
Failure To Launch
This is a podcast about all the mistakes, failures, and explosions that made space exploration possible.
Latest episodes

Jul 29, 2024 • 1h 52min
The Science of Launch Forecasting
Cape Canaveral is in Florida. Vandenburg launch site is in California. Today, we're joined by meteorologist and former launch forecaster Tenki to talk about the unique problems both face and why lightning and rockets should never mix (see: Apollo 12).
If you want to watch this as a video with Tenki's slides and visuals, we will have it posted on Youtube shortly. Subscribe to the channel so you can be notified when it goes up!
Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content!
Theme song by DJ Danarchy

Jul 24, 2024 • 58min
*UNLOCKED* Planet of the Storms (1962)
What if mankind's first contact with alien life was through the barrel of a WW1-era German handgun? We're unlocking our first bonus episode for you, the audience!
If you want more of this, consider signing up on Patreon!

Jul 10, 2024 • 1h 21min
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Moon (2001)
We're back and talking about a very dumb Moon Landing Hoax "documentary". Also a fun history primer on how the Moon Hoax conspiracy theory got off the ground evolved over the decades.
Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content!
Read Paolo Attivisimo's Moon Hoax: Debunked!
Theme song by DJ Danarchy

Jul 3, 2024 • 10min
*PREVIEW* Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)
This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our patreon at any tier: https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch
Somehow it escaped our brains till now that CODBLOPS has a mission where you shoot down Soyuz 2.

Jun 28, 2024 • 1h 36min
The CIA Luna Heist (w. November Kelly)
History content starts at 19:25
In 1959, the CIA and Mexican DFS stole a Soviet lunar probe in possibly the dumbest heist in spying history. This week, we're joined by @postoctobrist to talk about the CIA Luna Heist.
Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content!
Read space historian Drew LePage's articles on the first moon race!
Sources:
- MIT Technology Review Article on the Heist
- CIA Article on the Luna Heist
Theme song by DJ Danarchy

Jun 17, 2024 • 1h 36min
Part 2: The Apollo 1 Disaster
In response to a lethal accident, NASA pulled off the crisis communications hattrick: lying to the public, lying to Congress, and lying to the Senate. This week, we're back talking to Kyle about the investigation and fallout of the Apollo 1 fire.
Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content.
Sources:
- NASA Apollo 204 Disaster Report
Theme song by DJ Danarchy.

Jun 10, 2024 • 9min
*PREVIEW* Space Amoeba (1970)
This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our patreon at any tier: https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch

May 31, 2024 • 1h 30min
Part 1: The Apollo 1 Disaster
*CONTENT WARNING*
A rushed development process, a faulty design, and non-existent quality control. This week, we're joined by space industry engineer Kyle (Skyhawk) to talk about the leadup and events of the Apollo 1 disaster.
Sources:
- NASA Report on AS-204
- Chariots for Apollo, Courtney G. Brooks
- Apollo 1: The Tragedy That Put Us On The Moon, Ryan S. Walters
Theme song by DJ Danarchy

May 17, 2024 • 1h 15min
Balloonomania 2: The Pre-Space Race
Did you know that Ballooning was once an Olympic sport? This week, we're rejoined by Nicholas Slayton (@nslayton) to talk about balloons, specifically all the people who died trying to conquer the Stratosphere.
Find Nicholas' work here and here!
Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content!
Theme song by DJ Danarchy
Sources
The Pre-Astronauts, Craig Ryan
Gaddafi article from the Independent

May 9, 2024 • 16min
*PREVIEW* Solaris (1972)
This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our patreon at any tier: https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch