And do the other thing, not because they are easy but because they are hard. We have a good many very talented scientists, but we did not make a major effort in this area for many years. And were now behind and paying the price of having the soviet union exploit the propaganda advantage of sputnik. I have marvin cal, cbs news correspondent in moscow on the phone now. Marvin, is there any doubt this happened, the russians put a man in space . Im almost certain the russians did fire a man into outer space. Hes 27. Its a great historic scientific feat. At that time, we didnt really know whether a human could survive in space. And here, boom, the soviets send this guy into space. And he survived. Yuri gagarin was something that affected american prowess. That we are ahead of everybody. Now it was first sputnik and now first man in space was russian and you can understand that this was really in the middle of the cold war. There was competition of the great super powers. Mr. President , could you give us your view, sir, about the soviet achievement of putting a man in orbit, and what it would mean to our Space Program . It is the most impressive scientific accomplishment. I already sent congratulations to khrushchev and to the man that was involved. The space race wasnt just about space. It was about our own sense of security. It was this new cold war battleground. And so it wasnt very hard to realize that if they could put a man into orbit, they could also put an atomic bomb in orbit. Suddenly the sky was menacing. It means theyre getting ahead of us and we certainly need to start working hard to catch up. I think its about time america woke up and did something about it. I believe it very impressive for propaganda purposes. But i think if we put our minds to it that this country can top that in six months. From my perspective as a kid, we were in a race against the russians, and the russians were the bad guys, and they were winning this race and that meant they were superior to us, and yet, they were the bad guys. In 1960, we had astronauts, we hasnt had anybody in space yet, but we were knocking on the door. Getting ready to go. Were a little bit behind. We want to catch up, we want to be the leaders. Theres another question, doctor. That is, do we have the stuff to do it . What would you say we must do to match this or better it . The United StatesSpace Program is based on the philosophy that we dont want to pull a stunt and risk a mans life. For this reason, there are certain intermediate steps planned before we put a man in orbit. If this is successful, then and only then will an orbital attempt be made. The mercury project was our first real response to the sputnik and to Yuri Gagarins flight, and it was a big deal for us, i tell you. Because all of a sudden we had seven guys, and they were Fighter Pilot types, very alpha male guys, fun to be around, you know. It was like being with rock stars. Its a gala day in houston as its citizens turn out by the tens of thousands to give a texassized welcome to the u. S. Space team. They were heroes even before the public knew their names. They became warriors on behalf of the United States against our most feared enemy, the soviet union. What they were hiring these guys for was for mindset. They wanted experienced test pilots who could observe and report during a very violent and dangerous activity. As we develop the spacecraft, almost everything we do deals with the risky side of the business. We recognize we can get killed flying spacecraft, like we can get killed flying t33s or t38s or driving my corvette. We have a job thats fascinating and its worth the risk. Al shepard was a natural leader. He got the first ride into space. The Shirley Temple program usually seen at this time will not be presented in order that we may bring you the following special broadcast. Within the next few days, from this guarded wasteland, the First American will be launched into space. He will not go into orbit as yuri gagarin did, but he will ride his spacecraft 116 miles up. And there he will hang weightless for about five minutes until gravity pulls him back through the atmosphere to the sea nearly 300 miles downrange. Astronaut shepard making his way to the elevator. There is some applause from the 120 or so people. And now astronaut shepard descends the gantry plane in a few moments hell be placed in the capsule. Ten minus ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, zero, ignition. Liftoff. Liftoff. At 34 hours 30 minutes. Liftoff and the clock is started. All systems are go. Some lawmakers want to award the medal of honor to shepard, all today appeared ready to spend more money on our space effort, all agreed russia is still ahead. But all this was beside the point for the wife of the First American straud. Mrs. Alan shepard at virginia beach, virginia, heard the news with relief. If there is shepard, can you tell us what are your feelings on this occasion . I dont have to tell you, do i . Im so happy. It was beautiful, i thought. The gagarin flight was a 10. Al shepards flight was a 1 or a 2, okay in terms of the capability that it demonstrated. So russians clearly were ahead of us, so the attitude is we would like to do something really big, but small enough so that we could accomplish it. I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before this decade is out of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind or more important for the longrange exploration of space. I dont know how he decided we could do that, because when we heard about it, we thought they, you know, lost their mind. This is Walter Cronkite this is Walter Cronkite reporting from the capital. 131 over Patterson Air force base in dayton, ohio. This aircraft is executing a maneuver to make it and everyone in it temporarily weightless. This weightless condition is one of many that man must learn to tolerate or overcome to survive a first trip to the moon. Cronkite was the perfect person for space because he was a space junky. He ended up covering the early mercury missions, and he just became encyclopedic on it. What are the hazards and what are our scientists doing to ensure mans survival in the hostile environment of outer space . That is our story. First man on the moon as the Prudential Insurance company of america presents the 20th century. This is marine lieutenant colonial john h. Glenn jr. Who within a few days will be the First American to fly in orbit around the world. Were embarking in a completely new field here, space science. And im happy and proud i can maybe contribute a little bit in my own way in this new field. John glenn came along next and flew the first orbital flight for an american. To us, that was a huge deal because now we had an American Hero who could at least stand up to yuri gagarin. Godspeed, john glenn. Three, two, one. This is mercury control. Friendship 7 spacecraft is now committed to its third orbit. Looks good. Well see you back. All right, boy. Shortly before hes supposed to reenter the atmosphere, the word comes that there is a possibility that glenns heat shield has detached from the base of the capsule. Go ahead, spaceflight, go ahead. We have decided to reenter with the tank on. This is friendship 7. What is the reason for this . Do you have any reason, over . The only Thing Holding the heat shield on are three straps, which are attached to the retro rockets. We feel its far safer to reenter with the retro rockets on, over. Roger. Understand. So normally, the plan is you fire the retro rockets and let them go. But now it becomes clear if glenn does that, he might be burned alive. He went through this period of intense ion buildup where you lose contact with him. 7, this is cape, do you read, over . Friendship 7, this is cape, do you read, over . Hello, mercury recovery, this is friendship 7, do you read me if. Roger, read you loud and clear, how are you doing . That was a real fireball, boy. I express the great happiness and thanksgiving all of us that colonel glenn has completed his trip, and i know that this is particularly felt by mrs. Glenn and his two children. It was quite a day. I dont know what you can say about a day in which you see four beautiful sunsets in one day but its pretty interesting. Now we know that russia need not and will not have any monopoly on manned spaceflight. A new spirit has arisen in u. S. Missilemen and our capital. Out of the growing pains of project mercury, a host of new projects will be born. You could have gone ahead faster if you had more money earlier, is that right . Well, this is true. Although, there are some limitations. There is an old saying, it takes nine months to have a baby. [ laughter ] with rockets too. Von braun was perfectly placed to get us off the planet. He was a german Rocket Scientist that we were pretty lucky to get after the war. Von braun was a futurist and a visionary as much as anything else. He built the team that became americas brain trust for rocketry. I have come to texas today to salute an Outstanding Group of pioneers. Though headlines may be made by others in other places, history is being made every day by the men and women of the Aerospace Medical center without whom there could be no history. When he was assassinated, that was a personal blow. It was a personal blow to us because he was the guy that got us on this track. When president johnson came in, you know, he was going to continue to implement what president kennedy had done. Those two men together led us to where we ended up at the end of the decade. Visiting Cape Canaveral are the new astronauts. The men who will join the original seven and ride the gemini and the apollo spacecraft. They are the new pioneers of space. We were very fortunate in that our country always seemed to have the right person ready when the right person was needed. I give you neil armstrong. Neil armstrong was unflappable. He was a natural aviator, and armstrong just seemed never to be ruffled. Neils a cool guy, as we all know. In fact, all of the guys i was working with at the time are all exceptional pilots. So its great to be on a team like that where theyre all winners. Gemini is the space agencys bridge to the future. With it well learn mans true capabilities and drawbacks in space, and on the last five gemini flights, well practice several different forms of rendezvous, the skill needed to supply spacecraft to change crews and the ability to operate in a new medium that is both fantastically rewarding and terrifyingly dangerous. Gemini, moreover, is a rehearsal for apollo, the threeman spacecraft that will get us to the moon. The russians surprise with another first in the person of alexi lionoff, who they say became the first man to walk around in space. When he went outside the spacecraft, they said no, he couldnt have done that but the soviets went outside successfully and came back was a shocker. The soviet union pushed americans back. Was part of the game at the time. I would say for most of the 60s, we had a sense of being behind. Im only in my 60s. Ive got a nice long life ahead. Big plans. So when i found out medicare doesnt pay all my medical expenses, i looked at my options. Then i got a Medicare Supplement insurance plan. [ male announcer ] if youre eligible for medicare, you may know it only covers about 80 of your part b medical expenses. The rest is up to you. Call now and find out about an aarp Medicare Supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. Like all standardized Medicare Supplement insurance plans, it helps pick up some of what medicare doesnt pay. And could save you in outofpocket medical costs. To me, relationships matter. Ive been with my doctor for 12 years. Now i know ill be able to stick with him. [ male announcer ] with these types of plans, youll be able to visit any doctor or hospital that accepts medicare patients. Plus, there are no networks, and virtually no referrals needed. So dont wait. Call now and request this free decision guide to help you better understand medicare. And which aarp Medicare Supplement plan might be best for you. Theres a wide range to choose from. We love to travel and theres so much more to see. So we found a plan that can travel with us. Anywhere in the country. [ male announcer ] join the millions of people who have already enrolled in the only Medicare Supplement insurance plans endorsed by aarp, an Organization Serving the needs of people 50 and over for generations. Remember, all Medicare Supplement insurance plans help cover what medicare doesnt pay. And could save you in outofpocket medical costs. Call now to request your free decision guide. And learn more about the kinds of plans that will be here for you now and down the road. I have a lifetime of experience. So i know how important that is. It was a perfect launch and scorpio 6 is on its way to make space history. Sol, look. They see it sol. No, no, its not sol. Sos, sos it was the fabric of the country. It was finding its way into the popular culture. If you grew up in the 50s you were watching science fiction. But if you grew up in the 60s you were watching it actually happen. I dont want to fire the gun yet. When ed white went out on the first eva, people were holding their breath. There was a real push to get a spacewalk as soon as possible. That turned out to be gemini 4 and ed whites spacewalk was just a magnificent thing. Okay, ive rolled out and im rolling to the right now under my own influence. There goes a looks like a thermal brush. It is, ed. All right. He went out and had this little nitrogen bottle to fire this little thruster that pushed this way, that way. So he could rotate himself around, you know, and so on. And it gave the appearance of being a piece of cake. Im turning over. Ed, you look beautiful. I feel like a million dollars. There was absolutely no sensation of falling. There was very little sensation of speed, other than the same type of sensation that we had in the capsule. I think as i stepped out, i thought the biggest thing was a feeling of accomplishment of one of the goals of the gemini 4 mission. The next major breakthrough will be the bringing together of two orbiting craft. The russians have made one test in their program and presumably have learned something. We have not yet made our first test, so we must be considered behind. Ignition. The primary goal of project gemini was to perform space rendezvous. Without that, no moon mission. With lunar orbit rendezvous technique, where the lunar module flew back up, rendezvoused with the command module, you have to bring these two vehicles together and get them close in such a way that it was easy to dock them. Took a fair bit of work. Flying nose to nose, we can very clearly see the rising scanners up there. Roger. That was the moment when we pulled ahead in the space race. That was something that the russians hadnt even clom close to doing and wouldnt accomplish for a couple more years. It was an unknown as to how we were going to do that when we first started, but we got good at it, and we mastered it on Neil Armstrongs sled, gemini 8. Houston, this is gemini 8. Houston, were keeping it at about 150 feet. Way to go, partner. Youve done it, boy. Youve done it. Good job. Man, thats great. Man, that is really slick. Okay, gemini 8, looking good on the ground. Go ahead and dock. They found another object in space, and they docked them together to make one big spacecraft or rocket on the nose of the gemini. That was amazing. So its nighttime. Power down. Have dinner and get ready for the next day. And i happened to look over at neils panel and i saw his eight ball, his attitude gyro, in a bank. I said, neil, were in a bank. Weve got Serious Problems here. They got up to one revolution a second so we decided to undock from the agena, which we suspected was the problem. Then the gemini started spinning very rapidly. And then we figured out, oh, its the gemini. What seems to be the problem . Were rolling up and we cant turn anything off. Did he say he could not turn the agena off . No, he said he had separated from the agena, and he did a roll, and they cant stop it. The only way they were able to get out of this thing was for him to fire his thruster. Stop the Spinning Spacecraft before it spun so much they passed out. We got down alive and neil said, i think well both have another chance, and we did. The leak in space, cbs News Coverage of gemini 9, 2 1 2 hour walk in space, reporting from the cbs news space center, correspondent Walter Cronkite. The spacewalk is over. The hatch has been locked closed again. Safely back in the spacecraft. It was a disappointing space walk in a true sense. The only thing we did not do well was e. V. A. , extravehicular activity. For the last flight gemini 12 buzz brought in the idea of training in the water tank. I was a scuba diver from 1957, so i knew a bit about dealing with currents and moving around and spacewalking. It was very delicate moving and you balance so you dont exert yourself. So i started training underwater. Buzz put all that together and the final eva was done very much by the book. It was a big success. So i was standing up in the hatch and looking around and took a couple pictures of texas and the astrodome. And i decided, well, let me just turn around and take a picture. Nothing unusual about that. But that was the first selfie in space. Gemini 12. Gemini 12. When gemini was over, the team of people the planners, the astronauts, and the people in the control center were completely synced and we came out with confidence in ourselves. It was like, let us have this apollo stuff. Were going to take it to the moon as fast as we possibly can. I recognize that there is some risk. People might look at our work as being perhaps dangerous, but we just try to take as much of that out as we can during the pretesting to make sure the systems are good. I think we tra