Previously on The Right Stuff...
These are the Mercury astronauts.
- I'm not gonna be one of the seven. - No?
I'm gonna be the first man in space.
LIFE will tell your stories, gentlemen.
We will take the public on a journey from the kitchen table to Pluto.
It's 25,000 dollars a year.
This is a fresh start for us.
I'm Alan Shepard, astronaut.
- You Dee? - Second Lieutenant O'Hara.
Only my friends call me "Dee."
We're supposed to send a man to space inside a year
and we are already a month behind schedule.
Heat check, go.
All launch systems are green.
Go.
- Stand by. - Fuel is go.
- FIDO. - Go.
- Network. - Go.
- RSO. - Go.
- Capsule system. - Go.
- Recovery. - Go.
TC, this is Flight, we are go for launch.
- Roger, go for launch. - We are go.
Five, four, three, two, one.
Ignition. Lift off.
- Confirm lift off. - That is confirmed.
Flight, charge off floor.
Flight, I have a red light on capsule...
Flight, we see sustainer's not responding to pitch and roll program.
Are you seeing a board sequence initiated on board, FIDO?
- Flight, I show negative capsule set. - Flight, TM frame loss from Goddard.
What the hell is going on? Anyone?
And can you confirm the relay is green?
- Sending destruct command. - Wait.
Have you confirmed trajectory data?
Is the rocket headed for civilian population?
Flight, MA-1 is still within range to destruct...
You are about to kill an astronaut, son. Are you sure?
Flight altitude decreasing. Now at 14K.
Separation is yellow.
Standby. Loss of radar contact. Break up of MA-1 nine miles downrange.
Hope nobody has family in Titusville.
Mr. Hutmacher, did you confirm trajectory data?
Or did a little angel whisper in your ear?
I confirmed good traj and flight...
- But you hesitated. - No.
- Yes, I did. - Do not hesitate in this room.
I ask you a question, you give me an answer.
Yes, no, go, no go.
- That's it. You're a machine. - Don't second-guess me.
- What the hell did you say? - You're not acting like a machine.
I was about to abort, and you second-guessed my judgment.
Ah, guys, this is a sim.
It's just a game, right?
Lunney.
Uh, the test was designed to simulate multiple corrupted feeds
with physical damage to the comm link.
From what?
Large birds.
Is that funny?
We will keep running this simulation until we get it right.
We have a public launch of a test rocket
in four days. Press will be there.
Representatives of your federal government will be there.
The wives and children of our astronauts
will be there.
If we don't get these procedures down cold,
we really could blow up Titusville, or Orlando, or Tampa.
We will get this right.
Is that clear?
Is there any hesitation about that?
Again.
They're training us on this machine called the MASTIF
that's supposed to make you feel like you're tumbling in space.
You can cut it.
Compared to what we do, it's a carnival ride.
The average fatality rate of a Navy test pilot is 23 percent.
But any pilot you're talking to is still alive.
Which means he isn't average.
I mean, that's about the shape of it. You make it sound heroic.
Well, we can always rewrite it if it don't. Right?
They're ready for you, Al.
What's the best time?
It's always about beating something with you guys, isn't it?
Well, everybody likes a winner, Dee.
- What if you don't win? - Hasn't happened yet.
All right, Commander. Triple-axis control.
Abort switch is on the left stick if you need it.
Roger that.
Al, Al. Abort.
Commander, abort.
Get him down. Have medical check him.
That baby ain't so bad. It's like floating in a tube down the Lazy Hole River.
Hell, I could've put my feet up, taken a nap.
Yeah, try that next time.
God, I picked the wrong time to quit smoking.
You didn't quit smoking.
Sure I did.
So, is this MASTIF how they pick who's gonna be first?
No way.
- Thing is a toy. - So, what then?
We've been at it for months, and they still haven't told us.
It's probably, you know, who's the best overall.
- And who's that? You? - Right about now, it might be. Yeah.
Would you please shut your damn mouth, Gordo?
Are you okay?
- What? - Are you okay?
I won't pretend we're not a competitive bunch.
I mean, none of us would be in this program if we weren't, but...
I do think that we're all aware in our own individual ways
that this thing is bigger than any one of us,
and that tends to bring out the best in men.
You know, service to a cause greater than yourself,
and I can't think of a better cause than this one right now.
For our country we love, and for this grand adventure we're all on.
How was that?
You write this stuff in advance?
Well, just trying to be helpful.
- What's in there? - Oh. Well, that's my mistress.
Oh.
You ready?
Sure am.
Nothing much to report, just a few...
- training kinks to work out. - How are you faring?
I don't know anymore.
- It isn't Glenn, is it? - No.
No, it's not John, it's not about anyone else, it's...
It's about me.
What are you talking about?
I just need to practice.
What does LIFE have you wearing for the photo shoot?
- Pink. - No.
- Hey, at least it's not white. - Good Lord, yes.
The girls and I can't wait to finally see what you've been up to down there.
I'll see you Saturday, Lou.
My girl in pink.
Don't push yourself too hard.
Okay?
Now, why don't you...
Why don't you finally come down tonight, hang out with all of us?
I don't know. It's not really my thing.
Early to bed and all that.
Hey, look. Boys are gonna do what the boys are gonna do.
Don't mean we have to be a part of it.
Well, you sit that close to the fire, and you're bound to get burned.
You've seen what happens in that pool, right?
Our kids are gonna be swimming in that in two days.
- Doesn't that bother you? - Yeah, I guess. I don't know.
What's with you two, anyway?
It's just...
old Air Force stuff.
Gus, he's got a chip on both shoulders. It's what makes him good.
He's competitive. Hey, John, come down tonight.
Or, I tell you what, tomorrow night. Friday nights are even better.
You know, our families are gonna be in town
for the test launch, and it's gonna be family time.
But for now, just...
Hey, live a little.
Easy care cotton piqué shirtwaist dress
with dressmaker details.
Is it blue?
- They say it has to be blue. - Yes. Light blue.
- And they can deliver in time? - No.
I have to go to town.
I'm sorry you can't pick your own dress for this photo.
And don't worry, okay? You're gonna put the other gals to shame.
- Even Scott's wife? - Come on.
She got nothing on you.
Incoming!
John?
Are you okay?
Yeah. It's just not my world down here.
But I do love you, Anna Margaret.
I love you, too.
I'll see you soon.
...but these distant planetary bodies,
and maybe the entire new solar systems and galaxies.
What new discoveries might be in store for mankind?
Seats have all been made to your specs, fellas.
How do they feel?
It's not like an airplane seat, is it?
Are these the final versions?
No, we'll use them to make the fiberglass seats,
which will then be custom-fit into each of your capsules.
And so, where are the controls gonna be if we're on our backs like this?
Stick hereabouts?
The, uh, the capsule prototype arrives tomorrow.
You'll have a chance to see for yourself then.
There's no graceful way to get out of that, huh?
Mercury Capsule to Mercury Control.
Clock is running and we are underway.
Fuel is go.
Oxygen, go.
Well...
this is one beautiful ride.
Well, Control, I have to say that flying this thing
is one heck of an honor and a privilege.
I'd like to thank each...
Kiss me, Major Glenn.
Ooh, delicioso.
What the hell are you gonna do with that thing anyway?
Kids are coming in town. I'm gonna scare the hell out of them.
Hey, John, we're gonna go grab a bite, do you...
Hey. Those...
- Those guys are just messing around. - Yeah.
- Okay. See you later. - Mm-hmm.
Gordo, if I don't see you with a girl tonight, I'll start to worry.
Damn it.
Commander, abort.
Shepard, abort.
Hit it again.
Okay. Start it up again.
Dear God, it's hot down here.
- We should get you a swamp cooler. - Why the hell are we testing an Atlas?
- Those rockets are too dangerous. - You are on Air Force property.
Air Force wants to fly an Atlas.
But that is not what we're sending to space first.
It doesn't make sense.
Your team is ready for this, yeah?
Yeah. On rails.
These are good.
Chris...
try and relax.
Lunney.
Gather the men.
Let's go, Ryerson.
Good, Myers, your ball. Lunney, your ball.
Your ball. That's okay. That's okay. Hey.
It's a good shot. It's a...
Teamwork now, teamwork.
It's important. That's why we're screwing up in control.
Let's go, Ryerson. Here we go. Here we go.
See if you can handle this. Service.
Good. Back over. Good. McCauley, give him some space.
Hutmacher, wake up.
All right, Jensen. That's yours. Goddammit, Jensen.
If the ball comes to you, you got to hit it, all right?
No hesitation, Jensen.
- All right. Good. Here we go, Ryerson. - All right, gentlemen. Service.
Good. Mine, mine.
Jensen, that's your ball. Damn it. Out of his way, McCauley.
You got to take control. No hesitation, Jensen.
Come on.
Flight, you okay?
Jesus Christ.
That's enough for today.
Geez, man. What's wrong with you? It's just a game.
That's a great article.
And your lovely family, your two little ones?
Uh, Lyn and Dave. Yeah. They're, uh...
Looking forward to having them down for a couple of days.
You were the only one who, um, mentioned the Lord.
You know, you should really come on by tonight to the Living Grace,
our little excuse for a church.
It's A1A and. Uh, Indianola.
- Okay. - Okay. And...
Yeah, maybe.
Uh, thank you. Thank you, Eunice.
Um. Now, do you think he's coming in at all today or, uh, should I...
What happened here?
Something on your mind, John?
Uh, well...
I'm sure we're all, uh, looking forward to a very successful launch tomorrow.
- Put that back. - I was think...
Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth signed that ball.
I don't want you touching it.
Well, uh...
Well, anyway, um...
I understand there'll be brass from Wright-Patt.
And Walt Hollings, the 12th District Congressman, just so happens
- that my hometown is... - No.
"No," what?
You're going to tell me what a great idea it would be
for you to show Walt around as a representative of the project.
- I'm saying no. - Why?
Be a part of the team, John.
Anything else?
That's all she wrote, Chief.
Thanks for hearing me out.
Hey, little girl
'Round here somewhere.
Hey, little girl.
Never gonna let you go.
Stay right here.
I want you near...
Behold, mighty astronauts.
Unflinching prospectors of the last unexplored realm,
- specimens, and unimpeachable... - Can it, Wainwright.
- The hypocrisy doesn't bother you? - Not especially, no.
Well, you just take the pictures.
Hell. I don't know if it's little green men or...
big purple unicorns,
but there's weird stuff flying around up there, Lunney. I know.
Well, something else is on your radar now.
Not from around here, are you?
And what makes you say that?
Because you look lost.
I'm Patricia.
GORDON; Gordo.
Why don't you come keep me warm?
I'm going out.
I could use a pack of smokes.
I'll be back tomorrow.
Where are you going?
They sure got a lot of rooms here?
Oh, yeah. The whole...
Whole building's full of them.
And which one's yours?
I, uh...
I don't... I don't know, Patricia.
You don't know which one's yours?
What are you doing?
- I'm a married man. - Huh.
You just gonna stand there and watch me swim?
Woo!
Oops.
Who got the pool?
Geronimo.
- Gordo, what happened? - No way.
Hey, Gordo. Who's your friend? Does she have a friend?
Who wants to race?
I know. Because I had felt it blackening my soul.
Come. Join us, brother.
- Hello. - It's a real honor.
Hi.
It blurs our vision,
clouds our senses.
Through prayer, we scheme, and we yearn. Oh, yes, we do.
And we say, "Jesus, help me, please."
"So that I may walk beside you and keep you in my loving heart."
Now, I ask each of you to take the hand of the person beside you.
Brother, sister, and stranger.
And wish each other well in the name of our Savior.
- I wish you well. - I wish you well.
- You, too.
I was on an F-100 a couple of years back.
Nose jumping on takeoff, pitched up so high, I couldn't see shit.
Then, she starts to roll right over.
Oh, the Sabre Dance. Heard those planes can do that.
- Sounds dangerous. - It's real dangerous. Yeah.
So, I had to go full power, kick, opposite rudder,
jam the nose back down.
And then she rolled right over and bounced off the runway, and I...
I almost bought the farm.
But luckily, I'm one of the best pilots around.
I tabled her a little bit more and sure enough...
blue skies and I'm flying.
Wow, Gordo.
That really is something...
dangerous.
My turn. I got a good one.
So...
turns out... Gordo and I have flown together before.
Yeah. At Lowry Field.
I come out on the tarmac,
and there's Gordo, smiling ear to ear.
T-33 is all gassed and goosed. Tells me he's done the pre-check,
which of course he has 'cause it's his job.
So anyway, we're just barely off the runway
when we lose power.
Yeah, smacked down hard,
collapse the gear, burst into flames, boom.
Talked to the ground crew later.
They said Gordo didn't do a pre-check.
I don't know how I got out alive. I mean, there I am,
doused in two tons of foam and this idiot's all shrugs and saying,
"Want a story, huh, Gus? Skin of our teeth."
What's the matter, Gordo? I thought you love stories.
You're doing the pre-checks on the test rockets, huh?
If so, I'm gonna wear a flak jacket.
You're not the best, Gordo.
Not even close.
What's wrong with you guys?
You just wanna screw each other?
Well, if you're looking to screw him,
you're wasting your time.
He's just a window shopper.
John.
- So glad you could come. - Well...
First man in space?
- I just know it. - We'll see.
Thank you, Eunice.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Redheads, huh?
- Sorry? - What did we do to deserve it?
Well, it hasn't held me back.
I don't know. It's like... it's like being left-handed.
- You just stick out. - And what if I told you I was left-handed?
I wouldn't tell anybody.
They seem like nice enough people.
What, you don't know them?
No. I'm just, uh, checking in with Jesus.
Oh.
Well, I know Him pretty well.
I, uh, never realized He liked bowling so much.
Well...
blessed are the pinsetters, I guess.
Actually, I'm, uh...
just a little bit lonely, so...
Yeah.
Yeah. I get that.
I'm Dot.
Like, uh, over the "I."
I'm John.
The Presbyterian.
I wasn't looking, I just stood up and banged my head on the flange.
What are you doing here so late?
It has to be ready for inspection before the launch tomorrow.
- Well, get someone to do it for you. - I'm the someone someone gets. So...
You think what I did was stupid?
- It's not for me to say. - Don't give me that.
You have an opinion.
My opinion is you want me to be scared of you, and I don't know why.
You've seen us all up there on that machine,
what have you noticed?
That you're the slowest to react
and you take the longest to recover.
And if you were to, um...
If you were to examine one of us and you found something,
what would you do?
I would make sure you understood that anything you told me in confidence
would remain private.
Unless it jeopardized you or the project.
Why should we trust you?
Do you trust anyone?
- I trust myself. - That sounds lonely.
Says the girl working late on a Friday night.
I'm sitting here, aren't I?
I'm talking to you. The way I'm talking you,
you can call it trust, you can call it whatever you want.
- How much do you drink? - Enough.
Sleeping okay?
Off and on.
Women?
Yes.
Any dizziness, hearing loss?
Then you're fine.
Oh, um...
Help me with one last thing.
What have they got you selling anyway?
Men's magazines.
The, uh, you know, the naughty kind.
- Pointy brassieres on the cover... - Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
...lots of ladies.
- Sorry. I say stupid things sometimes. - That's fine.
And, um, what are you doing out here?
I'm in aviation.
And, um, how long have you been married?
- Sixteen years. - Oh.
She's a good woman.
How did guys meet?
I was two, she was three.
- We played in the crib together. - Okay.
Oh, God, I didn't realize how strange that must sound.
No, I don't think it sounds strange. Sounds like Kismet.
You ever seen that movie, Kismet?
The musical? Yeah. Yeah, I have, actually.
Isn't that how life should be?
Knowing you have a destiny instead of just...
floating around.
Oh, boy.
Looks like they're closing up on us.
Yeah.
I know it doesn't look like much,
but it's mostly old folks who just mind their own business.
Well, Dot, I, uh...
I hope you, uh...
You know, I hope you, uh, find your place.
I hope you do, too.
What do you mean?
You just seemed a little...
I don't know, empty, when you came in tonight.
Like you needed something so bad
and you knew you weren't ever gonna get it.
No. No.
No, I... I don't feel that way.
Then how come we're sitting here?
Like I said, everybody just minds their own business.
I wish you well.
Well...
Isn't this just the cutest little car?
Al, you finally got it.
Kill it.
Yeah, I'm okay.
You're okay.
Just needed to practice.
Gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you...
the Mercury Project capsule.
Let's get a look inside.
Where's the window?
Window? Uh...
There are two small portholes on either side.
How are we supposed to fly if we can't see?
You don't.
You just sit there...
with thermometers in our asses.
It's controlled from the ground.
What the heck?
Ladies, my name is Henri Landwirth.
These are compliments of the Starlite.
Oh, is that a Mai Tai?
- Yes, please. - Cheers.
What color did they put you in?
Oh, they put me in yellow, but, honestly, who looks good in yellow?
Uh, they're here.
"Gentlemen, it's controlled from the ground."
Yeah, it's like they said, we're Spam in a damn can.
Hey, don't worry, we'll fix it.
Oh, well, gee golly, John. My confidence is reinstated.
Now that's what I'm talking about, honey.
Oh, what happened here?
Uh, you know, I told you there were some kinks.
Did you get them all worked out?
I think so.
- Howdy, stranger. - Howdy, miss. You, uh, new in town?
I came to see the astronauts.
Well, it just so happens you, uh, found the best one.
Just my luck.
- Dad! - Hey, baby girl.
- You ready to see a real rocket blast off? - Uh-huh, watch this.
- Just like me. - Yeah.
I mean, if a congressman from our district
is gonna be at the launch, it's obvious that I should represent the program.
I don't understand that they can't see it as an opportunity for us to make an...
- Am I talking too much? - Mm.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
You girls have any idea where Mrs. Carpenter is?
Only her hairdresser knows for sure.
It's so lovely on you.
- I look like I'm in a high school prom. - No, you look amazing.
- Sorry I'm late. - Hey.
Where do you want me?
Right to the right in front of Mrs. Cooper.
- Hang on. Hi, Rene. - Hi.
Wow, what a dress.
Yeah, right in front of Mrs. Cooper, uh, right there.
- Right in front of Trudy. - Thank you.
- There you go. - Thank you.
You all look lovely.
Okay, ladies, smile.
All right. Roger, at heat. What is the present count?
Tower is clear.
That's a no go for position check.
- Mr. Hutmacher. - Flight?
Listen up.
I don't care if your nerves are frayed to a nub,
or you hate my guts.
What matters to me in this room is that you care.
- Mr. Ryerson? - Yes, Flight.
Get your stuff together and clear out.
- I'm sorry, what? - I don't play games, son.
You think a sim doesn't matter,
or you think teamwork isn't the real thing?
I sure as hell don't trust you on a launch. Get out.
- Yes, sir. - Lunney?
You know the procedures?
- Uh, yes, sir. - Take systems.
All right. Let's get started.
TC, this is Flight. What's the count?
Okay, thirty seconds, 308, your number.
All right. Let's hear it.
- FIDO? - Go.
- Network? - Go.
- RSO? - Go.
- Blockhouse? - Go.
- Capsule system? - Go.
- Recovery? - Go.
Ladies and gentlemen,
all systems are go for this first unmanned test flight
of the Mercury-Atlas rocket.
Congressman Hollings.
- Major. - Glad you made it down safe.
How would you feel about a private tour?
That would be very nice. Thank you, Major.
You see that.
That's a real capsule on top, like the one I'm gonna ride in.
- You had... - Remember Big Deke?
- That's actually normal. - Right...
- It's quite normal. - ...right there.
Who's that?
Just one of the nurses.
Who's he talking to?
Some politician.
How come you're not doing that?
What the hell would I say?
T-minus ten seconds.
Nine, eight, seven,
six,
five, four, three,
two, one.
Lift off.
There I go. You see me?
FIDO, how's it looking?
- Flight, we're looking good. - Good. Capsule systems?
- Good to go. - T-plus 20.
Commencing pitch and roll program.
- Good to go. - We're all a go.
T-plus 30.
Sixteen K.
Right about now, I'm feeling about 4Gs.
- Turbo is about to kick in. - Altitude 19K, looking good.
That's good.
Twenty-three K.
Altitude 30K.
Oh, yes.
- Way up there. - Two miles downrange.
Approaching max q...
What?
- Flight, I... - FIDO?
Cover of the Earth is coming into view. I can see the stars, Cammie.
I'm almost in space.
No.
What happened?
What the hell just happened?
Report LR status, report LR...
Cut-off stays the same.
Dad. Dad, what happened?
Children, quickly. Grab your things.
What... how did this happen?