July 23, 2025 • 20 mins
A Russian crash. A broken switch. A deadly fuel line leak. To get home, Buzz and Neil must outwit the impossible—or die on the Moon.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Buzz, an audio drama for iHeart Podcasts starring John Lithgow
and Jeffrey Errand as buzz Aldren. This series is based
on real events, However, certain characters, names, incidents, locations, and
dialogue have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Chapter nine, Sir Bernard's the Russian crafts altitude is dropping rapidly.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Bass it here.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
At those speeds, She's really coming down much too fast?
Speaker 5 (00:31):
This is it?
Speaker 6 (00:34):
What are you seeing, Sir Bernard?
Speaker 4 (00:35):
The Russian craft's landing is imminent and at a velocity
which firmly calls into question whether a soft landing is
indeed in her flight plan.
Speaker 6 (00:44):
Are we talking a hard landing or an impact?
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Well, scarcely much difference between them two at this velocity.
Speaker 5 (00:51):
Houston.
Speaker 6 (00:51):
Time to impact and location.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Time is seconds. Location is unclear, as are the Russians intentions?
Speaker 6 (00:59):
Impact imminent? Mike, have you gotten a visual on Eagle
negative capcom Tell them to be on the lookout.
Speaker 7 (01:08):
On the lookout, just tell them tranquility, This is Houston,
be advised.
Speaker 8 (01:15):
We RIGI Houston, go ahead.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
We are receiving reports that the Russians.
Speaker 7 (01:20):
Impact is in head over.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Any idea of their location over negative, Are you ordering
us to evacuate?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Over?
Speaker 7 (01:31):
Tell them no, negative, Tranquility precede as planned. Just be aware. Over.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
That's about as comforting as a mesh life boat.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
In five seconds to.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
The impact, putting you on speaker.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Five four three two one. The Russian craft is crashed.
Speaker 7 (01:58):
Tranquility. This is used the Russian vessels crashed into the
lunar surface. Report your status.
Speaker 8 (02:04):
Over repeating, Neil and Buzz, report your status. Tranquility Base,
report your status. Are you all right?
Speaker 7 (02:24):
The Russians could have made a direct hit on Tranquility Base.
Speaker 6 (02:28):
Tranquility, this is Mission Control. Please report your status. Jodrell Bank,
this is Houston. Do you have a location on the
crash of the Russian spacecraft? Has it impacted? Neil and
Buzz at Tranquility Base.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
I'm afraid I have no more information than you.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Two, Gene. If the Russians purposely targeted Tranquility, it would
be an act of war.
Speaker 6 (03:00):
Contact the White House, the Pentagon, and the CIA.
Speaker 9 (03:07):
Mission Control reading us.
Speaker 6 (03:10):
We read you, Tranquility.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
What is your status unchanged?
Speaker 7 (03:16):
Housdon, You're all right?
Speaker 5 (03:22):
Affirmative? Did you have visual contact with the Russian craft.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Prior to the crash the negative Houston, no visual when
did they hit.
Speaker 9 (03:34):
Ago?
Speaker 10 (03:38):
I never did find out where the Russians crashed, and
if there were cosmonauts on board, well, we were cold
warriors and I considered them the enemy. Then today, if
their bodies are still up there, I think of them
as fellow explorers whose deaths could have been my own.
(04:02):
I'm Buzz Aldron, and this is the story you think
you know, but you don't.
Speaker 9 (04:09):
Ignition frequence five six five four are now.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
With the quality Babe here the angle one tall tramp
for man one bamplate.
Speaker 10 (04:40):
You're listening to Buzz. This is the story of my
greatest achievement. Chapter nine. After flying a quarter of a
million miles, Neil and I spent less than three hours
as lunar tour wrists. We set up some scientific experiments
(05:04):
that seemed important at the time, and then we did
what was essential for all time, planting our flag. We
came in peace on behalf of mankind. But even now
my heart beats faster because it gave America the wind
we desperately needed. Then we went back into the lunar
(05:26):
module for what I assumed would be a routine trip home.
Routine doesn't begin to describe it.
Speaker 7 (05:36):
Houston.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
We're three minutes to lift off from lunar's surface. Can
you confirm our scent angles pitch one thirty four and
yaw minus thirty two over Roger budd.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
A scent angles verified. Eagle activate breaker to engage a
scent engine. Repeat Eagle, confirm a sent engine engagement.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Negative engine engagement. What's the ascent engine activation switch is missing?
Speaker 10 (06:11):
Without the activation switch, we couldn't engage the ascent engine,
and without the ascent engine, we couldn't leave the moon.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Explain missing.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Gone, Houston, as in not here. One of us must
have broken it off when we came back into the
lunar module.
Speaker 5 (06:31):
Was in me.
Speaker 7 (06:32):
I never made contact with the console.
Speaker 10 (06:35):
Jesus. The lunar module was the epitome of a place
for everything and everything in its place. Trouble was, everything
didn't include spare parts and everything. We didn't need to
lift off the Moon. We'd already tossed out.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Of the hatch.
Speaker 7 (06:51):
Houston.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Can you verify that the ascent engines breaker is open
or closed?
Speaker 5 (06:56):
We're showing it open. Agleins are still armed. Can you
manufacture a replacement for the break or switch?
Speaker 10 (07:08):
Apollo eleven's three hundred million dollar investment, and two humans
were in jeopardy because of a broken switch that cost
a buck and a half. Sir, that there was another
problem brewing.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
You've got a fuel line blockage and the psis continue
in a client.
Speaker 10 (07:25):
Our lunar module had become a bomb with the fuse
already lit.
Speaker 6 (07:30):
Capcom put Tranquility on a confidential status.
Speaker 7 (07:33):
Standby. Tranquility will be back to you shortly.
Speaker 10 (07:36):
Mission control obviously believed that space travel, like marriage, stands
a better chance of success if information is dispersed on
a need to know basis.
Speaker 6 (07:47):
What's the cause of the blockage?
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Heres? We can tell it's ice at minus one hundred
and twenty centigrade. The fuel is frozen in the lines.
Speaker 6 (07:54):
How fast does the PSI rise?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Two per second? The fuel in the ox hanceil burst
at three eights all over, So you're saying three minutes,
that's all we've got.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
Drank qu This is Houston. We have an indication that
we've frozen up the descent fuel helium heat exchanger. There's
fuel trapped in the line and the PSI.
Speaker 7 (08:17):
Is increasing over Did he say frozen? That's what it
sounded like.
Speaker 11 (08:22):
To me, Roger Houston, I understand standby while we coordinate.
Speaker 10 (08:28):
Over, I had been feeling sorry for Mike Collins orbiting
the moon but never setting foot on it. But at
least he wasn't dealing with broken switches and clogged fuel lines.
He'd make it home.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
Burpot, let's burp.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
It repeat, please, Houston.
Speaker 6 (08:54):
Burp the fuel lines to dislodge the blockage, like when
you burp to clear gas.
Speaker 5 (09:02):
I like to jug a two dollars picture of lone
Star Elroy.
Speaker 6 (09:07):
You'll have to purge the lines invent the valves simultaneously.
Over for Roger, can you tell us.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
What sort of contingency we're looking at? If we can't clear.
Speaker 7 (09:17):
The blockage, we can't give you vectors to align the
abort guidance system. Even if you could get off the
surface in time, you won't have a rendezvous trajectory for Columbia.
Your ox and fuel pressures are building up, and you
need to purge and vent now. There are no other options.
Roger that, Houston. I'll purge the lines.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
I'll vent the valves.
Speaker 10 (09:40):
With the fuel line pressure still rising and possibly only
minutes to live. Neil and I started the purge and
vent procedure.
Speaker 7 (09:49):
Any change in psi Houston, Ox going now, Fuel going now, Tranquility, Houston.
The pressure is not going down on our end. It's
increasing rapidly. Over standing by for.
Speaker 5 (10:08):
Go on ags alignment and emergency aboard over.
Speaker 7 (10:12):
You don't have time. Buzz, please vent fuel and ox again.
It's building back up over Houston.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
We showed thirty psi in the fuel and thirty in
the oxidizer.
Speaker 9 (10:22):
EGO.
Speaker 7 (10:22):
We're reading psi much higher than that.
Speaker 10 (10:25):
The fuel line pressure was mounting. If we couldn't stop it,
we'd have to evacuate the lunar module. But that would
mean a slow death compared to one that was quick
and painless.
Speaker 6 (10:47):
Eagles gauges are failing. The helium exchanger must be a
block of ice by now. They need to lean on
that vent switch as hard as they can.
Speaker 7 (10:58):
Tranquility. The pressure we're looking at it critical. Take the
master vent switch and hold it open. Don't let it
go over.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
We're holding it open.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Capcom pressure still rising. Tell Eagle to keep vent.
Speaker 7 (11:10):
Eagle, you need to ride that vent switch.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
I can't ride it any harder.
Speaker 9 (11:17):
Flight.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
It looks like looks like the precious holding.
Speaker 6 (11:23):
Now there's a slight declined Eagle.
Speaker 7 (11:25):
We're seeing a decline in fuel anox.
Speaker 5 (11:26):
Pressure Roger that Houston pressure is twenty psi on the
fuel side and twenty two in the OX now down
to seventeen.
Speaker 6 (11:36):
And twenty flight.
Speaker 7 (11:38):
I think we're in business.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
Tranquility. We are looking good. Fuel line obstruction seems to
be dislodging over.
Speaker 7 (11:51):
Music to my ears, Houston, can I breathe now?
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Not yet, bus, We still need an ascend engine switch.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
The Oh, that's why you're in charge flight. You think
of everything.
Speaker 10 (12:06):
The trouble with you, buzz. People told me since I
was a kid is that you always have to have
the last word, But the last word almost never is.
We think there'll always be another chance to say I'm
sorry forgive me goodbye. But if we didn't fix that
(12:27):
switch time and oxygen would run out, mission control would
patch us through to our families, and those words really
would be our last. Would I remember to thank Joan
for being a good wife even though I was a
lousy husband. I thought of the night they made the
(12:48):
crew selections for Paulo eleven, Joan came home late from
her theater group. I was in my den, knocking back
self pity on the rocks.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Joni, Hey, and I saved my first drink to have
with you. Oh not just now, honey, I'll freshen mind.
Speaker 10 (13:16):
You can catch up.
Speaker 12 (13:22):
I'm sorry, buzz for what I heard. They picked Neil
to be commander.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Rah, it's all over town already.
Speaker 6 (13:30):
Huh.
Speaker 12 (13:31):
Oh, this is Houston. That's the decision final, Buzz. Yeah,
is the decision final?
Speaker 3 (13:45):
There, it is my doctoral thesis, Orbital rendezvous Procedures. Catchy title.
Huh someone come loud eh, got me my five beta
kappa key.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
You know.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Gyroscopes use nested gimbals and a flywheel that allow a
craft to measure its orientation in three D space, the
gyroscope maintaining a fixed position because of its angular momentum.
Speaker 12 (14:12):
They must know you're the best pilot.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
They are, And you've got a three gimbal system, one
rotating around the X, Y and Z ax is. The
rings can line up and get stuck because of the
conservation of angular momentum. Gimbal lock disaster in the making,
because you lose direction in one of the axes and
have to rely on manual navigation.
Speaker 12 (14:32):
Honey, honey, listen to me. Neil may be the commander.
But they're going to come to rely on you. What
for I don't know, but trust me they will. If
there's a crisis, you'll come through, maybe save your life.
(14:55):
Annals and Mikes. That's when they realize they've got the
right man on this mission.
Speaker 6 (15:05):
Sure you won't have that drink.
Speaker 7 (15:13):
Quar, Mike be advised. We have an update for you
on the location of the lunar module. We estimate Neil
and Buzz are about four miles down range. Coordinates are
plus zero point seven nine niner correction for latitude plus
one to one point seven to three zero longitude over Roger, that.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
Top ex plenty to coordinates, but I still can't see them.
Speaker 7 (15:41):
Roger, Columbia, confirm when you a visual.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Teagle. What's the status on the ascent engine switch.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
We've gone through about ten replacements, Houston. Nothing that'll remain
in position to give me the necessary leverage. Hold on
a second, Houston. I'm using a pen, a felt tipped pen.
It might be the right size for it's in the console.
(16:14):
It's giving me the necessary resistance to stay in position.
It's fully engaged in the switch.
Speaker 7 (16:22):
Houston.
Speaker 9 (16:23):
We have one chance at this Buzz.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
I know tranquility. For your information, the circuitry looks real
fine on that of sent engine arm circuit breaker. We
a go for lunar lift off.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
I'm ready if you are.
Speaker 7 (16:40):
Let's talk with Colombia and go home, Roger.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Roger Houston master alarm on nine eight seven six engine
arm ascent proceed. Eagle has left the lunar's surface. He
advised of the pitch over very smooth, very quiet ride, Roderick.
Speaker 11 (17:13):
We've left behind a replica of our Apollo eleven patch
and the olive branch.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
Roger, we copy.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Beautiful.
Speaker 10 (17:24):
I can say, without fear of contradiction, that never before
in human history did two men owe their lives to
burket fuel lines in a felt tipped.
Speaker 5 (17:35):
Pen used in Colombia. I'm gonna solid radar lock on
Eagle four hundred.
Speaker 7 (17:45):
And eighty feet per second, attempting to require visual Roger, Columbia, Eagle,
can you see Columbia negative?
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Houston. We can't see him yet, Eagle, Columbia.
Speaker 9 (17:59):
I'm coming to activate.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
A navigation leader. There's still no visual on Columbia.
Speaker 10 (18:09):
There they are, I see them.
Speaker 7 (18:12):
Visual contact with Eagle, Roger, Columbia Eagle, you are Gopher, docking.
Speaker 10 (18:18):
That's when I knew we were going to make it.
After all, orbital rendezvous procedures were my specialty. I'd rehearsed
them to the point where they were as natural as
parking my court Vette until.
Speaker 11 (18:34):
Columbia, Columbia, Houston, you're very weak, say again, Eagle, do
you read.
Speaker 5 (18:52):
We've got a problem? Used in our range is off
by thirty six minutes. I'm showing a bit of out
a plain velocity on my cross pointers.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Mike, We've got a guidance system failure.
Speaker 6 (19:07):
Roger, that Buzz gyroscopes are in.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Gimbal luck, Columbia and Eagle are drifting.
Speaker 7 (19:16):
Apart, Kison, where are we on fuel?
Speaker 5 (19:21):
Dangerously low?
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Eagle.
Speaker 5 (19:22):
If your darking procedure failed, you won't have enough fuel
for another try.
Speaker 9 (19:28):
Buzz, You're gonna have to duck with Colombia without the
benefit of gyros. This will be a manual procedure, and
it's in your hands.
Speaker 5 (19:45):
You can do it.
Speaker 8 (19:45):
Pal.
Speaker 10 (19:47):
We weren't pals and never would be, but lunar modules
make strange bedfellows. He could have called me, honey, and
with our lives on the line, I wasn't gonna rubble.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Buzz starring John Lithgow and Jeffrey Errand is created by
Stephen Kronisch and directed by John Scott Dryden. Chapter nine
is written by Stephen Kronish. Original music is by Sasha Putnam,
editing and sound design by Elouise Whitmore. The producer is
Emma Hearn. The executive producers are Jeremy Fox, John Scott Dryden,
(20:38):
Stephen Cronish, Howard Stringer and Jason English. 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 Errand as buzz Aldren. This series is based
on real events, However, certain characters, names, incidents, locations, and
dialogue have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Chapter nine, Sir Bernard's the Russian crafts altitude is dropping rapidly.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Bass it here.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
At those speeds, She's really coming down much too fast?
Speaker 5 (00:31):
This is it?
Speaker 6 (00:34):
What are you seeing, Sir Bernard?
Speaker 4 (00:35):
The Russian craft's landing is imminent and at a velocity
which firmly calls into question whether a soft landing is
indeed in her flight plan.
Speaker 6 (00:44):
Are we talking a hard landing or an impact?
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Well, scarcely much difference between them two at this velocity.
Speaker 5 (00:51):
Houston.
Speaker 6 (00:51):
Time to impact and location.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Time is seconds. Location is unclear, as are the Russians intentions?
Speaker 6 (00:59):
Impact imminent? Mike, have you gotten a visual on Eagle
negative capcom Tell them to be on the lookout.
Speaker 7 (01:08):
On the lookout, just tell them tranquility, This is Houston,
be advised.
Speaker 8 (01:15):
We RIGI Houston, go ahead.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
We are receiving reports that the Russians.
Speaker 7 (01:20):
Impact is in head over.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Any idea of their location over negative, Are you ordering
us to evacuate?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Over?
Speaker 7 (01:31):
Tell them no, negative, Tranquility precede as planned. Just be aware. Over.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
That's about as comforting as a mesh life boat.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
In five seconds to.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
The impact, putting you on speaker.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Five four three two one. The Russian craft is crashed.
Speaker 7 (01:58):
Tranquility. This is used the Russian vessels crashed into the
lunar surface. Report your status.
Speaker 8 (02:04):
Over repeating, Neil and Buzz, report your status. Tranquility Base,
report your status. Are you all right?
Speaker 7 (02:24):
The Russians could have made a direct hit on Tranquility Base.
Speaker 6 (02:28):
Tranquility, this is Mission Control. Please report your status. Jodrell Bank,
this is Houston. Do you have a location on the
crash of the Russian spacecraft? Has it impacted? Neil and
Buzz at Tranquility Base.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
I'm afraid I have no more information than you.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Two, Gene. If the Russians purposely targeted Tranquility, it would
be an act of war.
Speaker 6 (03:00):
Contact the White House, the Pentagon, and the CIA.
Speaker 9 (03:07):
Mission Control reading us.
Speaker 6 (03:10):
We read you, Tranquility.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
What is your status unchanged?
Speaker 7 (03:16):
Housdon, You're all right?
Speaker 5 (03:22):
Affirmative? Did you have visual contact with the Russian craft.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Prior to the crash the negative Houston, no visual when
did they hit.
Speaker 9 (03:34):
Ago?
Speaker 10 (03:38):
I never did find out where the Russians crashed, and
if there were cosmonauts on board, well, we were cold
warriors and I considered them the enemy. Then today, if
their bodies are still up there, I think of them
as fellow explorers whose deaths could have been my own.
(04:02):
I'm Buzz Aldron, and this is the story you think
you know, but you don't.
Speaker 9 (04:09):
Ignition frequence five six five four are now.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
With the quality Babe here the angle one tall tramp
for man one bamplate.
Speaker 10 (04:40):
You're listening to Buzz. This is the story of my
greatest achievement. Chapter nine. After flying a quarter of a
million miles, Neil and I spent less than three hours
as lunar tour wrists. We set up some scientific experiments
(05:04):
that seemed important at the time, and then we did
what was essential for all time, planting our flag. We
came in peace on behalf of mankind. But even now
my heart beats faster because it gave America the wind
we desperately needed. Then we went back into the lunar
(05:26):
module for what I assumed would be a routine trip home.
Routine doesn't begin to describe it.
Speaker 7 (05:36):
Houston.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
We're three minutes to lift off from lunar's surface. Can
you confirm our scent angles pitch one thirty four and
yaw minus thirty two over Roger budd.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
A scent angles verified. Eagle activate breaker to engage a
scent engine. Repeat Eagle, confirm a sent engine engagement.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Negative engine engagement. What's the ascent engine activation switch is missing?
Speaker 10 (06:11):
Without the activation switch, we couldn't engage the ascent engine,
and without the ascent engine, we couldn't leave the moon.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Explain missing.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Gone, Houston, as in not here. One of us must
have broken it off when we came back into the
lunar module.
Speaker 5 (06:31):
Was in me.
Speaker 7 (06:32):
I never made contact with the console.
Speaker 10 (06:35):
Jesus. The lunar module was the epitome of a place
for everything and everything in its place. Trouble was, everything
didn't include spare parts and everything. We didn't need to
lift off the Moon. We'd already tossed out.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Of the hatch.
Speaker 7 (06:51):
Houston.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Can you verify that the ascent engines breaker is open
or closed?
Speaker 5 (06:56):
We're showing it open. Agleins are still armed. Can you
manufacture a replacement for the break or switch?
Speaker 10 (07:08):
Apollo eleven's three hundred million dollar investment, and two humans
were in jeopardy because of a broken switch that cost
a buck and a half. Sir, that there was another
problem brewing.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
You've got a fuel line blockage and the psis continue
in a client.
Speaker 10 (07:25):
Our lunar module had become a bomb with the fuse
already lit.
Speaker 6 (07:30):
Capcom put Tranquility on a confidential status.
Speaker 7 (07:33):
Standby. Tranquility will be back to you shortly.
Speaker 10 (07:36):
Mission control obviously believed that space travel, like marriage, stands
a better chance of success if information is dispersed on
a need to know basis.
Speaker 6 (07:47):
What's the cause of the blockage?
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Heres? We can tell it's ice at minus one hundred
and twenty centigrade. The fuel is frozen in the lines.
Speaker 6 (07:54):
How fast does the PSI rise?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Two per second? The fuel in the ox hanceil burst
at three eights all over, So you're saying three minutes,
that's all we've got.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
Drank qu This is Houston. We have an indication that
we've frozen up the descent fuel helium heat exchanger. There's
fuel trapped in the line and the PSI.
Speaker 7 (08:17):
Is increasing over Did he say frozen? That's what it
sounded like.
Speaker 11 (08:22):
To me, Roger Houston, I understand standby while we coordinate.
Speaker 10 (08:28):
Over, I had been feeling sorry for Mike Collins orbiting
the moon but never setting foot on it. But at
least he wasn't dealing with broken switches and clogged fuel lines.
He'd make it home.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
Burpot, let's burp.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
It repeat, please, Houston.
Speaker 6 (08:54):
Burp the fuel lines to dislodge the blockage, like when
you burp to clear gas.
Speaker 5 (09:02):
I like to jug a two dollars picture of lone
Star Elroy.
Speaker 6 (09:07):
You'll have to purge the lines invent the valves simultaneously.
Over for Roger, can you tell us.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
What sort of contingency we're looking at? If we can't clear.
Speaker 7 (09:17):
The blockage, we can't give you vectors to align the
abort guidance system. Even if you could get off the
surface in time, you won't have a rendezvous trajectory for Columbia.
Your ox and fuel pressures are building up, and you
need to purge and vent now. There are no other options.
Roger that, Houston. I'll purge the lines.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
I'll vent the valves.
Speaker 10 (09:40):
With the fuel line pressure still rising and possibly only
minutes to live. Neil and I started the purge and
vent procedure.
Speaker 7 (09:49):
Any change in psi Houston, Ox going now, Fuel going now, Tranquility, Houston.
The pressure is not going down on our end. It's
increasing rapidly. Over standing by for.
Speaker 5 (10:08):
Go on ags alignment and emergency aboard over.
Speaker 7 (10:12):
You don't have time. Buzz, please vent fuel and ox again.
It's building back up over Houston.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
We showed thirty psi in the fuel and thirty in
the oxidizer.
Speaker 9 (10:22):
EGO.
Speaker 7 (10:22):
We're reading psi much higher than that.
Speaker 10 (10:25):
The fuel line pressure was mounting. If we couldn't stop it,
we'd have to evacuate the lunar module. But that would
mean a slow death compared to one that was quick
and painless.
Speaker 6 (10:47):
Eagles gauges are failing. The helium exchanger must be a
block of ice by now. They need to lean on
that vent switch as hard as they can.
Speaker 7 (10:58):
Tranquility. The pressure we're looking at it critical. Take the
master vent switch and hold it open. Don't let it
go over.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
We're holding it open.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Capcom pressure still rising. Tell Eagle to keep vent.
Speaker 7 (11:10):
Eagle, you need to ride that vent switch.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
I can't ride it any harder.
Speaker 9 (11:17):
Flight.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
It looks like looks like the precious holding.
Speaker 6 (11:23):
Now there's a slight declined Eagle.
Speaker 7 (11:25):
We're seeing a decline in fuel anox.
Speaker 5 (11:26):
Pressure Roger that Houston pressure is twenty psi on the
fuel side and twenty two in the OX now down
to seventeen.
Speaker 6 (11:36):
And twenty flight.
Speaker 7 (11:38):
I think we're in business.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
Tranquility. We are looking good. Fuel line obstruction seems to
be dislodging over.
Speaker 7 (11:51):
Music to my ears, Houston, can I breathe now?
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Not yet, bus, We still need an ascend engine switch.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
The Oh, that's why you're in charge flight. You think
of everything.
Speaker 10 (12:06):
The trouble with you, buzz. People told me since I
was a kid is that you always have to have
the last word, But the last word almost never is.
We think there'll always be another chance to say I'm
sorry forgive me goodbye. But if we didn't fix that
(12:27):
switch time and oxygen would run out, mission control would
patch us through to our families, and those words really
would be our last. Would I remember to thank Joan
for being a good wife even though I was a
lousy husband. I thought of the night they made the
(12:48):
crew selections for Paulo eleven, Joan came home late from
her theater group. I was in my den, knocking back
self pity on the rocks.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Joni, Hey, and I saved my first drink to have
with you. Oh not just now, honey, I'll freshen mind.
Speaker 10 (13:16):
You can catch up.
Speaker 12 (13:22):
I'm sorry, buzz for what I heard. They picked Neil
to be commander.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Rah, it's all over town already.
Speaker 6 (13:30):
Huh.
Speaker 12 (13:31):
Oh, this is Houston. That's the decision final, Buzz. Yeah,
is the decision final?
Speaker 3 (13:45):
There, it is my doctoral thesis, Orbital rendezvous Procedures. Catchy title.
Huh someone come loud eh, got me my five beta
kappa key.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
You know.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Gyroscopes use nested gimbals and a flywheel that allow a
craft to measure its orientation in three D space, the
gyroscope maintaining a fixed position because of its angular momentum.
Speaker 12 (14:12):
They must know you're the best pilot.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
They are, And you've got a three gimbal system, one
rotating around the X, Y and Z ax is. The
rings can line up and get stuck because of the
conservation of angular momentum. Gimbal lock disaster in the making,
because you lose direction in one of the axes and
have to rely on manual navigation.
Speaker 12 (14:32):
Honey, honey, listen to me. Neil may be the commander.
But they're going to come to rely on you. What
for I don't know, but trust me they will. If
there's a crisis, you'll come through, maybe save your life.
(14:55):
Annals and Mikes. That's when they realize they've got the
right man on this mission.
Speaker 6 (15:05):
Sure you won't have that drink.
Speaker 7 (15:13):
Quar, Mike be advised. We have an update for you
on the location of the lunar module. We estimate Neil
and Buzz are about four miles down range. Coordinates are
plus zero point seven nine niner correction for latitude plus
one to one point seven to three zero longitude over Roger, that.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
Top ex plenty to coordinates, but I still can't see them.
Speaker 7 (15:41):
Roger, Columbia, confirm when you a visual.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Teagle. What's the status on the ascent engine switch.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
We've gone through about ten replacements, Houston. Nothing that'll remain
in position to give me the necessary leverage. Hold on
a second, Houston. I'm using a pen, a felt tipped pen.
It might be the right size for it's in the console.
(16:14):
It's giving me the necessary resistance to stay in position.
It's fully engaged in the switch.
Speaker 7 (16:22):
Houston.
Speaker 9 (16:23):
We have one chance at this Buzz.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
I know tranquility. For your information, the circuitry looks real
fine on that of sent engine arm circuit breaker. We
a go for lunar lift off.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
I'm ready if you are.
Speaker 7 (16:40):
Let's talk with Colombia and go home, Roger.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Roger Houston master alarm on nine eight seven six engine
arm ascent proceed. Eagle has left the lunar's surface. He
advised of the pitch over very smooth, very quiet ride, Roderick.
Speaker 11 (17:13):
We've left behind a replica of our Apollo eleven patch
and the olive branch.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
Roger, we copy.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Beautiful.
Speaker 10 (17:24):
I can say, without fear of contradiction, that never before
in human history did two men owe their lives to
burket fuel lines in a felt tipped.
Speaker 5 (17:35):
Pen used in Colombia. I'm gonna solid radar lock on
Eagle four hundred.
Speaker 7 (17:45):
And eighty feet per second, attempting to require visual Roger, Columbia, Eagle,
can you see Columbia negative?
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Houston. We can't see him yet, Eagle, Columbia.
Speaker 9 (17:59):
I'm coming to activate.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
A navigation leader. There's still no visual on Columbia.
Speaker 10 (18:09):
There they are, I see them.
Speaker 7 (18:12):
Visual contact with Eagle, Roger, Columbia Eagle, you are Gopher, docking.
Speaker 10 (18:18):
That's when I knew we were going to make it.
After all, orbital rendezvous procedures were my specialty. I'd rehearsed
them to the point where they were as natural as
parking my court Vette until.
Speaker 11 (18:34):
Columbia, Columbia, Houston, you're very weak, say again, Eagle, do
you read.
Speaker 5 (18:52):
We've got a problem? Used in our range is off
by thirty six minutes. I'm showing a bit of out
a plain velocity on my cross pointers.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Mike, We've got a guidance system failure.
Speaker 6 (19:07):
Roger, that Buzz gyroscopes are in.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Gimbal luck, Columbia and Eagle are drifting.
Speaker 7 (19:16):
Apart, Kison, where are we on fuel?
Speaker 5 (19:21):
Dangerously low?
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Eagle.
Speaker 5 (19:22):
If your darking procedure failed, you won't have enough fuel
for another try.
Speaker 9 (19:28):
Buzz, You're gonna have to duck with Colombia without the
benefit of gyros. This will be a manual procedure, and
it's in your hands.
Speaker 5 (19:45):
You can do it.
Speaker 8 (19:45):
Pal.
Speaker 10 (19:47):
We weren't pals and never would be, but lunar modules
make strange bedfellows. He could have called me, honey, and
with our lives on the line, I wasn't gonna rubble.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Buzz starring John Lithgow and Jeffrey Errand is created by
Stephen Kronisch and directed by John Scott Dryden. Chapter nine
is written by Stephen Kronish. Original music is by Sasha Putnam,
editing and sound design by Elouise Whitmore. The producer is
Emma Hearn. The executive producers are Jeremy Fox, John Scott Dryden,
(20:38):
Stephen Cronish, Howard Stringer and Jason English. Buzz is a
production of Thoroughbred Studios, gold Hawk Productions, and iHeart Podcasts.
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