[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.75,0:00:17.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Normally astronaut training takes about one full year,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.83,0:00:20.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it includes such subjects as
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.02,0:00:21.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,astronomy,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.00,0:00:21.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,astrophysics,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.99,0:00:23.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,flight physiology,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.30,0:00:24.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,orbital trajectories,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.97,0:00:26.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or orbital management.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.49,0:00:30.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another part of the astronaut basic training is survival training.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.76,0:00:31.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the days of Gemini,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.86,0:00:34.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you never knew for sure where a spacecraft might land
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.77,0:00:37.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if there was an emergency, deorbit.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.44,0:00:40.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, we had to take desert training,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.16,0:00:41.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,water training,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.15,0:00:44.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and jungle survival training.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.20,0:00:46.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, we had to learn how to cook and eat snake
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.08,0:00:48.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all other, such other good things as that,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.37,0:00:50.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how to make water in a desert.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.24,0:00:52.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After that year and a half of astronaut basic training,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.95,0:00:54.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our names were all put on a list
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.66,0:00:57.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that list was quite a bit longer at that time
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.33,0:00:58.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then there were seats available.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.66,0:01:01.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, we were all given other duties
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.38,0:01:03.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to keep us occupied
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.59,0:01:06.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to help continue our training.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.26,0:01:08.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Five of us were assigned to the lunar module,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.84,0:01:13.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and our job was to be with these lunar modules
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.19,0:01:15.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as they were being built.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.18,0:01:17.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, we spent a lot of time there.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.06,0:01:19.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I must admit that probably I had more time
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.85,0:01:22.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sleeping on the floor of Lunar Module #6
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.29,0:01:24.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the crew who flew it on the moon.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.63,0:01:28.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, my next job was to be on the support crew of Apollo 8,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.53,0:01:31.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Apollo 8 was the spacecraft that flew to the moon
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.25,0:01:33.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and came back but did not land.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.46,0:01:35.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When they went behind the moon,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.20,0:01:37.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they were supposed to do a thrusting maneuver
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.29,0:01:38.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to slow them down
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.13,0:01:40.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so they would be captured into lunar orbit.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.79,0:01:42.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we just had to sit and cool our heels
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.80,0:01:44.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they went behind the moon,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.50,0:01:47.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we knew if they came out a little early on the other side,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.84,0:01:51.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they had not burned enough,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.27,0:01:52.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not slowed down enough,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.35,0:01:54.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and were going to skip out into space,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.18,0:01:55.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they wouldn't be captured in orbit.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.81,0:01:57.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If they came out a little bit late,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.85,0:01:59.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it meant they had over-done it,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.52,0:02:00.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they weren't going to be in orbit,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.90,0:02:04.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but were going to begin a spiral down to the lunar surface.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.86,0:02:07.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, of course, without a lunar module,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.08,0:02:09.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that kind of ruins your whole day.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.45,0:02:11.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can imagine how relieved we were
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.16,0:02:13.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the instant that they were supposed
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.53,0:02:15.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to appear on the other side of the moon
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.90,0:02:17.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they appeared!
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.24,0:02:20.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My next assignment was again a support crew assignment on Apollo 12,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.83,0:02:23.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Apollo 12 was struck by lightning
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.34,0:02:25.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on its way off the pad.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.13,0:02:26.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A nearby thunderstorm,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.29,0:02:28.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was a lightning bolt that went over
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.17,0:02:30.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and hit the very tip of the spacecraft.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.59,0:02:33.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The charge went down through the spacecraft,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.26,0:02:34.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through the booster,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.32,0:02:35.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,down the exhaust gases,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.90,0:02:38.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and grounded out on the launching pad.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.77,0:02:41.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It killed the electrical power system
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.35,0:02:44.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the computers all died.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.02,0:02:45.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can imagine what it must have been like
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.50,0:02:48.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for them inside because suddenly the lights all went out
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.45,0:02:49.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then they came back on
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.46,0:02:51.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when the batteries picked up the load.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.34,0:02:53.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, every single warning light and caution light
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.70,0:02:56.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the spacecraft was on and flashing,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.04,0:02:58.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all the necessary bells, whistles, and buzzards
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.87,0:03:00.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and things that are in there,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.40,0:03:02.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all were going off at the same time.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.42,0:03:03.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The crew was totally confused
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.88,0:03:05.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as to what was going on.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.42,0:03:06.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we were settled in orbit,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.67,0:03:10.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we tested all the various systems
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.17,0:03:11.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and everything looked good.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.55,0:03:13.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, that, now I figured this is it,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.30,0:03:15.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and sure enough, I did get an assignment,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.76,0:03:16.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a flight assignment.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.73,0:03:20.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was assigned to the back-up crew of Apollo 16,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.44,0:03:23.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which meant that I was to be on the param crew of Apollo 19.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.99,0:03:26.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, several weeks into the training,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.53,0:03:27.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NASA made the surprise announcment
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.100,0:03:31.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they were going to cancel Apollos 18, 19, and 20.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.95,0:03:33.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We were in the middle of the Vietnam War,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.28,0:03:34.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the budget was in bad shape,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.99,0:03:36.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so you can imagine there were three
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.95,0:03:40.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very, very sad hangdog guys moping around the office
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.24,0:03:42.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we lost our flight to the moon.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.90,0:03:47.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, several weeks later, I got a call from Tom Stafford,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.54,0:03:49.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Senior Astronaut at that time,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.88,0:03:52.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he wanted me in his office,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.38,0:03:52.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I went in,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.92,0:03:54.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he told me that he was sorry
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.53,0:03:57.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I had missed my opportunity for the moon,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.01,0:03:59.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he said, "I've got another assignment for you."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.56,0:04:01.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He said, "I want you to be the commander
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.81,0:04:05.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the third and final Skylab mission."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.100,0:04:08.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, he said, "Do you think you could do the job?"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.36,0:04:09.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I said, "Of course, yes!"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.86,0:04:10.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, I'll have to admit,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.79,0:04:15.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a certain lump in my chest and in my stomach,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.36,0:04:16.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I was a rookie,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.41,0:04:19.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they normally don't assign a rookie to be a commander,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.73,0:04:22.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,usually you have to have at least one flight under your belt,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.45,0:04:24.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they assigned me to that,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.30,0:04:26.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was really kind of a shock
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.04,0:04:32.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the last rookie commander was Neil Armstrong on Gemini 8.