July 9, 2025 • 20 mins
As tensions boil in Mission Control, a flight surgeon questions Buzz’s stability. With everything on the line, the mission risks collapse from within.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Buzz an audio drama for iHeart Podcasts starring John Lithgow
and Jeffrey Arrand as buzz Aldren. This series is based
on real events, However, certain characters, names, incidents, locations, and
dialogue have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes. Chapter two.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
If you were at NASA during the sixties, you saw
the world through a haze of cigarettes. For ten years,
I thought I had cataracts. Rachel Ludwig was our flight surgeon,
an MD who smoked three packs a day. She was
also a psychiatrist. Truth is, she didn't really exist. She's
(00:45):
a combination of characters. Doctor Ludwig is an invention. What
she did wasn't Doctor Ludwig.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
You're aware of the simulated crash during our DPS exercise, I.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Am, sir, in a meeting with flight director Gene Kranz
and Director of Crew Operations Deeke Slayton. Doctor Ludwig's campaign
against me began with just enough grains of truth to
spice up the inquisition.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I am also aware of the confrontation between Neil and
Buzz's following the simulation their.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Former fighter pilots, doctor competitive Guys.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Deeke was one of the original Mercury astronauts in the
early sixties, but he was grounded by an irregular heartbeat.
Speaker 6 (01:32):
If they weren't, they'd have been shot out of the
sky a long time ago.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
I understand, but there are other factors that enter into
making sure they're psychologically up to the stresses of a
mission as taxing as Apollo.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Eleven, Ah, Chris join us.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
The crew of Apollo eleven hasn't been psychologically evaluated since
they joined NASA during the Gemini program, when it was determined.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
They were perfectly sund.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I loved Chris, but he knew those two yests were
no more indicative of psychological fitness than they were of cholesterol.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
Well, I haven't seen the original studies, and regardless they're
seven years old. Since then, these men have experienced the
pressures of intense training, of family disruptions.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
And flight surgeon, you're responsible for seeing that they're free
of whooping cough, hamorrhoids or venereal disease.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Missercraft, I'm sure you don't admit to that last possibility. Look,
as flight director, mister Kranz, will you allow me to
at least look at the original studies.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Deeke what's your view.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
I think the crew is physically and psychologically prepared to
handle the demands of the mission.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
I disagree, and I think you're making a serious mistake
that could result in long term damage to one.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Of them, the one being Colonel Aldron.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
Buzz is the best physicist among the astronauts. His doctoral
thesis on orbital rendezvous procedures made this mission possible.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
His reputation as the least liked man at NASA is
common knowledge. He turns competition into confrontation at almost every opportunity.
He lost his academic accomplishments over everyone.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Sure if she wanted to be nitpicky, thank you, doctor Levi.
Chris Kraft invited her to leave, and Gene Krantz didn't
countermand Craft's invitation.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
I can show myself, sorry, Jeane.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
I didn't mean to overstead.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
I wanted to know what you think.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
I think that girl should be marginalized, as in fired,
for the good of the mission. But that decision's up
to you.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
I'm Buzz Aldron, and this is the story you think
you know, but you don't.
Speaker 7 (03:58):
Five with a quality dare the angle land All Clamp
for ramp. Pardon Diamp?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
You're listening to Buzz. This is the story of my
greatest achievement. Chapter two.
Speaker 8 (04:38):
Manuel cocking of ring latches is complete. We've got internal
pressure from the tunnel, transmitted from the probe and rogue
ready for lunar module separation.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Roger Eagle, I'd be lying if I said it was
easy for Kneeling me to work together. After the landing simulation,
we talked when we had to, Which does bode well
when you're looking at being in close quarters for a
round trip of half a million miles. We were on
module simulation number shit. I lost count. We were still
(05:14):
testing and things were still going wrong.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Why team, what's the pressure?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Reading one seven five point eight.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Buzz began rotating the motor torque.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Her rotations complete blocking spools.
Speaker 8 (05:28):
Disengaged ring latches are negative function flight.
Speaker 5 (05:32):
We've got a pressure leak inside the tunnel.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Complete destabilization.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Stop everything, shut it all down. When something that'll work around.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Rumors that the Russians were about to launch a lunar
mission meant nothing could slow our timetable. When Krantz went
to Ludwig's office, she was packing up her personal effects.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Then what are you doing? Doctor?
Speaker 4 (06:05):
You'll have my letter of resignation by the end of
the day. Why I don't believe in cashing checks if
I'm not doing the job. It's a quirk.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
I need you to look at those psych studies from
when Buzz and the others were first recruited.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
I don't know where they are.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Find them.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Mister Craft made it clear that he.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Mister Craft, isn't flight director.
Speaker 7 (06:29):
I am.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
The tests were administered by doctor Paul mccoone.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
I know Paul, but they're only.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Useful as a baseline without contemporary studies to compare them with.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
It's it's first things first, doctor, find the originals. You
don't have much times the anomalous.
Speaker 9 (06:52):
That I need. It.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Got a second, Chris, what's up? I asked Ludwig to
review those psychological tests.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
I thought we decided not you.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Decided, Chris. Look, there are a million parts in the
CSM alone, and we can't predict with absolute certainty how
any of them will perform, least of all the crew.
I believe Buzz is sound enough to fly. I just
want to remove any shadow of a doubt.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
What if Ludwig turns up something you wish she had.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
While you were there when those initial tests were done. Well,
she will, she Chris.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
It's bad when you're left twisting in the wind by
people you've come to trust. It's worse when you're twisting
and you don't even know it.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Doctor Paul mccoone. My name is Rachel Ludwig. I'm Apallo
eleven slight surgeon. Seriously, why the surprise you're a female. Well,
my husband's accused me of worse.
Speaker 9 (08:07):
I never thought Chris Kraft would appoint one.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
I doubt he will again. I'm sure he wouldn't have
if you knew I was also a psychiatrist. Doctor, you
administered MMPI test to the flight crew when they first
came to NASA.
Speaker 9 (08:23):
I wanted the test to continue to ensure the long
term well being of the cruise craft. Fired me.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Yes, I know. The original tests are nowhere to be
found at mission control. I need them as a baseline.
Do you do you have copies?
Speaker 9 (08:46):
Well, for a former employee to have position of classified
documents would be a violation of agency regulations.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
I'm aware of the regulations, doctor.
Speaker 9 (09:00):
Files are in my garage.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
A space capsule is the ultimate multi purpose vehicle. It's
your home in a weightless, airless environment and when you land,
it's got to be water tight or you'll sink to
the bottom of the ocean. With only a few weeks
to go before launch, we were still practicing recovery procedures
in a water tank at mission controls.
Speaker 9 (09:42):
See him as in the water copy that Mike deploy CRL.
Speaker 10 (09:48):
Explosive bolts fired, but the CRL's.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
Not fully engaged.
Speaker 9 (09:52):
Fire redundant bolt.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
CRL is still not engaged.
Speaker 8 (09:57):
Columbia is taking on water.
Speaker 7 (09:59):
Still negative on the CRL. Water's pouring in.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
Too much additional weight. We're sinking.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Retrieve the module and get divers.
Speaker 9 (10:07):
Into the tank.
Speaker 8 (10:08):
Hit me, the flight manual does what the flight manual aired?
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Water slowing to a trickle. Nil's using the flight manual
to plug the leak.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
A twenty million dollar command module saved from sinking by
a loose leaf binder that costs less than a buck.
Reminded me that every component in the spacecraft was provided
by the guy who submitted the cheapest bid.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
Damn, damn it. Now Nil's a fucking hero.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Look on the bright side, we.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Didn't drown another round.
Speaker 5 (10:50):
Buzz to keep them coming. Honey, I'm good. You and me, Mike,
We're still active duty and Nils a civilian. I mean
the commanders should be active. Nixon doesn't want it to
look like a military operation. Why not. We're getting our
asses handed to us and them. It's time the military
(11:11):
got us a win. You mean you got us a win.
This isn't about Neil, and it's not about Vietnam.
Speaker 10 (11:18):
Buzz.
Speaker 5 (11:19):
Thanks, Sonny. You're a great pilot, buzz as far as
I'm concerned, the best I've seen. But you're not commander
of Apollo eleven because you're an unlovable, ego maniacal.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Pain in the ass.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
Ah, I'm not unlovable. My kids adore me, and my
monkey thinks I'm a prince. And if I'm an ego maniac,
it's only because I'm vastly superior. You know what your
problem is?
Speaker 10 (11:43):
What you're more pissed that you'll be second on the
moon than you are excited about being there at all?
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Whatever it is that's missing?
Speaker 7 (11:50):
Meaning what?
Speaker 5 (11:51):
Well, what's missing? I don't know at home? Your life,
if you haven't found it by now, whether you're first
out the door or second will make a damn bit
of difference.
Speaker 10 (12:03):
Another over here, did you know Jane June fifty three.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
I was on the cover of Life magazine for knocking
down two Russian MiGs over Korea. You see that.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
No, No, I didn't ah against me.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
The Russians wouldn't stand a chance in hell a buzz.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Ludwig recommended that you be replaced.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
You can't be serious.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
She's raised issues that could hinder your ability to be
collaborative with the crew and which might lead to a
less than positive life experience in the year's post Apollo eleven.
But these issues are based on a review of your
psychological evaluation when you joined the program and on your
family's history.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
Did you accept her recommendation?
Speaker 3 (13:04):
I'm considering it.
Speaker 5 (13:09):
It's Neil. He's behind this. He never wanted me on
the crew, not since day one.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
No, I have to put together the best crew possible.
I have to weigh every scenario.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Twenty years in the military, Gene, everything I've accomplished in
my life has been preparation for this one thing. If
it costs me years off my life or if I
die up there, that's a price I'll pay. You can't
leave me on the ground, Jeane, Please, is there any
(13:42):
way I can get past this?
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Talk to Ludwig, get her to withdraw her recommendation. If
she does, you'll stay on as lunar module pilot.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
Fuck you and her? You want me gone? Say so.
I'm not throwing myself at her mercy just to let
you off the hook.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
That night, Joan was at a rehearsal of her theater group.
The kids were at their friends, and I was in
our yard looking up at that silver disc in the sky.
It seemed close enough to touch, but suddenly beyond my reach.
Speaker 6 (14:43):
I thought i'd find you here.
Speaker 7 (14:48):
Drink.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Were you gonna tell me.
Speaker 9 (14:55):
What that?
Speaker 3 (14:57):
You might be grounded?
Speaker 9 (15:00):
Nah?
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Word gets around, Jean says, the only chance I have
is to get this shrink to change her mind.
Speaker 6 (15:09):
Well, then do it?
Speaker 5 (15:12):
You mean beg her?
Speaker 4 (15:13):
If it's your only chance.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I love you, buzz.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
I hadn't heard that in a while from her. It
meant more than I thought it would, and more than
I deserved.
Speaker 5 (15:33):
Mike said, I'm unlovable.
Speaker 6 (15:35):
Yeah, well, he has his opinion and I have mine.
I want us to stay together. I don't know what
you'll be like twenty years from now if you fly,
but well I know what you'll be like tomorrow if
you don't. Don't stay up too late.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
I was surprised to get your call based on your
obvious disdain for the discipline of psychiatry.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
As a discipline. I admire it.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
It's only this specific application you have a problem with.
I recommended that you be grounded because your history of
erratic behavior is too obvious and potentially dangerous for me
to ignore. I believe it's not only in your best interest,
(16:45):
but forgive me in the best interest of the mission.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
I believe your recommendation is forgive me based on a
thoroughly fallacious assessment of my record. You said, my quote
combative personality has led to quoteunctional working relationships end quote.
But you haven't provided a single example for my military.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
Career, the majority of which was spent flying alone in
a fighter jet.
Speaker 5 (17:09):
And with sixty six missions. My quote combative personality is
the main reason I'm alive quote rigidity and unwillingness to
seek alternatives to prescribe programs or modes of behavior end quote.
The objective of Gemini nine was to rendezvous with a
target vehicle. Due to a technical malfunction, I was forced
(17:32):
to seek an alternative to the prescribed program and improvised
with a coordinate in space, turning a failed mission into
a success.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
I didn't know that, but you do have a genetic
predisposition to alcoholism and suicide.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
Where's your crystal ball, your sense of divine clairvoyance? Where
is it? You must have something since you can see
suicide in store for a guy who spent his entire
adult life spitting in the face of death.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
If I had my way, you wouldn't be able to
get into a car, let alone a spacecraft.
Speaker 5 (18:11):
Let's get down a tax doc. What do you want
to protect?
Speaker 4 (18:16):
You to try to ensure that you and your family
have a future of quality?
Speaker 5 (18:21):
And what about you?
Speaker 3 (18:24):
What about me?
Speaker 5 (18:25):
Everything turned out the way you predicted for yourself? If so,
how come you're not married?
Speaker 4 (18:31):
My personal life is none of your business.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
How come no kids? You're holding my future hostage. I
want to make damn sure you're qualified. If you've been
correct about every diagnosis, every career or personal choice, if
you've achieved complete infallibility. I'll do it myself right now.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
I had a shrink who thought it'd be bad if
I flew, and a wife saying it'd be worse if
I didn't. But I'm buzz aldron. I proved both of
them wrong. Didn't.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
I Buzz, starring John Lithgow and Jeffrey Errand, is created
(19:31):
by Stephen Cronish and directed by John Scott Dryden. Chapter
two is written by Stephen Cronish and Matt Graham. Original
music is by Sasha Putnam. Sound designed by Elouise Widmore.
The producer is Emma Hearn. The executive producers are Jeremy Fox,
John Scott Dryden, Stephen Cronish, Howard Stringer and Jason English.
(19:52):
Buzz is a production of Thoroughbred Studios, gold Hawk Productions
and iHeart Podcasts.
Buzz an audio drama for iHeart Podcasts starring John Lithgow
and Jeffrey Arrand as buzz Aldren. This series is based
on real events, However, certain characters, names, incidents, locations, and
dialogue have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes. Chapter two.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
If you were at NASA during the sixties, you saw
the world through a haze of cigarettes. For ten years,
I thought I had cataracts. Rachel Ludwig was our flight surgeon,
an MD who smoked three packs a day. She was
also a psychiatrist. Truth is, she didn't really exist. She's
(00:45):
a combination of characters. Doctor Ludwig is an invention. What
she did wasn't Doctor Ludwig.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
You're aware of the simulated crash during our DPS exercise, I.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Am, sir, in a meeting with flight director Gene Kranz
and Director of Crew Operations Deeke Slayton. Doctor Ludwig's campaign
against me began with just enough grains of truth to
spice up the inquisition.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I am also aware of the confrontation between Neil and
Buzz's following the simulation their.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Former fighter pilots, doctor competitive Guys.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Deeke was one of the original Mercury astronauts in the
early sixties, but he was grounded by an irregular heartbeat.
Speaker 6 (01:32):
If they weren't, they'd have been shot out of the
sky a long time ago.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
I understand, but there are other factors that enter into
making sure they're psychologically up to the stresses of a
mission as taxing as Apollo.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Eleven, Ah, Chris join us.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
The crew of Apollo eleven hasn't been psychologically evaluated since
they joined NASA during the Gemini program, when it was determined.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
They were perfectly sund.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I loved Chris, but he knew those two yests were
no more indicative of psychological fitness than they were of cholesterol.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
Well, I haven't seen the original studies, and regardless they're
seven years old. Since then, these men have experienced the
pressures of intense training, of family disruptions.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
And flight surgeon, you're responsible for seeing that they're free
of whooping cough, hamorrhoids or venereal disease.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Missercraft, I'm sure you don't admit to that last possibility. Look,
as flight director, mister Kranz, will you allow me to
at least look at the original studies.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Deeke what's your view.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
I think the crew is physically and psychologically prepared to
handle the demands of the mission.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
I disagree, and I think you're making a serious mistake
that could result in long term damage to one.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Of them, the one being Colonel Aldron.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
Buzz is the best physicist among the astronauts. His doctoral
thesis on orbital rendezvous procedures made this mission possible.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
His reputation as the least liked man at NASA is
common knowledge. He turns competition into confrontation at almost every opportunity.
He lost his academic accomplishments over everyone.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Sure if she wanted to be nitpicky, thank you, doctor Levi.
Chris Kraft invited her to leave, and Gene Krantz didn't
countermand Craft's invitation.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
I can show myself, sorry, Jeane.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
I didn't mean to overstead.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
I wanted to know what you think.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
I think that girl should be marginalized, as in fired,
for the good of the mission. But that decision's up
to you.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
I'm Buzz Aldron, and this is the story you think
you know, but you don't.
Speaker 7 (03:58):
Five with a quality dare the angle land All Clamp
for ramp. Pardon Diamp?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
You're listening to Buzz. This is the story of my
greatest achievement. Chapter two.
Speaker 8 (04:38):
Manuel cocking of ring latches is complete. We've got internal
pressure from the tunnel, transmitted from the probe and rogue
ready for lunar module separation.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Roger Eagle, I'd be lying if I said it was
easy for Kneeling me to work together. After the landing simulation,
we talked when we had to, Which does bode well
when you're looking at being in close quarters for a
round trip of half a million miles. We were on
module simulation number shit. I lost count. We were still
(05:14):
testing and things were still going wrong.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Why team, what's the pressure?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Reading one seven five point eight.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Buzz began rotating the motor torque.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Her rotations complete blocking spools.
Speaker 8 (05:28):
Disengaged ring latches are negative function flight.
Speaker 5 (05:32):
We've got a pressure leak inside the tunnel.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Complete destabilization.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Stop everything, shut it all down. When something that'll work around.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Rumors that the Russians were about to launch a lunar
mission meant nothing could slow our timetable. When Krantz went
to Ludwig's office, she was packing up her personal effects.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Then what are you doing? Doctor?
Speaker 4 (06:05):
You'll have my letter of resignation by the end of
the day. Why I don't believe in cashing checks if
I'm not doing the job. It's a quirk.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
I need you to look at those psych studies from
when Buzz and the others were first recruited.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
I don't know where they are.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Find them.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Mister Craft made it clear that he.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Mister Craft, isn't flight director.
Speaker 7 (06:29):
I am.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
The tests were administered by doctor Paul mccoone.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
I know Paul, but they're only.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Useful as a baseline without contemporary studies to compare them with.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
It's it's first things first, doctor, find the originals. You
don't have much times the anomalous.
Speaker 9 (06:52):
That I need. It.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Got a second, Chris, what's up? I asked Ludwig to
review those psychological tests.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
I thought we decided not you.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Decided, Chris. Look, there are a million parts in the
CSM alone, and we can't predict with absolute certainty how
any of them will perform, least of all the crew.
I believe Buzz is sound enough to fly. I just
want to remove any shadow of a doubt.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
What if Ludwig turns up something you wish she had.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
While you were there when those initial tests were done. Well,
she will, she Chris.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
It's bad when you're left twisting in the wind by
people you've come to trust. It's worse when you're twisting
and you don't even know it.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Doctor Paul mccoone. My name is Rachel Ludwig. I'm Apallo
eleven slight surgeon. Seriously, why the surprise you're a female. Well,
my husband's accused me of worse.
Speaker 9 (08:07):
I never thought Chris Kraft would appoint one.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
I doubt he will again. I'm sure he wouldn't have
if you knew I was also a psychiatrist. Doctor, you
administered MMPI test to the flight crew when they first
came to NASA.
Speaker 9 (08:23):
I wanted the test to continue to ensure the long
term well being of the cruise craft. Fired me.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Yes, I know. The original tests are nowhere to be
found at mission control. I need them as a baseline.
Do you do you have copies?
Speaker 9 (08:46):
Well, for a former employee to have position of classified
documents would be a violation of agency regulations.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
I'm aware of the regulations, doctor.
Speaker 9 (09:00):
Files are in my garage.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
A space capsule is the ultimate multi purpose vehicle. It's
your home in a weightless, airless environment and when you land,
it's got to be water tight or you'll sink to
the bottom of the ocean. With only a few weeks
to go before launch, we were still practicing recovery procedures
in a water tank at mission controls.
Speaker 9 (09:42):
See him as in the water copy that Mike deploy CRL.
Speaker 10 (09:48):
Explosive bolts fired, but the CRL's.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
Not fully engaged.
Speaker 9 (09:52):
Fire redundant bolt.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
CRL is still not engaged.
Speaker 8 (09:57):
Columbia is taking on water.
Speaker 7 (09:59):
Still negative on the CRL. Water's pouring in.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
Too much additional weight. We're sinking.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Retrieve the module and get divers.
Speaker 9 (10:07):
Into the tank.
Speaker 8 (10:08):
Hit me, the flight manual does what the flight manual aired?
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Water slowing to a trickle. Nil's using the flight manual
to plug the leak.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
A twenty million dollar command module saved from sinking by
a loose leaf binder that costs less than a buck.
Reminded me that every component in the spacecraft was provided
by the guy who submitted the cheapest bid.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
Damn, damn it. Now Nil's a fucking hero.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Look on the bright side, we.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Didn't drown another round.
Speaker 5 (10:50):
Buzz to keep them coming. Honey, I'm good. You and me, Mike,
We're still active duty and Nils a civilian. I mean
the commanders should be active. Nixon doesn't want it to
look like a military operation. Why not. We're getting our
asses handed to us and them. It's time the military
(11:11):
got us a win. You mean you got us a win.
This isn't about Neil, and it's not about Vietnam.
Speaker 10 (11:18):
Buzz.
Speaker 5 (11:19):
Thanks, Sonny. You're a great pilot, buzz as far as
I'm concerned, the best I've seen. But you're not commander
of Apollo eleven because you're an unlovable, ego maniacal.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Pain in the ass.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
Ah, I'm not unlovable. My kids adore me, and my
monkey thinks I'm a prince. And if I'm an ego maniac,
it's only because I'm vastly superior. You know what your
problem is?
Speaker 10 (11:43):
What you're more pissed that you'll be second on the
moon than you are excited about being there at all?
Speaker 3 (11:49):
Whatever it is that's missing?
Speaker 7 (11:50):
Meaning what?
Speaker 5 (11:51):
Well, what's missing? I don't know at home? Your life,
if you haven't found it by now, whether you're first
out the door or second will make a damn bit
of difference.
Speaker 10 (12:03):
Another over here, did you know Jane June fifty three.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
I was on the cover of Life magazine for knocking
down two Russian MiGs over Korea. You see that.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
No, No, I didn't ah against me.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
The Russians wouldn't stand a chance in hell a buzz.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Ludwig recommended that you be replaced.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
You can't be serious.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
She's raised issues that could hinder your ability to be
collaborative with the crew and which might lead to a
less than positive life experience in the year's post Apollo eleven.
But these issues are based on a review of your
psychological evaluation when you joined the program and on your
family's history.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
Did you accept her recommendation?
Speaker 3 (13:04):
I'm considering it.
Speaker 5 (13:09):
It's Neil. He's behind this. He never wanted me on
the crew, not since day one.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
No, I have to put together the best crew possible.
I have to weigh every scenario.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Twenty years in the military, Gene, everything I've accomplished in
my life has been preparation for this one thing. If
it costs me years off my life or if I
die up there, that's a price I'll pay. You can't
leave me on the ground, Jeane, Please, is there any
(13:42):
way I can get past this?
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Talk to Ludwig, get her to withdraw her recommendation. If
she does, you'll stay on as lunar module pilot.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
Fuck you and her? You want me gone? Say so.
I'm not throwing myself at her mercy just to let
you off the hook.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
That night, Joan was at a rehearsal of her theater group.
The kids were at their friends, and I was in
our yard looking up at that silver disc in the sky.
It seemed close enough to touch, but suddenly beyond my reach.
Speaker 6 (14:43):
I thought i'd find you here.
Speaker 7 (14:48):
Drink.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Were you gonna tell me.
Speaker 9 (14:55):
What that?
Speaker 3 (14:57):
You might be grounded?
Speaker 9 (15:00):
Nah?
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Word gets around, Jean says, the only chance I have
is to get this shrink to change her mind.
Speaker 6 (15:09):
Well, then do it?
Speaker 5 (15:12):
You mean beg her?
Speaker 4 (15:13):
If it's your only chance.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I love you, buzz.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
I hadn't heard that in a while from her. It
meant more than I thought it would, and more than
I deserved.
Speaker 5 (15:33):
Mike said, I'm unlovable.
Speaker 6 (15:35):
Yeah, well, he has his opinion and I have mine.
I want us to stay together. I don't know what
you'll be like twenty years from now if you fly,
but well I know what you'll be like tomorrow if
you don't. Don't stay up too late.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
I was surprised to get your call based on your
obvious disdain for the discipline of psychiatry.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
As a discipline. I admire it.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
It's only this specific application you have a problem with.
I recommended that you be grounded because your history of
erratic behavior is too obvious and potentially dangerous for me
to ignore. I believe it's not only in your best interest,
(16:45):
but forgive me in the best interest of the mission.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
I believe your recommendation is forgive me based on a
thoroughly fallacious assessment of my record. You said, my quote
combative personality has led to quoteunctional working relationships end quote.
But you haven't provided a single example for my military.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
Career, the majority of which was spent flying alone in
a fighter jet.
Speaker 5 (17:09):
And with sixty six missions. My quote combative personality is
the main reason I'm alive quote rigidity and unwillingness to
seek alternatives to prescribe programs or modes of behavior end quote.
The objective of Gemini nine was to rendezvous with a
target vehicle. Due to a technical malfunction, I was forced
(17:32):
to seek an alternative to the prescribed program and improvised
with a coordinate in space, turning a failed mission into
a success.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
I didn't know that, but you do have a genetic
predisposition to alcoholism and suicide.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
Where's your crystal ball, your sense of divine clairvoyance? Where
is it? You must have something since you can see
suicide in store for a guy who spent his entire
adult life spitting in the face of death.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
If I had my way, you wouldn't be able to
get into a car, let alone a spacecraft.
Speaker 5 (18:11):
Let's get down a tax doc. What do you want
to protect?
Speaker 4 (18:16):
You to try to ensure that you and your family
have a future of quality?
Speaker 5 (18:21):
And what about you?
Speaker 3 (18:24):
What about me?
Speaker 5 (18:25):
Everything turned out the way you predicted for yourself? If so,
how come you're not married?
Speaker 4 (18:31):
My personal life is none of your business.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
How come no kids? You're holding my future hostage. I
want to make damn sure you're qualified. If you've been
correct about every diagnosis, every career or personal choice, if
you've achieved complete infallibility. I'll do it myself right now.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
I had a shrink who thought it'd be bad if
I flew, and a wife saying it'd be worse if
I didn't. But I'm buzz aldron. I proved both of
them wrong. Didn't.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
I Buzz, starring John Lithgow and Jeffrey Errand, is created
(19:31):
by Stephen Cronish and directed by John Scott Dryden. Chapter
two is written by Stephen Cronish and Matt Graham. Original
music is by Sasha Putnam. Sound designed by Elouise Widmore.
The producer is Emma Hearn. The executive producers are Jeremy Fox,
John Scott Dryden, Stephen Cronish, Howard Stringer and Jason English.
(19:52):
Buzz is a production of Thoroughbred Studios, gold Hawk Productions
and iHeart Podcasts.
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