1 00:00:01,435 --> 00:00:03,068 (dramatic music) 2 00:00:05,238 --> 00:00:07,740 Narrator: Each new era of space exploration 3 00:00:09,209 --> 00:00:12,845 Is built on the courage of those who came before. 4 00:00:14,982 --> 00:00:17,082 Malik: They pioneered a lot of that science. 5 00:00:19,319 --> 00:00:21,120 Narrator: Unpredictable technology, 6 00:00:22,956 --> 00:00:24,356 Unproven designs, 7 00:00:28,261 --> 00:00:31,930 And situations that tested our limits. 8 00:00:31,998 --> 00:00:33,465 Kluger: It was clear 9 00:00:33,533 --> 00:00:35,701 That something unprecedented was happening. 10 00:00:37,337 --> 00:00:40,039 Narrator: Now, witness space exploration's 11 00:00:40,107 --> 00:00:41,607 Most dramatic moments. 12 00:00:42,943 --> 00:00:44,109 (explosion booming) 13 00:00:44,177 --> 00:00:45,711 The heart-pounding missions. 14 00:00:47,748 --> 00:00:49,681 And gut-wrenching tragedies. 15 00:00:49,750 --> 00:00:52,050 Man: We've got a fire in the cockpit. 16 00:00:52,119 --> 00:00:55,253 Massimino: Bad things are gonna happen every once in a while. 17 00:00:55,256 --> 00:00:57,389 Narrator: Of the space pioneers 18 00:00:57,457 --> 00:00:59,658 Who reached for the stars. 19 00:00:59,660 --> 00:01:01,093 Barry: They knew that the margins for error 20 00:01:01,161 --> 00:01:03,162 Were extremely small. 21 00:01:05,165 --> 00:01:07,833 (dramatic music) 22 00:01:18,912 --> 00:01:21,513 Narrator: December 20th, 2019. 23 00:01:23,117 --> 00:01:25,250 Kennedy space center, florida. 24 00:01:26,253 --> 00:01:27,185 Man: Go atlas. 25 00:01:27,188 --> 00:01:27,953 Go centaur. 26 00:01:28,021 --> 00:01:29,588 Go starliner. 27 00:01:29,590 --> 00:01:32,124 Man: Nine, eight, seven. 28 00:01:32,126 --> 00:01:35,127 Narrator: Boeing's starliner cst-100 29 00:01:35,195 --> 00:01:39,030 Prepares to blast off on a critical unmanned test flight. 30 00:01:39,099 --> 00:01:40,399 Man: And liftoff. 31 00:01:40,467 --> 00:01:44,236 The rise of starliner, a new era in human spaceflight. 32 00:01:45,338 --> 00:01:46,138 Man: We've cleared the tower. 33 00:01:48,142 --> 00:01:49,474 Narrator: If all goes well, 34 00:01:49,477 --> 00:01:51,610 It will be a major step toward restoring 35 00:01:51,678 --> 00:01:54,246 Nasa's human spaceflight capability, 36 00:01:54,314 --> 00:01:56,415 Something it hasn't had 37 00:01:56,483 --> 00:01:59,651 Since it retired the space shuttle eight years earlier. 38 00:02:00,921 --> 00:02:02,754 Man: Mach one als 5 is now supersonic. 39 00:02:04,558 --> 00:02:06,158 Narrator: The next -generation spaceship 40 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,794 Will rocket into low earth orbit, 41 00:02:08,862 --> 00:02:10,696 Docking with the international space station 42 00:02:10,764 --> 00:02:13,332 200 miles above the earth. 43 00:02:15,268 --> 00:02:16,535 Man: We see a good indication of jettison 44 00:02:16,603 --> 00:02:18,170 Of both solid rocket boosters. 45 00:02:22,042 --> 00:02:24,075 Controllers are maneuvering starliner 46 00:02:24,144 --> 00:02:25,577 For this orbital insertion burn. 47 00:02:26,947 --> 00:02:28,847 Narrator: 30 minutes into the mission, 48 00:02:30,117 --> 00:02:32,551 A computer glitch causes a major problem. 49 00:02:36,289 --> 00:02:38,190 Starliner burns through its fuel 50 00:02:38,192 --> 00:02:40,225 Before it reaches the station. 51 00:02:42,930 --> 00:02:45,931 The spacecraft cannot dock. 52 00:02:45,933 --> 00:02:48,734 Tv anchor: It was the vessel's first critical test mission, 53 00:02:48,802 --> 00:02:50,569 But things did not go as planned. 54 00:02:57,110 --> 00:03:01,280 Narrator: Two days later, the spacecraft lands safely. 55 00:03:01,348 --> 00:03:04,683 Man: And we see three main chutes as starliner descends. 56 00:03:07,287 --> 00:03:10,021 Narrator: But the failed mission is a major setback 57 00:03:10,090 --> 00:03:12,424 For the multi-billion dollar program. 58 00:03:13,694 --> 00:03:15,227 Malik: There's a cliche 59 00:03:15,295 --> 00:03:17,563 In the space industry that space is hard. 60 00:03:19,233 --> 00:03:23,034 And while it sounds a bit trite, it's actually true. 61 00:03:23,037 --> 00:03:26,271 You can address every foreseeable error 62 00:03:26,339 --> 00:03:27,272 But there's always gonna be something 63 00:03:27,340 --> 00:03:28,040 That you don't know. 64 00:03:33,647 --> 00:03:36,281 Narrator: The starliner mishap is one of many 65 00:03:36,349 --> 00:03:38,383 In the latest race for space exploration. 66 00:03:38,452 --> 00:03:40,919 Man: The main engine is at 108%. 67 00:03:45,191 --> 00:03:47,192 Narrator: Most of the flights have been unmanned. 68 00:03:53,133 --> 00:03:55,467 But in October 2014, 69 00:03:55,469 --> 00:03:59,271 Two virgin galactic pilots test a prototype 70 00:03:59,339 --> 00:04:02,340 Of the world's first's commercial space plane. 71 00:04:02,409 --> 00:04:06,645 Woman: Three, two, one, release, release, release. 72 00:04:08,948 --> 00:04:10,815 Narrator: As one of them engages the rocket 73 00:04:10,818 --> 00:04:13,685 That will push them to the edge of the earth's atmosphere, 74 00:04:16,323 --> 00:04:18,190 Disaster strikes. 75 00:04:18,258 --> 00:04:21,693 Announcer: Spaceship two exploded during a test flight 76 00:04:21,761 --> 00:04:23,996 Over california's mojave desert. 77 00:04:25,766 --> 00:04:28,000 One of the two crew members was killed. 78 00:04:30,437 --> 00:04:34,239 Malik: Errors do happen and they're very painful, 79 00:04:34,307 --> 00:04:36,275 Especially when it's an accident with people. 80 00:04:39,913 --> 00:04:41,946 Barry: While nasa and other space agencies 81 00:04:42,015 --> 00:04:43,382 Make it look easy, 82 00:04:45,285 --> 00:04:47,118 If everything doesn't work perfectly, 83 00:04:47,187 --> 00:04:49,888 There's a big risk there that somebody's gonna get hurt. 84 00:04:52,092 --> 00:04:54,893 Narrator: Those who go first take bigger risks 85 00:04:56,063 --> 00:04:58,130 And face bigger dangers. 86 00:05:01,201 --> 00:05:04,069 Perhaps no one knew that better than the men 87 00:05:04,137 --> 00:05:09,074 Who pioneered the world's very first space plane: The x-15. 88 00:05:14,414 --> 00:05:17,649 Long, sleek and hypersonic, 89 00:05:19,019 --> 00:05:23,188 The north american x-15 makes its debut in October 1958. 90 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,695 The experimental research project belongs to nasa, 91 00:05:29,763 --> 00:05:32,931 The air force, and north american aviation. 92 00:05:35,168 --> 00:05:39,004 Its purpose: To explore the very edge of space. 93 00:05:41,041 --> 00:05:44,209 Teitel: The x-15 program actually predates the space age. 94 00:05:44,277 --> 00:05:47,279 The idea was to start exploring hypersonic space. 95 00:05:49,349 --> 00:05:51,717 Aircraft were going supersonic, 96 00:05:51,785 --> 00:05:54,886 They were going mach 2, mach 2.5, 97 00:05:54,888 --> 00:05:56,221 But nothing was really going 98 00:05:56,223 --> 00:06:01,026 At space-equivalent speeds of like mach 25. 99 00:06:01,094 --> 00:06:02,293 So, there was some question of like, 100 00:06:02,362 --> 00:06:03,828 "well, what's gonna happen 101 00:06:03,897 --> 00:06:06,297 "when we start going really, really fast?" 102 00:06:06,300 --> 00:06:08,200 Barry: Engineers were looking at what kind of materials 103 00:06:08,268 --> 00:06:10,468 Can you use at extreme high speeds? 104 00:06:10,537 --> 00:06:13,471 How do you control a spacecraft or aircraft 105 00:06:13,474 --> 00:06:14,740 At those kinds of speeds? 106 00:06:16,076 --> 00:06:18,377 And so that was the realm that the x-15 was aimed at. 107 00:06:20,814 --> 00:06:22,914 Narrator: The x -15 is 50 feet long, 108 00:06:24,150 --> 00:06:26,385 Almost all of which is taken up by its fuel tank. 109 00:06:28,588 --> 00:06:32,657 Fully fueled, it weighs almost 38,000 pounds. 110 00:06:34,161 --> 00:06:35,326 Teitel: It was basically a rocket 111 00:06:35,395 --> 00:06:36,428 With a cockpit on the top. 112 00:06:36,430 --> 00:06:38,430 This thing burned through its fuel 113 00:06:38,432 --> 00:06:41,666 To propel the spacecraft to ridiculous speeds and heights. 114 00:06:44,704 --> 00:06:47,372 Narrator: The x-15's pilots are an exclusive club 115 00:06:47,374 --> 00:06:49,107 Of just 12 daring members, 116 00:06:51,811 --> 00:06:55,046 Including future astronaut neil armstrong. 117 00:06:57,384 --> 00:06:58,583 Barry: They had to be able to think quickly 118 00:06:58,585 --> 00:07:00,051 About where they are, 119 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:01,319 What's going on and what the most likely problem 120 00:07:01,387 --> 00:07:02,320 Is that they're facing at the moment 121 00:07:02,389 --> 00:07:03,989 And what could kill them next. 122 00:07:05,325 --> 00:07:06,825 Narrator: From the start of the program, 123 00:07:06,893 --> 00:07:10,429 It isn't clear whether pilots are testing the space rocket 124 00:07:10,497 --> 00:07:12,130 Or it is testing them. 125 00:07:21,809 --> 00:07:23,141 June 8th, 1959. 126 00:07:25,145 --> 00:07:27,512 Edwards air force base, california. 127 00:07:30,217 --> 00:07:32,817 The new and unproven x-15 128 00:07:32,886 --> 00:07:34,986 Is ready for its very first flight. 129 00:07:36,923 --> 00:07:40,692 Nasa plans to test the space plane's handling capabilities 130 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,695 With a long unpowered glide back to earth. 131 00:07:46,366 --> 00:07:49,267 Barry: The x-15 is effectively a rocket powered glider. 132 00:07:50,403 --> 00:07:53,972 It runs for 90 seconds and then you're out of fuel 133 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:55,707 And the craft becomes a glider 134 00:07:55,775 --> 00:07:57,175 And you come back and land. 135 00:07:59,612 --> 00:08:02,113 Drawback of course is that if you misjudge the landing 136 00:08:02,182 --> 00:08:04,215 You can't take off and fly around again and land, 137 00:08:04,284 --> 00:08:05,951 You've got to get it right the first time. 138 00:08:08,722 --> 00:08:10,622 Narrator: Piloting the spacecraft, 139 00:08:10,690 --> 00:08:13,391 Legendary test pilot and aircraft engineer 140 00:08:13,459 --> 00:08:15,126 Scott crossfield. 141 00:08:18,064 --> 00:08:20,165 Teitel: Among some of his earliest claims to fame 142 00:08:20,233 --> 00:08:23,201 He became the first pilot to fly at mach 2, 143 00:08:23,270 --> 00:08:24,703 So twice the speed of sound. 144 00:08:29,042 --> 00:08:30,475 Narrator: The ground crew 145 00:08:30,543 --> 00:08:33,612 Straps crossfield's x-15 to its mothership, 146 00:08:33,680 --> 00:08:35,847 A modified b-52 bomber. 147 00:08:37,651 --> 00:08:40,518 Teitel: Because the x-15 needed to reserve all of its fuel, 148 00:08:40,521 --> 00:08:41,986 It was actually air launched 149 00:08:42,055 --> 00:08:43,922 From underneath the wing of a b-52. 150 00:08:49,763 --> 00:08:52,864 Ground control: 003, edwards cleared for take off. 151 00:08:54,701 --> 00:08:58,369 Teitel: Crossfield was sealed inside the cockpit of the x-15 152 00:08:58,438 --> 00:08:59,504 For about an hour 153 00:08:59,573 --> 00:09:02,374 As this bomber rose to the launch altitude. 154 00:09:05,779 --> 00:09:09,347 Narrator: At 37,000 feet, crossfield gives the cue. 155 00:09:11,017 --> 00:09:12,817 Crossfield: Release. 156 00:09:14,988 --> 00:09:15,954 It's a clean break. 157 00:09:18,725 --> 00:09:21,359 Narrator: The x-15 begins its downward glide. 158 00:09:22,929 --> 00:09:27,165 Crossfield: Looks pretty good here, I'm at 36,000. 159 00:09:29,869 --> 00:09:32,804 Narrator: The first part of the flight goes smoothly. 160 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,676 Crossfield: Clean submersion, good deal buddy, 161 00:09:37,744 --> 00:09:40,512 I'm beginning to turn in. 162 00:09:41,682 --> 00:09:43,882 Narrator: But as crossfield approaches the landing, 163 00:09:45,151 --> 00:09:47,385 The x-15 starts bucking wildly. 164 00:09:50,357 --> 00:09:53,525 Teitel: The nose of the aircraft was bouncing up and down 165 00:09:55,561 --> 00:09:58,363 And the more he tried to correct it, the worse it got. 166 00:10:00,300 --> 00:10:01,666 Narrator: The bouncing aircraft sinks 167 00:10:01,734 --> 00:10:04,669 Toward the desert at 200 miles per hour. 168 00:10:06,305 --> 00:10:08,740 Observers watch in horror, 169 00:10:08,808 --> 00:10:13,178 Wondering if the x-15's first flight may be its last. 170 00:10:15,382 --> 00:10:17,949 Ground control: Take it easy. 171 00:10:18,017 --> 00:10:19,450 Narrator: Crossfield struggles 172 00:10:19,453 --> 00:10:21,019 To ease the plane down to the lake bed. 173 00:10:22,255 --> 00:10:24,255 Ground control: About 30 feet. 174 00:10:24,257 --> 00:10:26,524 Just hold it steady and you'll set it right there. 175 00:10:28,728 --> 00:10:32,263 Narrator: He skids for nearly 3/4 of a mile 176 00:10:32,332 --> 00:10:33,865 Before coming to a stop. 177 00:10:38,205 --> 00:10:41,272 Only the landing gear is damaged. 178 00:10:41,340 --> 00:10:44,309 Crossfield himself emerges unscathed. 179 00:10:46,546 --> 00:10:48,246 Teitel: The problem turned out 180 00:10:48,314 --> 00:10:50,948 To be improperly set flight controls which, luckily, 181 00:10:50,951 --> 00:10:53,418 Was something that could be fixed very easily. 182 00:10:55,822 --> 00:10:57,422 Narrator: Five months later, 183 00:10:57,490 --> 00:10:59,457 Crossfield is in the cockpit again, 184 00:11:00,894 --> 00:11:04,262 This time, testing the x-15's powerful engine 185 00:11:04,330 --> 00:11:05,930 On a fully-powered flight. 186 00:11:07,100 --> 00:11:09,167 The plan is to make a straight climb 187 00:11:09,235 --> 00:11:12,570 To the edge of space at 80,000 feet. 188 00:11:13,373 --> 00:11:14,906 Crossfield: Clear to go? 189 00:11:14,974 --> 00:11:15,740 Ground control: Roger. 190 00:11:21,781 --> 00:11:22,514 Launch. 191 00:11:26,653 --> 00:11:28,853 Narrator: Moments after free fall, 192 00:11:28,922 --> 00:11:30,555 Crossfield lights his engine. 193 00:11:33,159 --> 00:11:37,128 13 seconds later, a warning light. 194 00:11:38,798 --> 00:11:40,398 The engine is on fire. 195 00:11:42,468 --> 00:11:43,801 Crossfield: I've got a fire, scott. 196 00:11:43,804 --> 00:11:46,104 I'm shutdown, the plane's shutdown. 197 00:11:50,276 --> 00:11:51,542 Narrator: Crossfield's flight plan 198 00:11:51,545 --> 00:11:55,246 Quickly changes to one of survival. 199 00:12:03,289 --> 00:12:05,490 High over the mojave desert, 200 00:12:05,558 --> 00:12:08,827 X-15 pilot scott crossfield is in trouble. 201 00:12:12,031 --> 00:12:14,032 His engine fire quickly burns out 202 00:12:15,568 --> 00:12:17,935 But he must make an emergency landing, 203 00:12:18,004 --> 00:12:21,172 Forcing him to test the x-15's very bones. 204 00:12:22,442 --> 00:12:25,409 Teitel: The x-15 was designed to land empty. 205 00:12:25,478 --> 00:12:27,178 On this flight, however, 206 00:12:27,180 --> 00:12:29,380 Crossfield had to land with a nearly full fuel tank. 207 00:12:30,617 --> 00:12:34,886 The aircraft was twice as heavy as it should've been. 208 00:12:34,954 --> 00:12:36,521 Narrator: Crossfield fights to get the plane 209 00:12:36,589 --> 00:12:38,022 Into the right landing position. 210 00:12:50,537 --> 00:12:53,238 Thousands of pounds of unspent fuel 211 00:12:53,306 --> 00:12:57,809 Causes the x-15's fuselage to break just behind the cockpit. 212 00:13:01,781 --> 00:13:04,482 Crossfield is unharmed. 213 00:13:06,352 --> 00:13:08,252 Teitel: Pilots always said the safest place to be 214 00:13:08,321 --> 00:13:10,822 In any issue with the x-15 was the cockpit. 215 00:13:12,625 --> 00:13:14,526 It was your best defense against death. 216 00:13:22,569 --> 00:13:24,302 Narrator: Over the next few years, 217 00:13:24,370 --> 00:13:26,604 Pilots undertake dozens of tests 218 00:13:29,709 --> 00:13:32,911 At increasingly ambitious altitudes and speeds. 219 00:13:35,382 --> 00:13:36,447 Barry: As the program progresses, 220 00:13:36,449 --> 00:13:38,983 The x-15 begins to be modified 221 00:13:39,052 --> 00:13:42,119 And flown in regimes where it is so far 222 00:13:42,188 --> 00:13:43,354 In the high reaches of the atmosphere 223 00:13:43,422 --> 00:13:45,923 That it was effectively no atmosphere. 224 00:13:45,926 --> 00:13:48,126 And it's really sort of like a spacecraft. 225 00:13:54,333 --> 00:13:55,934 Narrator: In 1962, 226 00:13:56,002 --> 00:13:59,571 Major robert white flies the plane to 59 miles, 227 00:14:01,074 --> 00:14:04,342 Literally crossing the boundary into space 228 00:14:04,344 --> 00:14:06,978 To become the air force's first winged astronaut. 229 00:14:08,215 --> 00:14:09,247 White: Going up. 230 00:14:10,616 --> 00:14:12,350 Massimino: If you can find a way to get yourself 231 00:14:12,418 --> 00:14:14,652 50 miles above our planet, that is considered to be space 232 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:16,154 And you can get astronaut wings. 233 00:14:17,423 --> 00:14:18,389 And that's what he did. 234 00:14:23,163 --> 00:14:26,330 Narrator: In 1967, william knight sets a record 235 00:14:26,399 --> 00:14:29,500 For the fastest ever piloted powered aircraft flight, 236 00:14:32,538 --> 00:14:37,008 4,520 miles per hour, or mach 6.7, 237 00:14:38,778 --> 00:14:41,112 A record that still stands today. 238 00:14:43,383 --> 00:14:45,383 Teitel: These pilots were breaking speed records 239 00:14:45,451 --> 00:14:47,251 And altitude records all over the place 240 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,453 And it was really starting to prove 241 00:14:49,456 --> 00:14:51,789 That humans could pilot vehicles 242 00:14:51,857 --> 00:14:53,191 In a near-space environment. 243 00:14:58,164 --> 00:15:01,732 Narrator: For 190 flights, these space pioneers 244 00:15:01,801 --> 00:15:04,335 Dared the x-15 to get the best of them. 245 00:15:07,407 --> 00:15:11,809 On the 191st flight, they pushed too far. 246 00:15:18,217 --> 00:15:22,019 November 15th, 1967. 247 00:15:22,022 --> 00:15:24,389 Edwards air force base, california. 248 00:15:25,425 --> 00:15:27,225 At 10:30 in the morning, 249 00:15:27,293 --> 00:15:31,529 Test pilot mike adams takes off on his seventh x-15 flight. 250 00:15:33,500 --> 00:15:35,233 Barry: He's testing out a new display 251 00:15:35,301 --> 00:15:37,501 On the interior of the cockpit x-15 number three, 252 00:15:37,504 --> 00:15:40,404 Which was one of the ones that was most modified 253 00:15:40,473 --> 00:15:43,274 To change the displays to fly like a space vehicle. 254 00:15:45,911 --> 00:15:49,914 Narrator: At 45,000 feet, adams drops. 255 00:15:51,384 --> 00:15:54,385 Seconds later, he engages his engine 256 00:15:54,453 --> 00:15:56,854 And finds himself piloting a rocket. 257 00:15:59,259 --> 00:16:02,193 His x-15 maintains a fast, steep climb, 258 00:16:03,730 --> 00:16:06,564 Blazing upward at 4,000 feet per second. 259 00:16:09,536 --> 00:16:13,805 The engine gulps down nine tons of fuel in a 90-second burn, 260 00:16:15,041 --> 00:16:16,841 Pushing beyond the earth's atmosphere. 261 00:16:18,744 --> 00:16:21,145 Teitel: Regular flight controls didn't work. 262 00:16:21,147 --> 00:16:24,215 He had to use really small jets that can manipulate 263 00:16:24,217 --> 00:16:27,318 The spacecraft with tiny bursts of gas. 264 00:16:31,357 --> 00:16:36,194 Narrator: At 230,000 feet up and 4,600 miles per hour, 265 00:16:40,233 --> 00:16:44,035 Adams suddenly loses control of his x-15. 266 00:16:45,839 --> 00:16:48,072 Teitel: He was actually having some faulty displays 267 00:16:48,140 --> 00:16:49,507 About pitch information. 268 00:16:49,575 --> 00:16:51,709 He ended up not realizing that his heading 269 00:16:51,711 --> 00:16:53,377 Had gotten so far off 270 00:16:53,446 --> 00:16:56,414 And that resulted in him falling into a spin. 271 00:17:02,688 --> 00:17:05,122 Narrator: A minute after he starts his descent, 272 00:17:05,191 --> 00:17:07,158 Adams realizes that he's in trouble. 273 00:17:09,228 --> 00:17:11,128 He radios for help. 274 00:17:11,197 --> 00:17:12,864 Flight controllers are stunned. 275 00:17:15,935 --> 00:17:18,869 Teitel: The engineers on the ground only had some of the data 276 00:17:18,938 --> 00:17:20,471 That was showing up in the cockpit, 277 00:17:20,539 --> 00:17:22,540 So they were unaware of exactly 278 00:17:22,542 --> 00:17:24,409 How bad the situation was getting. 279 00:17:27,380 --> 00:17:30,214 Barry: At those sorts of speeds and those sorts of altitudes, 280 00:17:30,282 --> 00:17:31,849 Things happen very fast 281 00:17:31,918 --> 00:17:34,685 And it was very easy for the situation 282 00:17:34,687 --> 00:17:37,555 To get out of control very quickly which is what happened. 283 00:17:50,836 --> 00:17:52,336 Narrator: On the ground, 284 00:17:52,404 --> 00:17:54,505 The control room loses contact with adams. 285 00:17:56,976 --> 00:17:58,643 Teitel: At about 62,000 feet, 286 00:17:58,711 --> 00:18:02,146 The forces on the body of the aircraft ripped it apart. 287 00:18:04,717 --> 00:18:06,651 Barry: He was killed probably instantaneously 288 00:18:07,854 --> 00:18:09,220 And then the remnants of the x-15 289 00:18:09,288 --> 00:18:11,155 Were scattered across the desert floor. 290 00:18:16,395 --> 00:18:19,063 Narrator: Investigators reach a grim conclusion: 291 00:18:20,733 --> 00:18:23,801 Adams made the errors that caused his plane to spin. 292 00:18:26,206 --> 00:18:27,672 Barry: The folks who were analyzing the accident 293 00:18:27,740 --> 00:18:29,540 Thought that his ability to sort out 294 00:18:29,609 --> 00:18:33,544 What the instruments were doing was compromised by vertigo. 295 00:18:33,546 --> 00:18:36,080 And so they instituted a screening program 296 00:18:36,082 --> 00:18:37,548 After that for the x-15 pilots. 297 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:42,753 Narrator: But in October 1968, 298 00:18:42,755 --> 00:18:45,089 A little over a year after adams' death, 299 00:18:46,726 --> 00:18:50,728 Nasa shuts down the x -15 program for good. 300 00:18:52,365 --> 00:18:54,231 Barry: The x-15 was the vehicle that paved the way 301 00:18:54,234 --> 00:18:57,368 In our understanding so that we could fly from orbit 302 00:18:57,370 --> 00:18:59,203 Down to the earth or from the earth 303 00:18:59,271 --> 00:19:00,838 Into space with a winged vehicle. 304 00:19:07,112 --> 00:19:10,615 Narrator: 2,500 miles away in cape canaveral, florida, 305 00:19:11,851 --> 00:19:14,485 Nasa's already begun exploring other ways 306 00:19:14,554 --> 00:19:16,020 To get humans into space. 307 00:19:17,590 --> 00:19:20,391 Weitekamp: Nasa, in other parts of its organization, 308 00:19:20,393 --> 00:19:22,393 Is working on rocket engines 309 00:19:22,395 --> 00:19:25,129 That are gonna send people through the atmosphere 310 00:19:25,197 --> 00:19:28,199 Into space, and bring them safely back to earth. 311 00:19:30,670 --> 00:19:34,305 Narrator: Project mercury also started in 1958, 312 00:19:34,373 --> 00:19:36,207 The same year as the x-15. 313 00:19:38,077 --> 00:19:40,744 The program was prompted by the soviet union's attempt 314 00:19:40,813 --> 00:19:43,147 To claim space as its own. 315 00:19:44,550 --> 00:19:45,482 Weitekamp: The sequence of events 316 00:19:45,485 --> 00:19:47,351 In the very early space age 317 00:19:47,353 --> 00:19:51,556 Really had the soviet union way out in front. 318 00:19:55,228 --> 00:19:57,861 They launched the first satellite, sputnik, 319 00:19:57,864 --> 00:19:59,997 In October of 1957. 320 00:20:02,268 --> 00:20:05,169 Sputnik 2, which was much larger and carried laika, 321 00:20:05,238 --> 00:20:08,072 The dog into space, went up within a month. 322 00:20:09,908 --> 00:20:11,909 Narrator: 1961, 323 00:20:11,978 --> 00:20:14,946 The soviets strike an even more serious blow. 324 00:20:16,649 --> 00:20:20,184 Cosmonaut yuri gagarin becomes the first human 325 00:20:20,186 --> 00:20:24,855 To orbit the earth on a 108-minute flight. 326 00:20:29,061 --> 00:20:30,561 Nasa responds by launching 327 00:20:30,629 --> 00:20:33,464 And landing astronaut alan shepard three weeks later 328 00:20:35,267 --> 00:20:37,935 In america's first sub-orbital flight. 329 00:20:39,972 --> 00:20:41,138 Shepard: This is freedom 7. 330 00:20:41,140 --> 00:20:43,074 I've got go, 1.2 g. 331 00:20:45,844 --> 00:20:48,879 Narrator: Shepard becomes a national hero. 332 00:20:48,881 --> 00:20:51,649 But nasa knows that compared to the soviets, 333 00:20:51,717 --> 00:20:53,951 They're still woefully far behind. 334 00:20:56,522 --> 00:21:00,858 They quickly ready a second mission: Mercury-redstone 4, 335 00:21:02,227 --> 00:21:05,563 Flown by test pilot and air force combat veteran, 336 00:21:05,631 --> 00:21:06,430 Gus grissom. 337 00:21:08,234 --> 00:21:10,567 Kluger: Grissom's mission was basically saying, 338 00:21:10,636 --> 00:21:12,703 "let's run the same mission. 339 00:21:12,771 --> 00:21:16,440 "let's make sure that first success was not a fluke. 340 00:21:16,508 --> 00:21:19,777 "and let's know that we are absolutely ready 341 00:21:19,845 --> 00:21:23,047 "for the next big step, which is to put a man in orbit." 342 00:21:24,416 --> 00:21:26,083 Barry: It was also a tweaking of the spacecraft 343 00:21:26,151 --> 00:21:29,120 So that it would be ready for orbital flight in the future. 344 00:21:30,823 --> 00:21:33,257 Narrator: One of those tweaks is adding a window. 345 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:37,695 Previous designs had just two small portholes, 346 00:21:39,298 --> 00:21:40,798 But grissom will have a view. 347 00:21:42,935 --> 00:21:47,304 Kluger: The window made it easier for the astronaut to see 348 00:21:47,373 --> 00:21:50,274 And it made it easier for the astronaut 349 00:21:50,276 --> 00:21:53,311 To feel like a pilot as opposed to a submariner. 350 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:56,580 Narrator: Another difference: The hatch. 351 00:21:57,516 --> 00:21:58,982 It's been a challenge 352 00:21:59,051 --> 00:22:01,018 Since the first space capsules were designed. 353 00:22:05,791 --> 00:22:08,559 Shepard's capsule opened with a simple latch. 354 00:22:11,463 --> 00:22:15,166 Grissom's capsule has a lighter but more complicated design. 355 00:22:16,602 --> 00:22:17,901 Barry: They put an explosive in there 356 00:22:17,904 --> 00:22:19,737 To be able to blow the hatch off. 357 00:22:21,507 --> 00:22:23,340 So if you needed to get out in a hurry, 358 00:22:23,409 --> 00:22:24,241 They could remove the hatch in a hurry 359 00:22:24,243 --> 00:22:25,609 With an explosive charge. 360 00:22:34,253 --> 00:22:36,721 Narrator: July 21st, 1961. 361 00:22:37,689 --> 00:22:40,023 Cape canaveral, florida. 362 00:22:40,092 --> 00:22:42,059 A ground crew makes last minute checks 363 00:22:42,061 --> 00:22:46,897 On the mercury-redstone 4, also known as the liberty bell. 364 00:22:50,669 --> 00:22:52,069 At 7:20 a.M., 365 00:22:55,074 --> 00:22:56,741 The free world's second manned 366 00:22:56,809 --> 00:22:59,210 Suborbital flight becomes airborne. 367 00:23:01,214 --> 00:23:04,047 Capcom: Roger, your ip is right on, gus. 368 00:23:04,116 --> 00:23:04,849 Right on. Grissom: Yep. 369 00:23:06,419 --> 00:23:08,218 Narrator: Thanks to the new window, 370 00:23:08,221 --> 00:23:10,587 Grissom becomes the first american 371 00:23:10,656 --> 00:23:13,491 To directly view the earth from space. 372 00:23:14,626 --> 00:23:15,659 Grissom: It's such a fascinating view out the window 373 00:23:15,727 --> 00:23:17,828 You just can't help but look out that way. 374 00:23:17,897 --> 00:23:19,563 Capcom: I understand. 375 00:23:21,701 --> 00:23:23,667 Narrator: Six minutes after take-off, 376 00:23:23,735 --> 00:23:26,670 Liberty bell 7 plunges back into the atmosphere. 377 00:23:28,006 --> 00:23:31,909 The parachute deploys on schedule at 21,000 feet. 378 00:23:31,977 --> 00:23:34,044 Grissom: Getting ready for impact here. 379 00:23:36,148 --> 00:23:37,915 Barry: He splashes down in the atlantic ocean 380 00:23:37,983 --> 00:23:39,416 Near the recovery forces 381 00:23:39,485 --> 00:23:41,018 And everything seems to be perfectly normal. 382 00:23:45,458 --> 00:23:46,857 Narrator: Two navy helicopters 383 00:23:46,925 --> 00:23:49,326 Take off from the rescue ship. 384 00:23:49,395 --> 00:23:52,763 They expect to see the capsule floating intact, 385 00:23:52,831 --> 00:23:55,099 With grissom still inside. 386 00:23:56,668 --> 00:24:01,372 Kluger: What they saw instead was the hatch already out. 387 00:24:02,541 --> 00:24:05,309 The spacecraft starting to settle into the water, 388 00:24:05,377 --> 00:24:09,547 And the astronaut out in the water without a life raft. 389 00:24:12,084 --> 00:24:15,219 Narrator: Suddenly, the navy faces a serious emergency. 390 00:24:16,955 --> 00:24:20,925 Liberty bell 7 takes on water and is sinking fast. 391 00:24:22,728 --> 00:24:24,495 Barry: As the capsule filled with water, 392 00:24:24,563 --> 00:24:26,930 It became quickly apparent that the helicopter's ability 393 00:24:26,999 --> 00:24:29,166 To lift it was being compromised. 394 00:24:30,570 --> 00:24:33,871 Narrator: The flooded capsule weighs over 5,000 pounds, 395 00:24:33,939 --> 00:24:36,507 1,000 more than the chopper can lift. 396 00:24:38,844 --> 00:24:42,446 Just a few yards away, grissom is in danger of drowning. 397 00:24:44,116 --> 00:24:46,517 His spacesuit fills with water fast. 398 00:24:47,786 --> 00:24:50,554 Kluger: He began buoyant. 399 00:24:50,622 --> 00:24:53,390 And then he felt his buoyancy fading. 400 00:24:53,392 --> 00:24:56,093 He felt himself weighing more, 401 00:24:56,161 --> 00:24:59,230 And he felt himself coming down to the surface of the water. 402 00:25:00,867 --> 00:25:03,500 Narrator: What seemed like a routine recovery 403 00:25:03,569 --> 00:25:07,671 Is now a mission to rescue a multi-million dollar capsure 404 00:25:07,673 --> 00:25:09,807 And a sinking astronaut. 405 00:25:14,347 --> 00:25:17,648 Off the coast of florida, astronaut gus grissom 406 00:25:17,716 --> 00:25:20,417 Struggles to stay afloat in the rough seas. 407 00:25:22,388 --> 00:25:23,754 Barry: Treading water for a long time is one thing, 408 00:25:23,822 --> 00:25:25,456 But treading water with a couple hundred pounds 409 00:25:25,524 --> 00:25:28,859 Of extra water in your space suit, not so easy to do. 410 00:25:30,896 --> 00:25:33,430 Narrator: One of the helicopters drops a lifeline 411 00:25:33,498 --> 00:25:35,599 And plucks grissom out of the water. 412 00:25:38,670 --> 00:25:41,005 The other struggles with the sinking capsule. 413 00:25:45,144 --> 00:25:46,010 It's too much. 414 00:25:50,516 --> 00:25:52,249 Kluger: You're supposed to bring home both 415 00:25:52,251 --> 00:25:54,251 Astronaut and hardware, 416 00:25:54,319 --> 00:25:58,255 Even though that hardware was never going to fly again. 417 00:25:58,257 --> 00:26:02,359 It just didn't look good to lose your ship. 418 00:26:06,765 --> 00:26:09,333 Narrator: Just four minutes after splashdown, 419 00:26:09,335 --> 00:26:11,702 Grissom sets foot on a waiting carrier. 420 00:26:12,871 --> 00:26:16,807 He's tired, rattled, and sore. 421 00:26:16,875 --> 00:26:18,241 Barry: I think he pretty well understood 422 00:26:18,310 --> 00:26:22,212 That he was likely to be severely questioned 423 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:24,648 And that there would be this patina of negativity 424 00:26:24,716 --> 00:26:26,150 Associated with his mission. 425 00:26:27,619 --> 00:26:29,219 Narrator: Grissom's flight is marred 426 00:26:29,288 --> 00:26:30,721 By its disastrous ending. 427 00:26:32,290 --> 00:26:35,926 Some say he panicked and activated the hatch too soon. 428 00:26:37,096 --> 00:26:38,295 Barry: Even some of the engineers said that, 429 00:26:38,364 --> 00:26:40,097 "he must've blown the hatch, 430 00:26:40,165 --> 00:26:41,598 "it couldn't possibly have blown off by itself 431 00:26:41,667 --> 00:26:43,233 "'cause we designed it too well." 432 00:26:45,103 --> 00:26:46,436 The whole point of the mission 433 00:26:46,505 --> 00:26:48,172 Was to prove that america was ready 434 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:50,273 To move into orbital flight and in fact what happens 435 00:26:50,342 --> 00:26:53,077 Is we lose the space capsule and almost lose an astronaut. 436 00:26:54,980 --> 00:26:56,714 Narrator: For the rest of his career, 437 00:26:56,782 --> 00:26:59,583 Grissom claims the hatch exploded open 438 00:26:59,651 --> 00:27:01,051 Completely on its own. 439 00:27:02,989 --> 00:27:04,521 Nasa accepts his theory 440 00:27:05,591 --> 00:27:08,125 And determines that the mission is a success. 441 00:27:13,198 --> 00:27:15,666 Grissom goes on to command gemini 3, 442 00:27:17,069 --> 00:27:20,004 Becoming the first man to fly in space twice. 443 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,976 Kluger: Nasa kept assigning gus grissom to tough missions, 444 00:27:27,312 --> 00:27:28,712 Because he was a tough man. 445 00:27:35,287 --> 00:27:36,987 Narrator: 1966. 446 00:27:38,491 --> 00:27:42,226 Nasa is five years into its third human spaceflight program. 447 00:27:45,031 --> 00:27:48,365 Project apollo is dedicated to landing human beings 448 00:27:48,434 --> 00:27:52,236 On the moon and bringing them safely back to earth. 449 00:27:55,374 --> 00:27:57,841 In March, nasa announces the crew 450 00:27:57,843 --> 00:27:59,710 Of the program's first mission. 451 00:28:01,346 --> 00:28:04,114 Astronauts roger chaffee and ed white 452 00:28:04,116 --> 00:28:06,049 Will be led by the most experienced 453 00:28:06,118 --> 00:28:07,551 Astronaut in america, 454 00:28:08,554 --> 00:28:09,319 Gus grissom. 455 00:28:12,525 --> 00:28:14,991 The three-man crew will be the first to test 456 00:28:15,060 --> 00:28:18,562 Apollo's brand new command module in low earth orbit. 457 00:28:20,065 --> 00:28:21,532 Teitel: Being chosen for the crew of apollo 1 458 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:24,668 Was a prestigious assignment because this was the mission 459 00:28:24,737 --> 00:28:27,738 That was launching the lunar landing program. 460 00:28:29,608 --> 00:28:32,509 This was the first step in nasa's final push to the moon. 461 00:28:35,914 --> 00:28:38,815 Narrator: The launch is planned for September, 462 00:28:38,818 --> 00:28:41,051 But as the date approaches, 463 00:28:41,119 --> 00:28:43,987 The newly-designed command module isn't ready. 464 00:28:45,224 --> 00:28:47,357 Teitel: It seemed like every time one problem was solved, 465 00:28:47,359 --> 00:28:48,659 A new one popped up. 466 00:28:50,729 --> 00:28:54,164 Basically anything that could be a problem became a problem. 467 00:28:55,968 --> 00:28:58,168 Narrator: One of the capsule's biggest changes 468 00:28:58,236 --> 00:28:59,069 Is the hatch. 469 00:29:00,305 --> 00:29:03,974 It's been re-designed after gus grissom's near-disaster 470 00:29:04,042 --> 00:29:08,779 In mercury-redstone 4, giving it three layers of protection 471 00:29:08,847 --> 00:29:10,981 To prevent it from opening accidentally. 472 00:29:12,251 --> 00:29:14,651 Teitel: There were two hatches that made a pressure seal 473 00:29:14,719 --> 00:29:16,787 Within the spacecraft itself, 474 00:29:16,855 --> 00:29:19,490 And then a third hatch over the boost protective cover. 475 00:29:24,196 --> 00:29:28,031 Narrator: January 27th, 1967. 476 00:29:29,267 --> 00:29:32,603 White, chaffee, and grissom report for an exercise 477 00:29:32,671 --> 00:29:34,838 Called a plugs-out test, 478 00:29:37,342 --> 00:29:40,143 Making sure all of the command module's systems 479 00:29:40,212 --> 00:29:41,979 Are ready for the upcoming launch. 480 00:29:49,388 --> 00:29:52,556 At one p.M., the astronauts enter the command module. 481 00:29:55,327 --> 00:29:59,029 Inside, they have just over 200 cubic feet. 482 00:30:00,899 --> 00:30:03,567 The close-knit crew has been training hard for months 483 00:30:03,635 --> 00:30:04,668 On little sleep. 484 00:30:06,271 --> 00:30:08,839 Today, they're frustrated and irritable. 485 00:30:10,109 --> 00:30:11,575 Kluger: From the moment 486 00:30:11,577 --> 00:30:13,844 The astronauts got into that space craft, 487 00:30:13,912 --> 00:30:16,513 I don't think anyone was in a good mood. 488 00:30:16,582 --> 00:30:19,383 Capcom: Ready to begin check off of flight crew. 489 00:30:19,451 --> 00:30:21,051 Grissom: Say again please. 490 00:30:21,119 --> 00:30:23,854 Capcom: Ready to begin check off of flight crew. 491 00:30:23,922 --> 00:30:27,357 Narrator: The plugs-out test is fraught with problems. 492 00:30:27,425 --> 00:30:29,693 Capcom: Could you report the value? 493 00:30:29,761 --> 00:30:31,394 Grissom: 650. 494 00:30:31,463 --> 00:30:34,731 Capcom: 650? 495 00:30:34,799 --> 00:30:36,233 I'm just barely reading you. 496 00:30:37,302 --> 00:30:39,102 Teitel: They were in there for hours 497 00:30:39,104 --> 00:30:40,937 And had to keep holding for issues with the microphone, 498 00:30:41,006 --> 00:30:43,907 Issue with some smells in the spacecraft, 499 00:30:43,975 --> 00:30:45,976 In the air circulation. 500 00:30:46,044 --> 00:30:49,813 Capcom: Commander, could you slide down 501 00:30:49,881 --> 00:30:51,414 A little in your couch? 502 00:30:51,483 --> 00:30:55,151 We're not able to see you on the face plate. 503 00:30:55,220 --> 00:30:56,687 Grissom: I'm down all the way. 504 00:30:56,755 --> 00:30:58,422 Teitel: There seemed to be so many things 505 00:30:58,490 --> 00:31:00,724 Stopping them from just finishing this test. 506 00:31:01,927 --> 00:31:03,360 Grissom: How are we gonna get to the moon 507 00:31:03,428 --> 00:31:06,496 If we can't talk between two or three buildings? 508 00:31:06,564 --> 00:31:07,898 Narrator: Nearly five hours 509 00:31:07,900 --> 00:31:10,100 After the astronauts enter the capsule, 510 00:31:10,168 --> 00:31:12,502 The test is almost ready to start. 511 00:31:13,672 --> 00:31:15,372 Capcom: Ecs tech, will you take a last look 512 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:16,974 Around the interior of the capsule 513 00:31:17,042 --> 00:31:19,209 And then secure the test capsule hatch? 514 00:31:19,277 --> 00:31:20,777 Grissom: Roger. 515 00:31:24,849 --> 00:31:26,316 Capcom: Go ahead ecs. 516 00:31:26,385 --> 00:31:28,184 The hatch door is secured. 517 00:31:28,187 --> 00:31:29,052 Grissom: Roger. 518 00:31:30,656 --> 00:31:33,857 Narrator: Just moments before they begin the final test, 519 00:31:33,859 --> 00:31:36,460 Something goes terribly wrong. 520 00:31:43,168 --> 00:31:46,136 At cape kennedy's launch pad 34, 521 00:31:46,204 --> 00:31:51,141 Astronauts gus grissom, ed white, and roger chaffee 522 00:31:51,443 --> 00:31:54,811 Are testing the new apollo 1 command module when... 523 00:32:00,218 --> 00:32:04,020 Chaffee: We have a fire in the cockpit! 524 00:32:04,089 --> 00:32:07,291 Kluger: It was clear that something terrible 525 00:32:07,359 --> 00:32:09,726 And unprecedented was happening. 526 00:32:11,096 --> 00:32:13,530 Chaffee: We have a bad fire! 527 00:32:23,775 --> 00:32:25,442 Teitel: Inside the spacecraft, 528 00:32:25,444 --> 00:32:28,578 One of the astronauts sees a spark of a fire. 529 00:32:32,451 --> 00:32:33,550 And that quickly spreads 530 00:32:33,618 --> 00:32:35,852 Throughout the entire spacecraft. 531 00:32:40,793 --> 00:32:42,859 The crews that tried to get to the spacecraft 532 00:32:42,927 --> 00:32:45,395 To free the astronauts can't get near enough, 533 00:32:45,463 --> 00:32:47,097 Because the heat is so intense. 534 00:32:49,735 --> 00:32:52,536 Narrator: Five minutes after the fire starts, 535 00:32:52,604 --> 00:32:55,038 The launch team finally opens the capsule. 536 00:32:57,676 --> 00:33:00,143 Teitel: It's obvious that the crew has not survived. 537 00:33:07,819 --> 00:33:09,786 It was the worst disaster nasa had faced 538 00:33:09,855 --> 00:33:11,254 In its short existence. 539 00:33:15,794 --> 00:33:17,227 Narrator: The astronauts' deaths 540 00:33:17,229 --> 00:33:19,663 Send shock waves across america. 541 00:33:23,468 --> 00:33:25,836 Everyone knows that space flight is risky, 542 00:33:28,306 --> 00:33:33,043 But some accuse nasa of pushing too hard to get to the moon. 543 00:33:36,782 --> 00:33:38,048 Kluger: Nasa was speeding, 544 00:33:38,116 --> 00:33:41,618 And when you speed, you get reckless. 545 00:33:44,456 --> 00:33:46,189 And when you get reckless people die. 546 00:34:00,872 --> 00:34:03,173 Narrator: Nasa quickly convenes a review board 547 00:34:03,175 --> 00:34:04,508 To report on the tragedy. 548 00:34:09,148 --> 00:34:11,815 Technicians work around the clock, 549 00:34:11,883 --> 00:34:14,918 Looking at each and every part of the command module. 550 00:34:16,021 --> 00:34:17,821 Teitel: The accident investigation board 551 00:34:17,889 --> 00:34:20,590 Eventually found that there had been some exposed wiring 552 00:34:20,658 --> 00:34:22,025 That was able to spark. 553 00:34:25,164 --> 00:34:28,165 Narrator: Fed by flammable materials inside the cabin, 554 00:34:29,367 --> 00:34:31,034 The blaze quickly spread. 555 00:34:32,304 --> 00:34:36,005 Kluger: It's important to remember that the atmosphere 556 00:34:36,074 --> 00:34:39,543 Was 100% pure oxygen 557 00:34:40,512 --> 00:34:43,346 Which is gasoline to a spark. 558 00:34:45,917 --> 00:34:47,450 Narrator: Another problem, 559 00:34:47,453 --> 00:34:51,054 The newly-designed hatch took too long to open. 560 00:34:53,324 --> 00:34:55,192 Kluger: This was a two or three-minute job. 561 00:34:56,929 --> 00:34:59,429 It made sense in terms of strength, 562 00:34:59,497 --> 00:35:01,064 The integrity of the hatch. 563 00:35:03,902 --> 00:35:06,903 It made precisely zero sense 564 00:35:06,971 --> 00:35:09,039 In terms of the safety of the crew. 565 00:35:16,081 --> 00:35:18,214 Narrator: Nasa puts human spaceflight on hold 566 00:35:18,283 --> 00:35:23,086 For 20 months while they make thousands of changes 567 00:35:23,088 --> 00:35:25,489 To the spacecraft's design. 568 00:35:27,225 --> 00:35:29,058 They replaced the nylon in the capsule 569 00:35:29,127 --> 00:35:31,194 With fabric that won't catch fire. 570 00:35:33,765 --> 00:35:35,198 And rework the hatch 571 00:35:35,267 --> 00:35:38,034 To let the crew escape in under 10 seconds. 572 00:35:40,438 --> 00:35:42,939 Massimino: Nasa, throughout its history 573 00:35:43,007 --> 00:35:45,742 Has an excellent record of learning from mistakes 574 00:35:47,345 --> 00:35:48,845 So that the next time they go up, 575 00:35:48,914 --> 00:35:50,347 They're gonna be safer than they were before. 576 00:35:53,818 --> 00:35:57,521 Narrator: Nasa's goal remains constant: Go to the moon. 577 00:35:58,790 --> 00:36:02,325 To do that, they need a safe command module 578 00:36:02,327 --> 00:36:04,127 And a lunar lander. 579 00:36:09,601 --> 00:36:12,302 They practice on something called the lltv. 580 00:36:14,873 --> 00:36:18,208 Weitekamp: The lunar landing was going to be something 581 00:36:18,276 --> 00:36:20,911 Unlike what had been done before, 582 00:36:22,280 --> 00:36:24,180 And they needed to create something 583 00:36:24,249 --> 00:36:29,186 That puts the pilot in the same kind of situation 584 00:36:29,488 --> 00:36:30,587 That he would find himself 585 00:36:30,655 --> 00:36:33,256 In actually trying to land on the moon. 586 00:36:33,258 --> 00:36:35,759 And that's what the lltv was designed to do. 587 00:36:37,896 --> 00:36:41,030 Narrator: The lltv, its official name 588 00:36:41,099 --> 00:36:43,667 Is the lunar landing training vehicle. 589 00:36:45,437 --> 00:36:48,205 Astronauts know it as the flying bedstead, 590 00:36:49,607 --> 00:36:53,109 A spindly contraption balancing on a turbojet engine. 591 00:36:55,913 --> 00:36:59,449 16 small thrusters hang on the frame 592 00:36:59,517 --> 00:37:01,117 And control its every move. 593 00:37:11,462 --> 00:37:13,396 Malik: The jet engine could cancel out 594 00:37:13,464 --> 00:37:16,132 5/6 of earth's gravity 595 00:37:17,269 --> 00:37:19,736 So that it would make it seem 596 00:37:19,804 --> 00:37:22,405 As if the vehicle was kind of its weight on the moon. 597 00:37:29,781 --> 00:37:31,848 Narrator: May 6th, 1968. 598 00:37:34,385 --> 00:37:36,152 Ellington air force base, texas. 599 00:37:38,824 --> 00:37:41,224 Astronaut neil armstrong prepares to fly 600 00:37:41,226 --> 00:37:43,260 The lunar landing research vehicle. 601 00:37:46,031 --> 00:37:48,498 The landing crew for the apollo 11 flight 602 00:37:48,566 --> 00:37:49,899 Has not yet been chosen. 603 00:37:51,436 --> 00:37:53,569 Before he can take a moon flight, 604 00:37:53,638 --> 00:37:56,206 Armstrong must have 22 practice missions. 605 00:37:59,111 --> 00:38:01,177 This mission is his 21st. 606 00:38:03,514 --> 00:38:05,315 Malik: He took off kind of thinking 607 00:38:05,383 --> 00:38:07,517 Everything was gonna go normal. 608 00:38:07,585 --> 00:38:08,952 And he's done this before. 609 00:38:12,857 --> 00:38:15,058 Narrator: Armstrong climbs to 1,000 feet. 610 00:38:18,063 --> 00:38:19,629 Malik: He flies it up. 611 00:38:19,697 --> 00:38:21,398 He knows it's gonna be maybe a 10-minute flight 612 00:38:22,867 --> 00:38:24,467 And he was flying for about five minutes, 613 00:38:24,536 --> 00:38:26,135 About half the duration 614 00:38:26,138 --> 00:38:28,138 Of what the vehicle really can do for a given test. 615 00:38:30,241 --> 00:38:32,142 Narrator: Armstrong hovers for a moment, 616 00:38:34,379 --> 00:38:37,180 Then begins to simulate a lunar landing, 617 00:38:39,417 --> 00:38:42,385 Balancing the aircraft by using the small rockets 618 00:38:42,453 --> 00:38:44,421 That control his rate of descent. 619 00:38:46,891 --> 00:38:48,491 Malik: He's about halfway through 620 00:38:48,493 --> 00:38:50,093 When something starts to go wrong. 621 00:38:53,498 --> 00:38:56,366 (dramatic music) 622 00:38:56,368 --> 00:38:59,169 Narrator: At ellington air force base in texas, 623 00:38:59,237 --> 00:39:00,870 Astronaut neil armstrong 624 00:39:00,938 --> 00:39:03,973 Flies his lunar landing research vehicle 625 00:39:04,042 --> 00:39:06,142 Just 200 feet above the ground. 626 00:39:09,247 --> 00:39:11,681 Suddenly, it begins to tilt. 627 00:39:14,052 --> 00:39:17,153 Armstrong has only a split second to decide what to do. 628 00:39:19,223 --> 00:39:20,990 Malik: He can't save it, 629 00:39:21,058 --> 00:39:23,693 And he knows that he has to get away from the situation. 630 00:39:27,231 --> 00:39:28,898 And that's when he decides to eject. 631 00:39:32,337 --> 00:39:35,138 Narrator: Armstrong shoots upward at 14 g's. 632 00:39:39,944 --> 00:39:42,679 The lltv is a total loss. 633 00:39:46,818 --> 00:39:49,753 Armstrong lands in a patch of weeds near the runway. 634 00:39:50,889 --> 00:39:53,390 His only injury is a cut on his tongue. 635 00:39:54,693 --> 00:39:57,093 Weitekamp: He went back to his desk and kept working. 636 00:39:58,363 --> 00:40:00,930 The day wasn't over, and he had stuff he needed to do. 637 00:40:00,998 --> 00:40:03,566 And even the other astronauts thought 638 00:40:03,634 --> 00:40:06,235 He had absolute ice water in his veins 639 00:40:06,304 --> 00:40:10,406 To be able to walk away from such a near death experience, 640 00:40:10,475 --> 00:40:12,709 And go back to his desk and go back to work. 641 00:40:16,381 --> 00:40:18,581 Narrator: An accident review board meticulously 642 00:40:18,650 --> 00:40:20,049 Combs through the flight data. 643 00:40:22,453 --> 00:40:25,254 There are four other test vehicles being used, 644 00:40:25,257 --> 00:40:27,557 And they don't want to risk another pilot's life. 645 00:40:28,927 --> 00:40:31,928 Malik: They found out that there was a loss of helium pressure 646 00:40:31,996 --> 00:40:34,564 In the tanks for the vehicle. 647 00:40:34,632 --> 00:40:37,266 And this is stuff that keeps the tanks pressurized 648 00:40:37,269 --> 00:40:40,069 To make sure that the vehicle can keep its engine firing. 649 00:40:43,007 --> 00:40:44,740 Narrator: Armstrong's instruments 650 00:40:44,743 --> 00:40:47,110 Didn't recognize the problem in time for him to adjust. 651 00:40:48,613 --> 00:40:50,079 Malik: After that, when they built the new one, 652 00:40:50,081 --> 00:40:52,182 Then they put those gauges on so the astronauts could see 653 00:40:52,250 --> 00:40:54,150 If they're gonna lose that pressure. 654 00:40:56,154 --> 00:40:59,689 Narrator: Of the five lltvs that nasa built, 655 00:40:59,757 --> 00:41:02,225 Only two survive testing intact. 656 00:41:04,228 --> 00:41:08,064 A second crashes when an undetected wind shear 657 00:41:08,132 --> 00:41:09,766 Pushes the contraption off balance. 658 00:41:17,775 --> 00:41:21,410 A third crashes after an electrical system malfunction 659 00:41:21,413 --> 00:41:23,012 Causes it to lose power. 660 00:41:29,754 --> 00:41:34,223 Like armstrong, both of the pilots manage to escape alive, 661 00:41:34,292 --> 00:41:37,961 Thanks to steely nerves and split-second decisions. 662 00:41:44,302 --> 00:41:47,136 Just 14 months after his near-death flight, 663 00:41:48,273 --> 00:41:51,274 Armstrong pilots a real lunar lander 664 00:41:51,342 --> 00:41:53,243 In its first flight down to the moon. 665 00:41:56,614 --> 00:41:59,482 His training flights ultimately pay off. 666 00:42:02,720 --> 00:42:05,488 Weitekamp: As apollo 11 was coming in to land, 667 00:42:05,490 --> 00:42:08,024 Neil armstrong looked ahead of him and saw that, 668 00:42:08,026 --> 00:42:09,492 Instead of the nice smooth surface 669 00:42:09,494 --> 00:42:13,029 That had been anticipated on their flight path, 670 00:42:13,097 --> 00:42:15,999 He was flying actually to a field of boulders, 671 00:42:18,169 --> 00:42:21,704 So he sped up, went a little bit long, 672 00:42:21,772 --> 00:42:24,507 And found a nice flat place 673 00:42:24,575 --> 00:42:26,409 To actually put the lunar lander down. 674 00:42:28,980 --> 00:42:29,913 Armstrong: Tranquility base here. 675 00:42:29,981 --> 00:42:32,014 The eagle has landed. 676 00:42:32,083 --> 00:42:35,585 Malik: To touchdown flawlessly 240,000 miles away 677 00:42:35,653 --> 00:42:39,589 From your home planet is a feat that he was able to do 678 00:42:39,657 --> 00:42:42,058 Because of the training he did 679 00:42:42,126 --> 00:42:45,261 To really just set all of that skill in stone 680 00:42:45,263 --> 00:42:47,230 So that he's ready for those final moments. 681 00:42:55,272 --> 00:42:56,372 Narrator: Landing on the moon 682 00:42:56,440 --> 00:42:59,108 Was a triumph for humankind. 683 00:43:00,579 --> 00:43:03,546 Today's space pioneers have their sights set 684 00:43:03,615 --> 00:43:05,481 On even bigger challenges. 685 00:43:07,952 --> 00:43:12,855 Trips to mars, colonies on the moon, growing food in space, 686 00:43:15,727 --> 00:43:20,730 Each one with unknown rewards and unknown risks. 687 00:43:21,299 --> 00:43:23,700 Malik: We're seeing a lot of competition now 688 00:43:23,768 --> 00:43:26,202 To be the first to do something completely new. 689 00:43:26,270 --> 00:43:28,537 To land at the south pole of the moon. 690 00:43:28,606 --> 00:43:30,172 To land a woman on the moon. 691 00:43:30,241 --> 00:43:31,541 Who's gonna be first for that? 692 00:43:33,445 --> 00:43:36,712 Narrator: From the earliest day of space exploration 693 00:43:36,781 --> 00:43:38,881 To humankind's latest endeavors, 694 00:43:40,118 --> 00:43:42,385 Risk is always part of the equation. 695 00:43:44,589 --> 00:43:45,855 Teitel: Space exploration 696 00:43:45,857 --> 00:43:48,558 Is ultimately all about our curiosity. 697 00:43:50,261 --> 00:43:51,561 It always comes with risk, 698 00:43:54,732 --> 00:43:56,298 But we can't let risk stop us 699 00:43:56,301 --> 00:43:58,067 From exploring what's out there.