1 00:00:15,893 --> 00:00:17,929 We choose to go to the moon. 2 00:00:18,573 --> 00:00:20,768 We choose to go to the moon. 3 00:00:25,013 --> 00:00:29,484 We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, 4 00:00:29,533 --> 00:00:32,889 not because they are easy but because they are hard. 5 00:01:47,413 --> 00:01:49,608 - Look at that. - That's beautiful. 6 00:01:49,653 --> 00:01:53,771 It's gotta be one of the most proud moments of my life, I guarantee ya. 7 00:02:05,013 --> 00:02:07,004 Before painting the Sistine Chapel, 8 00:02:07,053 --> 00:02:10,250 Michelangelo had to first construct a massive scaffolding 9 00:02:10,293 --> 00:02:12,284 to allow him access to the ceiling 10 00:02:12,333 --> 00:02:15,052 without interfering with the chapel's daily use. 11 00:02:15,093 --> 00:02:18,972 He had to develop special wax models so he could study the lighting effects 12 00:02:19,013 --> 00:02:24,087 to be duplicated in the frescoes and come up with a special slow-drying plaster. 13 00:02:24,133 --> 00:02:28,126 He suffered constant deadline pressure from frustrated church officials 14 00:02:28,173 --> 00:02:31,324 and the Pope, who just wanted the ceiling finished. 15 00:02:31,373 --> 00:02:34,012 The work itself was uncomfortable and unending 16 00:02:34,053 --> 00:02:36,965 with wet paint and plaster dripping in the face of the man 17 00:02:37,013 --> 00:02:40,562 who was not, after all, a painter but a sculptor. 18 00:02:41,413 --> 00:02:46,487 Such challenges arise in all the great works of human imagination, 19 00:02:46,533 --> 00:02:51,607 be they the creation of our world rendered upon the ceiling of a church, 20 00:02:51,653 --> 00:02:54,850 or the view of our world evident by making the voyage 21 00:02:54,893 --> 00:02:56,884 from the Earth to the moon. 22 00:04:28,773 --> 00:04:31,890 For a long time, the only people who thought 23 00:04:31,933 --> 00:04:34,652 of going to the moon were science fiction writers. 24 00:04:38,613 --> 00:04:43,209 In October, 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik and everything changed. 25 00:04:48,933 --> 00:04:51,652 Suddenly, going to the moon was a possibility. 26 00:04:51,693 --> 00:04:54,048 The question was, how do you do it? 27 00:04:55,653 --> 00:05:01,808 Four months after Sputnik, Wernher Von Braun briefed the head of NACA. 28 00:05:01,853 --> 00:05:04,686 He presented the two best options for going to the moon. 29 00:05:04,733 --> 00:05:09,568 There are two methods. The first method we call Direct Ascent. 30 00:05:09,613 --> 00:05:13,003 You build an enormous rocket, put a capsule on top. 31 00:05:13,053 --> 00:05:15,009 Boom, you go straight to the moon. 32 00:05:16,533 --> 00:05:19,252 The other method we call Earth Orbit Rendezvous. 33 00:05:19,293 --> 00:05:21,523 Instead of using one huge rocket, 34 00:05:21,573 --> 00:05:24,724 we perform several launches with smaller rockets, 35 00:05:24,773 --> 00:05:29,369 each carrying a component of the spacecraft. 36 00:05:29,413 --> 00:05:32,564 We put the pieces together in orbit... 37 00:05:34,373 --> 00:05:35,373 and off we go. 38 00:05:35,413 --> 00:05:39,372 And these two methods, these are the only ways of getting to the moon? 39 00:05:40,053 --> 00:05:41,645 Yes. 40 00:05:41,693 --> 00:05:43,729 Actually, there were other ideas. 41 00:05:43,773 --> 00:05:46,924 So we started thinking, "What can we do right now?" 42 00:05:46,973 --> 00:05:48,406 And then it hit us. 43 00:05:51,133 --> 00:05:52,930 The moon! 44 00:05:52,973 --> 00:05:56,568 You rendezvous on the surface of the moon. 45 00:05:56,613 --> 00:05:59,411 - The problem isn't getting a man to the moon. - Easy. 46 00:05:59,453 --> 00:06:00,886 - It's not. - Relatively. 47 00:06:00,933 --> 00:06:04,323 - Pretty easy. The problem is getting him back. - So we say... 48 00:06:04,373 --> 00:06:08,969 You send up some ships to the moon with all the extra fuel and supplies to get back. 49 00:06:09,013 --> 00:06:11,368 That way, when the astronauts arrive, 50 00:06:11,413 --> 00:06:15,292 everything they need to get home is already there. 51 00:06:15,333 --> 00:06:18,131 We put a man on the moon as soon as possible. 52 00:06:18,173 --> 00:06:19,572 Just get him there. 53 00:06:19,613 --> 00:06:23,925 - We can keep sending supply ships. - Until we figure a way to get him back! 54 00:06:24,933 --> 00:06:28,846 Well, that's... That's... 55 00:06:31,533 --> 00:06:35,321 No. I'm sorry, gentlemen. 56 00:06:35,373 --> 00:06:41,403 There is no way on God's green Earth, we would ever do anything like that. 57 00:06:41,453 --> 00:06:43,171 I'm sorry. 58 00:06:48,813 --> 00:06:53,568 It looked like either Earth Orbit Rendezvous or Direct Ascent would be the way to go. 59 00:06:53,613 --> 00:06:58,209 Either way we go, the spacecraft that lands on the moon is going to look like that. 60 00:06:59,013 --> 00:07:02,164 Yes, just like that. 61 00:07:02,213 --> 00:07:05,205 No. It doesn't have to look like this at all. 62 00:07:05,253 --> 00:07:07,608 At Chance Vought Industries in Texas, 63 00:07:07,653 --> 00:07:10,963 an engineer named Tom Dolan hit upon an interesting idea. 64 00:07:11,013 --> 00:07:14,972 You ever hear of a Russian rocket guy named Yuri Kondratyuk? 65 00:07:15,013 --> 00:07:16,731 No. 66 00:07:17,733 --> 00:07:21,123 In 1916 he realised something we seem to have forgotten today. 67 00:07:21,173 --> 00:07:24,563 Getting to the moon is going to be all about weight. 68 00:07:25,453 --> 00:07:29,492 Look at the size of this thing. It's gotta be 60-70 feet tall. 69 00:07:29,533 --> 00:07:31,524 A couple of hundred tons at least. 70 00:07:31,573 --> 00:07:34,451 Do you really need to take all that to the surface? No. 71 00:07:34,493 --> 00:07:36,643 What Kondratyuk wondered... 72 00:07:37,453 --> 00:07:39,648 What I wonder is... 73 00:07:40,533 --> 00:07:43,172 what if you took along a smaller vehicle, 74 00:07:43,213 --> 00:07:48,128 lightweight, that you just used to land? 75 00:07:49,493 --> 00:07:53,532 Something... like this. 76 00:07:54,813 --> 00:07:57,122 But you could never re-enter the atmosphere. 77 00:07:57,173 --> 00:08:00,802 I know. You come back on the spacecraft you took from Earth. 78 00:08:00,853 --> 00:08:04,926 But that means you'd have to have a rendezvous in lunar orbit. 79 00:08:04,973 --> 00:08:09,125 Exactly. Von Braun calls his method Earth Orbit Rendezvous. 80 00:08:09,173 --> 00:08:11,209 I call this Lunar Orbit Rendezvous. 81 00:08:11,253 --> 00:08:14,211 We don't know if rendezvous is possible in Earth orbit 82 00:08:14,253 --> 00:08:16,448 and you wanna do it around the moon? 83 00:08:16,493 --> 00:08:19,326 Wouldn't that be kind of dangerous? 84 00:08:19,373 --> 00:08:21,568 I don't know. 85 00:08:21,613 --> 00:08:23,604 Would it? 86 00:08:23,653 --> 00:08:27,771 Well, Mr Dolan, this is certainly a very interesting idea. 87 00:08:27,813 --> 00:08:30,452 Why don't you let us think about it? 88 00:08:31,293 --> 00:08:36,128 - I've prepared a report. - I have everything I need right here. 89 00:08:36,173 --> 00:08:38,129 Thank you for your time. 90 00:08:41,453 --> 00:08:44,604 Chances are, Lunar Orbit Rendezvous would have ended up 91 00:08:44,653 --> 00:08:48,248 as nothing more than a footnote in the history of space exploration 92 00:08:48,293 --> 00:08:51,922 if a report on the idea hadn't landed on the desk of a NASA engineer 93 00:08:51,973 --> 00:08:54,328 by the name of John Houbolt. 94 00:08:54,373 --> 00:08:58,491 When he started reading the report, Houbolt had the same reaction others did. 95 00:08:58,533 --> 00:09:02,651 Lunar Orbit Rendezvous seemed like just another far-fetched scheme. 96 00:09:02,693 --> 00:09:06,288 But the more he read, the more the idea made sense. 97 00:09:06,333 --> 00:09:11,407 By the time John Houbolt finished the report, he knew this was it. 98 00:09:11,453 --> 00:09:13,728 This was how you get to the moon. 99 00:09:17,253 --> 00:09:21,041 Now, over the past few weeks I've prepared this report 100 00:09:21,093 --> 00:09:24,688 on Lunar Orbit Rendezvous and I think you'll find it interesting. 101 00:09:25,973 --> 00:09:27,372 Look at Houbolt. 102 00:09:27,413 --> 00:09:31,008 He reads the report and he's Moses, come down from the mountain. 103 00:09:31,053 --> 00:09:35,171 - So he's a little enthusiastic. - He's making a fool of himself. 104 00:09:35,213 --> 00:09:37,932 You hear what happened in the Heaton Committee? 105 00:09:37,973 --> 00:09:40,931 He wasn't even allowed into the technical conference. 106 00:09:40,973 --> 00:09:43,612 Well, he'll get the hint and he'll give it up. 107 00:09:44,613 --> 00:09:46,808 I hear he's going to write to Seamans. 108 00:09:46,853 --> 00:09:49,651 - He doesn't report to Seamans. - I know. 109 00:09:49,693 --> 00:09:52,048 - He could get canned. - I know. 110 00:09:55,093 --> 00:09:58,290 "Dear Dr Seamans, Somewhat as a voice in the wilderness, 111 00:09:58,333 --> 00:10:00,893 "I would like to pass on a few thoughts on matters 112 00:10:00,933 --> 00:10:04,084 "that have been of a deep concern to me over the recent months. 113 00:10:04,133 --> 00:10:06,328 "I have tried, on numerous occasions... 114 00:10:06,373 --> 00:10:11,003 "...to draw attention throughout NASA to the concept of Lunar Orbit Rendezvous. 115 00:10:11,053 --> 00:10:13,886 "Regrettably there has been little interest shown. 116 00:10:13,933 --> 00:10:16,652 "Now, do we wanna get to the moon or not?" 117 00:10:16,693 --> 00:10:18,684 Yes, sir. Right away, sir. 118 00:10:18,733 --> 00:10:24,410 It goes on like this for another eight pages and then there's a 40-page report. Good Lord! 119 00:10:24,453 --> 00:10:27,286 I can make a call. He won't do it again. 120 00:10:27,333 --> 00:10:30,245 Hold on. I'll tell you what. Draft a reply. 121 00:10:30,293 --> 00:10:34,571 Say that his idea has merit and that I'm going to send it along to Brainerd 122 00:10:34,613 --> 00:10:39,084 and then see if this Mr Houbolt isn't due a vacation soon, 123 00:10:39,133 --> 00:10:41,693 because, dear God, he needs one. 124 00:10:41,733 --> 00:10:45,851 "Somewhat as a voice in the wilderness." OK. 125 00:10:46,853 --> 00:10:49,413 Does it have merit? 126 00:10:49,453 --> 00:10:51,808 Well, actually it's an intriguing notion. 127 00:10:51,853 --> 00:10:55,163 It's a little risky but it could save a lot of weight. 128 00:10:55,213 --> 00:10:59,445 There's no chance in hell Lunar Orbit Rendezvous is the way we're gonna go 129 00:10:59,493 --> 00:11:01,609 but it is interesting. 130 00:11:01,653 --> 00:11:03,052 I'll see you at 3:00. 131 00:11:04,133 --> 00:11:09,571 In July 1 962, the idea that didn't have a chance in hell of succeeding succeeded. 132 00:11:09,613 --> 00:11:13,891 NASA selected Lunar Orbit Rendezvous as the way to go to the moon. 133 00:11:13,933 --> 00:11:17,005 Now the question became, who would build the lander? 134 00:11:18,493 --> 00:11:19,892 My name is Tom Kelly. 135 00:11:19,933 --> 00:11:24,404 On the day after election day, 1 962, I waited with the rest of the Grumman lander team 136 00:11:24,453 --> 00:11:27,889 for a call from my boss, Joe Gavin. 137 00:11:27,933 --> 00:11:31,972 Whoever's tapping the pencil, if you value your life, please stop. 138 00:11:32,013 --> 00:11:33,810 Sorry. 139 00:11:39,253 --> 00:11:41,050 Any word? 140 00:11:41,093 --> 00:11:43,288 Yeah, Frank. We got the contract. 141 00:11:43,333 --> 00:11:47,246 We're just observing a moment of silence for the companies that didn't. 142 00:11:54,853 --> 00:11:57,048 OK. Look, this is crazy. Let's... 143 00:11:57,093 --> 00:11:59,846 I mean, this might not happen for an hour or more. 144 00:11:59,893 --> 00:12:03,090 Let's go back to work and I'll let you know. OK? 145 00:12:31,733 --> 00:12:33,689 Tom Kelly. 146 00:12:34,573 --> 00:12:36,165 Hi, Joe. 147 00:12:38,173 --> 00:12:41,245 We've been... I see. 148 00:12:46,213 --> 00:12:49,125 OK. Thanks, Joe. 149 00:12:49,813 --> 00:12:51,610 Bye. 150 00:12:58,253 --> 00:13:03,327 I'm afraid you're gonna have to go tell your wives and kids the bad news, fellas. 151 00:13:05,933 --> 00:13:08,845 You won't see much of them for the next couple years 152 00:13:08,893 --> 00:13:10,531 because we got the contract! 153 00:13:25,453 --> 00:13:27,444 You did it, Tom. 154 00:13:27,493 --> 00:13:30,405 No, I'm trying to hit the flashing. 155 00:13:30,453 --> 00:13:32,648 The contract. You did it. 156 00:13:33,213 --> 00:13:36,285 Well, we did it. We all did it. 157 00:13:38,333 --> 00:13:39,925 Quite a story, really. 158 00:13:39,973 --> 00:13:42,885 - "Local Long Island boy makes good." - Yeah, yeah. 159 00:13:42,933 --> 00:13:45,208 "Local boy convinces government to give 160 00:13:45,253 --> 00:13:49,292 "local Long Island company half a billion dollars." 161 00:13:51,333 --> 00:13:54,450 The rubber balls you're gonna have to pay for yourself. 162 00:13:59,093 --> 00:14:03,211 You know, if weight wasn't a factor, we'd have this thing done in a year. 163 00:14:03,253 --> 00:14:06,563 True enough. But weight's gonna be the most important factor. 164 00:14:09,773 --> 00:14:13,561 If we could find some teeny-tiny astronauts we'd be done in a month. 165 00:14:14,693 --> 00:14:17,651 They've given us seven years. We might as well use 'em. 166 00:14:17,693 --> 00:14:19,684 Seven years. 167 00:14:19,733 --> 00:14:21,724 Well, let's get started. 168 00:14:25,413 --> 00:14:29,008 OK, specs call for five legs. I think four will be better. 169 00:14:29,053 --> 00:14:33,604 It'll be as stable and we won't have to worry about interference with the thruster quads. 170 00:14:42,373 --> 00:14:44,045 Let's go with an octagonal descent stage. 171 00:14:44,093 --> 00:14:48,450 I think a round one's gonna end up being more trouble than it's worth. 172 00:14:56,493 --> 00:14:58,449 Bob, how much do these windows weigh? 173 00:14:59,613 --> 00:15:01,808 - I don't know. A couple ounces? - Bob. 174 00:15:01,853 --> 00:15:03,445 - The real ones? - Yeah. 175 00:15:03,493 --> 00:15:06,053 Five, six hundred pounds at least. 176 00:15:06,093 --> 00:15:07,924 - Really? - Yeah. 177 00:15:10,333 --> 00:15:12,528 - Do we need 'em? - Yeah, Tom. 178 00:15:12,573 --> 00:15:16,009 I think the astronauts might wanna see where they're going. 179 00:15:16,053 --> 00:15:18,248 Do they need windows this big? 180 00:15:21,453 --> 00:15:26,527 No. Of course they do. Otherwise they wouldn't be able to see from their seats. 181 00:15:35,773 --> 00:15:38,924 - What? - What if they don't need seats? 182 00:15:40,893 --> 00:15:45,045 - They have to have seats, John. - Why? They can fly standing up. 183 00:15:45,093 --> 00:15:48,688 - Yes, but they have to land. - In 1/6 gravity. 184 00:15:48,733 --> 00:15:51,372 And legs are great shock absorbers. 185 00:15:52,453 --> 00:15:55,604 If they were standing, they'd be a lot closer to the window, 186 00:15:55,653 --> 00:15:57,291 increasing their field of view 187 00:15:57,333 --> 00:16:01,121 and we wouldn't need such big windows in the first place. 188 00:16:01,173 --> 00:16:04,768 - What do you think? - Well, I think it's interesting. 189 00:16:04,813 --> 00:16:07,043 But I don't really see it. Sorry. 190 00:16:08,733 --> 00:16:10,325 Good try, though. 191 00:16:17,693 --> 00:16:19,684 Let's help him see it. 192 00:16:31,413 --> 00:16:33,608 What the heck is that? 193 00:16:33,653 --> 00:16:36,213 What we did instead of sleep. 194 00:16:48,453 --> 00:16:51,604 Well, John. I can certainly see it now. 195 00:17:00,933 --> 00:17:04,767 OK. Beautiful. I gotta call Joe Gavin about the budget. 196 00:17:04,813 --> 00:17:06,804 One more thing, thermal shields. 197 00:17:06,853 --> 00:17:10,448 Costing us way too much weight in the descent stage. 198 00:17:12,693 --> 00:17:15,605 You know, I don't think we need shields. 199 00:17:15,653 --> 00:17:19,043 Right, Frank. It's gonna be 250 degrees in the sunlight 200 00:17:19,093 --> 00:17:22,881 and minus 250 in the shade but we don't need thermal shields. 201 00:17:22,933 --> 00:17:25,493 Sarcasm's really helpful, Jim. 202 00:17:25,533 --> 00:17:30,448 I mean maybe we can use something other than the shielding that's been used before. 203 00:17:38,973 --> 00:17:44,843 It'll look like that. Mylar film between layers of kapton with an outer layer of nickel foil. 204 00:17:44,893 --> 00:17:46,690 How thin is the Mylar? 205 00:17:46,733 --> 00:17:49,293 - 1/8,000 of an inch. - Oh, well. 206 00:17:49,333 --> 00:17:51,324 As long as it's good and sturdy. 207 00:17:51,373 --> 00:17:53,728 We'll use a couple dozen layers all around. 208 00:17:53,773 --> 00:17:58,403 More where we need it, by the thrusters. It'll do the job, Tom. 209 00:18:00,893 --> 00:18:03,453 OK, well, we'll see how it goes in testing. 210 00:18:03,493 --> 00:18:05,484 Now, hatches. 211 00:18:05,533 --> 00:18:10,084 As it stands, we have two docking hatches. We can't afford the weight. 212 00:18:10,133 --> 00:18:12,124 I've been on the phone with Owen at NASA 213 00:18:12,173 --> 00:18:14,641 and John Healey at North American and we agree. 214 00:18:14,693 --> 00:18:17,332 We're gonna go with just one docking hatch up top 215 00:18:17,373 --> 00:18:19,364 and use a forward hatch for egress. 216 00:18:19,413 --> 00:18:22,803 When they come back they'll have to rendezvous and dock blind. 217 00:18:22,853 --> 00:18:26,004 We'll put a window up top so the pilot can look up as he docks. 218 00:18:26,053 --> 00:18:28,692 Another window? How much is that gonna weigh? 219 00:18:28,733 --> 00:18:32,123 I don't know. It's gotta be less than a second docking hatch. 220 00:18:32,173 --> 00:18:35,324 Tom, that will require the astronaut flying the LEM 221 00:18:35,373 --> 00:18:37,762 to make a 90-degree change in axis. 222 00:18:38,653 --> 00:18:41,213 Left roll becomes left yaw. 223 00:18:41,253 --> 00:18:43,721 - But left yaw becomes right roll... - Arnold. 224 00:18:45,813 --> 00:18:49,283 Astronauts are smart. They'll figure it out. 225 00:18:56,213 --> 00:18:58,773 OK. Apparently we're not done with the hatches. 226 00:18:58,813 --> 00:19:01,168 I just got off the phone with Pete Conrad. 227 00:19:01,213 --> 00:19:05,331 Because of the square backpacks, we're gonna have to put in a square hatch. 228 00:19:12,653 --> 00:19:16,407 Did you like Ed swinging around like Tarzan yesterday? 229 00:19:18,333 --> 00:19:21,006 Yeah. Rope ladder's not gonna fly. 230 00:19:21,053 --> 00:19:24,489 No. I'll call the configuration control board. 231 00:19:24,533 --> 00:19:26,763 We can put some rungs on the forward leg. 232 00:19:31,133 --> 00:19:35,604 OK, one more thing. It's no longer the Lunar Excursion Module any more. 233 00:19:35,653 --> 00:19:39,771 Everybody feels that excursion sounds like it's gonna go out on a school trip. 234 00:19:39,813 --> 00:19:42,373 From now on it's just the Lunar Module. 235 00:19:42,413 --> 00:19:44,768 I'm still gonna call it the LEM for short. 236 00:19:44,813 --> 00:19:46,804 John, you do whatever makes you happy. 237 00:19:53,693 --> 00:19:55,285 Well? 238 00:19:56,053 --> 00:19:58,613 I guess we'd better start building them. 239 00:20:09,773 --> 00:20:12,765 Let's make sure we film everything we do. 240 00:20:14,053 --> 00:20:16,965 You wanna show NASA where its 500 million is going? 241 00:20:17,013 --> 00:20:21,484 Yeah. I wanna show my kids where I was while they were growing up. 242 00:20:35,333 --> 00:20:38,052 Every LEM would have to be handmade. 243 00:20:38,093 --> 00:20:40,323 There was no supplier to order LEM parts from 244 00:20:40,373 --> 00:20:42,648 and because everything on a LEM was new, 245 00:20:42,693 --> 00:20:46,129 everything had to be tested and tested again. 246 00:20:46,173 --> 00:20:48,846 The thrusters, 247 00:20:48,893 --> 00:20:52,283 the engines, 248 00:20:52,333 --> 00:20:55,370 the deployment of the landing gear. 249 00:20:55,413 --> 00:20:57,404 We had to know how a LEM would react 250 00:20:57,453 --> 00:21:01,048 when exposed to intense sunlight or when pelted with dust. 251 00:21:03,133 --> 00:21:08,491 We had to know how the landing gear would perform coming down on a slope. 252 00:21:08,533 --> 00:21:13,084 Thousands of tests day after day... for years. 253 00:21:17,173 --> 00:21:19,641 Some of the tests went well. 254 00:21:21,893 --> 00:21:23,929 And some did not. 255 00:22:05,933 --> 00:22:07,730 Is this why the leg snapped? 256 00:22:10,813 --> 00:22:14,806 Apparently I made the initial miscalculation a few months ago. 257 00:22:17,333 --> 00:22:20,166 Everything has been based on that since then. 258 00:22:24,413 --> 00:22:25,846 Mr Kelly, I'm sorry. 259 00:22:32,693 --> 00:22:36,049 - When did you find this out? - Last night. 260 00:22:36,093 --> 00:22:38,653 After the test I decided to go over my figures. 261 00:22:43,133 --> 00:22:45,567 I understand if you... 262 00:22:47,253 --> 00:22:48,652 You know. 263 00:22:50,213 --> 00:22:51,965 Go home. 264 00:22:57,253 --> 00:23:00,211 And get some rest. 265 00:23:00,253 --> 00:23:02,050 Look... 266 00:23:03,253 --> 00:23:07,883 Did you come to me right away when you found out or did you try to cover your ass? 267 00:23:07,933 --> 00:23:09,525 You did a good thing. 268 00:23:09,573 --> 00:23:11,564 Not this. 269 00:23:11,613 --> 00:23:13,604 This is bad. 270 00:23:14,253 --> 00:23:20,044 But as long as people speak up about their mistakes, we've got a shot. OK? 271 00:23:20,093 --> 00:23:22,448 They try to sweep it under the rug 272 00:23:22,493 --> 00:23:26,088 and we're not gonna go to New Jersey, let alone the moon. 273 00:23:28,773 --> 00:23:30,172 Get some rest. 274 00:23:39,973 --> 00:23:43,124 Truth be told, we were behind schedule from the beginning. 275 00:23:43,173 --> 00:23:46,529 But mistakes and miscalculations were only a small part of it. 276 00:23:46,573 --> 00:23:50,885 The real problem is that a LEM isn't one spacecraft but two. 277 00:23:50,933 --> 00:23:53,731 The lower half of the LEM, the descent stage, 278 00:23:53,773 --> 00:23:57,732 contains the engine that the astronauts will use to control their landing. 279 00:23:57,773 --> 00:24:01,448 After the moonwalks, the descent stage will serve as a launch platform 280 00:24:01,493 --> 00:24:04,291 for the ascent stage, the cockpit of the LEM, 281 00:24:04,333 --> 00:24:06,893 which the astronauts will fly into lunar orbit 282 00:24:06,933 --> 00:24:09,845 for their rendezvous with the command module. 283 00:24:09,893 --> 00:24:13,169 Now, this particular ascent stage belonged to LEM 3. 284 00:24:13,213 --> 00:24:17,331 LEM 1 and 2 were designed and built for unmanned test flights. 285 00:24:17,373 --> 00:24:21,491 LEM 3 would be the first to be flown in space by astronauts. 286 00:24:22,933 --> 00:24:28,087 We worked hand in hand with the astronauts from the beginning of the LEM programme. 287 00:24:29,013 --> 00:24:31,652 They showed us what we were doing right... 288 00:24:32,853 --> 00:24:35,492 and what we were doing wrong. 289 00:24:36,893 --> 00:24:39,851 From early on much of their attention was given to LEM 3 290 00:24:39,893 --> 00:24:43,044 but it wasn't until a day in November, 1 966 291 00:24:43,093 --> 00:24:46,881 that NASA decided which crew would be the one to actually fly her. 292 00:24:47,373 --> 00:24:49,682 I just got off the phone with Deke Slayton. 293 00:24:49,733 --> 00:24:53,328 The crew assigned to take the LEM 3 into space 294 00:24:53,373 --> 00:24:57,491 on the first manned flight of a lunar module is as follows. 295 00:24:57,533 --> 00:25:02,926 Commander Jim McDivitt, a Gemini vet, one of the best pilots in the programme. 296 00:25:02,973 --> 00:25:07,091 Command Module Pilot Dave Scott, another Gemini vet. 297 00:25:07,133 --> 00:25:12,924 And flying right beside McDivitt as his LMP, Rusty Schweickart, a rookie. 298 00:25:12,973 --> 00:25:17,524 Now... any crew is a good crew but these guys... 299 00:25:17,573 --> 00:25:19,768 well, I think we're pretty fortunate 300 00:25:19,813 --> 00:25:22,771 because, gentlemen, this won't be an easy mission. 301 00:25:22,813 --> 00:25:25,805 We're off the lake, Jim. Can we talk business now? 302 00:25:25,853 --> 00:25:28,208 Well, if you insist. 303 00:25:29,293 --> 00:25:33,411 I've been going over the mission plan and it looks a little rough. 304 00:25:33,453 --> 00:25:37,048 - It is kind of ambitious, Jim. - Heck, it's not ambitious. 305 00:25:37,093 --> 00:25:39,084 It's impossible. 306 00:25:40,213 --> 00:25:44,684 Look, everyone's focusing on us flying the LEM. It's only a small part of it. 307 00:25:44,733 --> 00:25:49,204 Every mission's got a few things never been done before. This one's got about ten. 308 00:25:49,253 --> 00:25:52,689 First manned launch of a LEM, first docking extraction of a LEM, 309 00:25:52,733 --> 00:25:55,452 first men in a LEM in space. 310 00:25:55,493 --> 00:25:58,326 And we just go out and fly the LEM, right? 311 00:25:58,373 --> 00:26:00,568 Wrong. 312 00:26:00,613 --> 00:26:03,730 Before we can even undock the LEM from the command module, 313 00:26:03,773 --> 00:26:07,732 we gotta make sure we can do an emergency transfer outside the craft. 314 00:26:07,773 --> 00:26:09,968 Which means, Rusty, 315 00:26:10,013 --> 00:26:14,131 you're gonna have to do an EVA on the PLSS backpack, first use of that. 316 00:26:14,173 --> 00:26:17,085 Dave, we're gonna leave you alone in the command module. 317 00:26:17,133 --> 00:26:19,488 First time that'll have happened. 318 00:26:19,533 --> 00:26:21,728 Then the real fun begins. 319 00:26:21,773 --> 00:26:24,128 First I pop the thruster, see if the LEM can fly. 320 00:26:24,173 --> 00:26:28,769 If it can, Rusty and I fire the descent engine, take the thing on its maiden voyage. 321 00:26:28,813 --> 00:26:31,008 We go out a hundred miles or so. 322 00:26:31,053 --> 00:26:35,046 God willing, the ascent engine lights, first firing of that in space. 323 00:26:35,093 --> 00:26:40,725 Then Rusty and I head back to you for the first docking of a two-man spacecraft. 324 00:26:42,653 --> 00:26:46,931 All right, so it's only nine things never been done before. 325 00:26:47,933 --> 00:26:49,730 Give me a hand with the trailer. 326 00:26:52,093 --> 00:26:56,564 But you guys are right. It's a lot for one mission. Maybe too much. 327 00:26:56,613 --> 00:26:59,764 If we get even half of it done we can call it a success. 328 00:27:00,773 --> 00:27:02,968 I can't wait! 329 00:27:04,453 --> 00:27:07,490 While Scott went to Downey to work on the command module, 330 00:27:07,533 --> 00:27:10,445 McDivitt and Schweickart joined us on Long Island. 331 00:27:13,453 --> 00:27:15,921 So you wanna take the vehicle for a spin? 332 00:27:15,973 --> 00:27:18,089 - Gee, Dad. Can we? - Sure. 333 00:27:18,133 --> 00:27:20,772 As long as you don't bring her back empty. 334 00:27:22,853 --> 00:27:25,413 The hardest part of getting the first LEMs to fly 335 00:27:25,453 --> 00:27:29,446 was getting the thousands of systems and subsystems to work together. 336 00:27:29,493 --> 00:27:32,451 Mostly it was like having a ballroom full of dancers 337 00:27:32,493 --> 00:27:36,611 dancing different steps to music that wasn't quite right for any of them. 338 00:27:43,933 --> 00:27:46,322 - Bring that TL up. - Roger, TC. 339 00:27:47,773 --> 00:27:50,924 And TTCA four jets down. 340 00:27:50,973 --> 00:27:53,168 Copy, TC. 341 00:27:53,213 --> 00:27:55,568 TTCA four jets down. 342 00:28:00,453 --> 00:28:02,444 Well, that can't be good. 343 00:28:09,253 --> 00:28:11,244 Now let's cycle that one more time. 344 00:28:11,293 --> 00:28:13,090 Yep. Roger, TC. 345 00:28:15,653 --> 00:28:17,052 For the... 346 00:28:29,973 --> 00:28:33,852 You know, you look more and more like Steve McQueen in The Great Escape. 347 00:28:33,893 --> 00:28:38,364 Funny you should say that. I got guys digging a tunnel under the east fence. 348 00:28:38,413 --> 00:28:40,973 Should reach the trees by Sunday. 349 00:28:41,013 --> 00:28:43,004 Ready to start up again. 350 00:28:43,053 --> 00:28:45,044 We think we've got it. 351 00:28:46,053 --> 00:28:48,044 Let's do it. 352 00:29:01,413 --> 00:29:04,564 - TFI telemetry cal off. - Copy, TC. 353 00:29:05,733 --> 00:29:08,452 - TFI power off. - Roger, TC. 354 00:29:09,893 --> 00:29:12,612 - R&D A off. - Copy that, TC. 355 00:29:13,613 --> 00:29:17,049 God bless it! Tom, what's up with the radar? 356 00:29:22,613 --> 00:29:24,410 Tom Kelly. 357 00:29:25,213 --> 00:29:27,010 Hi, Lou. 358 00:29:27,893 --> 00:29:30,453 Yeah, I know... Well... 359 00:29:34,333 --> 00:29:36,893 I know what we're up against, Lou. 360 00:29:36,933 --> 00:29:38,969 We will make the date. 361 00:29:39,013 --> 00:29:41,846 I need to know if we can make the date. 362 00:29:41,893 --> 00:29:46,967 If we can't, I'm gonna have to take cash from the safe and move to South America. 363 00:29:53,333 --> 00:29:55,972 OK. Bob? 364 00:29:56,013 --> 00:29:58,004 Yep. 365 00:29:58,053 --> 00:30:00,613 - Arnie? - Sure. 366 00:30:00,653 --> 00:30:03,008 - John? - Yes, sir. 367 00:30:03,053 --> 00:30:05,726 The other John? 368 00:30:09,897 --> 00:30:14,527 Sorry, Tom. The cockpit's gonna take another three weeks. 369 00:30:15,337 --> 00:30:19,296 - We could use a few weeks ourselves. - Us too. 370 00:30:19,337 --> 00:30:22,295 If we had it, we could certainly use it. 371 00:30:22,337 --> 00:30:27,775 You know, Tom, I hear Bolivia is really nice this time of year. 372 00:30:35,337 --> 00:30:38,329 You know, this is so bad I can't even joke about it. 373 00:30:47,097 --> 00:30:49,816 Perhaps we were behind schedule and over budget 374 00:30:49,857 --> 00:30:52,417 because budgets and schedules are based on 375 00:30:52,457 --> 00:30:54,812 previous experience with similar projects. 376 00:30:54,857 --> 00:30:58,975 We didn't know how much it'd cost to build the LEMs or how long it would take. 377 00:30:59,017 --> 00:31:01,975 All we really knew was how much time we'd been given 378 00:31:02,017 --> 00:31:04,087 and that was running out. 379 00:31:04,137 --> 00:31:07,686 LEM 3 was scheduled to be launched in the fall of 1 968. 380 00:31:07,737 --> 00:31:11,571 To make the launch, NASA needed delivery some time that spring. 381 00:31:11,617 --> 00:31:14,973 We were working as fast as we could, 24 hours a day, seven days a week 382 00:31:15,017 --> 00:31:16,496 and it wasn't enough. 383 00:31:16,537 --> 00:31:22,055 In June, 1 968 it was decided that we'd ship LEM 3 to NASA as she was 384 00:31:22,097 --> 00:31:24,088 and finish the work at the Cape. 385 00:31:29,857 --> 00:31:32,576 You know, I don't know what I'm so worked up about. 386 00:31:32,617 --> 00:31:34,972 I mean, what's the worst that could happen? 387 00:31:35,017 --> 00:31:38,168 Well, we ship the LEM to NASA, 388 00:31:38,217 --> 00:31:42,210 we never get it to fly, the Russians beat us to the moon 389 00:31:42,257 --> 00:31:46,375 and within ten years we're all living under the iron thumb of Communism. 390 00:31:46,417 --> 00:31:48,373 Exactly. 391 00:31:55,057 --> 00:31:58,493 Remember when seven years seemed like a long time? 392 00:32:00,097 --> 00:32:03,692 Remember when this whole thing was only gonna cost 500 million? 393 00:32:03,737 --> 00:32:07,525 You know, I can't even remember when it was gonna cost a billion. 394 00:32:11,097 --> 00:32:16,455 Unfortunately, moving LEM 3 to the Cape did little to ease the pressure we were under. 395 00:32:16,497 --> 00:32:19,011 Tom, there's still 100 things wrong with it. 396 00:32:19,057 --> 00:32:22,208 - We'll get it fixed in time. - No, you won't. 397 00:32:22,257 --> 00:32:26,375 There is no way that in three months that thing is gonna be ready to fly. 398 00:32:27,457 --> 00:32:29,812 Look, Jim, it's... 399 00:32:29,857 --> 00:32:34,487 It's a good machine. Just needs a little fine-tuning. That's all. 400 00:32:34,537 --> 00:32:37,256 You don't have to whisper. It can't hear you. 401 00:32:38,377 --> 00:32:40,937 Look, I want it to go up as much as you do. 402 00:32:40,977 --> 00:32:44,572 I know we're running out of time. It's 18 months to the end of the decade 403 00:32:44,617 --> 00:32:48,735 and we still haven't had a single manned Apollo flight, I know that. 404 00:32:48,777 --> 00:32:53,612 But that doesn't change the facts. LEM 3 is not ready to fly. 405 00:32:53,657 --> 00:32:55,807 And it won't be any time soon. 406 00:32:56,857 --> 00:33:00,452 That's gonna have to be my recommendation to headquarters. 407 00:33:06,457 --> 00:33:09,415 Now, with the LEM 3 not ready to fly 408 00:33:09,457 --> 00:33:13,245 after Wally and the 7 crew go up with the CSM in October, 409 00:33:13,297 --> 00:33:16,892 that means there won't be another Apollo flight until the spring. 410 00:33:16,937 --> 00:33:20,134 - Right. - Well, maybe not. 411 00:33:20,177 --> 00:33:23,010 George has come up with a rather wild idea. 412 00:33:24,177 --> 00:33:25,974 How wild? 413 00:33:27,097 --> 00:33:29,292 Frank's mission is being scrubbed. 414 00:33:30,177 --> 00:33:34,489 We've created a new C-Prime mission which will precede your mission. 415 00:33:35,617 --> 00:33:37,414 What's the mission? 416 00:33:38,457 --> 00:33:43,577 Well, we're gonna send the command and service module, no lunar module... 417 00:33:44,697 --> 00:33:47,734 on a flight around the moon in December. 418 00:33:51,657 --> 00:33:53,454 Really? 419 00:33:54,977 --> 00:33:56,774 What's Frank think about that? 420 00:33:58,177 --> 00:34:02,489 I haven't talked to Frank yet. I'm talking to you first. 421 00:34:03,897 --> 00:34:06,855 I don't want to lose your crew's experience with LEM 3. 422 00:34:07,657 --> 00:34:11,775 That's why we decided to send Frank on this mission ahead of you. 423 00:34:11,817 --> 00:34:16,095 But I wanted to see what you had to say about it before I told Frank. 424 00:34:18,857 --> 00:34:21,769 I told him we'd stick with the mission we got. 425 00:34:22,577 --> 00:34:24,169 Good. 426 00:34:25,017 --> 00:34:29,852 Going around the moon sounds like a blast and all but I really wanna fly the LEM. 427 00:34:29,897 --> 00:34:33,936 That's pretty much what Dave said. I called him in Downey. 428 00:34:33,977 --> 00:34:37,094 He said he really wanted to fly the command module solo, 429 00:34:37,137 --> 00:34:39,526 get us out of his hair for a few hours. 430 00:34:43,617 --> 00:34:46,529 I don't know, though. Maybe we're making a mistake. 431 00:34:46,577 --> 00:34:51,048 Maybe we're missing out on some historical voyage. 432 00:34:52,897 --> 00:34:57,652 I don't know, Jim. Maybe. But it sounds like they're just gonna be sightseeing. 433 00:34:57,697 --> 00:35:01,292 With all the things we gotta do, our mission's fun. 434 00:35:04,377 --> 00:35:06,572 Yeah, we got a great mission. 435 00:35:06,617 --> 00:35:08,812 Providing that thing will fly. 436 00:35:13,377 --> 00:35:16,767 In the fall of 1 968 while work continued on LEM 3, 437 00:35:16,817 --> 00:35:19,854 the Apollo programme finally got off the ground. 438 00:35:19,897 --> 00:35:23,776 On October 1 1th, just a few miles from where LEM 3 was being fine-tuned, 439 00:35:23,817 --> 00:35:25,808 Apollo 7 was launched. 440 00:35:26,977 --> 00:35:30,049 Two months later, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders 441 00:35:30,097 --> 00:35:33,248 took Apollo 8 on its historic flight around the moon. 442 00:35:34,377 --> 00:35:38,165 All that time, LEM 3 was being worked on around the clock. 443 00:35:39,137 --> 00:35:43,016 By February 1 969, George and the rest of the Grumman crew 444 00:35:43,057 --> 00:35:46,094 had tested every circuit and tightened every bolt. 445 00:35:47,417 --> 00:35:49,408 LEM 3 was ready. 446 00:36:29,177 --> 00:36:32,089 - I like the call sign. - Spider? 447 00:36:32,137 --> 00:36:33,616 It seemed appropriate. 448 00:36:33,657 --> 00:36:36,933 - How about the command module? - Gumdrop. 449 00:36:36,977 --> 00:36:40,413 When it came from North American it was wrapped in blue plastic. 450 00:36:40,457 --> 00:36:42,254 It's sort of what it looked like. 451 00:36:42,297 --> 00:36:45,448 Maybe you should go up with us, make sure everything's OK. 452 00:36:46,617 --> 00:36:48,608 I'd love to go up with you. 453 00:36:50,777 --> 00:36:52,733 She's ready. 454 00:36:53,537 --> 00:36:55,528 I know. 455 00:36:56,657 --> 00:36:58,887 We'd better get back to the sim. 456 00:37:01,337 --> 00:37:04,249 - She's a beautiful machine, Tom. - Isn't she? 457 00:37:04,297 --> 00:37:07,653 - You think it's beautiful? - It looks like a toaster with legs 458 00:37:07,697 --> 00:37:09,653 but I'm not gonna tell him that. 459 00:37:12,777 --> 00:37:16,008 - Hold on a minute, Bill. - I gotta get him to the airport. 460 00:37:16,057 --> 00:37:20,528 Look, he spent the last seven years of his life building that thing. 461 00:37:21,377 --> 00:37:23,937 Let's give him a moment to say goodbye. 462 00:37:24,897 --> 00:37:26,694 It stays up there, remember? 463 00:37:43,177 --> 00:37:47,568 As far as LEM 3 was concerned that should have been it for me. 464 00:37:47,617 --> 00:37:52,088 I should have been able to sit back in the SPAN room in Houston and watch the show. 465 00:37:53,537 --> 00:37:55,892 But in the early hours of launch day, 466 00:37:55,937 --> 00:38:00,294 the pressure in one of LEM 3's fuel tanks was reading disturbingly high. 467 00:38:10,097 --> 00:38:12,657 It's the helium tank? 468 00:38:12,697 --> 00:38:16,087 Actually, sir, the super critical helium. 469 00:38:16,137 --> 00:38:19,288 - How's it reading now? - Still on the edge. 470 00:38:20,137 --> 00:38:22,492 Meaning? 471 00:38:22,537 --> 00:38:26,450 Meaning we'd like to be down the middle of the tolerance band but we're not. 472 00:38:26,497 --> 00:38:28,294 Give me the worst case. 473 00:38:29,537 --> 00:38:33,416 When the LEM heads away from the command module and they're throttling up, 474 00:38:33,457 --> 00:38:36,688 the tank could over-pressurize and the burst disk could blow. 475 00:38:36,737 --> 00:38:39,046 We would lose helium on the descent stage. 476 00:38:39,097 --> 00:38:42,692 They would not be stranded. They'd still have the ascent engine. 477 00:38:42,737 --> 00:38:45,410 But it would kill the mission. 478 00:38:49,737 --> 00:38:53,412 Tom, I'll need the official Grumman position on this. 479 00:38:55,377 --> 00:38:57,732 We're still within the limits. 480 00:38:58,697 --> 00:39:00,688 It'll fly. 481 00:39:03,217 --> 00:39:05,777 In the last few minutes before launch 482 00:39:05,817 --> 00:39:09,730 I managed to put the tank pressure problem out of my mind for a moment. 483 00:39:10,537 --> 00:39:14,325 I tried to imagine what it was like in LEM 3 just then. 484 00:39:14,377 --> 00:39:18,416 Astronauts have said that sitting in the command module during a countdown 485 00:39:18,457 --> 00:39:21,017 can be almost peaceful. 486 00:39:21,057 --> 00:39:25,175 Must have been even more peaceful in LEM 3. At least until... 487 00:39:35,337 --> 00:39:37,407 For the next ten minutes it must have been 488 00:39:37,457 --> 00:39:41,086 like LEM 3 was stuck in a paint mixer in a hardware store. 489 00:39:41,137 --> 00:39:45,972 And when it must have seemed the shaking would never stop, it did. 490 00:40:04,017 --> 00:40:06,212 On the second day of the mission, 491 00:40:06,257 --> 00:40:09,647 Rusty became the first person to enter a LEM in space. 492 00:41:13,377 --> 00:41:17,165 Later that day, shortly after Rusty and Jim extended the landing gear, 493 00:41:17,217 --> 00:41:20,129 something happened which brought the mission to a halt. 494 00:41:20,177 --> 00:41:23,169 OK, I got gear out in front of me now. 495 00:41:23,217 --> 00:41:26,766 OK, landing gear deploy, safe? 496 00:41:27,817 --> 00:41:29,409 Roger, safe. 497 00:41:29,457 --> 00:41:31,448 Sequence camera, off. 498 00:41:32,217 --> 00:41:35,334 GET is 45-1-1-3-5. 499 00:41:35,377 --> 00:41:37,572 TFI telemetry cal off. 500 00:41:37,617 --> 00:41:39,847 TFI power, off. 501 00:41:40,857 --> 00:41:42,654 TFI, off. 502 00:41:42,697 --> 00:41:46,212 - R&D A, off. - TFI power, off. 503 00:41:46,257 --> 00:41:48,487 R&D instrumentation A, off. 504 00:41:54,497 --> 00:41:56,294 R&D instrumentation A, off. 505 00:42:10,497 --> 00:42:12,488 OK, Deke. 506 00:42:12,537 --> 00:42:15,529 I'm gonna have to recommend we scrub the EVA tomorrow. 507 00:42:15,577 --> 00:42:17,932 We got you, Jim. 508 00:42:17,977 --> 00:42:22,095 Jim, if Rusty doesn't do the EVA... 509 00:42:23,937 --> 00:42:26,770 I understand the ramifications, Dave. 510 00:42:28,697 --> 00:42:31,416 I just don't think it's safe for you to do it. 511 00:42:31,457 --> 00:42:36,292 I don't think we can put you in a pressurized suit if it looks like you're gonna throw up. 512 00:42:36,337 --> 00:42:38,567 We'll proceed with the checklist tomorrow. 513 00:42:38,617 --> 00:42:42,405 Check out as many systems as we can without undocking. 514 00:42:43,377 --> 00:42:46,016 It's just gonna have to be it. 515 00:42:46,057 --> 00:42:49,447 If Rusty were to throw up in a suit, he'd likely asphyxiate and die 516 00:42:49,497 --> 00:42:52,648 before Jim could get him back into the LEM and repressurize. 517 00:42:52,697 --> 00:42:54,813 But if Rusty didn't test the backpack, 518 00:42:54,857 --> 00:42:57,496 the LEM couldn't undock from the command module. 519 00:42:57,537 --> 00:43:02,372 When Jim canceled the EVA, we all understood but we were devastated. 520 00:43:03,217 --> 00:43:04,650 LEM 3 would not fly. 521 00:43:14,497 --> 00:43:19,287 Next day, as Rusty and Jim went through the checklist, the mood at NASA was grim. 522 00:43:26,857 --> 00:43:31,692 The mood lifted a little when one of Jim's transmissions made everyone smile. 523 00:43:31,737 --> 00:43:33,534 Well, almost everyone. 524 00:43:33,577 --> 00:43:37,047 - Houston, this is Apollo 9. - Go ahead, Apollo 9. 525 00:43:37,097 --> 00:43:40,567 Houston, if some of our friends from Grumman are listening in, 526 00:43:40,617 --> 00:43:43,768 I suggest on the next LEM they give a go with a vacuum cleaner. 527 00:43:43,817 --> 00:43:46,411 We got a few odds and ends floating around in here. 528 00:43:47,297 --> 00:43:50,448 Roger, Apollo 9. We'll pass that along. 529 00:43:50,497 --> 00:43:54,376 Oh, well. In a few minutes, even I would be smiling. 530 00:43:56,097 --> 00:43:58,133 You look like you're feeling better. 531 00:43:59,857 --> 00:44:01,654 I am. I feel good. 532 00:44:02,417 --> 00:44:04,214 How good? 533 00:44:05,657 --> 00:44:07,136 Real good. 534 00:44:07,937 --> 00:44:09,893 What do you say you go outside? 535 00:44:11,737 --> 00:44:13,932 I think that's a good idea. 536 00:44:15,657 --> 00:44:19,047 - Gumdrop, this is Spider. - Roger, Spider. 537 00:44:19,097 --> 00:44:23,249 Dave, Rusty's feeling a lot better and he looks better too. 538 00:44:23,297 --> 00:44:27,927 I thought maybe he should go out on the porch and get some fresh air. 539 00:44:27,977 --> 00:44:31,208 Hey, man! I like the sound of that. 540 00:44:37,417 --> 00:44:40,568 For 45 minutes, every available camera on Apollo 9 541 00:44:40,617 --> 00:44:44,166 was put to use filming the first two-man space walk in history. 542 00:44:45,777 --> 00:44:48,337 While Rusty stood on LEM 3's porch, 543 00:44:48,377 --> 00:44:53,656 Dave stood in the hatch of the command module to film Rusty's test of the backpack. 544 00:45:03,377 --> 00:45:05,937 When one of Dave's cameras broke 545 00:45:05,977 --> 00:45:08,537 he went back inside to fix it. 546 00:45:11,457 --> 00:45:16,531 That gave Rusty something unheard of on an EVA, free time. 547 00:45:17,337 --> 00:45:23,128 For three minutes there was nothing for him to do but look at the Earth. 548 00:45:52,777 --> 00:45:54,768 With the backpack tested, 549 00:45:54,817 --> 00:45:57,377 it was time to see if LEM 3 could fly. 550 00:46:20,337 --> 00:46:22,692 That's a nice-looking machine. 551 00:46:23,617 --> 00:46:27,007 It's not like an F-86, I'll tell you that. 552 00:46:27,057 --> 00:46:29,048 It's an ungainly beast. 553 00:46:30,017 --> 00:46:32,008 But it really flies. 554 00:46:53,897 --> 00:46:58,015 Houston, Spider. We are preparing to throttle up the descent engine. 555 00:46:58,057 --> 00:46:59,775 Roger, Spider. 556 00:46:59,817 --> 00:47:03,651 Then it was time to see if the decision I had made just before the launch 557 00:47:03,697 --> 00:47:05,688 was the right one. 558 00:47:11,537 --> 00:47:13,732 The tank'll be fine. 559 00:47:13,777 --> 00:47:15,574 It'll hold. 560 00:47:19,697 --> 00:47:21,892 Throttle to 20%. 561 00:47:28,777 --> 00:47:30,369 It's a little rough there. 562 00:47:31,737 --> 00:47:35,855 Wasn't it? I think we swallowed a little helium. 563 00:47:35,897 --> 00:47:38,331 Let's try it again. 564 00:47:40,417 --> 00:47:42,612 Throttle to 40%. 565 00:47:48,497 --> 00:47:51,216 Houston, Spider. 566 00:47:51,257 --> 00:47:53,691 Everything looks good here. 567 00:47:53,737 --> 00:47:55,728 It was a good burn. 568 00:48:04,217 --> 00:48:06,572 Keep track of us, will you, Davey? 569 00:48:06,617 --> 00:48:09,177 Roger that. See you in a while. 570 00:48:10,017 --> 00:48:14,568 Jim and Rusty took LEM 3 out 1 1 0 miles from the command module. 571 00:48:14,617 --> 00:48:18,656 To get back to Dave they had to separate from the descent stage, 572 00:48:18,697 --> 00:48:20,289 then fire the ascent engine. 573 00:48:28,057 --> 00:48:30,173 Thirteen feet per second. 574 00:48:30,217 --> 00:48:33,368 Nine feet per second. I have the interconnects. 575 00:48:33,417 --> 00:48:39,447 Five, four, three, two, one, we have shutdown. 576 00:48:39,497 --> 00:48:42,330 Roger. We have a good burn. No residuals. 577 00:48:44,857 --> 00:48:47,894 And there goes half our spacecraft. 578 00:49:10,457 --> 00:49:15,292 A short time later, LEM 3 redocked with the command module. 579 00:49:17,417 --> 00:49:18,850 Her mission was over. 580 00:49:20,697 --> 00:49:23,848 That's a song I haven't heard in a long time. 581 00:49:32,337 --> 00:49:34,453 - You all set, Rusty? - Yeah, Jim. 582 00:49:34,497 --> 00:49:36,852 All right. I'll see you up at CSM. 583 00:49:37,897 --> 00:49:42,732 I don't suppose they're gonna let anybody back up they think'll get sick? 584 00:49:46,337 --> 00:49:47,975 I don't know, Rusty. 585 00:49:51,777 --> 00:49:53,972 I'll tell ya, 586 00:49:54,017 --> 00:49:59,091 those few minutes I had outside while Dave was working on the camera... 587 00:50:01,857 --> 00:50:03,848 that was something special. 588 00:50:06,817 --> 00:50:09,172 I just wanted to say thanks. 589 00:50:09,217 --> 00:50:12,971 The only reason it was a question is I didn't want you to kill yourself. 590 00:50:14,217 --> 00:50:17,050 And I'll try not to for the rest of the mission. 591 00:50:17,097 --> 00:50:19,292 All right. I'll see you inside. 592 00:50:21,257 --> 00:50:22,690 Yep. 593 00:50:45,777 --> 00:50:50,612 LEM 3 would fly one last time but this time she would fly alone. 594 00:50:54,177 --> 00:50:57,328 OK, the tunnel's closed out, the pyros are armed. 595 00:50:58,337 --> 00:51:00,328 We're all set. 596 00:51:06,137 --> 00:51:08,128 All right. 597 00:51:12,937 --> 00:51:14,370 So long, Spider. 598 00:51:23,497 --> 00:51:25,852 Hope I didn't leave anything in there. 599 00:51:27,137 --> 00:51:31,050 When I first saw the LEM I thought, "You gotta be kidding." 600 00:51:31,097 --> 00:51:33,053 But it kind of grows on you. 601 00:51:34,817 --> 00:51:37,012 It really is a beautiful machine. 602 00:51:38,657 --> 00:51:41,376 Listen to me. I sound like Tom Kelly. 603 00:51:45,097 --> 00:51:48,248 But you guys are right. It's a lot for one mission. 604 00:51:48,297 --> 00:51:49,889 Maybe too much. 605 00:51:50,937 --> 00:51:54,373 If we get even half of it done we can call it a success. 606 00:51:57,137 --> 00:51:59,332 I can't wait! 607 00:52:02,977 --> 00:52:07,448 Apollo 9 had shown that a LEM could fly. At least in Earth orbit. 608 00:52:08,577 --> 00:52:11,728 Two months later on Apollo 1 0, Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan 609 00:52:11,777 --> 00:52:15,895 took LEM 4 down to within 50,000 feet of the lunar surface. 610 00:52:15,937 --> 00:52:20,055 Look at that. There's enough boulders to fill up Galveston Bay! 611 00:52:21,057 --> 00:52:25,892 Houston, we is goin', and we is down among 'em, Charlie! 612 00:52:27,177 --> 00:52:30,328 Now only one question about the LEM remains. 613 00:52:30,377 --> 00:52:32,174 The biggest question of all. 614 00:52:32,217 --> 00:52:35,015 And it will be up to the next LEM to answer it. 615 00:52:38,897 --> 00:52:42,048 When I said goodbye to LEM 3, I felt like a proud parent 616 00:52:42,097 --> 00:52:44,657 watching a child go off to college. 617 00:52:47,257 --> 00:52:50,886 As I say goodbye to this LEM, I feel like a parent of centuries past 618 00:52:50,937 --> 00:52:54,725 saying farewell as his child embarks for the New World. 619 00:52:55,737 --> 00:52:59,173 To some people, that might sound like I'm stretching the point. 620 00:52:59,217 --> 00:53:03,768 A LEM is not a child, it's a machine and a machine doesn't have a soul. 621 00:53:03,817 --> 00:53:06,536 We may yell at our toasters and give names to our cars 622 00:53:06,577 --> 00:53:09,728 but in the end even a LEM is just a collection of wires 623 00:53:09,777 --> 00:53:12,575 and circuits and nuts and bolts. 624 00:53:12,617 --> 00:53:16,735 I don't know. I think each LEM does have a soul. 625 00:53:16,777 --> 00:53:22,568 It's a soul of all the people who built her, designed her, first dreamed of her. 626 00:53:24,137 --> 00:53:27,288 - What number is this one? - This one is LEM 5. 627 00:53:29,737 --> 00:53:33,332 - Thank you for inviting us here today. - You're welcome, Mr Houbolt. 628 00:53:33,377 --> 00:53:36,528 Without you guys there might not be anybody here today. 629 00:53:36,577 --> 00:53:40,013 - Someone would have thought of it. - Maybe. 630 00:53:40,057 --> 00:53:43,527 And this is the actual machine that's gonna land on the moon? 631 00:53:43,577 --> 00:53:45,568 Yep. 632 00:53:45,617 --> 00:53:48,893 - What are they calling this one? - This one? 633 00:53:48,937 --> 00:53:51,132 This one is the Eagle.