

Failure To Launch
Failure To Launch Podcast
This is a podcast about all the mistakes, failures, and explosions that made space exploration possible.
Episodes
Mentioned books

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

May 3, 2024 • 57min
Max Valier: The Space Evangelist
Non-failure topic this week as Quinn, Chris, and Other Chris talk about Max Valier, the Austrian dude largely responsible for popularizing space research, creating the first professional rocket program, and riding rocket cars.
Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content!
Sources
- Max Valier, A Pioneer of Space Travel - Ilse Essers
- The Rocket Men (Air Force Magazine)
Theme song by DJ Danarchy

Apr 17, 2024 • 1h 37min
Part 2: Soyuz 11 Disaster (w/ Beyond the Breakers)
*CONTENT WARNING*
This week, we're back with Taylor and Tanner of the Beyond the Breakers podcast for part 2 of our series on Soyuz 11.
Follow Beyond the Breakers here
Support FTL through Patreon and unlock new bonus content
Sources:
- Salyut - The First Space Station: Triumph and Tragedy, Grujica Ivanovich (2008)
- Rockets and People Volume 4: The Moon Race, Boris Chertok (2013)
Theme song by DJ Danarchy

Apr 4, 2024 • 1h 20min
Part 1: Soyuz 11 Disaster (w/ Beyond the Breakers)
The story of the world's first space station is complicated, tragic, and incredibly stupid. Today, we're joined by Tanner and Taylor from @beyond_breakers to talk about it.
Follow Beyond the Breakers here!
Support FTL through Patreon and unlock new bonus content!
Sources:
- Salyut - The First Space Station: Triumph and Tragedy, Grujica Ivanovich (2008)
- Rockets and People Volume 4: The Moon Race, Boris Chertok (2013)
- Mir Hardware Heritage, NASA (1995)
Theme song by DJ Danarchy

Mar 29, 2024 • 11min
*PREVIEW* Teens In The Universe (1974)
This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our patreon at any tier: https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch

Mar 21, 2024 • 1h 19min
Balloonomania (w. Nicholas Slayton)
The French were the first to fly and it made them really weird about balloons. This episode, we're joined by journalist @NSlayton to talk all about the first balloons and aeronauts.
Find Nicholas' work here and here!
Support FTL through Patreon and unlock new bonus content!
Sources:
- The Aeronauts, Donald Dale Jackson
- The Early History of Ballooning, Fraser Simons