They're now beginning to pressurize the tanks.
Pressurize all of the tanks in all three stages with gaseous helium.
As the pressurization builds up, it's monitored.
Here in the control centre, our status board still indicating all is well.
Network, Flight. You configured for the terminal count?
- Roger, Flight. We're a go. - Okay.
Check status for terminal count, Rooster?
- Go, Flight. - Retro?
- We're a go. - Fido?
- Go. - GMC?
- Go, Flight. - E-COM?
- Affirmative, Flight. - F-COM?
Go all the way.
Sony Panel Three, tape recorder forward, switch to forward.
- Verify grey bar. - Roger, we have a grey flag.
DNC is running, Flight.
Roger, in automatic sequence, start on my mark.
- Mark. - All right, Jim.
- Stand by your panel 325 function. - Roger.
- Fuel pre-pressure initiated. - Roger, Fuel.
- This one's gonna light on your toes. - PCS bypass on.
- Glycol radiator full to bypass. - Full to bypass.
- Internal cooling, Flight. - This is launch control.
The second stage fuel tank is pressurized.
The third stage liquid oxygen tank pressurizing at this time.
Ironman One, this is Flight, how do you read?
- Loud and clear, Dick. - All right.
CMP on panel two, verify program two.
- We're a go, Flight. - Roger.
- Flight recorder to record. - GDC, align.
- All recorders to flight speed.
- Network, Flight. All okay with you? - Affirmed, Flight.
RTC, you got everybody configured for commands?
- That's affirmative. - Internal power and go, Flight.
- You got the transfer? - That's affirmed.
Ironman One, stand by for the 10-second count.
Roger, Ted.
Ten, nine, eight...
... seven, six, five, four...
- Flight, safety is green downrange. - Roger, safety green.
- Booster okay. - Go, Flight.
- Everything okay? - Affirmed.
- GNC? - Go, Flight.
- E-COM? - Flight, we're a go.
Roger.
DX manual.
- Stand by for mode one Charlie. - Mode one Charlie.
Mode one Charlie.
Rooster, I need your status for staging.
- The tower has jettisoned. - Trajectory and guidance are a go.
Roger, trajectory and guidance a go.
- Spacecraft systems are a go. - Spacecraft systems are go.
- All spacecraft systems are go. - No mistaking.
- We have CECO. - Roger, CECO.
Hey, it looks like a fine day down there!
I can see all the way from Gibraltar to Greece.
Coming up on the terminator, should be in our first sunset in a few minutes.
- Loss of signal with Canary. - Roger, LOS.
Okay time to activate TV transmission.
We remote to Houston through Araya, Buzz.
Araya One, this is Ironman, how do you copy, over?
Ironman One, Araya. I read you loud and clear, copy.
I read you the same.
On my mark, TV transmission from camera A.
- Mark. - Smile!
- How are you getting this? - A little snowy, Ironman.
Clearing up now.
Clear now. Good picture.
Well, say something, Ted. Are we beautiful?
Ironman, this is Houston. See you real good, all three of you.
- How about the other camera, Jim? - Camera B coming on.
Mark.
You should be getting me now.
Here's Buzz.
Here's Stoney.
- How's it look? - Sharp and clear.
How are you for docking with the lab?
Docking is still planned for the second orbit as advertised.
Roger. We have an update on your initial phase manoeuvre.
Delta V, 249 at .3 feet per second.
This is mission control, Houston...
...at 22 minutes into the flight of Ironman One.
After a brief 20-minute flight across the Atlantic...
...the spacecraft is now crossing the Mediterranean.
We begin to look at the business of the flight plan...
...which shows a rendezvous on docking...
...with the Saturn 4B orbital laboratory.
Buzz, what's our closing rate?
- Closing rate: 50 feet per second. - Roger.
- Let me know when we have 25. - Roger.
This is mission control, Houston.
Commander Pruett reported completion of docking the Apollo...
...at the S-4B laboratory.
After completing systems checks, the crew will transfer into the lab...
... in which they will live and work for the next seven months.
This will be a test of the spacecraft, the systems and most of all the men.
In preparation for interplanetary deep-space missions...
... which are now being planned.
During this entire period the astronauts will cover their activities...
... with TV cameras, which will be tape-recorded here on Earth...
... for study and evaluation.
Well, it's not too bad. We could use a couple of windows though.
I think we're missing the view.
What's first, Buzz?
Extra vehicular activities in the S-509 manoeuvring unit.
You take it out. Stoney, you handle the camera.
Watch it, Stoney.
Try a little aerobatics here.
Here goes.
Buzz, how about some work?
Yeah, right.
I'm coming right down.
Okay, Buzz, micrometeorite experiment.
- Say again, Stoney. - Micrometeorite.
Roger, micrometeorite.
This material was obtained during their first week in space.
I am presenting it as a point of reference.
Here is Pruett.
Lloyd.
Stone.
We got this day before yesterday.
It demonstrates a serious decline in the ability to perform...
... even simple manual tasks.
Just over five months of the mission have been completed satisfactorily.
We wonder if it remains desirable to continue for the full seven months...
...originally planned.
- What are your parameters, Courtney? - EKG, rate and rhythm.
- EEG, brain. - He's not sleeping.
The trend shows definite fatigue.
- Is he still losing weight? - Down 16 pounds.
The quality of the solar spectral film's been very poor.
- Well, you're not gonna see any more. - Why not?
Take a look at this.
Tired and he's making mistakes.
You want to try living in a tin can for five months?
- What else? - We got this yesterday.
Some further degradations to our CS system:
We've lost a backup coolant loop in the oil thruster.
Oh, yeah. The washing machine is out.
I was doing some preventative maintenance on it. I shorted it out.
I also discovered some computation errors in the telescope settings.
I guess that accounts for the poor quality in the solar spectral pictures.
I...
I've fixed the razor.
So we can go back to shaving again now.
And I'm sleeping better.
I guess we're all getting our second wind.
And if the hardware holds up, I guess we can mak e it right to the end.
I know I can.
I think they've done a hell of a job.
Bring them down.
Yes, sir.
Mrs. Wheeler, get everyone on the net in mission control.
This is mission control, Houston.
The crew of Ironman One has closed down the S-4B space laboratory...
...in which they've worked, lived, slept and eaten for the last five months.
Their Apollo spacecraft has separated from the lab...
...and at this time, the automatic sequence of retrofire is about to begin.
Ten, nine, eight...
...seven, six, five, four...
...three, two, one, retrofire.
The spacecraft should be starting its descent across Australia...
...towards the splash point in the Pacific...
...some 400 miles south of Midway Island.
They are waiting now for confirmation of retrofire. Standing by for contact.
Ironman One, Ironman One, this is Houston CapCom, do you read?
After five months in orbit, a mission termed...
...a successful prelude to the long-term space voyages...
...that some day will be normal and routine...
...astronauts Jim Pruett, Buzz Lloyd and Clayton Stone...
...should be on their fiery way home to the good Earth.
Ironman One, Ironman One, this is Houston CapCom, do you read?
Ironman One, Ironman One, this is Houston CapCom on UHF.
Do you read?
Ironman One, Ironman One, this is Houston CapCom on UHF.
Do you read?
Ironman One, Ironman One, this is Houston CapCom on S-band.
- Do you read? - Go ahead, Houston.
Hey, you old bum. How's the run?
We have negative retrofire.
Say again, Ironman.
Negative, no burn.
Bailey, kill it.
- Ironman, wait one. - What's wrong, Dick?
Don't know.
E-COM, GNC, how does the data look?
A minute and 20 seconds past retrofire.
Ironman, Flight. Would you check your circuit breakers...
... and also your Delta V thrust manual A and B switches?
Roger.
Glenn, would you punch up channel six?
- All parameters are normal. - Then why in the hell doesn't it fire?
- Houston, Ironman. - Go, Ironman.
Circuit breakers are closed, SPS switch is on.
Delta V manual A and B switches are on.
Thank you. We're affirming new target.
Suggest you try manual re-entry on your next pass.
Roger, understand manual re-entry using RCS backup system.
Negative, Jim. Negative.
We suggest you use the primary system.
- We just told them it didn't work. - Houston...
...we prefer using the backup thrusters.
I'm afraid you don't have backup thrusters.
- Say again? - You've fallen too low in RCS fuel.
What about the lab? There's oxygen in the lab.
Houston, do we have enough fuel to re-dock with the lab?
Negative,Ironman. Negative.
- Well, what do you propose, Ted? - You have insufficient RCS fuel.
You're going to have to try retrofire with your primary engine.
Smart boys think your automatic control system is out...
...but you'll be able to get ignition...
...from your primary engine on manual command.
In other words, kick the box, Jimmy.
- Do you copy, Ironman ? - Yeah, copy.
- Mr. Keith, BAO. - No announcement.
We should say something, sir. We've been off the air...
All right. Just keep it trivial. Keep it routine.
- We may not have a problem. - Yes, sir.
This is mission control, Houston.
We received word from Ironman One of a malfunctioning switch...
...that has prevented retrofire on their last orbit.
They'll bypass the switch. At their next orbit we'll try manual retrofire.
This is Canon in Houston.
- Yeah, Canon? - Unfreeze the dead, will you?
- Hold on a second. - Are you ready now?
- Go ahead. - Primary engine...
...did not fire on first pass.
The secondary thrusters are out. Repeat, out.
If that big baby doesn't fire this time, they're not coming back.
Motor, pitch two and yaw two start, on.
Pitch two and yaw two start, on.
- One minute to burn. - One minute to burn.
Translation hand controller, neutral.
- Hand controller neutral. - Hand controller power, both.
- On. - Direct RCS, on.
- Direct RCS. - Delta V thrust, A and B normal.
- A and B normal. - Thirty seconds to burn.
- Thirty seconds. - Hand controller's armed.
- Hand controller armed. - Hand controller's armed.
EMS Delta V, auto.
- Delta V, auto. - Fifteen seconds to burn.
- Roger, 15 seconds. - Acknowledge.
All right, you bastard, fire, fire, fire!
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six...
... five, four, three, two, one, retrofire.
Direct Delta V switch.
Ironman, this is Houston. Ironman, this is Houston, do you read?
- Go, Houston. - Do you affirm retrofire?
- Negative. - Say again.
I said, we had negative retrofire.
Ironman, this is Keith, do you get any indications from your event lights?
Boss, we got a little light here that says we have retrofired.
It's green. We're gonna decorate it for Christmas.
All right, Ironman, we're going to work on it.
Roger.
Cabin pressurization on.
We'll be back in a couple of hours. Get out of your hot suits.
- Roger. - See you later.
We'll be here.
I want a complete tape dump from all sites. I want it played back here.
And I want it in strip charts.
Call Sacco, tell him to put an engine in the simulator.
Feed it all the TM we've got and see what keeps it from firing.
Hard copies of everything and an oxygen projection.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Keith?
- Forgot all about them. - Ted, will you get them out of here?
- Ben, take this. - Right.
No retrofire.
They're still up there.
It'll take a little time to psych out the engine.
Well, I guess it's time to go home and light the fires and mind the kids.
Do you need a lift?
- Did you talk to them? - Yeah.
They're fine.
For how long?
- Well, we'll be in touch, Mrs. Stone. - Thank you, but...
I'd also like to know what's happening.
Teresa, Celia and I have been in this business 10 years.
We learned the best thing is for us girls to keep our feelings to ourselves.
And let the men get on with their jobs.
- Right, Celia? - Wrong, Betty.
It's been 15 years.
Morning, ladies and gentlemen. Sorry that I've kept you waiting.
- Dr. Keith, are you...? - Mr. Keith.
- Are you on your way to Washington? - No.
- Spoken to the White House yet? - No.
Tell me, sir, who's responsible for withholding the news?
- Oh, I'm the responsible officer. - Do you have a statement, Mr. Keith?
No, but I would like to say that approximately 15,000 people...
...are trying to isolate and correct this malfunction.
Every resource of the NASA and our industrial contractors...
...is being used to the fullest.
- Mr. Canon. - Let me get this straight:
- The spacecraft is still in orbit, right? - Yes.
Going around the world every 94 minutes, right?
That's right, Mr. Canon.
How much oxygen does the crew have for life support?
They're in no immediate danger.
- There's a rumour the men are dead. - Not true.
Mr. Henry?
What happens if you can't get the engine to retrofire?
We're prepared for every contingency, Mr. Henry.
What happens if you can't get the engine to fire?
Does the spacecraft continue circling around the Earth...
...until orbital decay slows it down sufficiently...
...for it to re-enter the atmosphere?
If so, does the spacecraft and everything in it get burnt to a crisp...
...is that right? - Well, what's your point?
How long before that happens, five years?
Seven years.
Have you given up hope, Mr. Keith?
Certainly not, Mr. Canon. Why should I?
If you'll excuse me now, please.
Strawberry cereal cubes.
Soup, corn, cream.
Jim, why are we just lying here waiting, huh?
For Ground to analyse the entire telemetry.
So some smart-ass engineer can tell us we're out of luck?
Why not go EVA? We'll check the engine ourselves.
Maybe one of the fuel valves is frozen.
No, Ground could tell that.
Maybe we took a meteor strike. Maybe something hung up on separation.
Just relax. Eat your chicken while it's hot.
What are you looking at, Stoney?
A disturbance in the inner- tropical conversion zone.
Somebody's gonna have a hurricane.
- Where's the centre, Stoney? - It's just northeast of Cuba.
Yeah, nice thick clouds, good east-west slope.
Looks like clouding circulation's just beginning.
She's gonna be a big beast.
Alma, first of the season.
Houston, this is Simulator.
We have on the stand SPS engine unit H37 modified block four.
This unit is an exact one-to-one duplicate...
... of the primary equipment in Ironman One.
We have analysed the engine telemetry.
And we're attempting to construct a configuration...
... which will reproduce the conditions that prevented ignition.
Three, two, one.
Firing the engine.
I say, apparently we have failed to prevent ignition.
But we'll k eep working on it.
All right, the president's waiting for our recommendations.
One, a statement to be issued at the conclusion of this meeting:
"Every effort is being made to discover...
...and correct the spacecraft malfunction...
...in accordance with contingency plans...
...designed to meet such emergencies."
Two, a report to be issued Tuesday morning...
...by the director of manned space flight.
Emphasizing the high degree of safety and success in the program thus far.
The accident will be compared to the failure of an experimental aircraft.
It'll be noted that in the development of such aircraft...
...a 10 percent pilot loss is considered acceptable.
Now, Wednesday morning, if necessary...
...the president will issue an appropriate message to the nation.
Emphasizing the courage and determination of the crew.
And their final wish, that the program be continued without pause.
Discussion?
Yeah, I have something.
I want to talk about a rescue mission.
I'm speaking for the pilots and some of the Air Force boys.
We propose launching a rescue craft using one of their boosters.
Rendezvous with Ironman, transfer crew and return to Earth.
Dougherty, you haven't been listening.
Courtney, will you repeat that trend data...
...on oxygen consumption in the spacecraft?
As of now, they're going to live another 42 hours.
Plus or minus two percent. Now, that takes us up to 10:30 Monday night.
There's a launch window for a shot at 8:48 Monday night.
Nothing to put in that window.
An Air Force Titan 3C left Denver for the Cape one hour ago.
Oh, actually it was already in the pipe.
And also the XRV lifting body from Edwards.
Can you get the Titan and an XRV...
...on the pad ready to go in 42 hours? - Some of our boys think they could.
A non-man-rated booster and a craft that's never flown.
Oh, it'll fly all right, and Dougherty here has all the qualifications.
Proposal is rejected.
Anything else?
Yeah, what do I tell the pilots?
Tell them that the request is outside the area of their competence.
- We've got three men dying. - They're professionals.
If they were here they'd say, "Take what you've learned.
Get on with the next mission."
I don't give a damn about the next mission!
There's no room in this program for a chief astronaut...
...who cannot look at the whole picture.
Then you fire me.
You want to launch a rescue mission in 42 hours...
All right.
One: Assemble and check out booster stage one, stage two and trans stage.
How long, on past performance?
Well, on past performance, 12 days, but if we were...
Twelve days.
Two: Build up and strap on solid fuel stacks.
- Four days, but we can... - Four days.
Check launch weather for Monday night. There's a hurricane out there.
600 miles off the coast and headed out to sea.
Well, you're in luck. Three: Make the vehicle to the bird...
...and check out configuration. How long, colonel?
- Bob? - We haven't any accurate way...
...to determine the minimum time... - Couldn't do it under five days.
Four: Compute navigation and guidance tapes...
...for first apogee rendezvous, 10 days. Program computers...
...three weeks. - We'll go without a computer.
- We'll go without a checkup. - And crew training in a craft...
...which has not been man-rated, which cannot be flown by one pilot...
...and which has not been modified to hold four men.
How about that one?
They'll do it in 42 hours.
While you're assembling your rescue ship in 42 hours...
...and spending... How much would that cost, Fisher?
- Fifty million. - So what?
Plus how many deaths?
- Jimmy? - In a program of this magnitude...
...in which all nominal safety factors are disregarded...
...I calculate .02 percent of the workforce...
How the hell do you know how many people will die?
Think we haven't considered rescue? Here it is.
Rescue and every other contingency.
Reduced to digitals and computerized.
You helped to write it.
- A rational approach. - Well, screw your rational approach.
Three of your pilots are in trouble.
And if you don't try to get them down, well, God damn you!
Well, you have feelings. Good. I have feelings.
That's why we live by the rules.
Wheeler. Courtney.
Fisher. Klein.
Degrote.
Those men up there are your friends.
Can you launch a rescue mission in 42 hours?
- Yeah, all right. - Are you ready to talk to him now?
- We're ready at this end. - The president will take your call...
...at 7:00 our time. - Very good.
The president will take the call at 7:00 his time.
That leaves us an hour and 15 minutes.
- Your license, please... - Officer, I'm a government official.
- I'm in a hurry. - I can see that.
Here's security, Q clearance, top secret.
You've got a lot on your mind, all right. That's how it happens.
- You forget where you are and wham. - I've got to get to a telephone.
Shut off your engine.
I'm Charles Keith, head of Manned Space.
I know who you are.
BSG-2896553, another code three, Charles Raymond Keith.
You have no brake lights. Your license is expired.
You may get to the moon, but you're a menace on the road.
- Are you Charles Raymond Keith? - Yes!
Somebody named Olympus wants to talk to you.
Can you patch me into command network, Baker to Olympus?
Keith, where are you?
Mr. President, I have a sort of a problem here.
What do you have for me?
Well, we're analysing the engine telemetry.
We've got a contractor running a similar engine...
...in a failure mode, and we're running down the history...
...of all the hardware in the spacecraft.
What else can you do besides what you're doing?
I don't think there's anything else.
Have you fellas considered rescue?
Yes, we've discussed it, of course.
What do you think?
Well, sir, it's a very, very remote possibility.
Charles, can I talk to you as a friend?
Well, yes, sir, of course.
You're right, and for the right reasons.
But if we do it your way, 200 million people are going to start raising hell.
Well, Mr. President, it's not my way. There is data...
...and there are certain facts that we have to deal with.
Charles, just put away your slide rule for a minute and listen.
There's more going on here than logic.
The world is watching us and what we do...
... about rescuing these men.
To say that there's nothing we can do...
... is going to be disaster for me, for you and for your program.
We have to take a crack at it with the very best we've got.
Now, what do you say, Charles?
Mr. President, it'll be a dangerous gamble, but we'll go if you say so.
You let me know how you're doing and what you need.
Whatever you want, you've got it.
- Confirmed tonight that the SPS engine failed to fire...
... leaving America's three astronauts in orbit...
... some 285 miles above the Earth, circling the globe every 94 minutes.
They are now approaching the west coast of Africa.
No word has been issued as to the cause of the malfunction...
... beyond the statement made by Dr. Keith at the news conference...
... held this morning in...
- that contingency plans have been developed...
... to meet every conceivable emergency.
It has been reported from mission control in Houston...
... that the three astronauts are...
Okay, Buzz, you're right.
To hell with waiting for a bunch of slide- rule jockeys.
We used to fix the airplanes we flew with paper clips.
Let's get into our hard suits and fix this bird.
- Okay, Jimmy. - You watch the store, will you, Stoney?
Yeah, go.
- Ironman One this is Houston Flight. - Go, Houston.
We're coming up to get you, Ironman.
Say again.
We're coming to get you.
We're launching a rescue mission from the Cape.
We're using a Titan 3C with an XRV lifting body modified to hold four men.
The pilot is Ted Dougherty.
Do you read, Ironman ?
Yeah, yeah, we read you.
Houston, when do you estimate launch?
Just over 40 hours, Stoney.
Forty hours? Who are they kidding?
Do you read, Ironman?
We've decided to make a move up here.
Go EVA and eyeball the engines. The fuel valves could be frozen.
We'll pull the insulating hatches. If they are...
... we'll get in the sun and get some heat on them.
That's an interesting thought, but we have no indication...
... of that here or anything else you could correct.
We're all agreed the rescue mission is it.
We're agreed we have to take affirmative action to repair our vehicle.
Ironman, stand by one.
Tell them negative, Jimmy, negative.
Jim, we appreciate your desire to take affirmative action...
... and we need your affirmative action if the mission is to succeed.
The most critical factor is your oxygen supply.
To get 15 minutes of activity outside the spacecraft...
... to eyeball the engine, you have to trade off...
... three or four hours of passive breathing.
From where we sit you don't have that oxygen to spare.
Therefore, we'd like to suggest that you go into low-tide mode...
... lower your oxygen pressure to 3.5...
... execute a full emergency power down...
...and take your pills.
They want us to buy it while we're sleeping.
Do you copy, Ironman?
Yeah. We're thinking about it.
Tell them negative, Jim, negative.
Pruett, now, this is Keith.
I'm down here at the Cape with Sadler...
...and we're getting this rescue shot ready to go.
Don't do anything foolish.
Don't climb into your hard suits. Don't get out your tools...
...and don't try to fix the engine.
Just take your pills and go to sleep.
Can you get us down, boss?
We've got a better chance than you do.
- We'll be back at you. - Roger.
Yeah, he's lying.
Buzz, you eat up 25 percent more oxygen every time you lose your cool.
Houston, Ironman, preparing for power down.
Roger, Ironman.
What are the numbers, Stoney?
Well, with nominal oxygen usage, I make it 36 hours left.
Take out the pad, 40 hours, more or less.
How you figuring the residual amounts in the tanks?
How would you?
Yeah, you'd have to breathe them dry to find out.
No one's ever done that.
Yeah, well, I got the feeling we just may be the first.
Royce Fitzgerald, call 10-993.
Resume count-off, my mark at minus 240.
Mark.
Pull the GNN circuit breakers and the IMU heater breakers.
Circuit breakers off.
Shut down the attitude control system.
SCS secured.
Shut down number two and three fuel cells.
We'll leave one on the line in case we have to charge.
Two and three off. What about the comm?
No, we'll leave it on.
Flood lights off.
EL off.
Buzz, are the lower equipment bays dark?
The B lights are off.
Then why isn't that off?
I don't know why.
Houston, Ironman.
- We're cranked down. - Copy, Jim.
We'll check in when you come over the hill at Guaymas.
We're gonna keep you informed every step of the way.
Get some sleep now.
- In a while. - Jim, this is Courtney.
I want you to take one tablet of Stryzene after every meal...
... and one when you complete power down.
You can drink as much water as you want.
Every word, every emotion costs oxygen...
... so the more relaxed you are, the better.
All right, you bums, take your pills and go to sleep.
Hey! Hello, big brother.
- Hey, Ted. - Hi, Stoney.
Hey, where are you? What's all the racket?
Well, I'm in Huntsville, kluging up a simulator to the XRV.
Say again?
A simulator to the XRV.
I'm gonna do a little pressure up here before I take it to the Cape.
This is a great time to start learning how to fly it.
All you guys gotta worry about is where you want me to set you down...
...after I make the transfer.
Go on, pick your spot.
Edwards, Vegas, how about the beach in Malibu?
Why not?
All right, take your pills, go to sleep and leave the driving to us.
I'll see you in 39 hours and 16 minutes.
Simulation will begin in 10 minutes.
Maintain RF silence until further notice.
How does it look to you?
The XRV will leave in two hours, be on the pad in five.
That gives you nine hours. You're not gonna make it.
We've got eight separate systems to verify.
- I don't know how to do it any faster... - Here.
That's how you're gonna do it.
Colonel, you've got automatic backups designed into all your systems.
Now you're gonna find out if they work.
Range 6-5, range 2-4.
A little under.
Three-point-four second vert.
Range 6-3, range 2-1.
Missed his target by 20 miles.
Col. Dougherty, you've overshot.
Yeah, I know. I missed it by 20 miles.
Is it possible to break down the program into segments...
... to repeat DPI to rendezvous?
No, we don't have the time to break up the tapes.
Okay.
Can we recycle fast time from launch to first Delta V...
... and real time from then?
Okay, will do.
All right, let's go again.
The tape is ready.
On my mark, first Delta V burn.
Three, two, one, ignition.
Roger, I have ignition.
Timer on and counting.
We have a new APT, and it's not good.
- It's turned. - Sure has.
How soon will it get here?
What do you think?
Eight hours, major.
Seven, maybe eight.
It's gonna be a tight fit.
All right.
Keith speaking.
Yes, okay. Okay.
- Hello, Mr. President? - The hurricane.
Well, it changed course.
Eighty-mile winds heading straight for us.
Well, we can launch in winds up to 45 miles per hour.
Yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure, sir. I wrote it.
No, they can't help us. I've already talked to them.
I know Kashvin pretty well.
You see, their Voshkod's in the wrong orbit, won't wash.
We can't launch any earlier, sir. We have to go precisely at 8:48.
Well, what are you gonna do?
We just keep going.
Keep plugging.
Deep, dreamless sleep. That's a nice adjustment.
Nightmare?
He's an angry, active guy. Frustrated. He's helpless.
- Can we give him something to do? - No.
He's not taking his pills.
He's got a lot to think about.
The sleep period should be terminated.
All right, but tell mission control not to keep him busy.
- Kid him along, keep him informed. - Yes, sir.
Houston CapCom, this is Courtney.
This is Houston, CapCom, Frank Piro.
Frank, wake them up.
And, Frank, Mr. Keith does not want you to try to keep them busy.
Just keep them informed, kid them along.
Understood.
The sleep period is terminated.
Hi, fellas! We see you're awake now.
Thought we'd bring you up to date on mission status.
The solid stacks are being strapped on...
...and we'll be moving the bird on the pad in about nine hours.
Say, here's a little item of space news.
The Russians have just launched another Voshkod.
Would you believe it's carrying a Red Army all-girl marching band?
Say, you guys still asleep?
No, we're having a wild party.
Hey, that's pretty funny.
You sure you're taking your quiet pills?
We are, but the girls aren't.
Well, have fun.
Roger, Houston.
You never wind down, do you, Stoney?
No, never do.
I just do the job I was trained for:
I observe systems under stress.
Okay.
I'll give you some data points.
You know what I'm thinking now?
I'm thinking I never made enough money in this business.
How do some of those pilots make so much money?
I don't have a dime.
Are you getting all that?
Yeah. Yeah, getting all that.
I'll tell you something else.
I'll never get the Mars shot.
You know why? I'm too old.
How about that?
Why are you doing that?
- Relax, Buzz. - Don't tell me what to do.
Hey, Buzz, you....
You remember that psychologist at Brooks?
The one with the blank sheet of paper?
I don't remember.
Sure. Sure, you remember.
He held up a blank sheet of paper and said:
"What do you see?"
- I don't remember. - What did you see?
Who, me?
I saw a blank sheet of paper.
No imagination.
No, no. Devotion to truth.
Why don't you take that Ph.D. And shove it?
What are you gonna do when you finish that?
Drop it out the window in a bottle?
No, I'm the scientist.
I rely on the pilot to get me places.
If we'd had a couple more pilots, we'd be out there instead of laying here.
Jim, what did you see when the psychologist held up the paper?
They didn't have all that jazz when I came in.
I saw a field covered with snow.
And underneath, there was new oats.
And then the snow melted, and the field turned to green.
But the psychologist said I was wrong, it was just a blank sheet of paper.
They took you anyway?
Yeah, I guess they made a mistake.
No, no. They don't make mistakes.
That's right, I forgot.
They don't make mistakes, do they?
Ironman One.
Ironman One, Goldstone, do you read?
Yeah. Go, Goldstone.
You might want to look out your window, Jim.
What for?
There's somebody down there that wants to say something to you.
Say again?
Why don't you look out your window?
That's San Diego, Jim. Your hometown, saying hello.
Suspended beneath the Air Force C A3 helicopter...
... the XRV is on its way to the launch pad.
A flying wedge, shaped much like a thick arrowhead...
... the XRV has never before been in space.
When it makes its first flight, Col. Dougherty will be going it alone...
... because that bird was designed for two men...
... but now has been modified, of course, to carry four men.
Col. Dougherty will be on his way to bring home...
...the three astronauts of Ironman One.
That XRV will plunge into the atmosphere...
... at 17, 000 miles per hour, a flaming meteor coming back to Earth.
When it breaks down into the lower atmosphere...
... the speed will drop to only a few hundred miles per hour...
... and Dougherty will be flying a high-speed glider...
... an airplane without power.
He'll tak e that bird straight in towards Edwards Air Force Base...
... to land on the long runway out there in the California desert.
Hello, Ted.
Thirty-six hours and 15 minutes. Great, Ted.
- What about the hurricane? - Heading straight for us.
- When did it turn? - About six hours ago.
- When do we get it? - 75-knot winds by 9:00.
- They said it was headed to sea. - They were wrong.
How in the hell can they make a mistake like that?
Stop wasting your energy. It changed course once, it can change again.
How are the children, Teresa?
Fine.
Mine are home studying for exams.
Boy, they sure are putting the pressure on at school these days.
It'll just be a minute.
I should caution you.
You're going to notice some degeneration.
But it's important to show them how confident you are.
We understand, Dick. We won't let you down.
You want us to be confident?
The more relaxed they are, the less oxygen they use.
I know why we're here. You're letting us say goodbye.
Wyman's report to contact.
Celia?