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ANNOUNCER: The Shirley Temple program
usually seen at this time
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will not be presented
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in order that we may bring
you the following special broadcast.
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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We have interrupted this program
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for a special broadcast
from Cape Canaveral.
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RENICK: May 5th, 1961, certainly a day
to be entered in the history books.
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Although the astronaut launch
is being seen close up
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and live on television screens,
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hundreds of persons traveled
to Cocoa Beach to see with their own eyes
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at long distance, the streak of flame
as the Redstone heads skyward.
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CRONKITE: I don't know any words
for this except the trite ones.
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Tension is mounting here
at Cape Canaveral.
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RENICK: The world watches with interest.
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The public has no trouble feeling concern
for the man who lies on his back
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at the nose end of a Redstone missile.
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Somehow, this doesn't seem to be the place
for a human being.
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GLENN: We're looking at this as
eventually a big exploration.
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We hope to lay the foundation
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for much broader exploration
in the future.
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MCGEE: I'm sure you've given some thought
to the possibility that
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this flight may not turn out well
and that you may not come back.
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TROUT: One man, backed up
by a team of 10,000,
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backed up by the most elaborate devices
that science can invent.
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But still, one man, alone, in a tiny shell
on top of a rocket.
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When we asked NASA for some pictures
of the original American astronauts,
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John Glenn and the six others chosen
in 1959 for Project Mercury,
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look what we got.
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The Seven in their spacesuits
as formal as a class picture
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or a management training group.
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But these, too, are the men
who are going to fly off into space
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and catch us up with the Russians
and win the Cold War
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against Sputnik with their hair down
and their burnouses up
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after four days of survival training
in the desert.
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What were the astronauts?
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Tall in-the-capsule superheroes
or just a bunch of regular fighter jocks?
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Well, writer Tom Wolfe has spent a number
of years now looking into their story
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and he has written it into a book called,
The Right Stuff.
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It's not the kind of story that we heard
at the time from the space managers
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and from the politicians,
or even from the American press.
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Tom Wolfe, nice to have you
with us this morning.
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-Tom, good to see you.
-Uh, were we in need of heroes
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when these astronauts came along?
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Is that why we were so eager
to build them up into kind of false gods?
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Right now, it's so hard to remember
what a... how seriously the Cold War
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was taken back in the... in the late '50s.
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(COUNTDOWN IN RUSSIAN)
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(SPUTNIK LAUNCHES)
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You are the first Americans
to see this launching of Sputnik 1
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from the desert of Kyzylkum,
in the Soviet Union.
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("NAME THAT TUNE" THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
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DEWITT: And now back tonight and trying
for 20,000 dollars are Eddie Hodges,
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the ten-year-old schoolboy,
and his partner, Major John Glenn, Jr.,
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the Marine Corps jet pilot.
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Uh, what do you think
of the Russian satellite,
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which is circling the earth
at 18,000 miles per hour?
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It's the first time anybody has ever been
able to get anything out that far
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in space and keep it there
for any length of time.
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And this is probably the first step
toward space travel or moon travel,
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something we'll probably run into
maybe in Eddie's lifetime here at least.
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DEWITT: (CHUCKLES) Eddie, would you like
to take a trip to the moon?
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No, sir, I like it fine right here.
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(AUDIENCE LAUGHS)
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REPORTER: Democrat Senator Jackson
of Washington describes
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the Russian achievement as a devastating
blow to the prestige of The United States.
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As the satellite travels around the world
once every hour and a half,
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its radio transmitters,
powered by chemical batteries,
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that are apparently sending back
coded messages to the Russians.
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(RAPID FREQUENCIES)
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REPORTER: The White House sizes
up the situation this way,
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The launching of Russia's
and the world's first
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artificial moon is of great scientific
interest but comes as no surprise.
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REPORTER: General, are you awed
by the Russian accomplishment
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with this big Sputnik?
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MEDARIS: You're only awed
by the things that you don't understand
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or don't believe someone can do.
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REPORTER: In other words, we know what
they had to know to do this?
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-Certainly, we know it.
-REPORTER: Why haven't we done it?
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Well, we got started late.
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We didn't get about the job
as early as we might have.
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Now we have to work
like blazes to catch up.
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It means they're getting ahead of us
and we certainly need to...
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start working hard to catch up.
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I think it's about time America woke up
and did something about it.
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There was a sense in this country
that it was all important...
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to catch up with the Russians in space.
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John McCormick, who was then the Speaker
of the House of Representatives,
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was getting up and saying
we face national extinction
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if we do not catch up with the Russians.
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WALLACE: In desperation, the United States
looked to the Vanguard.
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Nearly 200 newsmen
from all over the world were flown down
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for the big turkey shoot.
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At the launching site, they were given
a play-by-play account.
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They witnessed each tiny detail
of the usually top-secret preparation.
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And inside the block house,
the tension steadily mounted.
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(ROCKET BLAST)
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(EXPLOSION)
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WALLACE: America's prestige had
never been lower than at this moment,
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11:45 a.m., December 6, 1957.
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There is a tremendous gap
between promise and performance.
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I believe the American people
want action...
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(EXPLOSION)
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JOHNSON: ...and are demanding that
we get going with our program.
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Public opinion in the civilized world
has grown accustomed to
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fast scientific progress.
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Already, the idea of Sputnik whirling
through space has become accepted
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and people are saying, "What comes next?
What comes after Sputnik? After Vanguard?"
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Well, the next step has been planned
for a long time. It is a manned satellite.
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WOLFE: Catch up on all fronts.
That was the imperative.
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So a so-called quick and dirty approach
was seized upon.
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They would try to launch not a flying ship
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but a pod, a container,
a capsule... with a man in it.
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The man would not be a pilot.
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He would be a human cannonball.
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He would not be able to alter the course
of the capsule in the slightest.
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The job was assigned to NACA,
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the National Advisory Committee
for Aeronautics,
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which was converted into NASA.
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We will be developing and launching
into space,
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vehicles needed to obtain scientific data
and to explore the solar system.
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N.A.S.A. will have
about 300 million dollars
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for its program in fiscal 1959,
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and with this appropriation,
we must press forward
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the current research programs
in our laboratories.
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We must contract for work by others
in such fields as electronics and guidance
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and other areas where we have
neither the special competence,
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nor the facilities that are needed.
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We must accelerate
our development programs.
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We must acquire the vehicles that
will carry our data-gathering apparatus,
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and ultimately man, into space.
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The program to pick the
first man to American to try to pilot
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a rocket into orbit in space has begun.
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U.S. space chief T. Keith Glennan
announced tonight
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the American manned satellite program
will be called Project Mercury,
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its pilots will be known as
Mercury Aeronauts,
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and one of their number, all volunteers,
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will make the first spaceflight.
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Two months before the astronauts
were chosen they were still considering
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using racing car drivers,
mountain climbers, scuba divers,
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infantry men, anybody who had faced
stress and dangerous situations
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successfully would be allowed
to apply for astronaut
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because there wasn't any flying
to be done.
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Finally, Eisenhower decided,
"Well, hell, we've got 500 test pilots
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"in the military. We can call them
to Washington tomorrow."
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So let's get them from this
group of people we can totally control
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and get on with it.
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So they bring in these test pilots.
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KRAMER: From all of the active duty pilots
in the Navy, Marines, and Air Force,
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the service records of 473 test pilots
were selected for review.
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110 met the basic qualifications.
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The Right Stuff is both
a code of behavior and a mystical belief.
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As test pilots, you have to be willing
to go up and hang your mortal hide out
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over the edge and then have the experience
and the moxie and the talent
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to pull it back in,
and then go up the next day
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and the next day and the next day
and the next day, even,
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uh, the series is infinite.
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(CRASH AND EXPLOSION)
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NASA OFFICIAL:
Phase two of the selection program
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was a very thorough physical examination.
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And the men continued on
to the third phase.
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This phase involved exposure
to the acceleration, lowered pressure,
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noise, and other stresses expected
in space flight.
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WRIGHT: At a Washington news conference,
officials introduced seven carefully
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chosen military test pilots
as America's first spacemen.
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REPORTER:
How are the kids' appetites tonight?
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Probably pretty good.
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REPORTER: Better than usual
or worse than usual?
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Well, probably a little bit, uh, they'll,
uh, be too excited.
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Maybe they won't eat
as much as they usually do.
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REPORTER: Well, this is supposed
to have been a very tightly kept secret.
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How... how did you begin
to suspect something?
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Well, listening to the news.
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MCCORMICK: Well, all seven of the men
are officers and test pilots.
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Three Air Force, three Navy,
and one Marine. All are volunteers.
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Doctor T. Keith Glennan,
National Aeronautical
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and Space administrator introduced
them this afternoon at a news conference.
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Which of these men will be first
to orbit the Earth, I cannot tell you.
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He won't know himself
until the day of the flight.
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It's my pleasure to introduce... to you,
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and I consider it a very real honor,
gentlemen...
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from your right, Malcolm S. Carpenter,
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Leroy G. Cooper, John H. Glenn,
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Virgil I. Grissom,
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Walter M. Schirra,
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Alan B. Shepard, Donald K. Slayton.
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These, ladies, and gentlemen,
are the nation's Mercury astronauts.
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(APPLAUSE)
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The question everybody wants to ask,
"What do the wives and children
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"of these men think of their ambitions
to go into space?"
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My wife's attitude toward this
has been the same as it has been
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all along through all my flying,
that, uh...
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if it's what I want to do
and she's behind it
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and the kids are, too, a 100 percent.
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Well, my wife feels the same way or,
of course, I couldn't be here.
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And she's, uh, with me all the way
and the boys are too little to, uh,
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realize what's going on yet,
but I'm sure they'd feel the same way.
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My wife has agreed that professional
opinions are mine, career's mine,
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but we also have to have a family life
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that we like and this is part
of the agreement.
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I have no problems at home.
My family's in complete agreement.
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(ALL LAUGH)
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John Glenn was actually
unique among the seven
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in terms of his personality.
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I'm John Glenn,
I'm the lonesome Marine on this outfit
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and I'm, uh, 37. I, jokingly, uh,
of course, said that, uh,
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I got on this project
because it'd probably be the nearest
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to heaven I'd ever get, and I wanted
to make the most of it.
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-(ALL LAUGH)
-But, uh...
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my feelings are that this whole project
with regard to... to space sort of stands
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with us now as... as if you wanna look
at it one way,
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like the Wright brothers stood
at Kitty Hawk about 50 years ago.
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WOLFE: At the very first press conference
John Glenn proved
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to be the most articulate of the seven.
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My wife made a remark the other day,
I've been out of this world
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for a long time I might as well
go on out there.
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(ALL LAUGH)
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GLENNAN: Next question, please.
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WOLFE: He had a kind of countrified
sophistication, if you will,
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and he had a great freckle-faced smile
and was just great at handling
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what we now call the media.
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GLENNAN: The question is, "Would the, uh,
gentlemen, uh, like to, uh...
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"say which, which test, uh,
they liked least?"
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(ALL LAUGH)
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Johnny Glenn, uh, you... you answer
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and then we'll start this way
and around that way.
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That's a real tough one
because we had some pretty good tests,
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00:15:06.739 --> 00:15:10.701
but I... I think, uh, it's rather
difficult to pick one, because if the...
229
00:15:10.868 --> 00:15:13.287
if you figure how many openings
there are on the human body
230
00:15:13.371 --> 00:15:15.415
and how far you can go in any one of them.
231
00:15:15.498 --> 00:15:18.459
(ALL LAUGH)
232
00:15:18.626 --> 00:15:22.296
-SCHIRRA: You gave it away.
-(LAUGHTER CONTINUES)
233
00:15:22.713 --> 00:15:26.342
Now... Now ,you answer which one would
be the toughest for you.
234
00:15:26.467 --> 00:15:29.345
(ALL LAUGH)
235
00:15:32.849 --> 00:15:35.518
WOLFE: So, after this one man, Glenn,
who's so articulate starts
236
00:15:35.601 --> 00:15:38.479
saying all these things about God,
country, family, all the rest,
237
00:15:38.604 --> 00:15:41.899
immediately there's the picture
of seven astronauts
238
00:15:41.983 --> 00:15:46.112
as these sort of God-fearing,
small town family men.
239
00:15:47.238 --> 00:15:48.656
And the rest of them were stuck with it.
240
00:15:48.739 --> 00:15:51.033
They either had a choice
of raising their hands and saying,
241
00:15:51.117 --> 00:15:52.994
"Now wait a minute, I...
I don't really go on with that,
242
00:15:53.077 --> 00:15:54.912
"I don't think you have
to be all that faithful to your wife
243
00:15:54.996 --> 00:15:56.456
"and your children and the church,"
244
00:15:56.539 --> 00:16:00.251
or else doing the wise thing
and saying, "Me, too."
245
00:16:01.043 --> 00:16:03.212
I'm not real active in the church as, uh,
246
00:16:03.296 --> 00:16:06.716
Mr. Glenn is, but, uh, I consider myself
a good Christian still.
247
00:16:07.633 --> 00:16:11.262
REPORTER: Mrs. Grissom,
did you have any indication that
248
00:16:11.512 --> 00:16:15.266
-anything was going on before today?
-I had a pretty good idea.
249
00:16:16.517 --> 00:16:19.479
REPORTER: Have you had time to decide
how you feel about it?
250
00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:23.316
Well, I don't know yet.
251
00:16:34.160 --> 00:16:35.536
REPORTER: Have the kids
in the neighborhood
252
00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:36.913
been asking you about this?
253
00:16:38.289 --> 00:16:41.709
No, not yet, but my teacher called
a little while ago and...
254
00:16:42.668 --> 00:16:44.879
and she said congratulations.
255
00:16:45.922 --> 00:16:48.549
REPORTER: Do you think this is gonna
make you a big man around town?
256
00:16:48.633 --> 00:16:50.301
SCOTT: Mm-hmm. (LAUGHS)
257
00:16:51.219 --> 00:16:54.597
REPORTER: How does the wife
of a spaceman feel about the possibility
258
00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:55.765
of so great an adventure?
259
00:16:56.307 --> 00:16:59.727
Well, we're not oblivious
to the dangers involved,
260
00:17:00.102 --> 00:17:04.774
but, uh, I would like to go along with him
if I could and so would the boys.
261
00:17:10.446 --> 00:17:13.032
WRIGHT: After rigorous training,
one of these men will ride
262
00:17:13.199 --> 00:17:17.620
a Project Mercury space capsule
around the Earth in a 125-mile high orbit
263
00:17:18.120 --> 00:17:20.998
before retro rockets slow the capsule
for a descent into the Atlantic.
264
00:17:24.293 --> 00:17:25.962
(FAN WHIRRING)
265
00:17:27.046 --> 00:17:30.258
Although the astronauts,
all test pilots, feel that space flight
266
00:17:30.341 --> 00:17:33.219
is no more than the next step
along a familiar path,
267
00:17:33.302 --> 00:17:35.721
most of us still think of it
as being unreal.
268
00:17:35.805 --> 00:17:36.806
(CAMERA CLICKS)
269
00:17:36.931 --> 00:17:40.977
But, in fact, it is reality catching up
with unreality.
270
00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:45.314
Cocoa Beach, Florida is home base
for those who fly rockets
271
00:17:45.439 --> 00:17:47.024
from adjoining Cape Canaveral.
272
00:17:47.358 --> 00:17:50.570
Ten years ago, only 246 people lived here,
273
00:17:50.695 --> 00:17:53.965
but now the glittering neon signs bear
testimony to the boom.
274
00:17:54.782 --> 00:17:57.910
Population has increased 1,312 percent.
275
00:17:59.078 --> 00:18:01.789
Everything here is space oriented.
276
00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:06.210
(MUSIC STARTS PLAYING)
277
00:18:09.547 --> 00:18:13.718
Here at Cape Canaveral
The astronauts are all ready
278
00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:19.473
They will pave the way
Into space for the USA
279
00:18:21.976 --> 00:18:25.730
They are guys with wives
Whose lives are just ordinary
280
00:18:28.316 --> 00:18:31.819
But will pave the way
As we say with JFK
281
00:18:34.614 --> 00:18:37.074
There's John Glenn, Grissom
And Shepard, too
282
00:18:37.617 --> 00:18:40.620
Astronauts who really have come through
283
00:18:40.911 --> 00:18:46.250
Slayton, Schirra, and Cooper passed
Carpenter's bongos are a blast off
284
00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:50.963
Let's all drink a toast to the men
The most in missiles
285
00:18:53.215 --> 00:18:59.388
And cheers to the man who's going out
In space, out in space
286
00:18:59.555 --> 00:19:03.476
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four
Three, two, one
287
00:19:03.701 --> 00:19:08.748
Going out in space
288
00:19:21.994 --> 00:19:24.622
WHITE: We've tried to develop
what we call dynamic testing.
289
00:19:24.789 --> 00:19:25.873
MCGEE: What does that mean?
290
00:19:26.248 --> 00:19:28.584
WHITE: Well, in dynamic testing,
what we do is that we try
291
00:19:28.709 --> 00:19:33.339
to give the man a challenge,
which is applicable to the kind
292
00:19:33.422 --> 00:19:35.091
of stress loads that he would get
in flight.
293
00:19:35.216 --> 00:19:37.093
MCGEE: Get him as close as you can
to actually doing it?
294
00:19:37.176 --> 00:19:38.302
WHITE: That is correct.
295
00:19:39.762 --> 00:19:42.890
The whole idea of the training
was not to enable the astronaut
296
00:19:42.973 --> 00:19:45.518
to control and handle the machine
as other flight training.
297
00:19:46.894 --> 00:19:49.271
It was really to desensitize the astronaut
298
00:19:49.397 --> 00:19:51.732
to the terrors of what
he was gonna undertake.
299
00:20:01.450 --> 00:20:04.912
And there was a principle in psychology
that if you expose a man
300
00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:08.958
to a terrible type of event
in gradual stages,
301
00:20:10.209 --> 00:20:11.752
he can overcome the terror.
302
00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:15.756
We've had to think in terms
of certain stress loads.
303
00:20:15.840 --> 00:20:18.509
We know that the man, for example,
is going to be exposed
304
00:20:18.592 --> 00:20:22.513
to certain accelerations,
certain heat loads, certain vibrations,
305
00:20:22.596 --> 00:20:27.727
noise, certain psychic trauma, that, uh,
are just a part of doing these kind
306
00:20:27.810 --> 00:20:28.853
of new adventures.
307
00:20:29.937 --> 00:20:32.773
CAPCOM: ASGAR, this is Recovery 5.
308
00:20:32.982 --> 00:20:35.693
MCGEE: What you're hearing
is a simulation of the communications
309
00:20:35.776 --> 00:20:38.154
between the space capsule
and ground control.
310
00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:39.947
ASTRONAUT: Standing by
for impact and pickup.
311
00:20:40.030 --> 00:20:41.657
Does Recovery have me? Over.
312
00:20:42.658 --> 00:20:45.411
MCGEE: A less frightening exercise,
depending on how you look at it,
313
00:20:45.536 --> 00:20:47.621
is the underwater escape training.
314
00:20:54.754 --> 00:20:58.507
In their training, actually undergoing
these tests, which one do you feel
315
00:20:58.591 --> 00:21:00.634
puts them under the greatest strain?
316
00:21:01.218 --> 00:21:07.141
WHITE: I think the centrifuge program
is probably the best single stress load.
317
00:21:07.266 --> 00:21:11.729
This has come closest to being able
to superimpose all the flight stresses
318
00:21:11.812 --> 00:21:14.106
in one spot, simultaneously.
319
00:21:16.108 --> 00:21:18.527
(RAPID WHIRRING)
320
00:21:19.528 --> 00:21:22.072
GRISSOM: The centrifuge is like
a merry-go-round with one seat,
321
00:21:22.531 --> 00:21:25.284
one seat out on a long arm that swings
you around and around,
322
00:21:25.367 --> 00:21:27.828
faster and faster until they get
the G-level that they want.
323
00:21:29.663 --> 00:21:33.709
And we've gone as high as 18 Gs,
which means 18 times the pull of gravity.
324
00:21:37.379 --> 00:21:39.673
(RAPID WHIRRING INCREASES)
325
00:21:49.767 --> 00:21:55.064
(CHEERFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
326
00:21:56.065 --> 00:21:58.859
(CAMERA CLICKS)
327
00:21:59.735 --> 00:22:01.570
-Scene one, take one.
-(BOARD CLICKS)
328
00:22:04.907 --> 00:22:08.410
I am John Glenn, one of our astronauts
who is preparing
329
00:22:08.494 --> 00:22:11.080
for our first manned ballistic flights
into space.
330
00:22:12.373 --> 00:22:15.960
Naturally, all of us take a very deep
personal interest, needless to say,
331
00:22:16.043 --> 00:22:20.130
in the Mercury capsule here that one of us
will ride one of these days into space.
332
00:22:31.642 --> 00:22:34.895
WOLFE: LIFE Magazine decided
to buy the rights
333
00:22:35.020 --> 00:22:37.231
to the personal stories of the astronauts.
334
00:22:39.525 --> 00:22:41.610
And they paid what at the time
was a colossal sum,
335
00:22:41.694 --> 00:22:44.071
five hundred thousand dollars
for three years to the seven men.
336
00:22:44.196 --> 00:22:48.200
It came out to about 25 thousand dollars
per family per year for three years,
337
00:22:48.325 --> 00:22:50.244
and for families that were,
had been used to making
338
00:22:50.327 --> 00:22:52.162
eight or nine thousand
it was a lot of money.
339
00:22:53.998 --> 00:22:56.500
We knew there would be
a lot of press attention,
340
00:22:57.293 --> 00:23:02.298
but none of us realized that, uh,
we were going to lose anonymity.
341
00:23:02.756 --> 00:23:07.177
Time Life painted us as boy scouts
and we were all American heroes,
342
00:23:07.887 --> 00:23:09.430
and that was fine.
343
00:23:12.474 --> 00:23:14.101
NARRATOR: Here's Astronaut John Glenn.
344
00:23:14.476 --> 00:23:17.938
Hello, fellas, I'd like to talk to you
for a moment about adventure.
345
00:23:18.606 --> 00:23:20.149
Did you ever climb a mountain?
346
00:23:20.649 --> 00:23:21.859
Or land a trout?
347
00:23:22.526 --> 00:23:24.904
That's the kind of adventure
you have in the Boy Scouts.
348
00:23:25.154 --> 00:23:28.532
If you're looking for adventure, boys
349
00:23:28.616 --> 00:23:31.952
Come join the Scouts today
350
00:23:33.621 --> 00:23:36.415
MCGEE: Alan Shepard has a lively sense
of the ludicrous,
351
00:23:36.540 --> 00:23:38.417
which he keeps fairly well under control.
352
00:23:38.876 --> 00:23:41.128
But he would prefer to skirt
serious subjects.
353
00:23:41.462 --> 00:23:44.173
And in a group, is likely to make
the witty remark that
354
00:23:44.256 --> 00:23:47.384
turns conversation into a lighter vein.
355
00:23:47.718 --> 00:23:51.180
And if the technicians connected
with the training of the astronauts
356
00:23:51.305 --> 00:23:55.309
can be said to have a favorite, well,
their favorite appears to be Shepard.
357
00:23:58.812 --> 00:23:59.813
Okay.
358
00:23:59.897 --> 00:24:03.484
MCGEE: Each astronaut has several
meticulously fitted flight uniforms,
359
00:24:03.651 --> 00:24:06.987
which they prefer to have called
"pressure," not spacesuits.
360
00:24:08.113 --> 00:24:11.325
Shepard says it contributes more
to the astronauts' peace of mind
361
00:24:11.408 --> 00:24:14.370
to say they've been inflated
instead of blown up.
362
00:24:19.333 --> 00:24:22.169
Now when you fellas get together
among yourselves, what do you talk about?
363
00:24:22.336 --> 00:24:25.464
Well, we have... have very little
time off actually.
364
00:24:25.881 --> 00:24:29.677
Our attentions are focused pretty much
on the objectives of spaceflight.
365
00:24:30.302 --> 00:24:35.265
We do take a few moments
for such things as waterskiing
366
00:24:35.349 --> 00:24:37.434
-and... and playing golf.
-MCGEE: You like waterskiing?
367
00:24:37.518 --> 00:24:39.979
-Yes, I do.
-MCGEE: What about that, uh, Corvette,
368
00:24:40.062 --> 00:24:42.189
that white Corvette I've seen you drive,
you like that?
369
00:24:42.314 --> 00:24:43.816
Well, I do enjoy driving that, yeah.
370
00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:45.526
MCGEE: What... what do you
like most about it?
371
00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:48.946
SHEPARD: Well, it has a few little goodies
underneath the hood that
372
00:24:49.071 --> 00:24:51.532
-make it go faster than the ordinary car.
-MCGEE: Yeah.
373
00:24:54.326 --> 00:24:56.578
WOLFE: When I started looking
into the stories of the astronauts,
374
00:24:56.662 --> 00:24:59.373
they came from out of the world
of what they themselves
375
00:24:59.456 --> 00:25:00.916
-called the fighter jocks.
-BROKAW: Yeah.
376
00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:03.711
WOLFE: And the fighter jocks are
at the top
377
00:25:03.919 --> 00:25:06.380
-of the pyramid of flying in the military.
-BROKAW: Yeah.
378
00:25:06.463 --> 00:25:09.341
WOLFE: And these are people
who not only fly hard, they play hard,
379
00:25:09.550 --> 00:25:12.094
and also, they're justifiably away
from home a lot.
380
00:25:12.177 --> 00:25:13.887
-BROKAW: Mm-hmm.
-They're attractive to women,
381
00:25:13.971 --> 00:25:15.848
and this began to play a part
in their lives
382
00:25:15.931 --> 00:25:17.349
like the lives of every other
fighter jocks.
383
00:25:17.433 --> 00:25:20.060
Well, at one point the astronauts, I mean,
there were so many women around them
384
00:25:20.144 --> 00:25:22.980
at all times that John Glenn felt
compelled to say something
385
00:25:23.063 --> 00:25:25.274
to 'em about it. I mean,
this thing has gotten to be too public,
386
00:25:25.357 --> 00:25:27.192
is what he said at a meeting in San Diego.
387
00:25:39.580 --> 00:25:42.916
WOLFE: There was bound to arise conflict
between someone like, uh,
388
00:25:43.042 --> 00:25:45.377
Glenn on the one hand, and say
Alan Shepard on the other.
389
00:25:47.171 --> 00:25:48.881
So finally, there was a little showdown.
390
00:25:49.256 --> 00:25:52.885
It was out at the Kona Kai Hotel
on Shelter Island in San Diego.
391
00:25:55.929 --> 00:25:58.724
Now Glenn, I must say,
does not mind being a maverick.
392
00:25:59.391 --> 00:26:02.352
He thought that this playing around
with the cookies was getting out of hand.
393
00:26:03.520 --> 00:26:06.231
Cookies, as groupies were called
in those days,
394
00:26:07.191 --> 00:26:10.944
Glenn thought the time had come to deliver
a little lecture on the subject,
395
00:26:11.070 --> 00:26:15.157
so he started saying how he wasn't gonna
stand by and let other members
396
00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:18.368
of the group ruin the chance of a lifetime
by creating some scandal
397
00:26:18.452 --> 00:26:20.037
through playing around with these girls.
398
00:26:21.622 --> 00:26:25.125
The others could not believe that
one pilot, a peer among peers,
399
00:26:25.209 --> 00:26:27.461
was standing up
and giving this moral lecture.
400
00:26:27.586 --> 00:26:30.672
So, Alan Shepard, who was a very
different man from John Glenn,
401
00:26:30.756 --> 00:26:33.842
stood up and in his stern
and sort of icy commander,
402
00:26:34.093 --> 00:26:37.387
Naval Academy fashion, says,
"Listen, you're not gonna stand up
403
00:26:37.471 --> 00:26:40.057
"and tell me or anybody else
your view of morality."
404
00:26:43.769 --> 00:26:49.900
That scene was one of the things that
set off a real conflict between two camps.
405
00:26:50.442 --> 00:26:53.612
One camp was really John Glenn
and Scott Carpenter on one side,
406
00:26:53.695 --> 00:26:55.906
and the others basically agreed
with Shepard.
407
00:26:56.782 --> 00:27:00.452
He was saying, it is not for you,
as one of our peers,
408
00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:02.329
to tell us how we're going to act.
409
00:27:03.247 --> 00:27:05.165
And this became the rival position.
410
00:27:21.890 --> 00:27:25.644
REPORTER: From President to taxi driver,
every American is worried
411
00:27:25.853 --> 00:27:29.398
about Russia's lead in this race
to put man into space.
412
00:27:30.816 --> 00:27:34.111
We should do everything
possible to make any sacrifice
413
00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:36.280
to help our country get up there, too.
414
00:27:45.080 --> 00:27:47.583
REPORTER: The MR-2 craft will carry
a chimpanzee,
415
00:27:48.125 --> 00:27:51.962
specially trained for the mission
at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.
416
00:27:52.546 --> 00:27:55.132
The chimpanzees were kidnapped
in West Africa
417
00:27:55.257 --> 00:27:58.260
and they were trained to ride
in the Mercury capsule.
418
00:27:58.760 --> 00:28:01.013
And the training was really quite complex
419
00:28:01.221 --> 00:28:03.182
and started as soon as
astronaut training began.
420
00:28:03.891 --> 00:28:06.602
They even did some reading of a console,
the instrument panel.
421
00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:10.355
They were given symbols,
such as two circles and one triangle
422
00:28:10.439 --> 00:28:11.982
and they had to hit the triangle,
423
00:28:12.399 --> 00:28:15.402
the odd symbol,
in order not to get a shock.
424
00:28:17.154 --> 00:28:20.991
NARRATOR: The next decision,
which chimpanzee to send on the flight.
425
00:28:22.075 --> 00:28:24.870
Each of the candidates gets
a complete medical checkup.
426
00:28:25.537 --> 00:28:31.168
And the honor goes to an astrochimp
who was nicknamed, "Ham."
427
00:28:37.716 --> 00:28:39.801
This is Mercury-Redstone 2,
428
00:28:41.595 --> 00:28:46.767
MR-2, and Ham is on his way.
429
00:28:53.482 --> 00:28:58.070
Concern mounts, Ham's heartbeat
and respiration climb fast.
430
00:28:59.112 --> 00:29:01.657
The flight surgeon's eyes are glued
to his console,
431
00:29:02.449 --> 00:29:03.951
monitoring Ham's condition.
432
00:29:07.246 --> 00:29:09.373
(BEEPING)
433
00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:11.291
REPORTER:
The Flight Surgeon watches the monitors,
434
00:29:11.625 --> 00:29:13.460
and now Ham is doing better.
435
00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:18.465
MR-2 is up over the top
and reentry begins.
436
00:29:24.221 --> 00:29:26.473
The spacecraft is spotted from the air.
437
00:29:41.655 --> 00:29:42.739
Ham is fine.
438
00:29:46.118 --> 00:29:52.165
MR-2 was a significant milestone
on the highway to man's flight into space.
439
00:29:53.166 --> 00:29:57.796
And the evidence is a live,
space experienced, chimpanzee.
440
00:30:14.479 --> 00:30:17.357
The Soviets never would identify
the leader of their space program.
441
00:30:17.441 --> 00:30:18.942
They always called him,
"The Chief Designer."
442
00:30:19.026 --> 00:30:21.945
And Khrushchev would always say that
they couldn't possibly identify him
443
00:30:22.029 --> 00:30:25.574
because the enemy agents
would seek him out and kill him.
444
00:30:26.033 --> 00:30:29.036
And the real reason was
the man, his name was Sergei Korolev,
445
00:30:29.661 --> 00:30:32.039
he had been a political prisoner
for ten years.
446
00:30:32.122 --> 00:30:33.790
He was an ex-con in the Soviet Union.
447
00:30:34.124 --> 00:30:37.294
They couldn't admit an ex-con
was running their space program.
448
00:30:37.669 --> 00:30:40.297
It was presumed that the Soviets...
449
00:30:41.048 --> 00:30:43.008
had somehow come up
with a whole generation
450
00:30:43.300 --> 00:30:47.304
of super scientists who could
churn out these incredible space vehicles.
451
00:30:47.387 --> 00:30:50.682
In fact, there was this one man,
this one genius named Korolev
452
00:30:50.766 --> 00:30:52.225
who had always been considered a nut.
453
00:31:12.954 --> 00:31:16.833
COLLINGWOOD: Twenty-five thousand miles,
17,000 miles an hour,
454
00:31:17.376 --> 00:31:19.795
nobody else has ever done
anything like it.
455
00:31:20.379 --> 00:31:21.588
This vehicle,
456
00:31:21.755 --> 00:31:25.300
a machine that until today was only a term
in the vocabulary of fiction,
457
00:31:25.717 --> 00:31:26.802
it was a spaceship.
458
00:31:28.178 --> 00:31:31.807
The spaceship was built in Russia,
the takeoff and the landing
459
00:31:32.015 --> 00:31:33.183
somewhere in Russia.
460
00:31:33.892 --> 00:31:38.855
The name of the man...
Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin.
461
00:31:39.773 --> 00:31:42.275
(PATRIOTIC MUSIC PLAYS)
462
00:31:42.401 --> 00:31:44.986
The first hero of the space age receiving
463
00:31:45.070 --> 00:31:46.780
a hero's welcome today.
464
00:31:47.531 --> 00:31:52.536
Yuri Gagarin, the first man ever to circle
the Earth in orbit, reports to his chief,
465
00:31:53.036 --> 00:31:57.124
Nikita S. Khrushchev,
Prime Minister of the Soviet Union.
466
00:31:57.499 --> 00:32:01.837
And in a day of wild jubilation,
he was embraced by the Soviet people
467
00:32:02.087 --> 00:32:07.592
as a new pioneer, a Columbus,
a Linden, Lenin in a spacesuit.
468
00:32:15.350 --> 00:32:18.854
RENICK: Here at Cape Canaveral,
the announcement of the Russian success
469
00:32:18.979 --> 00:32:23.650
has made no visible impact
on this space-oriented community.
470
00:32:24.484 --> 00:32:28.155
The people who live here,
the ones who watch missile firings
471
00:32:28.238 --> 00:32:33.535
as a pastime, still have a local pride
in NASA's Project Mercury.
472
00:32:34.494 --> 00:32:37.414
They are anxiously awaiting
the American firing
473
00:32:37.581 --> 00:32:39.833
of an astronaut into space.
474
00:32:41.042 --> 00:32:44.921
A shot that is anticipated
in the next two or three weeks.
475
00:32:48.300 --> 00:32:51.553
MCGEE: At Cape Canaveral, the countdown,
which could take days,
476
00:32:51.678 --> 00:32:53.346
began early this morning.
477
00:32:53.889 --> 00:32:56.933
And there are rumors that Shepard
has been selected for the flight
478
00:32:57.017 --> 00:32:59.686
with Glenn as standby and vice versa.
479
00:32:59.769 --> 00:33:03.648
The Project Mercury officials have made
no announcement on either the timing
480
00:33:03.732 --> 00:33:05.984
of the launch or the astronaut chosen.
481
00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:08.778
But the launching fever
is gripping the cape
482
00:33:08.862 --> 00:33:10.864
and will soon spread across the country.
483
00:33:11.740 --> 00:33:15.368
The anticipation will however be dulled
by the sobering fact that
484
00:33:15.452 --> 00:33:18.246
even if this experiment
is a spectacular success,
485
00:33:18.872 --> 00:33:22.250
it will still leave the United States
second to Russia.
486
00:33:22.918 --> 00:33:27.339
And if it's a catastrophic failure,
there will be deep gloom compounded
487
00:33:27.422 --> 00:33:30.300
by the tragic loss perhaps of human life.
488
00:33:33.553 --> 00:33:36.848
-(ENGINE REVVING)
-(BEEPING)
489
00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:42.729
ANCHOR: We have interrupted
this program for a special broadcast
490
00:33:42.812 --> 00:33:43.980
from Cape Canaveral.
491
00:33:44.606 --> 00:33:45.982
We switch now to the Cape.
492
00:33:46.608 --> 00:33:48.985
MCGEE: The actual rocket that
will be fired in this launching
493
00:33:49.069 --> 00:33:51.530
and the capsule that will ride atop it
have been selected
494
00:33:51.613 --> 00:33:53.615
and made ready at Cape Canaveral.
495
00:33:54.157 --> 00:33:57.035
The name of the astronaut chosen
is not to be made known
496
00:33:57.118 --> 00:33:59.204
until moments before the launch.
497
00:34:07.879 --> 00:34:10.340
REPORTER: The pilot selected
for the first manned flight attempt
498
00:34:10.590 --> 00:34:12.759
was Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
499
00:34:15.554 --> 00:34:19.140
RENICK: Hundreds of persons traveled
to Cocoa Beach to see with their own eyes
500
00:34:19.391 --> 00:34:23.728
at long distance, the streak of flame
as the Redstone heads skyward.
501
00:34:24.688 --> 00:34:29.109
People stayed at beach vantage points
through the night sleeping in automobiles,
502
00:34:29.317 --> 00:34:30.777
tucked into sleeping bags.
503
00:34:31.111 --> 00:34:35.240
In the distance, about two miles away,
huge searchlights were trained
504
00:34:35.323 --> 00:34:37.242
on the Redstone gantry tower.
505
00:34:38.577 --> 00:34:43.081
Shepard left the Mercury astronaut hangar
in the specially equipped
506
00:34:43.456 --> 00:34:49.045
transportation van, and then he journeyed
to the launching pad area, got out,
507
00:34:49.129 --> 00:34:52.799
took a look at the missile,
and proceeded up the elevator
508
00:34:52.966 --> 00:34:57.262
to assume his position inside
the space, uh, capsule.
509
00:34:59.264 --> 00:35:01.766
ABERNATHY: He will not go into orbit,
as Yuri Gagarin did,
510
00:35:02.183 --> 00:35:06.396
but he will ride his capsule
or spacecraft 116 miles up.
511
00:35:06.896 --> 00:35:09.441
And there he'll hang weightless
for about five minutes
512
00:35:09.524 --> 00:35:13.194
until gravity pulls him back
through the atmosphere to the sea
513
00:35:13.292 --> 00:35:15.196
nearly three hundred miles down range.
514
00:35:18.325 --> 00:35:21.745
The whole flight will take just 16 minutes
but even though brief,
515
00:35:21.870 --> 00:35:26.041
it will help tell us whether man
can be useful in nearby space.
516
00:35:30.337 --> 00:35:34.591
The tall gantry tower moved back
on its tracks nearly three hours ago,
517
00:35:34.758 --> 00:35:39.262
leaving the white Redstone standing alone
like a monument of the space age.
518
00:35:41.181 --> 00:35:44.225
Alan Shepard, encased in his
cumbersome pressure suit,
519
00:35:44.309 --> 00:35:47.604
has remained in the capsule on his back
on his contour couch,
520
00:35:47.979 --> 00:35:50.565
busy with his laboratory
of complex instruments,
521
00:35:50.774 --> 00:35:53.902
going through the motions he's often
gone through in practice sessions,
522
00:35:54.110 --> 00:35:55.779
talking to the control center.
523
00:35:56.112 --> 00:35:58.823
ENGINEER: Firing command, 30, mark.
524
00:35:59.157 --> 00:36:01.493
SHEPARD: Roger, Periscope has retracted.
525
00:36:01.868 --> 00:36:03.703
ENGINEER: That is the best periscope
we've got.
526
00:36:04.287 --> 00:36:06.122
SHEPARD: Main bus 24 volts.
527
00:36:06.289 --> 00:36:08.375
TROUT: He has been busy
but he would not be human
528
00:36:08.458 --> 00:36:09.751
if he did not feel the strain.
529
00:36:09.876 --> 00:36:11.294
ENGINEER: Program. Roger.
530
00:36:11.878 --> 00:36:15.215
C.O. Control fuel.
Roger, fire one. Awesome panel.
531
00:36:15.340 --> 00:36:18.343
SHEPARD: Automatic fuel is 95.
Regular is 96.
532
00:36:18.426 --> 00:36:19.928
Cameras and tape recorders are running.
533
00:36:20.095 --> 00:36:22.806
VON FREMD: Sixty-two newsmen
from 12 foreign countries are present.
534
00:36:23.056 --> 00:36:26.476
Some pace about, some sit ramrod straight
staring at the launching pad
535
00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:27.602
where the Redstone sits.
536
00:36:27.686 --> 00:36:30.980
A squawk box just announced T-minus
six minutes and counting.
537
00:36:33.483 --> 00:36:36.236
WOLFE:
I sensed that in Alan Shepard's... flight,
538
00:36:37.362 --> 00:36:40.198
that as it got down close to zero,
539
00:36:40.323 --> 00:36:45.245
that the engineers were so worked up
for fear, each one for fear that
540
00:36:45.328 --> 00:36:47.372
it would be his system that
would cause a catastrophe.
541
00:36:49.207 --> 00:36:51.292
Finally, Shepard heard one of them...
542
00:36:51.793 --> 00:36:53.712
talking about an overheating piece
of equipment.
543
00:36:53.878 --> 00:36:56.297
ENGINEER: Somebody along, somebody,
a mechanic on the second?
544
00:36:56.506 --> 00:36:59.050
WOLFE: The one engineer was saying
to the other, "You know, I think we better
545
00:36:59.134 --> 00:37:02.345
"take that thing out and look at it before
we proceed."
546
00:37:02.429 --> 00:37:06.808
And Shepard knew that taking
that thing out was not a 15-minute job,
547
00:37:06.891 --> 00:37:07.976
it was a two-day job.
548
00:37:08.518 --> 00:37:11.646
ENGINEER: Down at 170.
No, they should standby.
549
00:37:12.230 --> 00:37:14.649
WOLFE: And at this point,
he got on the radio, and he says,
550
00:37:14.733 --> 00:37:16.943
"Look... I'm cooler than you are."
551
00:37:17.694 --> 00:37:19.779
WOLFE: "Why don't you fix
your little problem
552
00:37:19.863 --> 00:37:20.989
"and light this candle?"
553
00:37:21.197 --> 00:37:24.659
DC power will be applied to the capsule.
DC power will be applied to the capsule.
554
00:37:24.743 --> 00:37:26.494
WOLFE: And that seemed to pull 'em
all together and said,
555
00:37:26.578 --> 00:37:30.290
"Okay, if he's willing to take the risk,
then by God we should be willing, too."
556
00:37:30.874 --> 00:37:32.834
ENGINEER: T-minus 15 seconds.
557
00:37:33.793 --> 00:37:39.466
T-minus ten, nine, eight, seven,
six, five, four,
558
00:37:40.049 --> 00:37:43.470
-three, two, one, zero.
-(BLASTS)
559
00:37:43.928 --> 00:37:46.097
Lift off. Ignition.
560
00:37:46.222 --> 00:37:48.558
SHEPARD:
Roger, lift off and the clock has started.
561
00:37:49.392 --> 00:37:54.022
REPORTER: The Redstone is rising
from its launching pad, slowly at first,
562
00:37:55.315 --> 00:37:57.525
going straight up into the sky.
563
00:37:58.735 --> 00:38:00.612
SHEPARD:
Yes, sir, reading you loud and clear.
564
00:38:01.905 --> 00:38:04.824
RENICK: The sound is now reaching
our vantage point here.
565
00:38:05.909 --> 00:38:07.494
So far, so good.
566
00:38:08.536 --> 00:38:10.872
The news people are applauding.
567
00:38:12.332 --> 00:38:14.167
Tremendous cheers going off.
568
00:38:14.542 --> 00:38:18.379
Alan B. Shepard in the nose cone
of that rocket.
569
00:38:20.715 --> 00:38:26.846
SHEPARD: This is Freedom 7.
The fuel is go, 1.2 G, cabin at 14 psi.
570
00:38:26.971 --> 00:38:28.431
Oxygen is go.
571
00:38:28.681 --> 00:38:30.809
REPORTER: Seventy-eight thousand
pounds of thrust.
572
00:38:31.392 --> 00:38:33.269
They're pushing the missile up
into the sky.
573
00:38:33.436 --> 00:38:34.896
ENGINEER: The trajectory is A-okay.
574
00:38:35.772 --> 00:38:39.567
REPORTER: The speed is picking up
to 4,500 miles an hour...
575
00:38:42.237 --> 00:38:45.949
to carry spaceman Shepard
115 miles above the earth.
576
00:38:46.282 --> 00:38:49.285
LAUNCH STAFF: Freedom 7 is still go.
The trajectory is A-okay.
577
00:38:50.203 --> 00:38:55.500
Freedom 7 with astronaut Alan B. Shepard
reports the fuel system is go, 4 G.
578
00:38:56.167 --> 00:38:58.378
SHEPARD: Cabin holding at 5.5.
579
00:38:58.795 --> 00:39:03.508
LAUNCH STAFF: Cabin 5.5 pounds per square
inch. Oxygen go, all systems go.
580
00:39:03.925 --> 00:39:07.637
HACKES: Medical monitor okay.
Apparently, the flight is going just
581
00:39:07.720 --> 00:39:10.515
as well as planned,
perhaps even a little better.
582
00:39:10.640 --> 00:39:13.935
None of the emergencies for which
we had planned for so long
583
00:39:14.018 --> 00:39:17.397
has, uh, yet taken place, and, of course,
we hope none of them will.
584
00:39:18.523 --> 00:39:21.568
SHEPARD: On the periscope,
what a beautiful view.
585
00:39:23.236 --> 00:39:27.365
HACKES: At this point, the pilot
is about six minutes and 30 seconds
586
00:39:27.448 --> 00:39:30.326
after his launch, 6:30 after launch.
587
00:39:30.577 --> 00:39:34.581
In just a moment or two, he will confirm
that he is at the apogee of his flight,
588
00:39:34.664 --> 00:39:37.375
that is the most distant point
from the Earth,
589
00:39:37.458 --> 00:39:40.879
which we expect will be 115 to 117 miles.
590
00:39:42.463 --> 00:39:43.840
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
591
00:39:44.090 --> 00:39:48.011
REPORTER: Far out at sea an armada
of ships stand by to pick the capsule
592
00:39:48.344 --> 00:39:50.597
out of the sea after it parachutes in.
593
00:39:51.431 --> 00:39:54.517
SHEPARD: Okay, reentry attitude
retros are jettisoned.
594
00:39:55.685 --> 00:39:57.687
MUELLER:
The capsule is dropping radar chaff
595
00:39:57.812 --> 00:39:59.355
for the search planes and the ship.
596
00:40:02.150 --> 00:40:06.070
SHEPARD: Uh... G-buildup, three...
597
00:40:06.946 --> 00:40:09.490
six... nine.
598
00:40:12.410 --> 00:40:16.205
Main chute is green, main chute is coming
un-reefed and looks good.
599
00:40:16.331 --> 00:40:18.833
HACKES: This, of course, will be
the first, uh, word we get.
600
00:40:18.917 --> 00:40:22.503
We hope within a matter of seconds
that the capsule has been spotted.
601
00:40:29.761 --> 00:40:31.971
DOWNS:
It just hit the water a moment ago.
602
00:40:32.847 --> 00:40:36.100
A cheer went up from the ship company
watching here from all decks
603
00:40:36.184 --> 00:40:37.518
on the aircraft carrier.
604
00:40:38.144 --> 00:40:42.148
The astronaut, Alan Shepard,
has just climbed out of the capsule.
605
00:40:42.815 --> 00:40:46.319
And they are now trying
to get him up into the helicopter.
606
00:40:53.576 --> 00:40:56.704
No one, especially newsmen,
will be allowed to ask him any questions
607
00:40:56.788 --> 00:40:59.248
until he has been debriefed by doctors.
608
00:41:05.296 --> 00:41:08.967
WOLFE: Glenn and the others now watched
from the sidelines as Al Shepard
609
00:41:09.092 --> 00:41:10.677
was hoisted out of their midst.
610
00:41:11.094 --> 00:41:13.763
REPORTER: Here come the astronauts,
and there's Shepard!
611
00:41:14.013 --> 00:41:18.101
WOLFE: And installed as a national hero
on the order of a Lindbergh.
612
00:41:20.353 --> 00:41:24.983
As the first United States Astronaut,
was an outstanding contribution
613
00:41:25.650 --> 00:41:29.028
to the advancement of human knowledge
of space technology.
614
00:41:29.153 --> 00:41:32.532
And I speak on behalf of,
uh, the Vice President, who is Chairman
615
00:41:32.615 --> 00:41:35.827
of our Space Council,
the members of the House and Senate,
616
00:41:36.202 --> 00:41:38.454
space committee who are with us today.
617
00:41:39.664 --> 00:41:40.748
And, uh...
618
00:41:41.207 --> 00:41:43.751
this decoration which has gone
from the ground up, here.
619
00:41:43.835 --> 00:41:48.464
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
620
00:41:57.890 --> 00:42:02.353
Well, all of a sudden during the period
of the middle of the weightlessness,
621
00:42:03.187 --> 00:42:05.523
I realized that somebody was
gonna ask me that question.
622
00:42:06.024 --> 00:42:08.359
(ALL LAUGH)
623
00:42:10.570 --> 00:42:11.446
So...
624
00:42:11.821 --> 00:42:15.033
(APPLAUSE)
625
00:42:15.575 --> 00:42:17.869
So, I said to myself
you'd better figure out an answer.
626
00:42:20.580 --> 00:42:25.585
Seriously, as we have said before, uh,
during the short periods of weightlessness
627
00:42:25.668 --> 00:42:28.171
that we've experienced during
our training period,
628
00:42:28.838 --> 00:42:30.590
it's quite a pleasant sensation.
629
00:42:37.680 --> 00:42:39.724
KENNEDY:
Finally, if we are to win the battle
630
00:42:39.974 --> 00:42:41.893
that is now going on around the world...
631
00:42:42.852 --> 00:42:47.774
between freedom and tyranny,
the dramatic achievements in space,
632
00:42:47.857 --> 00:42:51.694
which occurred in recent weeks,
should have made clear to us all,
633
00:42:52.612 --> 00:42:54.989
as did the Sputnik in 1957,
634
00:42:55.990 --> 00:43:01.079
impact of this adventure on the minds
of men everywhere
635
00:43:02.038 --> 00:43:06.459
who are attempting to make a determination
of which road they should take.
636
00:43:07.502 --> 00:43:11.798
I believe that this nation should commit
itself to achieving the goal
637
00:43:12.673 --> 00:43:16.219
before this decade is out
of landing a man on the Moon
638
00:43:16.302 --> 00:43:20.556
-and returning him safely to the Earth.
-(APPLAUSE)
639
00:43:20.973 --> 00:43:24.811
SHEARER: The president put it like this,
"It will not be one man going to the Moon,
640
00:43:24.894 --> 00:43:28.731
"it will be the entire nation,
for all of us must work to put him there."
641
00:43:41.327 --> 00:43:45.915
(EPIC MUSIC PLAYING)
642
00:43:46.499 --> 00:43:49.544
MCGEE: This training device was created
especially for the astronauts.
643
00:43:50.169 --> 00:43:53.673
By releasing jets of air, they learn
to control their movements
644
00:43:53.756 --> 00:43:57.260
in any one of three directions,
or any combination of the three.
645
00:44:08.980 --> 00:44:12.733
As they perform these exercises,
a film strip of the world's geography
646
00:44:12.817 --> 00:44:16.320
is projected on a screen to help
them learn, by instant sighting,
647
00:44:16.445 --> 00:44:18.739
where they may be
along their projected path.
648
00:44:22.160 --> 00:44:23.995
Virgil Grissom is the astronaut.
649
00:44:24.787 --> 00:44:27.456
Do you have any difficulty convincing
yourself that you might actually
650
00:44:27.540 --> 00:44:29.292
see the world go by like that someday?
651
00:44:29.750 --> 00:44:32.503
I really don't sit in the trainer
and think about myself
652
00:44:32.628 --> 00:44:34.088
being 100 miles above the Earth.
653
00:44:35.506 --> 00:44:38.634
I'm occupied with the control task
and this is the thing that
654
00:44:38.718 --> 00:44:40.678
really occupies my mind, not daydreaming.
655
00:44:44.182 --> 00:44:46.517
BERGMAN: And here we are back
at ABC News headquarters
656
00:44:46.601 --> 00:44:47.894
on Cape Canaveral.
657
00:44:48.019 --> 00:44:51.606
Scarcely three minutes away
from America's second manned space shot
658
00:44:51.856 --> 00:44:54.734
with captain Gus Grissom sitting
in the Mercury space capsule
659
00:44:54.817 --> 00:44:57.612
atop that 83-foot high Redstone rocket.
660
00:44:58.321 --> 00:45:01.115
And as of now, everything looks like
it's in a go condition.
661
00:45:05.494 --> 00:45:07.205
SHEPARD: Periscope has retracted.
662
00:45:09.540 --> 00:45:11.667
T-minus 15 seconds.
663
00:45:13.628 --> 00:45:17.506
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six,
664
00:45:18.257 --> 00:45:22.803
five, four, three, two, one.
665
00:45:23.304 --> 00:45:25.598
Ignition. Lift off.
666
00:45:25.765 --> 00:45:27.433
(LAUNCHES)
667
00:45:43.991 --> 00:45:46.744
MALE VOICE: All systems are go,
and Gus Grissom sounds
668
00:45:46.827 --> 00:45:49.413
like a very confident test pilot today.
669
00:45:50.289 --> 00:45:52.166
-SHEPARD: Loud and clear.
-LAUNCH STAFF: Roger.
670
00:45:53.125 --> 00:45:56.254
GRISSOM: Okay, the fuel is go,
about one and a quarter Gs.
671
00:45:56.337 --> 00:45:59.423
Cabin pressure is just coming off the peg.
The oxygen is go.
672
00:46:02.802 --> 00:46:04.428
POWERS: Six seventeen into the flight.
673
00:46:05.846 --> 00:46:08.516
The capsule is coming around
into orbit attitude.
674
00:46:10.559 --> 00:46:14.272
He has brought his spacecraft around
into reentry attitude
675
00:46:14.355 --> 00:46:17.566
that is with the big bell shape
beginning to point down.
676
00:46:43.509 --> 00:46:46.345
REPORTER: Flight Surgeon reports
that Gus Grissom came through
677
00:46:46.429 --> 00:46:49.682
the high G forces of reentry
in A-okay condition.
678
00:47:05.573 --> 00:47:08.117
REPORTER: Now, we're advised that
as a result of communications
679
00:47:08.200 --> 00:47:12.246
with Gus Grissom floating in the water,
he's told his recovery helicopters that
680
00:47:12.830 --> 00:47:16.292
he intends to finish his checklist
and make sure that everything is secure
681
00:47:16.375 --> 00:47:18.878
in the cockpit before he opens
the hatch to come out.
682
00:47:22.048 --> 00:47:24.759
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
683
00:47:30.473 --> 00:47:33.559
MALE VOICE: The astronaut, Virgil Grissom,
is out of the capsule,
684
00:47:33.642 --> 00:47:34.935
swimming in the water.
685
00:47:41.817 --> 00:47:44.904
The capsule itself is apparently sinking
lower into the water...
686
00:47:47.406 --> 00:47:51.202
and there is fear that it might sink
completely below the surface of the water.
687
00:47:51.494 --> 00:47:54.455
Two helicopters are hovering
very close to the astronaut
688
00:47:54.538 --> 00:47:55.790
and the capsule out there.
689
00:48:00.795 --> 00:48:03.339
The helicopter is holding
up the capsule itself.
690
00:48:03.631 --> 00:48:06.342
They're checking on Grissom again,
but the helicopter has a cable
691
00:48:06.425 --> 00:48:09.387
aboard the capsule and is holding it up
at the present time.
692
00:48:11.013 --> 00:48:14.058
The helicopter is hovering over
and holding the capsule up.
693
00:48:14.767 --> 00:48:18.562
The capsule was sinking badly in the water
and that's the reason that Virgil Grissom
694
00:48:18.646 --> 00:48:20.231
got out of the capsule.
695
00:48:22.191 --> 00:48:24.360
One helicopter is hovering very close
to the capsule
696
00:48:24.485 --> 00:48:26.070
and now they're moving in beside it.
697
00:48:26.278 --> 00:48:29.573
They'll have to hold the capsule up
and get a cable down to Grissom as well.
698
00:48:31.951 --> 00:48:33.119
(LOUD SPLASH)
699
00:48:33.577 --> 00:48:35.454
MALE VOICE: The capsule has dropped.
700
00:48:35.788 --> 00:48:38.165
The capsule has been dropped
by the helicopter.
701
00:48:38.499 --> 00:48:40.209
And it's dropped back into the water.
702
00:48:40.292 --> 00:48:42.628
Now, whether they can get it
again before it sinks or not,
703
00:48:42.962 --> 00:48:45.297
that is going to be a major problem
at this time.
704
00:48:53.347 --> 00:48:55.266
WOLFE: By this time, Grissom
was nearly drowning.
705
00:48:55.349 --> 00:48:57.518
He had forgotten to close one
of the inlet valves
706
00:48:57.601 --> 00:48:59.145
for the oxygen supply in his suit.
707
00:49:00.521 --> 00:49:02.523
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
708
00:49:04.442 --> 00:49:07.778
REPORTER: They're making an attempt
to get a cable to Virgil Grissom.
709
00:49:10.990 --> 00:49:14.577
And it looks like Grissom is coming up
now, it looks like Grissom is coming up
710
00:49:14.702 --> 00:49:18.747
out of the water. And there's, you can,
you can see him now.
711
00:49:18.956 --> 00:49:22.376
He's about four miles from us,
and he's being pulled up.
712
00:49:29.383 --> 00:49:33.220
And Grissom is safe and sound
in the helicopter after his dunking
713
00:49:33.304 --> 00:49:35.556
when the capsule itself started to sink.
714
00:49:41.395 --> 00:49:44.648
MCGEE: To recap briefly,
we have had a second successful launching
715
00:49:44.732 --> 00:49:47.943
of an American astronaut. Obviously
not as successful as the first one
716
00:49:48.027 --> 00:49:51.155
because the capsule itself
was lost in the recovery operation,
717
00:49:51.238 --> 00:49:54.492
but successful in its most important
and critical area.
718
00:49:54.700 --> 00:49:58.746
The astronaut himself, Air Force
Captain Virgil Grissom, was recovered.
719
00:50:00.456 --> 00:50:02.958
WOLFE: The capsule had been equipped
for the first time with a hatch
720
00:50:03.042 --> 00:50:04.502
that could be opened from the inside.
721
00:50:07.171 --> 00:50:11.175
Now, the controversy was over whether
or not he had panicked and decided,
722
00:50:11.258 --> 00:50:13.135
"I've gotta get out of this thing,"
and hit the button,
723
00:50:13.219 --> 00:50:15.721
causing this catastrophe.
Or whether he had blundered,
724
00:50:16.055 --> 00:50:18.224
and had inadvertently somehow
hit the thing,
725
00:50:18.557 --> 00:50:21.060
either of which would be a cardinal sin.
726
00:50:22.144 --> 00:50:23.938
REPORTER: The President has called
727
00:50:24.063 --> 00:50:27.274
to the astronaut
Captain Virgil Gus Grissom.
728
00:50:52.091 --> 00:50:54.051
WOLFE:
Grissom had John F. Kennedy to thank.
729
00:51:00.766 --> 00:51:05.229
He was not about to let the second flight
of his new administration
730
00:51:05.729 --> 00:51:07.356
be classified as a debacle.
731
00:51:08.524 --> 00:51:10.401
By, it's kind of universal agreement,
it was said,
732
00:51:10.484 --> 00:51:12.778
"Well, Gus's flight was really a success.
733
00:51:16.282 --> 00:51:18.325
"He just had a little trouble
at the very end."
734
00:51:24.081 --> 00:51:26.500
GRISSOM:
I started my, uh, pitch and yaw movement
735
00:51:26.584 --> 00:51:31.255
to check out the manual control system,
and, uh, I was so fascinated by this view
736
00:51:31.338 --> 00:51:33.757
out the window that I had difficulty
controlling on...
737
00:51:34.049 --> 00:51:35.718
difficulty concentrating
on the instruments.
738
00:51:35.801 --> 00:51:37.344
I kept wanting to peek out
the window.
739
00:51:38.679 --> 00:51:39.680
You over here.
740
00:51:40.306 --> 00:51:44.226
REPORTER: What happened to
the inflatable, uh, life raft, Gus?
741
00:51:44.310 --> 00:51:47.313
Did you have to get out too fast for that,
or what's the procedure?
742
00:51:47.396 --> 00:51:51.191
GRISSOM: Uh... I took off my helmet,
unstrapped myself,
743
00:51:51.609 --> 00:51:55.738
I called, uh, helicopters, told them
I was ready to come out.
744
00:51:56.030 --> 00:51:58.991
So I was all set, waiting for them,
laid back down on the couch.
745
00:51:59.491 --> 00:52:02.036
I was just laying there,
minding my own business when, "Pow,"
746
00:52:02.745 --> 00:52:05.247
the hatch went, I looked up,
and I saw nothing but blue sky,
747
00:52:05.331 --> 00:52:06.999
and water starting to come in
over the sill.
748
00:52:07.082 --> 00:52:09.710
Uh, without a doubt that
was the biggest shock of the day to me,
749
00:52:09.793 --> 00:52:10.919
to see that door go off.
750
00:52:11.170 --> 00:52:12.880
-Back, over here.
-REPORTER: Do you have an impression
751
00:52:12.963 --> 00:52:15.132
of how much time elapsed
between the time the hatch blew
752
00:52:15.215 --> 00:52:17.509
-and the capsule would fill?
-REPORTER: Somebody said to you,
753
00:52:17.635 --> 00:52:20.137
"Get out of the blank,
blank capsule quick."
754
00:52:20.429 --> 00:52:22.640
-Was this part of your conversation?
-REPORTER: In addition to the hatch,
755
00:52:22.723 --> 00:52:24.391
what are the other things you...
756
00:52:24.475 --> 00:52:26.310
REPORTER: Captain, do you have
any explanation
757
00:52:26.393 --> 00:52:28.187
of why that escape hatch came off?
758
00:52:28.270 --> 00:52:31.982
Is it possible you could have grazed
against the plunger button?
759
00:52:32.775 --> 00:52:35.194
Well, I'm, uh, pretty certain
in my own mind that I didn't
760
00:52:35.277 --> 00:52:37.279
because it's quite difficult
to get to it.
761
00:52:37.905 --> 00:52:42.368
(APPLAUSE)
762
00:52:42.951 --> 00:52:46.705
REPORTER: NBC News has presented
a news conference by Mercury astronaut
763
00:52:46.830 --> 00:52:51.502
Virgil I. Grissom, who, yesterday,
became America's second man into space.
764
00:53:08.394 --> 00:53:10.688
REPORTER:
Two pilot teams have been selected
765
00:53:10.783 --> 00:53:14.458
for Project Mercury's initial manned
orbital spaceflight.
766
00:53:15.609 --> 00:53:19.530
John H. Glenn Jr. has been selected
for the first flight
767
00:53:20.114 --> 00:53:22.491
with Scott Carpenter acting as backup.
768
00:53:27.663 --> 00:53:30.249
GLENN: We've done a great amount
of training, as you're well aware.
769
00:53:30.666 --> 00:53:34.920
A lot of it has been new and varied,
and as we have gone through a lot of this,
770
00:53:35.045 --> 00:53:38.006
I have tried to share a lot of this
with the family when I come home
771
00:53:38.090 --> 00:53:39.591
from various activities.
772
00:53:39.758 --> 00:53:42.761
In fact, that's usually the first thing
we do when I get home from a trip.
773
00:53:42.845 --> 00:53:45.723
We all, uh, get caught up,
not only on my activities,
774
00:53:45.806 --> 00:53:48.559
but on what Annie and the children
have been doing, too.
775
00:53:50.102 --> 00:53:53.021
I'm sure you've given some thought
to the possibility that this flight
776
00:53:53.105 --> 00:53:55.357
may not turn out well,
and that you may not come back.
777
00:53:56.191 --> 00:53:57.943
If that should happen,
what kind of a memory
778
00:53:58.026 --> 00:53:59.903
would you want your boy to have about you?
779
00:54:08.036 --> 00:54:10.581
Well, that's an interesting question,
to say the least. (CHUCKLES)
780
00:54:10.664 --> 00:54:11.623
MCGEE: It is.
781
00:54:12.666 --> 00:54:14.126
GLENN: We all have certain talents.
782
00:54:14.334 --> 00:54:17.671
It's up to us to use those talents that
we have to the maximum.
783
00:54:17.921 --> 00:54:22.551
And if I can leave that sort of a heritage
that I used the talents I had to the best
784
00:54:22.801 --> 00:54:26.889
of my ability while I was here, I think
that's the best memory anyone could leave.
785
00:54:29.516 --> 00:54:31.351
REPORTER: Around town,
the tension is building,
786
00:54:31.435 --> 00:54:33.395
perhaps more than we've
ever seen it here.
787
00:54:35.898 --> 00:54:39.526
RENICK: The big question here surrounding
tomorrow's scheduled launch
788
00:54:39.610 --> 00:54:42.029
of astronaut John Glenn
into a triple orbit around
789
00:54:42.112 --> 00:54:43.655
the Earth is weather.
790
00:54:44.031 --> 00:54:47.159
Weather here at the launch site
and downrange in the Atlantic
791
00:54:47.284 --> 00:54:52.269
where Navy recovery vessels are scheduled
to meet Glenn as he comes out of orbit.
792
00:54:59.379 --> 00:55:03.050
WOLFE: John Glenn was about to
make his flight,
793
00:55:03.133 --> 00:55:05.385
in which he would be the first American
to go into orbit.
794
00:55:08.138 --> 00:55:11.225
The flight was to take place in February,
and there was about four or five flights
795
00:55:11.308 --> 00:55:13.310
that were delayed by the weather.
796
00:55:18.232 --> 00:55:21.610
Glenn had been up on top of the rocket
for five and a half hours,
797
00:55:22.194 --> 00:55:23.737
waiting for the weather to clear.
798
00:55:25.823 --> 00:55:29.493
Finally, it wouldn't clear,
and the flight was scrubbed.
799
00:55:31.453 --> 00:55:32.996
REPORTER:
I have an announcement for you.
800
00:55:33.288 --> 00:55:34.998
An attempt to launch a man
801
00:55:35.082 --> 00:55:38.252
to orbital Project Mercury spacecraft
here today...
802
00:55:38.794 --> 00:55:43.048
was postponed due to a heavy overcast
in the launch area.
803
00:55:44.132 --> 00:55:47.052
WOLFE: And at this point, Lyndon Johnson,
who was Vice President,
804
00:55:47.135 --> 00:55:50.681
and had been made a kind of functionary
in-charge of the space program
805
00:55:50.806 --> 00:55:52.391
to give a Vice President something to do,
806
00:55:52.599 --> 00:55:55.352
was suffering an extreme case
of media deprivation.
807
00:55:55.435 --> 00:55:58.689
And he was determined to get
inside of the Glenn household,
808
00:55:58.772 --> 00:56:00.983
and console Annie Glenn...
809
00:56:01.567 --> 00:56:04.444
on nationwide television for the ordeal
that she had had to go through
810
00:56:04.528 --> 00:56:07.531
while waiting to see if her husband
was going to be exploded into space,
811
00:56:07.614 --> 00:56:08.866
or up to the harp form.
812
00:56:09.491 --> 00:56:11.827
REPORTER: The reaction here
at the Glenn household, of course,
813
00:56:11.910 --> 00:56:15.289
is one of disappointment.
Mrs. Glenn, uh, was anxious for the shot
814
00:56:15.372 --> 00:56:17.875
to go this morning,
as, uh, were all of us.
815
00:56:18.292 --> 00:56:21.336
She is looking forward to the next
launching date, yet to be announced.
816
00:56:21.420 --> 00:56:24.006
As you can see, a large crowd
of reporters, neighbors,
817
00:56:24.089 --> 00:56:26.425
and casual spectators are gathered here.
818
00:56:27.467 --> 00:56:30.554
WOLFE: Now, Annie Glenn was
terrified of this visit.
819
00:56:31.096 --> 00:56:33.390
Fact was, as practically no one
in the country knew,
820
00:56:33.515 --> 00:56:35.058
she had a ferocious stutter.
821
00:56:37.978 --> 00:56:40.606
So, she kept sending out word that,
"No. Thank you very much.
822
00:56:40.689 --> 00:56:42.482
"I really don't want to
see the Vice President.
823
00:56:42.566 --> 00:56:44.026
"It's a very private moment for me."
824
00:56:44.484 --> 00:56:45.986
She just wouldn't let him in the door.
825
00:56:46.361 --> 00:56:49.281
And by now, he was in a limousine
about six blocks away,
826
00:56:49.364 --> 00:56:52.200
waiting to be admitted to the presence
of the space-wife.
827
00:56:53.619 --> 00:56:56.204
First thing Glenn knows,
he's back in the ready room,
828
00:56:56.288 --> 00:56:59.166
taking off his pressure suit,
and in comes a delegation...
829
00:56:59.458 --> 00:57:01.919
of brass from NASA,
marching into the place, saying,
830
00:57:02.044 --> 00:57:03.420
"John, we need your cooperation,
831
00:57:03.503 --> 00:57:05.255
"we're having a little problem
with your wife."
832
00:57:05.339 --> 00:57:06.924
He says, "You're having a problem
with my wife?"
833
00:57:07.341 --> 00:57:10.093
And they said, "Well, yeah, she won't let
the Vice President into the house.
834
00:57:10.177 --> 00:57:13.096
"And you tell her, she's going to let
the Vice President of the United States
835
00:57:13.180 --> 00:57:16.600
"into that house to console her."
So Glenn gets on the telephone,
836
00:57:16.683 --> 00:57:20.062
and he says, "Look, if you don't want the
Vice President to come in,
837
00:57:20.145 --> 00:57:23.273
"if you don't want the President
to come in, they're not coming in!"
838
00:57:24.816 --> 00:57:30.113
Well, Glenn, with that gesture,
stood a good chance of losing his flight
839
00:57:31.114 --> 00:57:33.367
because James Webb, who was
the new administrator of NASA
840
00:57:33.450 --> 00:57:35.369
at that time, he wanted to replace him
right away.
841
00:57:36.078 --> 00:57:37.829
You know, he said,
"He's not a team player."
842
00:57:38.747 --> 00:57:41.875
It was only the fact that some
of Webb's subordinates immediately said,
843
00:57:41.959 --> 00:57:44.086
"Look, the astronauts have
their differences.
844
00:57:44.169 --> 00:57:45.379
"They have a lot of rivalries.
845
00:57:45.462 --> 00:57:47.631
"But on something like this,
they're going to close ranks
846
00:57:48.173 --> 00:57:51.093
"as any pilots would in a squadron,
and they're going to rebel.
847
00:57:54.471 --> 00:57:56.723
"And you simply will not be able
to carry it through."
848
00:58:10.237 --> 00:58:12.823
KAPLOW:
And here is pilot Glenn stepping out now.
849
00:58:14.950 --> 00:58:17.577
Switching the portable air cooler
850
00:58:17.661 --> 00:58:19.913
from his left to his right hand,
then back to his left.
851
00:58:19.997 --> 00:58:23.500
And he moves his way around the front
of the truck on Launchpad 14.
852
00:58:29.423 --> 00:58:32.009
And now stepping into the elevator,
followed by Dr. Douglas,
853
00:58:32.092 --> 00:58:35.804
by suit technician Schmitt,
by astronaut Deke Slayton.
854
00:58:39.349 --> 00:58:43.020
BERGMAN: Colonel John Glenn
was awakened at 2:20 a.m. Eastern Time
855
00:58:43.145 --> 00:58:45.689
this morning to begin preparing
for this mission.
856
00:58:48.233 --> 00:58:51.945
The second attempt at getting
the free world's first man hurled
857
00:58:52.029 --> 00:58:54.406
into a three-orbit mission
around this world.
858
00:59:11.173 --> 00:59:13.550
I don't know any words
for this except the trite ones,
859
00:59:13.675 --> 00:59:15.969
tension is mounting here
at Cape Canaveral.
860
00:59:16.511 --> 00:59:20.390
We've heard that phrase so many times
before, but I don't know any circumstance
861
00:59:20.474 --> 00:59:22.309
to which is applies quite like this.
862
00:59:22.517 --> 00:59:24.102
FLIGHT DIRECTOR:
Status check, pressurization?
863
00:59:24.186 --> 00:59:27.189
MALE VOICE: Go. LOX tanking? I have a
blinking, high-level light?
864
00:59:27.314 --> 00:59:30.150
-MALE VOICE 1: You are Go!
-MALE VOICE 2: Umbilical retract now?
865
00:59:30.275 --> 00:59:32.527
-FLIGHT DIRECTOR: Range operations?
-LAUNCH STAFF: Go, clear to launch.
866
00:59:32.611 --> 00:59:34.112
-FLIGHT DIRECTOR: Mercury capsule?
-LAUNCH STAFF: Go!
867
00:59:34.196 --> 00:59:38.200
Fifteen seconds. Good Lord
riding all the way. Godspeed, John Glenn.
868
00:59:38.366 --> 00:59:41.119
REPORTER: Moving past 30 seconds
into the countdown.
869
00:59:41.203 --> 00:59:42.788
LAUNCH STAFF: Ten seconds and counting.
870
00:59:43.371 --> 00:59:46.458
-REPORTER: T-minus ten seconds.
-LAUNCH STAFF: Ten, nine, eight, seven,
871
00:59:46.625 --> 00:59:50.212
six, five, four, three
872
00:59:50.796 --> 00:59:54.716
two, one, zero, ignition.
873
00:59:55.842 --> 00:59:59.096
Liftoff. Liftoff!
874
01:00:01.348 --> 01:00:03.850
(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYING)
875
01:00:06.019 --> 01:00:08.230
REPORTER: The Atlas missile has
lifted off from the pad,
876
01:00:09.022 --> 01:00:11.274
and is rising steady into the sky.
877
01:00:20.909 --> 01:00:23.286
(ROCKET ENGINE ROARING)
878
01:00:36.049 --> 01:00:42.722
REPORTER: As John Glenn Jr. has begun
his first orbital ride around the Earth.
879
01:00:54.109 --> 01:00:56.319
The time of the lift off was 9:47.
880
01:00:56.611 --> 01:00:59.614
As the spacecraft moved out
of sight from Florida,
881
01:00:59.698 --> 01:01:01.950
it was picked up by the
Bermuda tracking station.
882
01:01:02.826 --> 01:01:05.871
John Glenn's voice was coming in
loud and clear.
883
01:01:06.788 --> 01:01:09.332
GLENN: So, the sun is coming up
behind me in the periscope,
884
01:01:09.624 --> 01:01:11.877
a brilliant, brilliant red. Over.
885
01:01:13.253 --> 01:01:14.754
-MALE VOICE: Roger.
-(RADIO STATIC)
886
01:01:22.304 --> 01:01:24.514
TOWNSEND: Exactly one hour
and three minutes ago,
887
01:01:24.639 --> 01:01:26.892
John Glenn left Cape Canaveral.
888
01:01:27.267 --> 01:01:31.605
Traveling at 17,545 miles an hour
at an altitude varying
889
01:01:31.771 --> 01:01:35.233
from 100 to 160 miles above the Earth.
890
01:01:38.778 --> 01:01:40.530
REPORTER:
Did you ever show up for work today?
891
01:01:40.614 --> 01:01:43.909
FEMALE VOICE: Yes, I did. We got
permission from our company to watch it.
892
01:01:43.992 --> 01:01:45.327
REPORTER: Good for them. I don't...
893
01:01:45.410 --> 01:01:47.704
imagine they figure they'd get
much work out of you anyway.
894
01:01:47.787 --> 01:01:50.081
Not today. They said this is more
important than work.
895
01:01:52.042 --> 01:01:55.378
GLENN: Uh, this is Friendship 7,
I'll try to describe what I'm in here.
896
01:01:55.754 --> 01:01:59.758
Uh, I am in a... a big mass
of some very small particles,
897
01:02:00.217 --> 01:02:03.094
uh, that are brilliantly lit up,
like they're luminescent.
898
01:02:03.178 --> 01:02:05.347
I never saw anything like it.
They're around a little...
899
01:02:05.931 --> 01:02:07.599
they're coming by the capsule...
900
01:02:08.767 --> 01:02:12.729
uh, and they look like little stars,
a whole shower of them coming by.
901
01:02:14.648 --> 01:02:17.192
WOLFE: They were undoubtedly particles
of some sort,
902
01:02:17.484 --> 01:02:20.278
particles that caught the sunlight
at a certain angle.
903
01:02:21.071 --> 01:02:22.197
They were beautiful.
904
01:02:23.949 --> 01:02:25.909
There are literally thousands of them.
905
01:02:26.910 --> 01:02:28.620
WOLFE: But were they coming
from the capsule?
906
01:02:28.995 --> 01:02:30.205
That could mean trouble.
907
01:02:37.254 --> 01:02:40.465
WOLFE: They swirled around his capsule
like tiny weightless diamonds,
908
01:02:40.674 --> 01:02:44.010
little bijoux, no?
They were more like fireflies.
909
01:02:45.387 --> 01:02:47.597
GLENN: Uh, now that I am out
in the bright sun,
910
01:02:47.973 --> 01:02:49.891
uh, they seem to have disappeared.
911
01:02:59.526 --> 01:03:01.111
LAUNCH STAFF:
Flight from data reduction.
912
01:03:01.736 --> 01:03:02.737
Go ahead.
913
01:03:18.169 --> 01:03:19.212
(ALARM BLINKING)
914
01:03:19.421 --> 01:03:22.590
LAUNCH STAFF: Uh, Friendship 7, uh, we
have been reading, uh,
915
01:03:22.674 --> 01:03:26.720
indication on the ground on segment 51,
which is landing bag deploy.
916
01:03:27.053 --> 01:03:29.889
Uh, we suspect this is
an erroneous signal.
917
01:03:34.602 --> 01:03:37.230
WOLFE: If the landing bag had deployed,
and there was no way
918
01:03:37.314 --> 01:03:38.982
he could look out and see it,
919
01:03:39.274 --> 01:03:43.153
not even with the periscope
because it would be directly behind him,
920
01:03:43.361 --> 01:03:46.781
if it had deployed,
then the heat shield must be loose,
921
01:03:47.115 --> 01:03:49.159
and might come off during reentry.
922
01:03:50.493 --> 01:03:55.915
If the heat shield came off, he would
burn up inside the capsule like a steak.
923
01:03:58.585 --> 01:04:02.380
REPORTER: When the, uh, craft does begin
to encounter denser atmosphere
924
01:04:02.464 --> 01:04:07.135
that temperature we were talking about
will mount up to about 3,000 degrees.
925
01:04:07.385 --> 01:04:11.306
That will occur at approximately
25 miles altitude.
926
01:04:12.140 --> 01:04:17.062
And at that point, the spacecraft will be
moving at about 15,000 miles an hour.
927
01:04:17.479 --> 01:04:20.648
The craft will sustain temperature
of that amount for about two minutes,
928
01:04:21.107 --> 01:04:25.445
and the problem will be to have
it absorbed by the heat shield,
929
01:04:25.528 --> 01:04:30.200
which is made of a very special sort of
plastic material that will burn off.
930
01:04:33.912 --> 01:04:36.414
LAUNCH STAFF: Can you give him
that message please, Linus?
931
01:04:36.623 --> 01:04:37.832
Roger, we can do.
932
01:04:39.459 --> 01:04:41.211
SHEPARD: Uh, Seven, this is Cape. Over?
933
01:04:41.920 --> 01:04:45.215
We're not sure whether
or not your landing bag has deployed.
934
01:04:45.590 --> 01:04:50.345
Uh, we feel it's far safer to re-enter
with the retro package on.
935
01:04:50.762 --> 01:04:55.141
Uh, we see no difficulty at this time
in that type of reentry. Over.
936
01:04:55.475 --> 01:04:58.103
Uh, this is Friendship 7.
Now, what is the reason for this?
937
01:04:58.186 --> 01:04:59.646
Do you have any reason? Over.
938
01:05:05.360 --> 01:05:08.071
DAVIS: There had been some trouble
with the heat shield equipment
939
01:05:08.571 --> 01:05:12.158
over Hawaii, and they have taken
a precautionary measure
940
01:05:12.242 --> 01:05:15.787
to keep the heat shield equipment
on with the retro package for a while,
941
01:05:16.246 --> 01:05:19.457
to make sure that the warning
they got was a false warning.
942
01:05:19.833 --> 01:05:23.920
And so, the heat shield retro packet
was kept on the space capsule,
943
01:05:24.254 --> 01:05:26.005
and, uh, precautions were taken.
944
01:05:26.631 --> 01:05:30.176
Uh, this is Friendship 7, uh, going
to reentry attitude then in that case.
945
01:05:31.511 --> 01:05:33.346
REPORTER: The retro packet
and the retrorockets
946
01:05:33.471 --> 01:05:35.181
we talk about are really brakes.
947
01:05:35.598 --> 01:05:40.520
John Glenn's capsule was in space
with the large blunt end, facing forward,
948
01:05:40.603 --> 01:05:43.773
and the retrorockets are
on that blunt end.
949
01:05:44.232 --> 01:05:47.861
And what they are, is they throw
some thrust out forward,
950
01:05:48.069 --> 01:05:51.072
slowing the capsule down,
and that reduces its speed
951
01:05:51.156 --> 01:05:55.243
below orbital velocity, and the capsule
starts to reenter the atmosphere.
952
01:05:55.994 --> 01:05:57.704
All right, roger,
retracting scope manually.
953
01:05:59.330 --> 01:06:03.042
REPORTER: He is in good condition,
and preparing to fire those retrorockets
954
01:06:03.168 --> 01:06:06.254
to begin that long landing flight
towards the Atlantic.
955
01:06:07.505 --> 01:06:12.927
CAPCOM: Five, four, three, two, one, fire.
956
01:06:14.012 --> 01:06:17.724
GLENN: Roger, retros are firing.
Are they ever.
957
01:06:18.141 --> 01:06:19.976
It feels like I'm going back
toward Hawaii.
958
01:06:29.611 --> 01:06:31.112
CAPCOM: Uh, Seven, this is Cape. Over.
959
01:06:32.405 --> 01:06:35.658
-Go ahead, Cape, you're going out.
-(RADIO STATIC)
960
01:06:35.867 --> 01:06:37.994
CAPCOM: Uh, we recommend that you...
961
01:06:47.587 --> 01:06:50.632
LAUNCH STAFF: Friendship 7 spacecraft
is now encountering the atmosphere
962
01:06:51.257 --> 01:06:53.384
off the east coast of Florida.
963
01:06:53.635 --> 01:06:55.470
TOWNSEND: He's over
the east coast of Florida,
964
01:06:55.720 --> 01:06:59.224
and, uh, at the moment,
there is no contact with John Glenn.
965
01:07:01.059 --> 01:07:04.312
GLENN: (INAUDIBLE) I have a
white sand... correction...
966
01:07:04.437 --> 01:07:06.356
CAPCOM: Uh, Seven, this is Cape,
do you read? Over.
967
01:07:13.071 --> 01:07:16.574
POWERS: The Mercury spacecraft
is in its reentry process at this time.
968
01:07:17.116 --> 01:07:19.452
CAPCOM: Uh, Seven, this is Cape,
do you read? Over.
969
01:07:20.620 --> 01:07:23.706
POWERS: We are not receiving any
voice communication at this time.
970
01:07:24.040 --> 01:07:28.378
And we're waiting for the electric moment
when we hear that the main chute
971
01:07:28.461 --> 01:07:31.839
has deployed, and is bringing him
safely back to Earth.
972
01:07:32.257 --> 01:07:34.133
CAPCOM: Friendship 7,
this is Cape, do you read?
973
01:07:38.388 --> 01:07:41.224
(INDISTINCT CLAMOR)
974
01:07:43.601 --> 01:07:49.023
(INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
975
01:07:51.526 --> 01:07:54.028
GLENN: This is Friendship 7.
A real fireball outside.
976
01:08:13.339 --> 01:08:17.927
DOWNS: We have not yet seen any sign
of the drogue parachute,
977
01:08:18.011 --> 01:08:21.306
which would appear, it opens up
at about 40,000 feet.
978
01:08:23.683 --> 01:08:24.767
(AIR WHOOSHES LOUDLY)
979
01:08:25.018 --> 01:08:28.146
GLENN: The chute is on green,
chute is out in reef condition
980
01:08:28.229 --> 01:08:31.816
at 10,800 feet and beautiful chute.
981
01:08:32.942 --> 01:08:34.193
Chute looks good.
982
01:08:35.862 --> 01:08:39.115
LAUNCH STAFF: The Destroyer has the
capsule parachute in sight.
983
01:08:39.490 --> 01:08:41.117
-They are talking.
-MALE VOICE: Roger.
984
01:08:41.576 --> 01:08:44.120
TOWNSEND: He should be splashing down
in about 20 seconds from now,
985
01:08:44.203 --> 01:08:45.538
if our advance estimate is correct.
986
01:08:48.750 --> 01:08:50.752
This is Friendship 7,
standing by for impact.
987
01:08:56.633 --> 01:09:00.303
TOWNSEND: Right now,
the Destroyer Noa is coming
988
01:09:00.386 --> 01:09:02.138
right alongside the capsule.
989
01:09:02.388 --> 01:09:06.476
So, within a matter of a very few
minutes, we ought to be getting word
990
01:09:06.726 --> 01:09:10.063
on the pickup of John Glenn
from the Friendship 7.
991
01:09:12.440 --> 01:09:15.276
We have another report now
from Colonel Powers. Here he is.
992
01:09:15.360 --> 01:09:17.445
POWERS: The spacecraft was picked
up clear of the water
993
01:09:17.528 --> 01:09:19.364
at one minute after 3:00,
994
01:09:19.447 --> 01:09:22.325
and finally set down on the deck
at four minutes
995
01:09:22.408 --> 01:09:25.036
after 3:00 this afternoon,
Eastern Standard Time.
996
01:09:27.121 --> 01:09:28.748
SHADEL: We have our reporter,
Dave Nichols,
997
01:09:28.831 --> 01:09:30.750
standing by at Arlington, Virginia,
998
01:09:31.209 --> 01:09:32.502
at the home of Colonel Glenn.
999
01:09:33.961 --> 01:09:37.006
Mrs. Glenn will make an appearance there
for the first time today.
1000
01:09:37.965 --> 01:09:40.718
There are several things that... that we
would like to say,
1001
01:09:40.802 --> 01:09:42.929
but I would want everyone to know...
1002
01:09:43.971 --> 01:09:47.433
that this is the most wonderful day
for my family, and we're quite...
1003
01:09:47.517 --> 01:09:52.355
we're so proud of our... of their...
their... their father,
1004
01:09:53.022 --> 01:09:56.192
of the... Mercury team...
1005
01:09:57.568 --> 01:10:01.239
of everyone that's made this
such a successful day.
1006
01:10:15.628 --> 01:10:19.590
TOWNSEND: Each orbit took approximately
89 minutes. There were three of them.
1007
01:10:20.133 --> 01:10:24.679
Undoubtedly, the most eventful four hours
and 50 minutes of his entire life.
1008
01:10:28.516 --> 01:10:31.352
GLENN: Perhaps I could've been given
information a little earlier
1009
01:10:31.477 --> 01:10:34.605
and a little more completely
on the heat shield problem
1010
01:10:34.689 --> 01:10:36.357
where they thought it possibly was loose.
1011
01:10:38.109 --> 01:10:40.611
Apparently, there was a very,
very lengthy discussion on this
1012
01:10:40.695 --> 01:10:43.865
that I was unaware of.
And, uh, if I had been aware that
1013
01:10:44.073 --> 01:10:46.325
there was possibly a problem
in this regard,
1014
01:10:46.951 --> 01:10:49.912
I would have been aware to watch
more closely for little bumps
1015
01:10:49.996 --> 01:10:52.999
on the capsule, or anything that
might have given a clue as to our status.
1016
01:10:54.584 --> 01:10:57.003
I was kept reasonably in the dark on this.
1017
01:10:59.130 --> 01:11:02.008
-How do you do, sir? What's your name?
-My name is Oliver Whiting,
1018
01:11:02.091 --> 01:11:03.593
and I'm a British subject, sir.
1019
01:11:03.676 --> 01:11:05.803
That's rather apparent, sir,
what do you think of, uh...
1020
01:11:05.887 --> 01:11:08.181
-Well, I think this is one of...
-...what America and the free world
1021
01:11:08.306 --> 01:11:10.892
-have accomplished today.
-Indeed. I think it's one of the greatest
1022
01:11:11.017 --> 01:11:14.520
scientific advances that has ever taken
place in the lives of anybody
1023
01:11:14.604 --> 01:11:17.315
in this vast concourse. And I would like
to say something,
1024
01:11:17.398 --> 01:11:19.442
-if I may be permitted to do so.
-Please do.
1025
01:11:19.650 --> 01:11:23.738
Well, sir, it's this, I think that
in this scientific age today,
1026
01:11:23.863 --> 01:11:26.491
we have shrunk the surface of the Earth
1027
01:11:26.949 --> 01:11:29.952
to such a state that now
it's a single unit, and we cannot think
1028
01:11:30.036 --> 01:11:32.497
of it as otherwise,
and I hope we never will again.
1029
01:11:41.088 --> 01:11:43.049
CRONKITE: John Glenn arrived
home this morning
1030
01:11:43.132 --> 01:11:45.092
to be met in Florida by his family.
1031
01:11:54.852 --> 01:11:58.481
(CHEERING)
1032
01:12:06.989 --> 01:12:09.075
(MOTORCYCLE ENGINES REV)
1033
01:12:13.996 --> 01:12:16.666
CRONKITE:
John Glenn now points out details
1034
01:12:16.749 --> 01:12:18.793
of the capsule to President Kennedy.
1035
01:12:19.377 --> 01:12:22.380
GLENN: Normally, those retrorockets
are dropped off after firing.
1036
01:12:22.505 --> 01:12:24.882
There was some indication, though,
on the ground
1037
01:12:25.299 --> 01:12:27.885
that the, uh, heat shield might have
come loose,
1038
01:12:28.177 --> 01:12:31.013
and if this had happened, why, of course,
the whole thing would just have
1039
01:12:31.097 --> 01:12:32.849
disintegrated, and burned up.
1040
01:12:33.432 --> 01:12:36.602
So that was rather...
it was an interesting return.
1041
01:12:36.978 --> 01:12:39.480
Kind of like having a... (INAUDIBLE)
1042
01:12:40.356 --> 01:12:43.985
CRONKITE: Along with some answers,
Glenn's flight produced some questions,
1043
01:12:44.068 --> 01:12:46.529
like the mystery of the tiny
luminous particles
1044
01:12:46.654 --> 01:12:48.698
he reported seeing with each sunrise.
1045
01:12:49.490 --> 01:12:51.325
All I can say about these
is I observed them.
1046
01:12:51.409 --> 01:12:56.747
I saw them for about, from the first
light of sun to a period of some...
1047
01:12:57.498 --> 01:13:01.085
Uh... oh, three and a half, four minutes.
1048
01:13:01.919 --> 01:13:04.755
That time period made
close observation of them.
1049
01:13:05.089 --> 01:13:08.759
Uh, they were very luminous,
a yellowish green color.
1050
01:13:10.011 --> 01:13:13.848
And, uh, as George Ralph, our psychiatrist
listened to this and said,
1051
01:13:14.265 --> 01:13:18.311
-"What did they say, John?"
-(ALL LAUGH)
1052
01:13:18.728 --> 01:13:21.522
People I was sittin' this mornin'
With this on my mind
1053
01:13:22.315 --> 01:13:25.151
Said there ain't no livin' man who go
Around the world three time
1054
01:13:25.484 --> 01:13:26.986
But John Glenn done it
1055
01:13:29.405 --> 01:13:30.406
Yes, he did
1056
01:13:30.489 --> 01:13:33.200
WOLFE: When John Glenn became
the first American to go into Earth orbit,
1057
01:13:33.618 --> 01:13:35.202
there was a ticker tape parade for him.
1058
01:13:35.578 --> 01:13:40.333
The astronauts all remembered
so vividly the sight of New York policemen
1059
01:13:40.416 --> 01:13:42.877
directing traffic in the intersections
for this big parade,
1060
01:13:43.252 --> 01:13:45.796
crying, tears rolling down their cheeks.
1061
01:13:47.506 --> 01:13:49.300
And saying, you know,
"We love you, Johnny,"
1062
01:13:49.383 --> 01:13:51.969
to John Glenn, "We love you."
And I think it was an emotional moment
1063
01:13:52.261 --> 01:13:55.389
in this country's history that has
never been equal since then.
1064
01:13:55.473 --> 01:13:57.975
I don't think we've had a nationwide hero
since John Glenn.
1065
01:13:58.059 --> 01:13:59.393
John Glenn said it
1066
01:13:59.977 --> 01:14:04.649
MALE VOICE: All I can say is that
in my 72 years of life, I, uh,
1067
01:14:04.732 --> 01:14:07.234
never witnessed anything like this before.
1068
01:14:09.862 --> 01:14:13.824
Today, I know that I seem to be standing
alone on this great platform...
1069
01:14:15.534 --> 01:14:17.370
just as I seemed to be alone
in the cockpit
1070
01:14:17.453 --> 01:14:19.121
of the Friendship 7 spacecraft...
1071
01:14:20.456 --> 01:14:21.582
but I'm not.
1072
01:14:22.416 --> 01:14:26.337
There were with me then and with me now,
thousands of Americans,
1073
01:14:26.420 --> 01:14:29.423
and many hundreds of citizens
of many countries around the world.
1074
01:14:31.884 --> 01:14:34.971
As our knowledge of this universe
in which we live increases,
1075
01:14:35.930 --> 01:14:38.975
may God grant us the wisdom
and guidance to use it wisely.
1076
01:14:39.850 --> 01:14:44.605
-Thank you very much.
-(APPLAUSE)
1077
01:14:51.946 --> 01:14:54.365
VON FREMD: This flight was just the
end of the beginning.
1078
01:14:54.448 --> 01:14:57.535
It was the first American orbital flight,
but by no means the last.
1079
01:14:58.285 --> 01:15:01.747
The next one on the schedule should come
about 60 days from now.
1080
01:15:04.792 --> 01:15:09.171
REPORTER: Donald Slayton, known as
Deke, was replaced by M. Scott Carpenter,
1081
01:15:09.338 --> 01:15:14.135
the next astronaut in line for orbit,
because of mild heart palpitations.
1082
01:15:25.604 --> 01:15:26.772
(TAPE STARTS RECORDING)
1083
01:15:27.064 --> 01:15:29.692
WOLFE: Okay, repeat after me,
I went to a wonderful party.
1084
01:15:29.859 --> 01:15:31.444
RENE: I went to a wonderful party.
1085
01:15:31.694 --> 01:15:35.114
-WOLFE: I must say the fun was intense.
-RENE: I must say the fun was intense.
1086
01:15:35.239 --> 01:15:38.492
WOLFE: We all had to do what the people
we knew would be doing 100 years hence.
1087
01:15:38.576 --> 01:15:42.663
RENE: We all had to do what the people we
knew would all be doing 100 years hence.
1088
01:16:27.041 --> 01:16:29.424
RENE: Yeah, I asked. Mm-hmm.
1089
01:16:46.977 --> 01:16:48.979
WOLFE: After a while,
Rene didn't know whether
1090
01:16:49.063 --> 01:16:51.273
it was her modest literary ambitions
1091
01:16:52.108 --> 01:16:56.028
or her resentment of the pat role
of astronaut wife that made her do it.
1092
01:17:19.844 --> 01:17:22.972
After the earlier successes
of Shepard, Grissom, and Glenn,
1093
01:17:23.222 --> 01:17:26.600
Scott Carpenter's mission seemed,
in advance, almost routine.
1094
01:17:27.143 --> 01:17:29.645
Actually, it was our most
ambitious challenge yet.
1095
01:17:30.020 --> 01:17:34.233
It required the pilot to do things
we hadn't dared ask of his predecessors.
1096
01:17:34.358 --> 01:17:37.486
A larger degree of control
and maneuvering the space capsule,
1097
01:17:37.778 --> 01:17:40.531
more tests to help measure the way
things move in space,
1098
01:17:40.781 --> 01:17:42.992
and how they look to a man observing them.
1099
01:17:53.544 --> 01:17:57.423
REPORTER: Now, the astronaut's ready,
and so is everything else.
1100
01:17:58.966 --> 01:18:03.262
LAUNCH STAFF:
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six.
1101
01:18:03.679 --> 01:18:06.182
RENE:
1102
01:18:06.557 --> 01:18:10.644
LAUNCH STAFF:
Zero, ignition. Liftoff.
1103
01:18:13.230 --> 01:18:15.983
LAUNCH STAFF:
Liftoff. Liftoff. The clock has started.
1104
01:18:17.735 --> 01:18:20.404
-Roger.
-CARPENTER: Loud and clear, Gus.
1105
01:18:20.779 --> 01:18:23.991
GRISSOM: Roger, Aurora 7. Standby
for the time hack.
1106
01:18:24.074 --> 01:18:24.950
CARPENTER: Roger.
1107
01:18:30.456 --> 01:18:32.750
RENE:
1108
01:18:44.888 --> 01:18:46.639
(RENE LAUGHS)
1109
01:18:47.681 --> 01:18:48.933
WOLFE:
1110
01:18:49.016 --> 01:18:50.559
RENE:
1111
01:18:50.643 --> 01:18:52.186
WOLFE: Thorns.
1112
01:18:54.396 --> 01:18:55.773
GRISSOM: Roger, Aurora.
1113
01:18:58.275 --> 01:18:59.652
CARPENTER: Clear blue sky.
1114
01:19:28.305 --> 01:19:29.515
(SHUTTER CLICKS)
1115
01:19:30.391 --> 01:19:33.352
CARPENTER:
1116
01:19:33.727 --> 01:19:34.728
(SHUTTER CLICKS)
1117
01:19:34.812 --> 01:19:39.094
CARPENTER:
1118
01:19:56.875 --> 01:19:58.460
CAPCOM:
1119
01:19:58.794 --> 01:20:00.713
CARPENTER:
1120
01:20:05.467 --> 01:20:06.677
CAPCOM:
1121
01:20:07.177 --> 01:20:09.513
CARPENTER:
1122
01:20:13.475 --> 01:20:15.060
CAPCOM:
1123
01:20:15.185 --> 01:20:16.228
CARPENTER:
1124
01:20:18.022 --> 01:20:20.024
CRONKITE:
The crowds at Grand Central New York
1125
01:20:20.482 --> 01:20:21.859
and around the United States...
1126
01:20:23.235 --> 01:20:25.404
wait prayerfully for this moment,
here's Powers.
1127
01:20:25.821 --> 01:20:29.450
POWERS: Our data at this time indicates
that it is distinctly possible that
1128
01:20:29.533 --> 01:20:31.952
the Aurora 7 spacecraft may land
1129
01:20:32.036 --> 01:20:35.122
considerably longer down range
than it was planned.
1130
01:20:35.873 --> 01:20:41.128
Our present estimate of his landing point
may go as far as 200 miles down range.
1131
01:20:44.298 --> 01:20:46.592
WOLFE: Cronkite had been explaining
Scott's fuel problem
1132
01:20:46.717 --> 01:20:48.218
as he entered the atmosphere,
1133
01:20:48.761 --> 01:20:52.639
then Cronkite's voice began to take
on more and more concern.
1134
01:20:53.390 --> 01:20:58.187
We have a very, even more disturbing
report it seems to this reporter here
1135
01:20:58.270 --> 01:21:00.439
from NASA, from space authorities.
1136
01:21:01.023 --> 01:21:04.651
They say they did not pick up
any radar blips
1137
01:21:05.361 --> 01:21:08.280
from the descending spacecraft.
1138
01:21:09.698 --> 01:21:14.453
It almost begs for interpretation
as to what that could mean.
1139
01:21:34.807 --> 01:21:40.396
There has not even been radar contact
with the Aurora 7 since the last contact
1140
01:21:40.479 --> 01:21:42.606
with, uh, Scott Carpenter by voice,
1141
01:21:43.065 --> 01:21:46.735
which was back when he announced
his G forces building
1142
01:21:47.111 --> 01:21:49.071
for the reentry into the atmosphere.
1143
01:21:50.114 --> 01:21:53.283
This is the worst chore this reporter
ever went through,
1144
01:21:54.118 --> 01:21:57.496
trying to fill time when there
is nothing to say, except wait.
1145
01:22:14.555 --> 01:22:17.683
Uh, it would seem that even 200 miles
would not be too far to pick up
1146
01:22:17.766 --> 01:22:19.268
a radar signal.
1147
01:22:27.151 --> 01:22:28.861
(ENGINE REVVING)
1148
01:22:29.069 --> 01:22:32.781
POWERS: A US Navy P2V aircraft
in the landing area
1149
01:22:32.865 --> 01:22:35.033
-has received an electronic contact.
-(BEEPING)
1150
01:22:38.871 --> 01:22:40.080
RENE:
1151
01:22:51.633 --> 01:22:54.011
POWERS: We do not have any further
details at this time,
1152
01:22:54.094 --> 01:22:56.847
except now diverting his aircraft
into that immediate area.
1153
01:22:57.598 --> 01:23:01.852
CRONKITE: Let's go now to Joe Campbell,
who is aboard the USS Intrepid.
1154
01:23:01.935 --> 01:23:04.688
CAMPBELL: Well, we've just received
a happy word that one of the ships'
1155
01:23:04.813 --> 01:23:06.315
own jet helicopters,
1156
01:23:06.607 --> 01:23:08.692
which has been speeding
to the scene of impact,
1157
01:23:09.026 --> 01:23:13.530
has just affected rescue
of astronaut Scott Carpenter,
1158
01:23:13.655 --> 01:23:16.366
and is now proceeding
towards the Intrepid.
1159
01:23:20.662 --> 01:23:23.999
-CRONKITE: Oh, boy.
-(CHEERING)
1160
01:23:25.250 --> 01:23:28.253
CRONKITE: Well, that's the longest
45 minutes we've ever spent.
1161
01:23:29.463 --> 01:23:31.840
Scott Carpenter is out
of the Atlantic Ocean.
1162
01:23:32.508 --> 01:23:36.803
After his four hours and 50 minutes
in space, three hours on the Atlantic,
1163
01:23:36.887 --> 01:23:38.889
bobbing around in that small raft.
1164
01:23:43.018 --> 01:23:45.312
EDWARDS: Well, it started out
like Buck Rogers,
1165
01:23:45.395 --> 01:23:48.482
and wound up like a condensed
version of Robinson Crusoe.
1166
01:23:50.734 --> 01:23:54.279
News of Carpenter's recovery reached
his wife Rene at Cocoa Beach, Florida,
1167
01:23:54.363 --> 01:23:56.782
-the site of space program headquarters.
-RENE: I want to say...
1168
01:23:58.825 --> 01:23:59.743
that...
1169
01:24:00.911 --> 01:24:04.248
the effort... involved...
1170
01:24:05.499 --> 01:24:10.837
in one of these missions...
is such that...
1171
01:24:13.882 --> 01:24:19.137
at the end, we often feel...
emotionally drained...
1172
01:24:21.223 --> 01:24:24.935
and we tend to fall back on...
1173
01:24:27.312 --> 01:24:29.147
the comfortable phrases...
1174
01:24:31.733 --> 01:24:36.822
and words like "happy,"
"proud," "thrilled, "
1175
01:24:38.031 --> 01:24:39.533
and we feel so much more.
1176
01:24:53.463 --> 01:24:59.136
I do want to say... that
I know that this has been hard
1177
01:24:59.219 --> 01:25:03.807
for you not being able
to have... the doorstep...
1178
01:25:05.350 --> 01:25:11.440
but the privacy that it afforded me
was wonderful for me today.
1179
01:25:17.154 --> 01:25:19.531
I think it's thrilling.
I stopped everything, and watched it,
1180
01:25:19.615 --> 01:25:22.284
and the baby was watching it,
and she wanted to go too.
1181
01:25:22.409 --> 01:25:26.246
She's four years old, and she wanted
to go on the trip with the, with the man.
1182
01:25:26.330 --> 01:25:28.957
And when his children and his wife
were on, uh,
1183
01:25:30.000 --> 01:25:31.585
I thought it was real exciting.
1184
01:25:32.419 --> 01:25:35.213
I think everybody was more or less
sitting on the edge
1185
01:25:35.297 --> 01:25:37.132
of their seats until they did find him.
1186
01:25:37.215 --> 01:25:40.927
I think it's wonderful. I think
it's a great thing for this country!
1187
01:25:41.136 --> 01:25:43.430
And believe me,
we're never going to be buried.
1188
01:25:55.442 --> 01:25:57.861
LAUNCH STAFF: Roger, Wally,
you got anything to say to everyone
1189
01:25:57.944 --> 01:25:59.696
watching you across the country
on this thing?
1190
01:25:59.780 --> 01:26:01.031
We're going out live on this.
1191
01:26:02.157 --> 01:26:04.284
SCHIRRA: I'm looking at the United States,
1192
01:26:04.993 --> 01:26:07.663
and starting to pitch up slightly
with this drifting rate.
1193
01:26:08.246 --> 01:26:11.249
And I see the Moon, which I'm sure no one
in the United States can see
1194
01:26:11.333 --> 01:26:12.751
as well as I right now.
1195
01:26:26.139 --> 01:26:29.768
CRONKITE: This flight's scheduled
to be the last of the Mercury Program
1196
01:26:29.851 --> 01:26:32.729
before the Mercury Program ends,
and we begin flights
1197
01:26:32.938 --> 01:26:35.399
in our two-man capsule, the Gemini.
1198
01:26:35.524 --> 01:26:39.361
The intermediate step before we go
to Apollo, and the step to the Moon.
1199
01:26:43.323 --> 01:26:46.535
REPORTER: America's team of astronauts
was increased to 16 today,
1200
01:26:48.078 --> 01:26:51.456
when The Manned Space Center at Houston,
Texas named the men today.
1201
01:26:51.623 --> 01:26:55.252
It was specified that they will be trained
for trips to the Moon.
1202
01:26:58.922 --> 01:27:00.173
We've had a number of these...
1203
01:27:01.007 --> 01:27:03.844
ceremonies at the White House
and at Cape Canaveral to pay tribute
1204
01:27:04.711 --> 01:27:07.097
to a very distinguished group
of Americans, who have in,
1205
01:27:07.431 --> 01:27:12.185
our time, in this rather civil society,
demonstrated that there are...
1206
01:27:13.019 --> 01:27:14.980
great frontiers still to be crossed.
1207
01:27:15.605 --> 01:27:19.568
And in flying through space, they've
carried with them the wishes, the prayers,
1208
01:27:19.693 --> 01:27:23.155
the hopes and the pride of 180 million
of their fellow countrymen.
1209
01:27:26.450 --> 01:27:29.953
I hope that, uh, we will be encouraged
to continue with this program.
1210
01:27:30.620 --> 01:27:33.039
I know that a good many people
say, "Why go to the Moon?"
1211
01:27:33.373 --> 01:27:36.334
Just as many people said
to Lindbergh, "Why go to Paris?"
1212
01:27:39.296 --> 01:27:42.424
Lindbergh said, "It's not so much a matter
of logic as it is of feeling."
1213
01:27:47.304 --> 01:27:50.307
I think that the United States has
committed itself to this great adventure
1214
01:27:50.390 --> 01:27:53.977
in the '60s. I think before the end
of the '60s, we will see a man
1215
01:27:54.060 --> 01:27:55.479
on the Moon, an American.
1216
01:27:55.854 --> 01:27:59.024
And I think in so doing, it's not nearly
that we're interested in making
1217
01:27:59.107 --> 01:28:02.611
this particular journey, but we are
interested in demonstrating
1218
01:28:02.736 --> 01:28:04.946
a dominance of this new sea,
1219
01:28:05.572 --> 01:28:08.742
and making sure that
in this new great adventurous period,
1220
01:28:09.242 --> 01:28:13.288
that the Americans are playing
their great role as they have in the past.
1221
01:28:14.915 --> 01:28:17.292
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
1222
01:28:33.433 --> 01:28:35.727
(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)