For All Mankind

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.

I don't think that we can exaggerate the great advantage

which the Soviet Union secured in the '50s by being first in space.

They were able to give prestige to their system.

They were able to give force to their argument

that they were an advancing society...

And that we were on the decline.

Our great system will be judged

by how we do in the field of space...

and therefore this country.

Both political parties have determined that the United States shall be first.

Quite obviously, if we fail, we're humiliated,

here and around the world.

- -

Aleida, my dear. Your mamma wants you.

Still no further word on the progress of the spacecraft

toward the surface of the moon.

But we believe that it will be touching down any minute now.

The last official report we have said

that the landing vehicle was descending toward the surface...

Mama.

How long do we have to watch this?

Shh.

They just talk, talk, talk...

Aleida. This is special.

You'll remember this the rest of your life.

This is the beginning of the future.

You can be part of that.

Maybe even go to the moon one day.

You should be in bed. The doctor says you need rest...

Never mind the doctor.

I want to be here for this.

With her.

So she'll remember.

...the spacecraft has landed.

Can we confirm that?

Yes.

They are on the moon, ladies and gentlemen.

Radio and television signals from the moon

take less than two seconds to reach us here on Earth.

So if we do get television pictures,

they'll be essentially broadcasting live.

That's right.

Live from the moon.

In the United Kingdom, we're told that Queen Elizabeth II was awakened...

When first reports of the pending moon landing was received.

And in Tokyo, Emperor Hirohito...

Are they down? The radio wasn't sure if they landed or...

They're down. They're down.

There's no video yet, but they're down.

At the Vatican, Pope Paul VI positioned...

One of the most shocking events of my lifetime.

This will shake things up in this country. I'll tell you that right now.

Things will never be the same.

Are little more than guesswork.

But experts have long anticipated a possible viewership

of over 500 million people.

Is this really happening?

I'm hearing we're getting a picture.

Is that right? We have a picture?

Sid, can we patch into...

Got it.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a live signal from the moon.

Having some trouble seeing it.

Uh... There, I see it. There it is.

Amazing.

Just unbelievable.

The shock across the nation at this event.

Indeed, the shock across the world is just indescribable.

What was considered a fantasy just a short time ago

is coming true right before our eyes.

I believe we're looking at the legs of the lunar lander.

There at the bottom of your screen is what appears to be a ladder.

No word yet on when someone will be climbing down that ladder, but...

Wait, wait. Here we go.

I see something.

There he is. We have him.

Oh, my goodness. Wow.

Can you believe it?

After thousands of years, ladies and gentlemen,

gazing up in the heavens and dreaming of this day,

a man is about to set foot on the moon.

Don't know what he's saying, obviously,

but we'll get a translation of his words,

man's first words from the moon, in just a minute.

Okay, we have the translation now,

and these are the words that Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov,

the first man to set foot on the moon,

spoke just moments ago.

"I take this step for my country, for my people,

and for the Marxist-Leninist way of life.

Knowing that today is but one small step

on a journey that someday will take us all to the stars."

I'm not sure what to say.

Perhaps there are no words.

So, for now,

we'll let you soak in this historic moment...

and reflect on what it means for our country...

and for the world.

How the hell did this happen?

Those bastards at NASA have been acting like they had everything under control,

and then they fumble the ball right at the goddamn goal line.

Right at the goal!

Yes, sir, it sure looks that way.

CIA is working up a review of their intel over the last year

to see if they missed any signs of Soviet advances that...

They missed the whole goddamn thing!

The whole match!

You know how the press is gonna play this, don't you?

The New York Times is going to say that

Kennedy started the moon race,

Johnson ran it,

and then Nixon tripped at the goal line.

That's what it's gonna be.

They're gonna try and hang this around my neck,

but they're not gonna succeed.

No, sir.

I'll tell you that right goddamn now.

Not Nixon.

Shane, let's go. Shake a leg. Bus is almost here.

- Last day of school? - Next week.

One more week to go, sailor.

Yeah, I know.

What?

- I mean, yes, sir. - That's right.

They shoulda let you land,

then we woulda been first.

Yeah. Well, that wasn't my mission, buddy.

Hey. Here's your lunch, okay?

- Let's get going. - Thank you.

Hey, you have a good day, okay?

- Yeah. Bye, Dad. - Bye-bye.

Love you, sweetie. Have a good day.

- Thank you. - Okay.

So, how do you think it's gonna affect the program?

I don't know. Deke's called an all-hands meeting this morning.

So, I guess we'll find out then.

I hope they still fly Apollo 15.

Yeah.

Me too.

Hey, do you want me to save this or toss it?

Toss it.

Okay.

Ah...

Save it.

- Morning, Poppy. - Morning.

- Morning, sir. - Morning.

Apollo 11 is scheduled to fly in two and a half weeks.

Neil, Buzz, Mike and their backup crew will continue training as planned.

Beyond that, there's been no word from the top.

So, training for Apollos 12 to 20 will also continue as planned...

but not today.

I was at the Cape with the rest of the Mercury astronauts

when Jim Webb came down and told us the Russians put the first man in space.

Webb wanted us to put a good face on for the press.

So we did, but not for a while.

First, we had to be pissed off,

and we were.

Gus could hardly speak. And Al...

Glad Al Shepard's not here today.

Al was really pissed. Even Glenn.

Yes, believe it or not, gentlemen,

John Glenn actually said the word "fuck."

So before we go back to work, it's time to be pissed!

All training evolutions for today have been canceled.

I suggest you all take the weekend to go out, get drunk,

kick your dog, gnash your teeth, howl at the moon,

or do whatever suits your purpose.

Come Monday morning...

we're back to work.

That is all.

So, Outpost?

Last one buys.

Ah!

Pam.

All right. Fine.

- Pam! Pam! - All right!

Come on up, Pam.

- Set it off. Set it off. -

- Pam, throw it. - No!

- One more round? - Yeah!