> 00:16:09,934 Incredibly complicated to build. 214 00:16:25,535 --> 00:16:29,270 So it reached out to the grumman company, one of the biggest manufacturers 215 00:16:29,305 --> 00:16:33,241 Of commercial and military aircraft. 216 00:16:33,276 --> 00:16:39,514 Still, the lm would keep its engineers up at night: It had to be perfect, infallible, 217 00:16:39,549 --> 00:16:41,165 And extremely light. 218 00:16:42,535 --> 00:16:47,338 Philippe: In the beginning, grumman designed a spherical cabin with large glass windows, 219 00:16:47,374 --> 00:16:49,307 With seats for the pilots. 220 00:16:49,342 --> 00:16:51,809 The glass windows, if you want them to be airtight, 221 00:16:51,878 --> 00:16:53,111 They're very heavy. 222 00:16:53,146 --> 00:16:54,779 So they began to get rid of the glass windows. 223 00:16:54,814 --> 00:16:58,733 Obviously, they also removed the pilots' seats. 224 00:16:58,768 --> 00:17:02,637 Narrator: When grumman won the nasa bidding process in 1962, 225 00:17:02,672 --> 00:17:06,074 At the time the $350 million budget was to enable it 226 00:17:06,109 --> 00:17:10,878 To develop a comfortable module designed to fly only in the vacuum of space, 227 00:17:10,914 --> 00:17:13,448 Unlike the command module. 228 00:17:13,483 --> 00:17:15,833 Matthew: The skin of the lunar module was only about 229 00:17:15,869 --> 00:17:17,902 As thick as three layers of aluminum foil. 230 00:17:17,937 --> 00:17:19,470 If astronauts weren't careful, 231 00:17:19,506 --> 00:17:21,939 They could kick through the walls of it with their boots. 232 00:17:21,975 --> 00:17:24,876 Jim: They were able to sleep inside it while they were on the moon with hammocks, 233 00:17:24,911 --> 00:17:29,847 It's not the ritz in terms of hotels, but it was roomy enough, so to speak. 234 00:17:33,536 --> 00:17:38,139 Narrator: By the end of 1964, the lunar module plans were finally ready, 235 00:17:38,174 --> 00:17:41,209 And grumman manufactured many prototypes. 236 00:17:41,244 --> 00:17:46,881 Then, a first version of the final module was delivered to nasa. 237 00:17:46,916 --> 00:17:54,338 If the agency hadn't run extra tests, apollo 11 would never have reached the moon. 238 00:17:54,374 --> 00:17:58,743 The proposed module was shoddy and rushed, and the trials were catastrophic. 239 00:18:01,214 --> 00:18:04,832 Philippe: When the lunar module was delivered to nasa, it had enormous flaws. 240 00:18:04,868 --> 00:18:08,436 In particular, there were many leaks in the reservoirs 241 00:18:08,471 --> 00:18:10,638 And the piping that carried the fuel. 242 00:18:10,673 --> 00:18:13,825 It was like a sieve. 243 00:18:13,860 --> 00:18:16,010 Narrator: The missions preceding apollo 11 allowed 244 00:18:16,045 --> 00:18:19,213 For the lunar module to be finalized. 245 00:18:19,249 --> 00:18:24,836 Its cost would exceed all of nasa's estimates: 13 million dollars at that time, 246 00:18:24,871 --> 00:18:29,140 Or more than 93 million dollars today. 247 00:18:29,175 --> 00:18:34,946 Still, one essential element could never be testedn real conditions. 248 00:18:34,981 --> 00:18:40,134 The ascent engine that the upper stage would use to leave the moon. 249 00:18:40,170 --> 00:18:43,738 If it started, the mission would be successful. 250 00:18:43,773 --> 00:18:46,874 But there was no second chance in case of failure. 251 00:18:54,834 --> 00:19:01,105 Armstrong and aldrin try not to think about their fateful departure from the moon. 252 00:19:01,141 --> 00:19:06,711 For the moment, all that surrounds them is total silence. 253 00:19:06,746 --> 00:19:13,034 They are on a desolate, empty, sterile celestial body. 254 00:19:13,069 --> 00:19:18,406 But who would first set foot on this virgin soil? 255 00:19:18,441 --> 00:19:23,544 Behind the scenes, nasa's decision allegedly sparked controversy. 256 00:19:23,580 --> 00:19:26,113 And disappointments that were never acknowledged. 257 00:19:27,750 --> 00:19:29,300 Philippe: Buzz aldrin had believed for a long time 258 00:19:29,335 --> 00:19:32,503 That he would be the first to walk on the moon. 259 00:19:32,539 --> 00:19:35,789 I think that this incident was poorly managed by deke slayton, 260 00:19:35,808 --> 00:19:37,608 The head of the astronauts at the time, 261 00:19:37,644 --> 00:19:42,980 Who left a gigantic ambiguity even though everyone wanted to know. 262 00:19:43,016 --> 00:19:48,202 Narrator: Nevertheless, the decision would be logically clear: As the lm pilot, 263 00:19:48,238 --> 00:19:54,275 Armstrong would be on the side nearest the door and could more easily exit first. 264 00:19:54,310 --> 00:19:58,079 Roger: Never mind the fact that buzz aldrin would have dearly loved to have been 265 00:19:58,114 --> 00:20:00,815 The first man on the moon and he wasn't the mission commander, 266 00:20:00,850 --> 00:20:03,301 He did not have the decision-making power 267 00:20:03,336 --> 00:20:07,738 For that particular decision. 268 00:20:07,774 --> 00:20:12,710 Narrator: At 9:56 pm houston time, after long minutes attempting to pass through 269 00:20:12,745 --> 00:20:16,581 The vessel's hatchway, neil armstrong set foot on the ladder 270 00:20:16,616 --> 00:20:21,302 Between him and the moon's surface. 271 00:20:21,337 --> 00:20:25,039 The whole world stopped breathing. 272 00:20:25,074 --> 00:20:29,277 That moment would become one the most significant moments in modern history. 273 00:20:41,207 --> 00:20:44,809 The image transmitted by the lem camera was mediocre, 274 00:20:44,844 --> 00:20:48,246 But it was enough to unite the entire world. 275 00:20:48,281 --> 00:20:51,532 Ed: The original pictures are really hard to tell what's going on. 276 00:20:51,567 --> 00:20:54,735 If you could see neil's foot coming down on that picture, 277 00:20:54,771 --> 00:20:56,470 You're a better man than I am. 278 00:20:58,408 --> 00:21:02,109 Narrator: Armstrong let himself drop to the ground and pronounced the words 279 00:21:02,145 --> 00:21:06,647 That would become etched in the stones of history. 280 00:21:06,683 --> 00:21:13,404 Neil: That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind. 281 00:21:15,508 --> 00:21:19,744 Narrator: Were these words premeditated or simply improvised? 282 00:21:19,779 --> 00:21:24,582 Until his death in 2012, armstrong told the same story: 283 00:21:24,617 --> 00:21:30,371 The words came to him once he was on the moon, not before. 284 00:21:30,406 --> 00:21:34,942 And yet, after the astronaut's death, some accounts emerged suggesting 285 00:21:34,978 --> 00:21:38,612 He prepared his statements in advance. 286 00:21:38,648 --> 00:21:40,414 Jay: He told me, he says, "I don't want to say. 287 00:21:40,450 --> 00:21:44,669 'we beat the russians, I don't want to say america did it,' 288 00:21:44,704 --> 00:21:47,305 'I want, mankind did it.' 289 00:21:50,043 --> 00:21:53,244 "his brother says, "don't tell mama, let her be surprised." 290 00:21:57,116 --> 00:22:04,005 Narrator: From that first step, all the words and all the actions were transmitted live. 291 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:10,544 Neil armstrong began to methodically photograph the moon. 292 00:22:10,580 --> 00:22:16,233 After 19 minutes, buzz aldrin final exited the spacecraft. 293 00:22:16,269 --> 00:22:24,875 Jay: Buzz steps out onto the porch on the lander to go down, and so he says to neil, 294 00:22:24,911 --> 00:22:27,545 "I'm getting ready to close the door." 295 00:22:27,580 --> 00:22:30,181 And neil says, "ok, but don't lock it." 296 00:22:30,216 --> 00:22:32,233 (laughs) 297 00:22:32,268 --> 00:22:38,039 If they had locked themselves outside, then you'd have had a problem. (laughs) 298 00:22:41,110 --> 00:22:45,513 Narrator: Before emerging onto the moon, buzz did a few tests with the ladder 299 00:22:45,548 --> 00:22:48,799 And let himself jump to the ground. 300 00:22:48,835 --> 00:22:53,504 The two astronauts then had to follow the checklist, sewn to the sleeves of their suits. 301 00:22:57,844 --> 00:23:03,547 The extravehicular activity, or eva, goes perfectly. 302 00:23:03,583 --> 00:23:06,700 On the ground, though, tensions remain high. 303 00:23:06,736 --> 00:23:11,972 The astronauts' survival now depends on one element: Their spacesuits. 304 00:23:14,277 --> 00:23:15,709 Jean-françois: Many people think it's just an airtight 305 00:23:15,745 --> 00:23:18,145 Envelope, but it's much more than that. 306 00:23:18,181 --> 00:23:22,533 Inside, there is a system controlling pressure, temperature, 307 00:23:22,568 --> 00:23:28,439 The composition of the interior atmosphere, essentially, it's a spacecraft in its own right. 308 00:23:30,443 --> 00:23:34,545 Narrator: An unprecedented technical feat, the apollo spacesuit would require 309 00:23:34,580 --> 00:23:37,715 Five years of development. 310 00:23:37,750 --> 00:23:44,105 Each model would cost over 100,000 dollars, but the manufacturer had free rein. 311 00:23:44,140 --> 00:23:45,973 Homer: We had almost no limits. 312 00:23:46,008 --> 00:23:50,661 And they spent a lot of money getting those suits developed. 313 00:23:50,696 --> 00:23:55,966 Narrator: Made of 25 layers, te suit would have to protect the astronauts from meteorites 314 00:23:56,002 --> 00:23:59,670 And extreme temperature changes. 315 00:23:59,705 --> 00:24:06,444 But before apollo 11, the suit had never been tested in real conditions. 316 00:24:06,479 --> 00:24:10,881 Homer: I was worried that we were gonna have a surprise that nobody had really thought about. 317 00:24:10,917 --> 00:24:15,102 And, uh, no surprises; everything was exactly like we figured. 318 00:24:18,774 --> 00:24:22,543 Narrator: The apollo 11 mission included many symbolic steps. 319 00:24:22,578 --> 00:24:27,348 Among them: The placement of the american flag. 320 00:24:27,383 --> 00:24:31,585 Contrary to lend, nasa hesitated for a long time before deciding 321 00:24:31,621 --> 00:24:33,971 To send up such a symbol. 322 00:24:34,006 --> 00:24:41,712 In fact, the stars and stripes were only put on board the lm a short time before takeoff. 323 00:24:41,747 --> 00:24:46,534 So that it would fly even though there was no atmosphere, a supportive rod was added. 324 00:24:48,371 --> 00:24:51,505 Philippe: At the moment when armstrong and aldrin placed the american flag, 325 00:24:51,541 --> 00:24:54,742 It was ultimately the symbol of success. 326 00:24:54,777 --> 00:24:58,212 At that moment, although the astronauts were describing everything they were doing, 327 00:24:58,247 --> 00:25:01,415 Everything they were going to do, there's not another word. 328 00:25:01,450 --> 00:25:03,100 There is total silence. 329 00:25:03,135 --> 00:25:07,137 It lasts maybe 10 minutes, which is extremely long. 330 00:25:07,173 --> 00:25:10,341 Narrator: A moment of silence, or of doubt? 331 00:25:10,376 --> 00:25:11,876 No one can say. 332 00:25:13,679 --> 00:25:18,265 The only certainty is that the image of buzz aldrin posing proudly before his flag 333 00:25:18,301 --> 00:25:20,201 Was seen around the world. 334 00:25:36,903 --> 00:25:40,738 Narrator: The mission was interrupted by a telephone call with richard nixon, 335 00:25:40,773 --> 00:25:43,107 The president of the united states. 336 00:25:43,142 --> 00:25:47,778 Pres. Nixon: Hello neil and buzz, I am talking to you by telephone from the oval room 337 00:25:47,813 --> 00:25:49,613 At the white house, 338 00:25:49,649 --> 00:25:53,434 And this certainly has to be the most historic telephone call ever made 339 00:25:53,469 --> 00:25:55,703 From the white house. 340 00:25:55,738 --> 00:26:00,207 Narrator: Facing the camera, the two astronauts listened to their president's words, 341 00:26:00,243 --> 00:26:03,711 Marked with the intensity of the occasion. 342 00:26:03,746 --> 00:26:06,046 Only armstrong would speak. 343 00:26:06,082 --> 00:26:07,615 Neil: Thank you, mr. President. 344 00:26:07,650 --> 00:26:13,871 It's a great honor and privilege for us to be here. 345 00:26:13,906 --> 00:26:19,810 Narrator: Petrified by the moment, buzz aldrin did not say a single word. 346 00:26:19,845 --> 00:26:23,881 A short time later, neil armstrong took the most iconic photograph 347 00:26:23,916 --> 00:26:26,700 Of the apollo program. 348 00:26:26,736 --> 00:26:32,573 The astronaut appears in the reflection on buzz aldrin's helmet. 349 00:26:32,608 --> 00:26:37,478 There is no other clear image of armstrong on the moon. 350 00:26:37,513 --> 00:26:40,614 Jean-françois: This photograph is the stuff of myths; 351 00:26:40,650 --> 00:26:44,001 It's the first photo from the apollo program I had hanging in my bedroom 352 00:26:44,036 --> 00:26:44,635 When I was a kid. 353 00:26:54,180 --> 00:26:58,282 Narrator: The two astronauts had been outside the lunar module for two hours 354 00:26:58,317 --> 00:27:01,302 And they already had to go back in. 355 00:27:01,337 --> 00:27:04,538 Glynn: When the science people first learned that we were only going to do 356 00:27:04,573 --> 00:27:08,809 A two-hour eva they were very upset with that. 357 00:27:08,844 --> 00:27:11,312 They wanted to do lots of stuff. 358 00:27:11,347 --> 00:27:13,914 Philippe: Armstrong and aldrin didn't walk on the moon, 359 00:27:13,949 --> 00:27:16,166 They had a quick shuffle on the moon. 360 00:27:16,202 --> 00:27:21,271 Only armstrong, at the end of his outing, ventured further, but he was seen to disappear. 361 00:27:21,307 --> 00:27:27,077 He took a photo of the landing site from far away, and no one knew until seeing that photo 362 00:27:27,113 --> 00:27:29,546 After he returned that he had made it that far. 363 00:27:32,668 --> 00:27:35,736 Narrator: Neil armstrong and buzz aldrin would also take with them 364 00:27:35,771 --> 00:27:40,341 The first array of lunar samples. 365 00:27:40,376 --> 00:27:45,512 Nearly 50 pounds on this first mission, and nearly 900 pounds in total 366 00:27:45,548 --> 00:27:50,501 By the end of the apollo program. 367 00:27:50,536 --> 00:27:52,936 Jim: When neil armstrong and buzz aldrin brought back the containers 368 00:27:52,972 --> 00:27:54,605 Of rocks that they collected 369 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:57,408 These were distributed to hundreds of laboratories around the earth, 370 00:27:57,443 --> 00:27:59,743 Europe, asia, united states. 371 00:27:59,779 --> 00:28:02,913 And so we were able to date those rocks and see that 372 00:28:02,948 --> 00:28:09,336 There were over 3 billion years old, really, really ancient. 373 00:28:09,372 --> 00:28:14,508 Narrator: Before leaving, buzz aldrin took one last photograph. 374 00:28:14,543 --> 00:28:18,912 His footprints left on the gray, dusty soil. 375 00:28:18,948 --> 00:28:27,004 The one that all the magazines captioned as the first steps on the moon, up close. 376 00:28:27,039 --> 00:28:30,441 The real neil armstrong's first step, in truth, 377 00:28:30,476 --> 00:28:34,378 Was obliterated by the coming and going of the two astronauts. 378 00:28:34,413 --> 00:28:39,967 Instead, this photograph shows one of the astronauts' last steps. 379 00:28:45,374 --> 00:28:48,475 The astronauts, in turn, grabbed hold of the ladder 380 00:28:48,511 --> 00:28:52,813 That separated them from the upper stage of the lem. 381 00:28:52,848 --> 00:28:59,036 The mission was filmed from start to finish, and yet, some moments still raise questions 382 00:28:59,071 --> 00:29:04,007 Until very recently, such as whether neil armstrong left something on the moon 383 00:29:04,043 --> 00:29:05,943 For his deceased daughter. 384 00:29:05,978 --> 00:29:08,212 Matthew: What happens on the moon often stays on the moon 385 00:29:08,247 --> 00:29:09,880 And to this day, we're not exactly sure 386 00:29:09,915 --> 00:29:12,366 What the astronauts did, what they left, 387 00:29:12,401 --> 00:29:13,901 And what they took with them. 388 00:29:20,209 --> 00:29:25,212 Narrator: Michael collins, orbiting alone for more than 24 hours in the command module, 389 00:29:25,247 --> 00:29:28,499 Prepared to welcome back his crewmates. 390 00:29:28,534 --> 00:29:34,972 He never had the chance to see the moon from close up, but his role had been essential. 391 00:29:35,007 --> 00:29:39,810 Jack: Mike collins had the horrible responsibility that either, 392 00:29:39,845 --> 00:29:43,680 Do what he could to rescue his crewmen or come back without them. 393 00:29:43,716 --> 00:29:47,100 He was trained to do that. 394 00:29:47,136 --> 00:29:51,238 Narrator: Collins's only fear was that the lm's ascent engine wouldn't work, 395 00:29:51,273 --> 00:29:55,108 Because it had never been tested in real-world conditions. 396 00:29:55,144 --> 00:29:57,878 Roger: The ascent stage, which is on top of 397 00:29:57,913 --> 00:30:01,381 Sort of the boxy bottom part of the lunar module 398 00:30:01,417 --> 00:30:05,435 Has its own engine but, it's a uh, a solid-fueled engine. 399 00:30:05,471 --> 00:30:08,739 You light that thing and it takes off like a roman candle. 400 00:30:08,774 --> 00:30:12,643 That's, you can't throttle it, you can't control it, it'll take you back up to orbit 401 00:30:12,678 --> 00:30:13,844 And that's it. 402 00:30:18,250 --> 00:30:22,436 Narrator: The moment was so stressful that buzz, with his cumbersome suit, 403 00:30:22,471 --> 00:30:27,007 Accidentally broke one of the ignition buttons while reentering the cabin. 404 00:30:30,713 --> 00:30:33,480 It was impossible to lift off. 405 00:30:33,516 --> 00:30:41,205 A new unforeseen turn of events, for a mission return that already seemed perilous. 406 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:45,709 So much so that president richard nixon had a farewell speech prepared 407 00:30:45,744 --> 00:30:47,711 In case of failure. 408 00:30:47,746 --> 00:30:50,981 Matthew: A speech was prepared for president richard nixon, which celebrated 409 00:30:51,016 --> 00:30:52,633 The achievements of the astronauts, 410 00:30:52,668 --> 00:30:55,936 And asked the nation to commemorate their sacrifice. 411 00:30:55,971 --> 00:31:02,376 Jeffrey: "fate has ordained that two men who went to the moon to explore in peace 412 00:31:02,411 --> 00:31:05,212 Will remain on the moon to rest in peace." 413 00:31:22,481 --> 00:31:25,332 Narrator: If buzz aldrin hadn't had the ingenious idea 414 00:31:25,367 --> 00:31:29,336 Of using a basic pen to press down on the broken button, 415 00:31:29,371 --> 00:31:33,740 Nixon might have had to give his prerepared mournful speech. 416 00:31:33,776 --> 00:31:37,778 And the eagle would never have taken off from the moon. 417 00:31:37,813 --> 00:31:42,232 But history was written differently. 418 00:31:42,268 --> 00:31:46,403 Immediately at ignition, the astronauts felt the explosion of the engine 419 00:31:46,438 --> 00:31:49,773 That would detach the first stage of the lm. 420 00:31:49,808 --> 00:31:52,776 The american flag, installed too close to the ship, 421 00:31:52,811 --> 00:31:57,447 Was blown over by the wind from the propulsion. 422 00:31:57,483 --> 00:32:03,337 Collins adjusted his trajectory to receive his fellow astronauts. 423 00:32:03,372 --> 00:32:05,405 But they weren't yet home free: 424 00:32:05,441 --> 00:32:09,176 Now they would have to navigate entry into earth's atmosphere. 425 00:32:09,211 --> 00:32:11,478 Jack: The atmosphere pushing back as hard as it does, 426 00:32:11,513 --> 00:32:14,214 So you're coming in at 36,000 miles per hour 427 00:32:14,249 --> 00:32:17,634 And it's trying to stop you, that's where the g-force kicks in, 428 00:32:17,670 --> 00:32:20,237 And they had to control stick by their leg. 429 00:32:20,272 --> 00:32:23,740 It's sort of like a rollercoaster ride it would make through the atmosphere 430 00:32:23,776 --> 00:32:26,543 As it came in, keeping it, trying to slow it down. 431 00:32:33,969 --> 00:32:39,306 Narrator: On July 24, 1969, almost 200 hours after liftoff, 432 00:32:39,341 --> 00:32:44,127 The apollo 11 capsule plunged into the pacific. 433 00:32:44,163 --> 00:32:47,381 Jim: The spacecraft was swabbed with disinfectant and the astronauts 434 00:32:47,416 --> 00:32:50,067 Were placed into quarantine as soon as they came back. 435 00:32:50,102 --> 00:32:52,836 And the samples were analyzed and of course 436 00:32:52,871 --> 00:32:55,238 It soon became clear that that there was no chance 437 00:32:55,274 --> 00:32:58,675 Of contamination from life brought back from the moon. 438 00:33:04,917 --> 00:33:10,604 Narrator: The crew went on a world tour. 439 00:33:10,639 --> 00:33:15,375 Apollo became the symbol of american superpower. 440 00:33:15,411 --> 00:33:18,378 The story could have ended with this victory. 441 00:33:18,414 --> 00:33:22,015 Gene: We no sooner finished apollo 11 then we're getting ready for apollo 12. 442 00:33:22,034 --> 00:33:24,067 So, we didn't have too much time to, uh, 443 00:33:24,103 --> 00:33:25,836 Reflect upon the past; 444 00:33:25,871 --> 00:33:28,305 It's to prepare for the future. 445 00:33:29,875 --> 00:33:32,209 Narrator: To reaffirm its smashing success, 446 00:33:32,244 --> 00:33:38,281 Nasa launched apollo 12 in November of 1969. 447 00:33:38,317 --> 00:33:43,070 The mission was a success, bolstered by two extravehicular activities, 448 00:33:43,105 --> 00:33:47,674 And more than 31 hours spent on the lunar surface. 449 00:33:47,710 --> 00:33:52,345 And yet, the public wasn't watching anymore. 450 00:33:52,381 --> 00:33:56,233 Kennedy's challenge had been met, the feat was immense, 451 00:33:56,268 --> 00:34:00,604 But the agency still decided to continue with apollo 13. 452 00:34:00,639 --> 00:34:03,073 One mission too many. 453 00:34:03,108 --> 00:34:04,908 Jeffrey: The country had lost interest. 454 00:34:04,943 --> 00:34:08,779 When it became a life and death mission, people paid 455 00:34:08,814 --> 00:34:13,100 Close, unbreakable attention at that point. 456 00:34:19,942 --> 00:34:24,344 Narrator: On April 11, 1970, james lovell, jack swigert, 457 00:34:24,379 --> 00:34:28,014 And fred haise lifted off aboard the apollo 13 mission, 458 00:34:28,050 --> 00:34:29,099 To general indifference. 459 00:34:32,938 --> 00:34:36,706 After 55 hours in flight, swigert performed a routine 460 00:34:36,742 --> 00:34:39,476 Task on the hydrogen and oxygen tanks. 461 00:34:44,349 --> 00:34:47,734 A few minutes later, the astronauts felt a shock, 462 00:34:47,770 --> 00:34:50,937 And the whole craft began to vibrate. 463 00:34:50,973 --> 00:34:52,973 Fred: Both vehicles were metal vehicles, 464 00:34:53,008 --> 00:34:55,942 So I guess the thing I would relate it to 465 00:34:55,978 --> 00:34:57,844 Is if you were in a big tin can 466 00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:01,047 And somebody hit it on the side with a sledgehammer. 467 00:35:01,083 --> 00:35:05,068 It was that kind of reverberation of sound. 468 00:35:05,104 --> 00:35:10,907 Narrator: They didn't know it yet, but the number 2 oxygen tank had just exploded. 469 00:35:10,943 --> 00:35:15,212 At the time, they thought a meteorite had collided with them. 470 00:35:15,247 --> 00:35:19,800 Fred: Jim lovell had already started his way floating back up through the tunnel 471 00:35:19,835 --> 00:35:21,835 To get back to the mother ship. 472 00:35:21,870 --> 00:35:26,173 And had made the call, "houston, we've had a problem." 473 00:35:26,208 --> 00:35:28,408 Jim: Uh, houston, we've had a problem. 474 00:35:28,443 --> 00:35:33,013 Glynn: At first we said, "well, whatever it is we'll fix it and get on with it." 475 00:35:33,048 --> 00:35:37,434 But, it soon occurred to us, you know, in a matter of a few minutes, 476 00:35:37,469 --> 00:35:39,936 That this was not a fixable problem. 477 00:35:43,308 --> 00:35:45,675 Narrator: The alarms and emergency lights went off. 478 00:35:45,711 --> 00:35:49,146 Voltage in the electrical systems was dropping. 479 00:35:49,181 --> 00:35:56,770 In a few minutes, what started as a small problem became a desperate situation. 480 00:35:56,805 --> 00:36:01,741 Without energy or oxygen, the astronauts had no chance of survival. 481 00:36:02,845 --> 00:36:06,213 Matthew: The alternatives were terrible: Being stuck in space, never to return, 482 00:36:06,248 --> 00:36:07,881 Slowly running out of oxygen; 483 00:36:07,916 --> 00:36:09,299 Crashing into the lunar surface; 484 00:36:09,334 --> 00:36:12,202 Or perhaps burning up as their spacecraft entered 485 00:36:12,237 --> 00:36:14,671 The earth's atmosphere too fast to slow down, 486 00:36:14,706 --> 00:36:19,776 Leaving the astronauts as cinders floating in the air. 487 00:36:19,811 --> 00:36:24,080 Fred: My instant feeling was just a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, 488 00:36:24,116 --> 00:36:25,599 Because I knew we had lost the landing. 489 00:36:32,207 --> 00:36:37,377 Narrator: On earth, some 200,000 miles away from the crew: Panic ensues. 490 00:36:37,412 --> 00:36:41,281 Houston has already canceled the apollo 13 mission 491 00:36:41,316 --> 00:36:44,234 And is now trying to save its three men. 492 00:36:44,269 --> 00:36:47,771 Jay: Flight director gene kranz looked at everybody. 493 00:36:47,806 --> 00:36:51,708 He says, "we're going to get these guys back. 494 00:36:51,743 --> 00:36:54,878 Failure is not an option." 495 00:36:54,913 --> 00:36:57,547 Ed: Kranz had said everybody to shut up basically. 496 00:36:57,583 --> 00:37:02,936 He didn't say it that way, but basically everybody knew not to say anything. 497 00:37:02,971 --> 00:37:08,375 The only communication would be going on would either be something wrong 498 00:37:08,410 --> 00:37:14,681 Or a call-out on fuel, or a call-out from the crew. 499 00:37:14,716 --> 00:37:20,503 Narrator: Gene kranz then decided to use an untried method: To avoid exhausting 500 00:37:20,539 --> 00:37:26,042 Reserves and save time, he asked the crew to cut all electrical systems. 501 00:37:26,078 --> 00:37:29,412 It was a decision with heavy consequences. 502 00:37:29,448 --> 00:37:32,766 Gene: It's sort of like the lights in your home, if you want to conserve electricity, 503 00:37:32,801 --> 00:37:34,801 You turn 'em all off but one. 504 00:37:34,836 --> 00:37:39,172 And that's basically what we did. 505 00:37:39,207 --> 00:37:44,844 Fred: Lunar module likely went down to about mid-30s fahrenheit we did not have adequate 506 00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:48,214 Clothing for that situation. We, uh, ended up putting on 507 00:37:48,250 --> 00:37:51,601 All our spare underwear, ended up with three sets on. 508 00:37:51,637 --> 00:37:53,637 So that was the best we could do. 509 00:37:58,110 --> 00:38:01,778 Narrator: As the command module continued to lose its oxygen, 510 00:38:01,813 --> 00:38:07,233 Houston made a choice that was surely the only option for survival. 511 00:38:07,269 --> 00:38:12,605 The crew abandoned the command module and entered aquarius, the lunar module, 512 00:38:12,641 --> 00:38:16,109 Which had not suffered damage. 513 00:38:16,144 --> 00:38:22,732 Designed for only two men, the lunar module would have to save three. 514 00:38:22,768 --> 00:38:25,335 The public, no longer interested in apollo, 515 00:38:25,370 --> 00:38:29,239 Suddenly had great concern for this catastrophic scenario. 516 00:38:29,274 --> 00:38:30,940 Jeffrey: Suddenly we cared about these men, 517 00:38:30,976 --> 00:38:32,375 And we cared about their children 518 00:38:32,411 --> 00:38:34,577 And we cared about their wives, 519 00:38:34,613 --> 00:38:38,014 And we loved them in the way you can love a public figure and want them to come home. 520 00:38:42,170 --> 00:38:46,506 Narrator: But inside aquarius, the crew was on the verge of suffocating. 521 00:38:46,541 --> 00:38:48,441 Matthew: The lunar module in which the three astronauts 522 00:38:48,477 --> 00:38:51,277 Had to spend their time was not designed to hold three people. 523 00:38:51,313 --> 00:38:53,446 And very quickly the atmosphere became poisoned 524 00:38:53,482 --> 00:38:57,200 With the carbon dioxide that the astronauts would exhale. 525 00:38:57,235 --> 00:39:00,704 Fred: People have asked, "did you have, could you take a poison pill or something?" 526 00:39:00,739 --> 00:39:03,873 No, there was no plans of any sort for that. 527 00:39:03,909 --> 00:39:06,343 It'd be very easy, we'd just open the hatch. 528 00:39:06,378 --> 00:39:09,813 You're in space, and you'd be gone in an instant. 529 00:39:09,848 --> 00:39:11,448 You don't need to carry anything. 530 00:39:15,504 --> 00:39:19,606 Narrator: Within minutes, houston found a brilliant idea: 531 00:39:19,641 --> 00:39:22,609 Adapt the more efficient filters from the command module 532 00:39:22,644 --> 00:39:26,079 To aquarius in order to purify the air. 533 00:39:26,114 --> 00:39:30,900 Gene: We had to learn to package up some square filters that we had over 534 00:39:30,936 --> 00:39:32,869 In the dead command module. 535 00:39:32,904 --> 00:39:36,773 And put them in the round hole for the lunar module. 536 00:39:36,808 --> 00:39:42,679 Narrator: The technique worked perfectly, allowing the crew to gain a few extra hours 537 00:39:42,714 --> 00:39:47,801 Of survival and to fight to the bitter end. 538 00:39:47,836 --> 00:39:51,938 In manual control, swigert and haise modified the two vessels' 539 00:39:51,973 --> 00:39:56,643 Trajectory to return to earth. 540 00:39:56,678 --> 00:40:03,700 But with a command module that was only partially functional, maneuvering was perilous. 541 00:40:03,735 --> 00:40:09,539 Lovell went so far as to use his watch to time the ignition of the engines. 542 00:40:09,574 --> 00:40:14,677 Fred: We could not shoot stars, because with the debris field around the spacecraft 543 00:40:14,713 --> 00:40:17,046 From the explosion, if you looked out the windows, 544 00:40:17,082 --> 00:40:19,732 You couldn't discern what was stars from debris. 545 00:40:25,474 --> 00:40:30,310 Narrator: For more than five minutes, radio communications were cut. 546 00:40:30,345 --> 00:40:36,332 It was impossible for houston to know if the crew had taken the correct trajectory. 547 00:40:36,368 --> 00:40:39,068 The tension was unbearable. 548 00:40:39,104 --> 00:40:44,274 Jack: It was awful, just awful, and so when they came back online and after 5 minutes 549 00:40:44,309 --> 00:40:47,577 And said, you know, "apollo 13 here, we, we read you," 550 00:40:47,612 --> 00:40:50,146 It's like, what in the world happened? 551 00:40:50,182 --> 00:40:51,281 It was like this miracle. 552 00:40:54,035 --> 00:41:01,708 On April 17, 1970, apollo 13 landed successfully in the pacific. 553 00:41:01,743 --> 00:41:06,679 The incredible adventure would be followed by the entire world. 554 00:41:11,036 --> 00:41:18,475 Jeffrey: What made apollo 13 wonderful is that it was a great human tale. 555 00:41:18,510 --> 00:41:21,277 If it hadn't happened in real life, somebody would have wanted to write 556 00:41:21,313 --> 00:41:25,715 It as a great work of fiction; a great human tale of ingenuity and survival. 557 00:41:34,309 --> 00:41:40,246 Narrator: The final chapter in the apollo story is much less joyful. 558 00:41:40,282 --> 00:41:44,734 Nasa had planned to take the program through apollo 20. 559 00:41:44,803 --> 00:41:49,739 But the apollo 13 accident and the vietnam war shifted political priorities. 560 00:41:53,912 --> 00:41:59,465 On September 20, 1970, nasa announced the definitive halt to the program, 561 00:41:59,501 --> 00:42:04,771 Even though three saturn v rockets had been manufactured. 562 00:42:04,806 --> 00:42:09,475 Apollo 17 would be the final mission. 563 00:42:09,511 --> 00:42:12,178 Pres. Kennedy: We choose to go the moon in this decade 564 00:42:12,214 --> 00:42:17,000 Narrator: Kennedy had galvanized an entire nation with his prophecy and brought 565 00:42:17,035 --> 00:42:23,139 A total of 12 astronauts to the moon, but nixon was the man to shatter the dream. 566 00:42:23,174 --> 00:42:27,010 Gene: The president said, "this may be the last time in this century." 567 00:42:27,045 --> 00:42:29,045 And we thought, "good lord. 568 00:42:29,080 --> 00:42:32,832 We've worked so hard; we've got to the moon; we've done all these things here; 569 00:42:32,867 --> 00:42:35,335 And now we're not going back. 570 00:42:35,370 --> 00:42:38,071 We're giving up the high ground." 571 00:42:38,106 --> 00:42:41,507 Philippe: Nixon openly predicted that before the end of the 20th century, 572 00:42:41,543 --> 00:42:43,910 We wouldn't return to the moon. 573 00:42:43,945 --> 00:42:47,847 He was right: Even now as of the early 21st century, 574 00:42:47,882 --> 00:42:49,215 No one has returned. 575 00:42:53,505 --> 00:42:56,573 Narrator: Never has the american space agency experienced the level 576 00:42:56,608 --> 00:43:00,977 Of frenetic energy it did during the decade of apollo. 577 00:43:01,012 --> 00:43:06,966 The scientific and political consequences of the program have been significant. 578 00:43:07,002 --> 00:43:12,438 But after a feat of this magnitude, what might the future hold? 579 00:43:12,474 --> 00:43:15,041 Roger: There's also a lot of people who are anxious about what's new, 580 00:43:15,076 --> 00:43:17,010 What's on the horizon, what are we going to do next? 581 00:43:21,249 --> 00:43:25,234 Narrator: The moon hasn't been visited in the last half-century. 582 00:43:25,270 --> 00:43:28,004 Funding has been reduced substantially. 583 00:43:28,039 --> 00:43:30,940 But scientists are still dreaming of the next phase, 584 00:43:30,976 --> 00:43:35,311 Millions of miles from the cradle of humanity, earth. 585 00:43:35,347 --> 00:43:38,481 Jeffrey: Nasa's budget is currently $20 billion dollars, 586 00:43:38,516 --> 00:43:42,001 Compared to that 60 billion back then. 587 00:43:42,037 --> 00:43:45,972 And we want to go to mars. 588 00:43:46,007 --> 00:43:47,807 Glynn: We can always do better than we think. 589 00:43:47,842 --> 00:43:49,175 Look at apollo. 590 00:43:49,210 --> 00:43:51,811 I mean, that was virtually impossible to do. 591 00:43:51,813 --> 00:43:53,613 In the time frame that we had. 592 00:43:53,648 --> 00:43:55,348 Virtually impossible. 593 00:43:55,383 --> 00:43:57,233 And yet, it got done. 594 00:43:57,268 --> 00:43:59,402 That's a good way to think about it. 595 00:43:59,437 --> 00:44:07,877 (music) 596 00:44:09,848 --> 00:44:10,647 Captioned by subtitlepro llc