Minute 002: A Mere Eighteen Months

Narrator continues: ” on which Man has ever embarked.”

Gus Grissom reaches for the control panel of Apollo 1’s Command Module. A spark leaps out from the panel.

Narrator: “After trailing the Russians for years with our manned space program, and after that sudden and horrible fire on the launch pad during that routine test that killed American astronauts Gus Grissiom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee, there were serious doubts as to whether we could beat the Russians to the Moon.”

Flames lick the walls of the cabin. Ed White reaches for the hatch, pounding an open hand on the hatch windows as flames engulf the interior of the ship.

The scene changes to a driver’s eye view of the streets of nighttime Houston.

TITLE: JULY 20, 1969 HOUSTON TEXAS

Narrator: “But tonight,  a mere eighteen months after the tragedy of Apollo One, the entire world watched in awe as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon.”

A red Corvette winds its way through traffic. Jim Lovell is at the wheel.

TITLE: TOM HANKS

1969 video footage of Walter Cronkite, saying “the big news came just a moment ago, Mission Control gave the spacecraft permission to go for the extra vehicular activity — that is, for the walk on the Moon — far earlier than anticipated: 9 PM, Eastern Daylight Time…”

Back at the Lovell household, Astronaut Jack Swigert is explaining docking procedures to a smiling blonde woman.

“Now the important thing when you’re penetrating the Lunar Module,” says Swigert, pointing the top of a long-necked Budweiser bottle at a tall glass, “is your attitude and your relative speed.” Swigert looks at the woman.  “Now, let’s say this is me here in the Command Module,” he continues, wiggling the beer bottle, “and let’s say this is you, in the LM,” he jiggles the glass.  “This thing that sticks out in front, that’s called –”

TITLE: KEVIN BACON

IN THIS MINUTE:

Narrator: Walter Cronkite
Jim Lovell: Tom Hanks
Jack Swigert: Kevin Bacon
Tracy: Karen Martin
Gus Grissom: Steve Bernie
Ed White: Steve Ruge
Roger Chaffee: Reed Rudy