This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest of the episode and unlock more bonus content, consider supporting Failure To Launch on Patreon.

In early 1961, NASA was actually very well positioned to launch an American into space before the Soviets. Then they messed it up. This week, Quinn, Chris, and Other Chris take a look into what was happening at NASA in the months before Vostok 1 flew. We cover the infamous Four Inch Flight, the first chimp in space, and the debate over how safe a rocket should really be before strapping Alan Shepard into it.

Support FTL on Patreon and unlock bonus content and Discord access!

Sources:

• Beyond, Stephen Walker

• Redstone: The Missile That Launched America Into Space, Drew LePage

• Giving Mercury Its Wings, Drew LePage

Theme song by DJ Danarchy

This is an unlocked patreon bonus episode. If you want to hear more content like this, consider supporting FTL on Patreon.

For this bonus, we've got Chris, Other Chris, and returning guest Nicholas Slayton getting Tarkovsky-pilled again and talking about the 1979 classic Stalker.

In 1962, President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt (or the UAR) showed the world his newest toys: a set of tiny, dinky missiles that could carry 60 kilos of explosives apiece. Needless to say, the head of the Israeli Mossad flipped out and ordered a campaign of assassinations on the German scientists who'd built them. This week, we're talking to Devon from the Kill James Bond podcast about Operation Damocles: a story of dumb rockets and dumber spies.

Listen to Devon's work on: Kill James Bond, Well There's Your Problem, and 10K Posts!

Support FTL on Patreon and unlock bonus content!

Sources:

- Reflections on Egypt, the Middle East, and History, Khaled Fahmy

- Nasser and the Missile Age in the Middle East, Owen Sirrs

Theme song by DJ Danarchy

𝔾𝕠𝕕'𝕤 𝕀𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕪

This week, Quinn, Chris, and Other Chris subject themselves to Moon landing hoaxer Bart Sibrel's second "documentary", Astronauts Gone Wild. Spoiler: there's precious little astronauts going wild and it's bad even as conspiracy propaganda.

Support FTL on Patreon and unlock bonus episodes!

Theme song provided by DJ Danarchy

This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest of the episode and unlock more bonus content, consider supporting Failure To Launch on Patreon.

Sometimes it's better not to go to space. This week, we're talking to guest and space industry engineer Robin about the story of Soyuz T-10A or "that time the LES flung a Soviet crew to safety 3 seconds before their rocket detonated".

Support FTL on Patreon and unlock bonus content!

Sources:

- Soyuz T-10A: The First Crewed On-Pad Abort, Drew LePage

- Russianspaceweb, Anatoly Zak

Theme song provided by DJ Danarchy

CONTENT WARNING

This week, Quinn, Chris, and Other Chris are covering the 1980 Plesetsk Cosmodrome explosion, probably the 2nd most lethal accident in space history.

Sources:

- RussianSpaceWeb, Anatoly Zak

Theme song provided by DJ Danarchy

This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest of the episode and unlock more bonus content, consider supporting Failure To Launch on Patreon.

Ever since satellites have existed, people have wanted to find ways to kill them. This week, Quinn, Chris, and Other Chris are taking a look at the 2007 Chinese Anti-Satellite Test - the largest debris-creating event in space history - and the larger trend of nations trying to turn Low Earth Orbit into the zero-g Somme.

Support FTL on Patreon and unlock bonus content!

Sources:

- Characteristics and Consequences of the Break-up of the Fengyun-1C Spacecraft, NASA

- Analysis of the 2007 Chinese ASAT Test and the Impact of its Debris on the Space Environment, T.S. Kelso

Theme song provided by DJ Danarchy