- 6/23/2025
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00:00There are no limits to what man may achieve, for there are no boundaries beyond his dreams,
00:08and no dreams he may not ultimately make come true.
00:16Destination, space.
00:18The rocket ship rode in orbit, close to an incredible wheel-like structure
00:32that spun gently in an ocean of seeming nothingness, 500 miles out from Earth.
00:38This multi-man space station, dubbed BB, Benedict's Billions,
00:43had been made a reality by a tremendous number of scientists and technicians
00:47working against fantastic odds.
00:50And all of this stupendous effort had been spent in preparation for the next few moments to come.
00:58It was nearing the instant of launching of the rocket ship
01:01that was intended to carry the first men into orbit around the moon.
01:08The principal responsibility now was upon one man.
01:12That man was Jim Benedict, director of the U.S. Space Program.
01:17Closed by fast valves.
01:19Closed by fast valves.
01:20Closed by fast valves.
01:21Closed by fast valves.
01:22Monitor nozzles.
01:23Monitor nozzles adjusting.
01:24Nozzles adjusting.
01:25Transversive system.
01:26Transversive system.
01:27Contact lights.
01:28That's what I mean by the way to get on the dirt.
01:30Now tell my feet.
01:31It's not only cigar fuel.
01:32It's dead
01:32Well, I mean by
01:37not
01:51It's still we have to
01:52Get a heat exchanger instrumentation checked.
01:55Heat exchanger instrumentation checked, begun.
02:02Advance reactor power to 10% criticality.
02:06Reactive power advance to 10% criticality.
02:11I'm worried about you.
02:12Preset Bernie Engines Fire X to run position.
02:16Worried about what?
02:17Bernie Engines Fire X, preset to run position.
02:19Happy you're getting a Mido for this sort of nervous strength.
02:23Oh man, it makes me as happy as a sockeye salmon swimming upstream.
02:28Program heat exchanger.
02:30Heat exchanger programming.
02:35Ralph, do you have a confirm on rod control reading?
02:38Affirm.
02:40Criticality holding 10%.
02:44Gradient advance tracking curve.
02:49Dave, may we have a check on your stellar inertial platform stability?
02:53Locked up.
02:54Trident's tracking.
02:56Pretendent systems in my sink.
03:00We have the portion tracking stations.
03:08South Point, island of Hawaii, ready for tracking.
03:10Solomons, Bougainville, ready for tracking.
03:20Singapore, ready.
03:27Ready at Nairobi, Kenya.
03:28Jodro Banks, Manchester, England, ready.
03:33Jodro Banks, Manchester, England, ready.
03:40Villamil, Galapagos, ready to track.
03:41Barrow, Alaska, standing by, ready for tracking.
03:51This is ground communication control.
03:54Dr. Andrews is ready.
03:55Dr. A.A., do we have a confirm on manual override pre-programming vector to target on alternate emergency intercept courses?
04:05This is Dr. Andrews.
04:07Confirm programming.
04:08A, alpha, B, bravo, C, charlie.
04:12D, delta.
04:13Dr. Logan, do we have a confirm on alternate vernier fuel calculations?
04:18Confirm vernier fuel calculations on alternates now telemetering for conditions K, kilo, L, lima, M, might.
04:25D, delta.
04:27D, delta.
04:31Pressurize main mercury tank.
04:34Main mercury tank pressurizing.
04:41Pressurize auxiliary mercury tanks.
04:44I'll be glad when this one's over.
04:46You worry too much.
04:47It's the old, old story.
04:49Only two things can happen.
04:50It'll either be go or no go.
04:52If it's no go, only two things can happen.
04:55They either make it or they don't make it.
04:56You're not as tough as you sound.
04:57You're just as keyed up as I am.
04:58You're tracking me.
04:59I'll be glad when this one's over too.
05:00What the devil is this?
05:01Whatever it is, it's heading this way.
05:02Fast.
05:03Hit me along.
05:04No go.
05:05No go.
05:06No go.
05:07No go.
05:08No go.
05:09No go.
05:10No go.
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05:56No go.
05:57No go.
05:58Come in, Bibi. Come in, Bibi. This is ground communication control. Over.
06:07We've lost contact.
06:10GCC calling Bibi.
06:11This is Captain Schramm aboard rocket ship.
06:14Bibi in collision with meteoroid.
06:21Stabilize orbit! Stabilize orbit!
06:28Guidance control, report on orbit.
06:31Guidance control not planned and ready. Call report, sir.
06:36Damage control, report!
06:38Sections 5 and 18 sealed off with brakes and skin.
06:42Multiple pliers and generator compartments.
06:45Switch to auxiliary power.
06:50Interlock guidance and automatic vernier controls to hold orbit.
06:58GCC calling Bibi. GCC calling Bibi. Come in, please.
07:14Bibi is pitching wildly but seems to be sustaining orbit.
07:20If they go, what happens to us?
07:23All I'm worried about right now is them.
07:29Dave!
07:30Dolph!
07:32Come in, please.
07:44Benedict the rocket ship.
07:46Dolph, Dave, come in. Can you hear me? Come in, please.
07:49Okay here, Jim.
07:51How about you?
07:53Some damage, but I think we're going to be all right.
07:58Good luck.
07:59Be sure!
08:00Be sure!
08:01Be sure!
08:02Be sure!
08:03Be sure!
08:04Come in, please.
08:05Your name is Jack!
08:06God bless you!
08:07We're going to be here.
08:09We are going to be here.
08:11The air is actually very easy.
08:13Good luck!
08:14The air is being here.
08:16But if you can drop the air off, you'll be right away!
08:18We're going to be here for a biomeo.
08:20The air is now in the air.
08:21He's on the charge.
08:22We're going to be here.
08:23The air is now in the air.
08:24We are going to be here.
08:25Come in!
08:26Oh, boy, it sure got it in here, didn't it?
08:51Yeah.
08:52Guess it's what you'd call beating up.
08:54We'll have to rebuild the entire package.
08:58What luck.
09:00Don't crap about luck.
09:02If that thing had collided with us directly, then nothing left.
09:05It barely grazes.
09:06This is the only part of the damage.
09:08Is there much other damage?
09:09Two other sections were ripped up a little.
09:12The important thing is nobody was hurt badly.
09:15I'm grateful for that.
09:16And we held it in orbit.
09:17That's something else to be grateful for.
09:19Still one more thing we can be grateful for.
09:21At least this is one setback they can't blame on us.
09:25As director of the space projects, Benedict has done a great deal.
09:44But it's equally true that Benedict has promised even more.
09:50And the cost has been as spectacular as the achievements.
09:53Now we even wonder if that space station, popularly dubbed BB, or Benedict's billions, is actually practical at all.
10:04Have Benedict and his experts realistically faced the hazards involved?
10:10Or have they been whistling in the dark?
10:13I could happily choke a guy like that.
10:16He's entitled to voice his opinion.
10:18He's making a lot of noise trying to get himself some headlines.
10:21He and people like him couldn't help the enemy more if they were paid agents.
10:25If I listened to you two, you'd think that we were heroes to everybody but the politicians.
10:29From all report, the bulk of the press has been equally hostile all week.
10:33The prices we're costing them, they want success, not failure, regardless of cause.
10:38Excuse me, sir.
10:39But Washington is on the radio phone for Dr. Benedict.
10:41The communications officer said to tell you it's the White House.
10:43And that man's name is James Benedict.
11:04It's time the entire matter is investigated and reappraised.
11:08And it's my intention to have James Benedict subpoenaed by a special senatorial investigating committee on space.
11:31Well, what did the president say?
11:33Direct quote.
11:35I don't want anything to happen to the space program.
11:37Well, we're in for a tough appropriation fight to save it.
11:40I'm depending on you.
11:41What are you supposed to do?
11:43I don't know, June.
11:44I'll have to play it by ear.
11:45Oh, I'm sorry about the setback.
11:48But here's to any minor mishaps that bring you back to me.
11:52Minor mishap?
11:55I'm ecstatic to be sitting here.
11:56But how can you call what happened to us a minor mishap?
11:59Well, I'll put it this way, then.
12:01I'm grieved about the collision, really.
12:03But I'm downright enthusiastic about the subpoena.
12:08Yeah, how about that?
12:10It takes a collision with a meteoroid and a summons from the Senate to get us together for a couple of hours.
12:15Some romance.
12:16One, it's beautiful.
12:18When do you intend to marry me, sir?
12:21One of these days.
12:22I don't like to rush into anything.
12:23Even though it's only a little thing like marriage.
12:25You know, I'm acquainted with literally hundreds of people.
12:32And I have to fall in love with a man who lives in an orbit.
12:36Guess you're just lucky.
12:38I spend half my valuable time looking up into the sky, wondering how you are.
12:44Wondering when I'm going to see you again.
12:48At night when the stars are out, that's when it's the worst.
12:51That's when you seem so far.
12:55It's funny, but with me it's just the other way around.
12:58I look down at the earth, spinning slowly beneath us, and it seems so small.
13:06All the places on it seem close together.
13:09Sometimes I can even pick out this city.
13:11It seems like you're right below.
13:16And so very, very near.
13:18Must be beautiful.
13:19It's indescribable.
13:20I wish I could show it to you.
13:22Maybe someday.
13:24Maybe.
13:27What you do is so important.
13:28I wouldn't have it any other way.
13:30I'm very proud of you.
13:32I'll be glad, though, when you're back to stay.
13:34I hope you don't mind.
13:35I invited Kim to join us for Dave's sake.
13:37Of course I don't mind.
13:38Hi, Jim.
13:38Hello.
13:39Oh, Jim.
13:39Gee, it's wonderful to see you.
13:41Thanks.
13:42You're kind of a stinker.
13:43I haven't heard from you all week long.
13:45You're never home.
13:46I phoned you for three days.
13:48I tried for hours to get you this morning.
13:49Well, that kind of proves that one of us is a fraud, doesn't it?
13:52Jim, you really are looking just great.
13:55Because I lead such a relaxed life.
13:58May I take your honor, man?
14:00What are you two having?
14:01A mixed green salad.
14:03Yeah, that'll do just nicely.
14:05You're looking pretty trim yourself, Kim.
14:08I've been eating like they were going to prohibit it tomorrow.
14:10I have put on five pounds.
14:12It doesn't show.
14:13Oh, yes, it does when I stand up.
14:16Oh, come on.
14:17Now, stop being evasive.
14:20Tell me everything, Jim, because I want to hear it.
14:23Well, let's see.
14:24Dave's in flawless shape.
14:28I don't have to tell you that he misses you.
14:30I suspect he tells you that on the phone all the time.
14:34He's been telling me that he misses me practically since the day we were married.
14:39That's kind of a story of our lives, how much we miss one another.
14:43Move over, you have company.
14:44Well, at least you gals won't get tired of us.
14:48Oh.
14:50Is that so hilariously funny?
14:53Strange.
14:54I don't see any humor in it at all.
14:57Well, really, Kim, I don't either, but no reason to abuse ourselves about it.
15:02It doesn't seem to do very much good not to mention it at all, either.
15:06I have a feeling that it's going to go on until I'm old and gray.
15:10Or until you kill him.
15:12Kim, what a terrible thing to say.
15:15Maybe.
15:16But it's true.
15:18The newspapers call you the space project team.
15:22You don't seem like very much of a team to me.
15:25Dave takes all the risks and you take all the bows.
15:28You know you don't mean that, Kim.
15:38Tell me about the accident.
15:39There's not much to tell beyond what you've already heard and read.
15:48We were close to the finish of the countdown and just happened to run into a fair-sized meteor.
15:54Suddenly we found ourselves with all bets off.
15:57So what happens now?
15:59We have to shuttle up parts, prepare the station, and we'll reschedule and try it all over again.
16:06That is, if we come through this investigation successfully and still have the funds.
16:10Do you know when I heard about the collision and I almost died, there was a news flash.
16:19And it was horrible.
16:24And I said, Kim, this is it.
16:27This is what you've been waiting for.
16:29You've been sitting out your whole life waiting to hear that Dave is dead.
16:34And that he's gone forever.
16:35It's hard on you, Kim.
16:37I know that.
16:38And I'm sorry.
16:40You're not sorry.
16:41If you were, you'd stop pushing.
16:43We can't stop.
16:45This is something we all believe in.
16:47Oh, I don't.
16:50Kim, there's no reason to take it out on one another.
16:53So now I've got to face another long wait.
16:56Why, you reschedule things and try again.
17:01And then I'll see Dave for a few weeks.
17:03That is, if he comes through this.
17:06But then there'll be another project.
17:09And you'll take Dave away again.
17:10Well, let me tell you something, Jim.
17:14I am sick and tired of your being the master and Dave being the guinea pig.
17:19And I think deep down he is too.
17:23And one of these days, I am going to do some very fancy screaming about it.
17:29Kim, it's not my fault.
17:30Don't blame me.
17:31It was an act of God.
17:33In that case, there's nobody to blame but you.
17:38Because that's the role that you play.
17:40I'm very sorry for her.
17:51So am I.
17:53Sorry for you, too.
17:56She's quite unfair to me.
17:58You didn't already have enough trouble.
18:00Enough to worry about.
18:03Well, you know what they say.
18:05Them that has, gets.
18:10At this moment, is the satellite in particular hazard because of the damage sustained?
18:24No, sir.
18:25It has ample auxiliary power to keep it functioning within safety factors.
18:30But until repaired, the station's usefulness is impaired.
18:34Dr. Benedict, for the record, how much of the damage to the satellite resulted directly from the collision itself?
18:42Well, a little, actually.
18:48The meteoroid was a large one, but it fortunately merely scraped us, coming in contact with this upper portion of the structure, causing some tearing of the skin to Section 18 and to Section 5 from some hurled fragments.
19:04Any other questions?
19:08Yes, I have a few.
19:11Did the rocket ship itself sustain any damage?
19:14No, Senator.
19:15That was not directly involved.
19:16The delay in the space project and the huge added expense, which we can certainly expect to be heaped upon us, are due then purely to the space station being up there.
19:28I'm afraid I don't quite understand your question.
19:31All right, I'll put it another way.
19:34Let's talk about that rocket ship.
19:35If it had been designed so as not to be dependent upon the space station, then there wouldn't have been any reason for delaying its attempt on the current moon project, now would there?
19:46Inasmuch as the rocket ship is dependent in certain respects upon guidance and safety control from the space station, I would have to regard that question as too iffy.
19:57Now, don't try to evade me, sir.
19:59You're supposed to be one of our nation's greatest brains.
20:02Certainly you should be able to understand this simple question.
20:05If the rocket ship were 100% independent of the space station, would there or would there not have been any reason for delaying its attempt to orbit the moon?
20:17Well, that, sir, would be in the realm of crystal gazing.
20:21Though I hate to admit it, in that field I'm not qualified to answer.
20:25How soon after the station is repaired will the rocket ship be ready again to make the lunar attempt?
20:38A whole new system of procedures will have to be set up.
20:41The moon will be in a different position with relation to the Earth-moon orbit around the sun,
20:46but these preparations should all be finished long before the space station is repaired.
20:51Ah!
20:52The statement you've just made establishes beyond one iota of doubt that the principal delay is due to the time required to repair the space station.
21:00I would say there could be no question about that.
21:04Fine. Fine.
21:05Then if that is so, then this follows.
21:08We all know that launching a rocket from the surface of Earth involves many problems that are avoided by starting it from a high-speed orbit above our atmosphere.
21:15But a great number of missiles have been sent into space from the surface,
21:20and it seems that a big enough rocket for this present moon job would have been easier to attain and a lot cheaper
21:29than building that white elephant of a space station we know all too well as Benedict's Billions.
21:37It's unfair. That's what it is.
21:40Unfair.
21:41It's unreasonably, unjustly, unequivocally unfair.
21:44It's unfair, all right.
21:46You're doggone right it's unfair.
21:48You know me.
21:49I never get mad.
21:50Nothing ever makes me mad.
21:52I don't allow myself to get mad.
21:55But, dear, I'm plenty mad.
21:57Dr. Andrews is right, Jim.
22:00This isn't a hearing.
22:01It's a mammoth soapbox.
22:03And Senator Royce is using it for personal speech-making.
22:06You're quite right, Jim.
22:07You're exactly right.
22:09The man's grandstanding.
22:11And he doesn't care who he hurts or what it costs.
22:14I'm used to it.
22:17It's practically a normal environment for me.
22:20Besides, it's not just me he's after.
22:22It's the wheel he's opposed to.
22:24Nonsense.
22:25He's opposed to everything we've done.
22:28He fought us from the very beginning,
22:29knowing that the publicity would make him famous.
22:32All right, that's true.
22:33So he's a demagogue, and so he makes loud and repetitious noises
22:36until the impressionable begin to listen.
22:39But I still have faith in the majority of Congress,
22:42and I have faith in the man in the street.
22:45He can be swayed this way and that,
22:47but when the truth eventually gets to him,
22:49he knows where to stand and what to support.
22:52But we haven't got time to wait for the man in the street.
22:55By the time he's made up his mind,
22:56we'll all be busted and out of business.
22:58That's exactly what worries me.
23:01I wish you two would eat your lunch.
23:02That's what the recess was for.
23:04Now let's keep it official.
23:06Oh, no, I don't feel like it.
23:09Every time I think of that fabricating, phase-making phony,
23:12I lose my appetite.
23:13No wonder.
23:14It must be awful to be a sitting duck for an utter nitwit.
23:18It is.
23:19But worst of all,
23:20it gives the opposition a chance to blow their loud horns.
23:23Maybe we should blow some of our loud trumpets.
23:25Oh, come now, Dr. Andrews.
23:26I've never heard a bragging or an egotistical statement out of you yet.
23:30Hmm.
23:31Perhaps that's what's wrong with me.
23:33I'm too modest.
23:34Dr. Logan here is too modest.
23:36You're too modest.
23:37And the thousands of people who work for us are too modest.
23:39What do you want us to do?
23:41Start taking bows for our latest delay?
23:43No, but we needn't go on hiding our light under a bushel either.
23:46June was right when she said that miracles are performed around here.
23:49They are.
23:50Every member of our unit performs them.
23:52I perform six or seven of them every day before lunch.
23:57And, Dr. Andrews, if you can't perform a miracle,
23:59you build a machine that performs one for you.
24:02Oh, that's the easy part of it.
24:03I do other things I wouldn't believe possible if I hadn't done them myself.
24:07Jim, I do think it's time you did a little bragging.
24:10So do I.
24:11And this afternoon, whether they introduce me or not,
24:14I'm going to give a speech.
24:16I bet it'll be a wonderful speech.
24:18I've never made a speech in my life, mind you.
24:19I've given lectures, but I've never made a speech.
24:21This afternoon, I give a speech, and I'm going to tell them all.
24:24They can go.
24:26Jump in the river.
24:28Dr. Andrews, if I asked you to give me a promise, would you keep it?
24:33Of course you know that.
24:34What is it?
24:35That speech.
24:37Don't.
24:37Mr. Chairman.
24:45Dr. Benedict.
24:47Before the lunch recess, Senator Royce made a statement about the space station,
24:50intimated its use being limited merely to its being a jumping-off place.
24:54Well, I think it only fair to place in the record a correction to that impression.
25:00Proceed.
25:00Freed from Earth, gravity, and atmosphere,
25:04the space station is a complex working base
25:07from which many highly critical functions are performed.
25:12Weather forecasting,
25:14astronomical observations,
25:16radio and television relaying,
25:17and many highly important military uses,
25:20only one of which is global reconnaissance.
25:23Oh, now, Benedict, we've had all sorts of satellites in orbit,
25:26telemetering back data long, long, long
25:29before you built that contraption up there.
25:31Yes, we still have.
25:32And I might add that the station is now servicing some of those very units.
25:37But let's forget all of that for a while,
25:39and let's talk about some facts of life.
25:43We don't intend only to send up a manned missile
25:46to orbit the moon.
25:47That's only one step in our program.
25:49We intend to make a soft landing on the moon.
25:54We intend to establish a base on the moon,
25:57a base that will need to be continuously supplied.
26:02Now, of course, all of this could be done
26:03by sending up missiles from the surface of the Earth.
26:08But to do this in such an obsolete way
26:10would cost billions and billions of dollars,
26:13more than what has been spent on BB.
26:15And this apparatus, Benedict's billions,
26:20is in orbit now and is operational.
26:24That's a broad and loose use of the word.
26:27I can hardly regard so delicate and vulnerable
26:30an installation as being operational.
26:32It, sir, is operational.
26:35There are equally learned scientists
26:37who feel that it is delicate and unreliable.
26:41And a number of these scientists talk to me.
26:45And I can tell you they have my ear.
26:47Now, what do you think of that?
26:48I think it's lucky, sir,
26:50that it's your ear they have and not mine.
26:52I don't think that this is any time for levity.
27:04I'll tell you what I intend to do, sir.
27:06I have a scientific advisor, Dr. Kurt Easton,
27:09whose reputation is unassailable.
27:12I'm going to see that he's appointed
27:14to return with you as official observer on the station.
27:18I think we've arrived at the moment
27:19when this committee is entitled to some first-hand reports
27:23which may not necessarily be in concert with yours
27:26and your personal organization.
27:28And I can tell you the Pentagon better not try to block it.
27:32If this committee sees fit to appoint such an observer,
27:35I assure you no one will try to block Dr. Easton.
27:38And now, sir, I want, here and now,
27:41as part of your testimony,
27:43an honest and frank appraisal
27:46of whatever other predictable hazards
27:48this space station really faces.
27:54Sir, there are any number of hazards and dangers,
27:58ranging all the way from radiation
28:00to innumerable possibilities of mechanical failure.
28:04But if you demand my frank appraisal
28:06of what I consider to be the greatest danger,
28:10it's the vacillation,
28:11the continuing swings of certain sections of public opinion.
28:17From the earliest days of Cape Canaveral,
28:20when we were first trying to outdo the first Sputniks,
28:23many people have teeter-tottered
28:27between anguish and triumph.
28:29Whenever the enemy made the slightest advance,
28:33loud voices proclaimed that we should beat them at all cost.
28:38And whenever the slightest gain was made,
28:41this unfailingly was followed by periods of apathy or complacency.
28:45And through it all,
28:48a few kept up the weeping and the wailing
28:50over the cost of survival.
28:52And there have always been political opportunists
28:54ready and waiting to grab a headline
28:57by jumping on the crest of each wave,
29:00whether it be one of enthusiasm or one of despair.
29:04Those of us on these projects
29:05are well aware of our responsibilities.
29:07And we recognize the value of committees such as this one,
29:11calling us in from time to time for a reckoning.
29:15And it's good that they take us to task
29:16and keep us on our toes.
29:19It's of little importance,
29:20whether one by the name of Benedict
29:21bears the principal responsibility of someone else.
29:25I do not speak for myself,
29:27except to say that if I seem to be failing,
29:30I should be replaced immediately.
29:32But let us make up our minds once and for all
29:34whether we want an all-out space program or not.
29:38And if we decide that we do,
29:39as I pray we will,
29:41then let us remain constant to that purpose.
29:44And in the name of the future of our country,
29:48let us stop being like a changeable wind,
29:51blowing hot one day and cold the next.
29:54Instead, let us go forward in the American way,
29:57pioneering new frontiers without fear,
30:01taking pride in accomplishment,
30:03yet facing dangers and disappointments with resoluteness.
30:07and without qualms and complaint.
30:41These are the awful moments.
30:45Yes, they are.
30:47I'll be thinking of you every second.
30:50And I you.
30:53Good evening, Dr. Easton.
30:54Hi there.
30:55Dr. Easton.
30:56May I present Miss Kramer?
30:57Hello, Doctor.
30:58Delighted, Miss Kramer.
30:59Dr. Easton's going with me to the wheel as an observer.
31:01They told me I could get on down and climb aboard.
31:03Yes, I'll join you in just a few minutes.
31:05This is quite a night for me.
31:07I've been around a lot of rockets in my day, but I've never ridden in one.
31:10I'm not ashamed to say that I'm beginning to feel the full throes of panic creeping over me.
31:16It's pretty dreadful for a man to attain the age in life that I have and face up to the fact that he might be a weak-kneed, quivering coward.
31:23Don't let that worry you, Doctor.
31:24That's almost normal behavior.
31:26Even after a lot of trips, the fellow's on the nervous side.
31:30Everybody's first experience is terrifying.
31:33What gets me is how I blithely accepted this assignment.
31:36For some peculiar reason, I don't think I was actually aware of for a few moments ago.
31:41The fact that I was getting myself in the situation of being shot out of a cannon, going up and coming back.
31:46You can't tell a thing about it.
31:47You might love it.
31:48Well, I'll tell you this.
31:49It's never going to become a hobby.
31:51It's a pleasure to know you, Miss Kramer.
31:52Nice meeting you, Doctor.
31:53Here goes.
31:55I'm seeing you.
31:57I hope my knees get me over there.
32:02Poor guy.
32:04Nobody's first trip is any fun.
32:06Seems like a nice enough fellow.
32:08You know, everything may turn out to be all right.
32:10I hope so.
32:11We sold them on the space station again.
32:15Let's just hope that the moon launching goes well.
32:19It will.
32:23We won't be leaving for hours yet.
32:27Probably not until after sunrise.
32:29Maybe it would be better if you didn't wait until we launch.
32:32Would you mind awfully?
32:35I can't stand to watch you get into that thing.
32:37Oh, it's not so bad.
32:40So long, fellow.
32:42See any Martians?
32:43Give them my regards.
32:44Jim.
33:06Jim.
33:10Jim.
33:11I don't know what to say to you.
33:15I'm so ashamed of what I said the other night.
33:19Kim, don't worry. Please don't. I didn't pay any attention to it.
33:22I wouldn't do anything to hurt you, you know that.
33:24Of course.
33:25I don't know what gets into me. I don't know why I act the way I do.
33:27You do understand, don't you?
33:29Of course I understand.
33:31It's rough on you as it can be with Dave away all the time.
33:36You don't understand.
33:39Oh, Jim.
33:41Can't you see the way that I feel about you?
34:11Oh, Jim.
34:13Oh, Jim.
34:14Oh, Jim.
34:16Oh, Jim.
34:18Oh, Jim.
34:20Oh, Jim.
34:21THE END
34:51THE END
35:21THE END
35:29THE END
35:33Oh, Dave, Matt, how are you?
35:44Oh, fine. You look great.
35:46Thanks.
35:47Good to have you back, Jim.
35:49I'd like you to meet Dr. Kutt Easton.
35:51Colonel Matthews, ship commander, my associate Dave Rimmel.
35:54Welcome aboard, sir.
35:56Nice to know you.
35:56How do you do?
35:57I believe we met once before at a symposium.
36:00You read a very interesting paper concerning missile trains.
36:03Oh, yes, I do remember.
36:06That would have been a couple of years ago.
36:07MIT, I believe.
36:08That's right.
36:10Well, as you know, Dr. Easton's going to be with us for a spell
36:12as an observer for the senatorial committee.
36:15I hope I won't be too much in the way.
36:18On the contrary, sir, we're proud of what we're doing up here.
36:20As a matter of fact, I'd like to take you on a tour of the wheel right now.
36:24Fine. I'm anxious to see all of it.
36:26Well, I'll meet you in a little while in the control compacts.
36:29Good. See you.
36:33How was it?
36:38Pretty rugged?
36:39Not bad.
36:40We have the majority of Congress on our side.
36:43You did a beautiful job, Jim.
36:45We were all proud of you.
36:47You're going to be much of a headache?
36:49Who knows?
36:51I'm glad of one thing.
36:52They sent us a pro,
36:54even if he does happen to disagree with some of our ideas.
36:57That we can win him over on our side?
36:59I hope so.
37:00I don't have to tell you how important it is that we do.
37:03You see Kim?
37:05Of course.
37:06How was she?
37:08Just fine.
37:10I'd say she was in excellent health.
37:12How'd she act?
37:13Friend or enemy?
37:15Well, I only saw her a couple of times.
37:17First time, she was a little feisty.
37:20But the second time, she was...
37:22warmer.
37:23Great.
37:24She's going to end up loving you.
37:25She's going to end up loving you.
37:55Come in, Dr. Easton.
38:04Come in.
38:05Have you got a minute?
38:06Yes.
38:09I know the countdown's about to begin, and...
38:13well, I just wanted to wish you luck.
38:14It's very thoughtful of you.
38:17You know, I've been up here just about a month.
38:20And I must say, I've been more favorably impressed with each passing day.
38:24That's good to hear.
38:24Well, it's funny in a way.
38:27And quite frankly, I expected just the opposite.
38:31I rather anticipated that I'd not approve of nothing.
38:34I expected everything to be worth nowhere near the effort or cost.
38:41I thought I was dead set against.
38:42That's very gratifying.
38:47Again, good luck.
38:51See you, too.
38:53Good luck.
38:54Well, we're ready, Jim.
39:01We're about to get over the rocket.
39:03Take good care of yourself, baby.
39:05Don't let anything happen to you.
39:06I'll try.
39:07Believe me, I'll try.
39:08I'll go down to the airlock with all of you.
39:10Jim.
39:11Yeah?
39:11I know I'm repeating myself.
39:17Stop worrying about Kim.
39:18Monitor nozzles adjustment.
39:35Start reactor power build-up for a test.
39:41Reactor power build-up started.
39:442%.
39:45Begin heat exchanger instrumentation check.
39:49Exchange instrumentation begun.
39:53Advanced reactor power to 10% criticality.
39:56What's your rod control reading, Dolph?
40:09Criticality holding 10%.
40:11Did they report on guidance system?
40:16A lot.
40:18Redundant systems in full sync.
40:22Dr. Andrus?
40:24Programming is found.
40:25As well as emergency ordnates.
40:28Dr. Logan?
40:29Confirmed vernier calculations is telemetric.
40:34Close number one and number two.
40:36Vernier engine links.
40:39Number one and two, Vernier engine links close.
40:42Nuclear reaction no longer constant.
40:44Not sustaining 10% criticality.
40:48Dolph?
40:49Confirmed.
40:50Criticality near 20%.
40:52Hold.
40:53Power off.
40:55Shut down nuclear pile.
40:58I'm trying to.
40:59She's not responding.
41:00Oh, you want automatic or manual override?
41:03Rod control is not responding to either.
41:06Criticality 22%.
41:08Close tank valves.
41:11Shut off all working fluid.
41:12All valves closed.
41:14There's no danger of premature thrusts, but maker and dog rods are withdrawn and no longer functioning.
41:22We have a runaway.
41:23All right.
41:26Man, oh man.
41:28You're not kidding.
41:29If she keeps building.
41:31If she gets 95%, she'll blow like an A-bomb.
41:33Matt, you'd better alert all your people.
41:42Attention all ships company.
41:44Attention.
41:45This is Colonel Matthew speaking.
41:47We're faced with a possible nuclear explosion of the rocket ship.
41:50All personnel manned emergency stations.
41:54Manned emergency stations.
41:56Secure all compartments.
41:58Secure all compartments.
42:01Damage control party.
42:02Stand by.
42:03What's your guess, Dave?
42:06I'm trying to figure.
42:09Seems like it's got to be something in the servo linkage.
42:1224.
42:14Lost pressurization and thermal control in Charlie component.
42:18Jim?
42:18Can you give me a reading of pressure and temp in Charlie component?
42:24Sergeant.
42:25Pressure and temp lost in Charlie.
42:28That's your trouble.
42:29The servo linkage has been broken in that area.
42:31Verticality, 26%.
42:33Got to get that pile closed down and there's no way of doing it while those rods are out.
42:39We'll wait until we know exactly what's followed up.
42:4128%.
42:42Those are secondary servo units in that component.
42:46They activate the pneumatic system of the reactor.
42:49I can climb in there through the central column if we've got a pressure.
42:54Damage control.
42:55Man, been ready.
42:57I'm afraid that may take too long.
43:00I've got to try it.
43:01Guidance control, man, and ready.
43:04Go ahead.
43:05Pressure and thermal control, man, and ready.
43:08If that rocket blows up, it will blow us up too long.
43:10We're at a calculated safe distance.
43:13It'll probably rock us.
43:14We'll probably lose orbit, but we'll probably live.
43:17Is that all you're worried about?
43:19I didn't say that.
43:21I'm not exactly enjoying it.
43:2230%.
43:2430%.
43:25Gradient increase accelerating.
43:29He made up his mind.
43:31You couldn't have stopped him.
43:33How did that pile get, the faster she'll keep building.
43:36They can run out of time all at once.
43:38They know that as well as we do.
43:39Ready now.
43:54Head pressurization.
43:57Depressurized rocket.
44:01Criticality 32%.
44:0234%.
44:21Dolph, is Dave able to get through there?
44:36Yep, he's making.
44:4236%.
44:43Thirty-eight percent.
45:04Criticality 40%.
45:0644%.
45:12Criticality 48%.
45:15Criticality 52%.
45:17I found it.
45:36I found it.
45:39A small bleed-off duct
45:40of a hydraulic cockpit burst.
45:43The fluid blew out in globules
45:44and froze against one of the servo units
45:47of the rod activator.
45:48It's jammed with ice.
45:54Can you free it?
45:57I'll need a finer instrument
45:59so I don't follow it up.
46:01I'll get it.
46:02At the rate the pile's building,
46:04she'll explode before you can accomplish anything.
46:07I can make it.
46:08No, I don't want you to try it.
46:11I want you all to abandon the rocket.
46:14How far can we walk in the next 30 seconds?
46:17Where do we go?
46:2556%.
46:26Dr. Logan,
46:31even if he frees it,
46:33will it operate with the bleed-off duct probe?
46:36Yes.
46:38If you can free it,
46:39the servo will work.
46:41The bleed-off duct
46:42has nothing to do
46:43with the rod control.
46:4858%.
46:4964%.
46:5264%.
46:5564%.
46:5864%.
47:0164%.
47:0664%.
47:1164%.
47:127.
47:1764%.
47:1770%
47:2572%
47:34Now, get back to the controls.
47:43I'll be told by friend.
47:4774%
47:5176%
47:5478%
47:5780%
48:01Any action yet, pal?
48:07No, I guess she's still stuck.
48:1085%
48:1188%
48:1790%
48:26Criticality 90%
48:28He's beginning to function.
48:34He's beginning to function.
48:36Criticality 92%.
48:38Criticality 88%.
48:4384%.
48:46Dropping.
49:08What's the matter with you?
49:09More delay.
49:10Another month.
49:12You're right.
49:15But it's a month that Dr. Easton can help explain.
49:18I will describe precisely what I've witnessed.
49:30How those on Earth will react.
49:33Only the future can tell.
49:34What's the matter with you?
49:35What's the matter with you?
49:36What's the matter with you?
49:36What's the matter with you?
49:37What's the matter with you?
49:38What's the matter with you?
49:39What's the matter with you?
49:39What's the matter with you?
49:40What's the matter with you?
49:41What's the matter with you?
49:41What's the matter with you?
49:42What's the matter with you?
49:43What's the matter with you?
49:43What's the matter with you?
49:43What's the matter with you?
49:44What's the matter with you?
49:45What's the matter with you?
49:45What's the matter with you?
49:46What's the matter with you?
49:46What's the matter with you?
49:47What's the matter with you?
49:47What's the matter with you?
49:48What's the matter with you?
49:48What's the matter with you?
49:49The End
50:19The End
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