Into the Abyss

Warren, I've got the printout of all the coordinates.

Thanks.

Okay, Endeavour, got you. Molly, you are live on all networks.

I'm on TV? Really?

Oh, I wish you'd told me. I'd have done something with my hair.

I like this look. You look gorgeous, babe. Oh, my God. There's my girl.

How come everything's about her?

'Cause... she's a novelty, you know? First woman astronaut.

Yeah, but Dad's her boss.

Okay, shh. Just eat your cereal.

Molly, millions of people around the world

are eager to hear your thoughts now that you're in orbit around the moon.

W-- It's pretty humbling.

You can see the entire world from this window here.

Hard to believe that anyone I've ever known,

every country, every civilization,

is contained in that tiny blue-and-white ball.

Molly, we've got thousands of letters from women you've inspired.

I have one here from eight-year-old Abigail Crouse in Solvang, California.

I'd like to read it to you.

"Dear Molly. I have loved space for as long as I can remember.

My brother has models of all the Apollo ships,

and I used to get in trouble for playing with them.

But after you got picked to be on Apollo 15,

my dad bought me a model of my own.

I named the command module Cobb

and the LEM Molly after you.

Some kids at school say there's no water on the moon

and your mission is a joke.

But I believe in you, and I know you will find it.

Your friend, Abigail."

Anything you wanna say to Abby? I'm sure she's watching.

Abigail, I will try not to let you down.

And that is a cut. We're off the air. Good job.

A star is born.

Don't forget the little people who helped you along the way.

Just as fast as I can.

Endeavour. Before Molly starts shopping for an agent,

we got some good news for you.

Rocky Ray and the geo boys

have been going over the spectroscopy from your recon orbits,

and they think that they have found ice.

Tons of it. Literally, tons.

Well, tell us where it is, and we'll bring you back a snow cone.

Negative, Endeavour.

The geo team will use that data to pick spots for later missions,

'cause the ice is nowhere near your landing site at Mare Frigoris.

Where is it?

It's at the south pole. Shackleton Crater.

Let's go. Change the plan. Land us at Shackleton.

That's quite a big change, Ed.

No shit. 4,000 kilometers worth.

No.

Flight's giving that a big thumbs down.

It's too big a risk, and you don't have the gear for that kind of exploration.

You'll land at Frigoris, as planned.

We'll re-task Apollo 16 for Shackleton.

Before we left, lab coats told us the ice concentration at Frigoris

was around 250 parts per million.

So what's the read on Shackleton?

After your survey, it could be 500 times better.

Well, then I strongly suggest you folks rethink this.

We didn't come all this way just to dig a bunch of dry holes.

Houston, going off VOX for a few.

Roger that, Endeavour.

Let's have it, Mol.

What happened to "stick with the mission plan, no matter what"?

The mission's to find ice.

We flew over Shackleton in the first place

just to get the data they're all crowing about.

-You on board with this? -Changing a landing site mid-flight?

It's dangerous and stupid. I love it.

Of course you do. You're not the one going down there.

-Hey, you wanna swap jobs? - Hey.

The CIA is worried that the Soviets will place military assets on the moon.

Why would anyone put missiles on the moon?

All I know is the president wants that base.

We need a beachhead against the Soviets.

Shackleton looks like the place for it,

so if we can get Apollo 15 there first, we should do it.

My crew gets the final say.

Talk to them.

We practiced for Frigoris.

Nobody knows what's on the ground at Shackleton.

We get no points if we crash and burn in some half-baked, last-minute approach.

That's funny, 'cause "half-baked, last-minute"

was your entire approach to training.

Well, that was then.

Look, sometimes you gotta roll the hard six.

What's that supposed to mean?

It means no risk, no water from the moon.

Look, if it were just me, gimme the dice.

But if we auger in, it won't be, "Baldwin screwed the pooch."

It'll be, "Women can't hack it in space."

And what do you think they'll say if we come home empty-handed?

What the press has being saying all along:

That this mission is just a publicity stunt.

Exactly.

Endeavour, Houston.

We've reconsidered a Shackleton landing.

Flight dynamics has a DOI burn that will take you down there,

but we do not know what kind of landing site you will find.

It's high risk, so it's... it's your call.

You still up for it?

It's up to you, Cobb. Can't do this unless you're on board.

Fuck yeah. Let's do it.

That's what I'm talking about. Attagirl.

Houston, this is Endeavour. We are go for Shackleton.

You remember what you told me just before launch?

Yeah, well, now you're really gonna do something.

The lunar module Seahawk has left orbit on the far side of the moon,

and they are preparing to initiate their descent to Shackleton Crater.

That's one step closer for Astronaut Cobb

on her way to becoming the first American woman on the moon.

Excuse me, ladies.

The historic mission also hopes to answer the question

of whether there is ice on the surface of the moon.

Scientists say that the most likely area...

- -...would be deep within craters

that are rarely touched by the rays of the sun.

The discovery of ice, and therefore water, would allow a permanent US lunar base...

Karen, hi. Sorry I'm late...

Oh, no, you made it before they landed.

Yeah. Listen, uh,

I know you folks like to drink, so I hope you like mezcal.

I've never had it.

Oh, you're in for a treat.

This was distilled in Oaxaca.

It's the kind the consul drinks in Under the Volcano.

Is that a movie?

No, no. It's a brilliant novel about an alcoholic.

-Hm. -But, I mean,

he has many redeeming qualities as well.

He's kind of a tragic hero in his own warped way, so...

-you should check it out... -Okay. Yeah.

Why don't you come on in? 'Cause they're getting ready to land.

Seahawk, five seconds to powered descent.

Roger that. Ninety-nine. Proceed.

Let's try not to screw this up, Cobb. Okay?

The stakes have never been higher.

Seahawk is now eight minutes away

from a dangerous landing in uncharted terrain.

Critics are calling NASA's last-minute change of plan

"the most foolhardy thing that the agency has ever attempted...

Come here, buddy.

...and an unjustified risk to the life

of the first American woman to journey to the moon."

Let's hope they're wrong.

Throttle down.

No flags. Looks good.

High gate. Braking phase complete.

Forward speed's good, descent nominal.

Oxidizers running about one percent low.

Okay.

Houston, Seahawk. We're gonna level her out for a bit.

Roger, Seahawk.

PNGCS and AGS agree.

This is close as I got on Apollo 10.

Stick with me, kid. I'll take you all the way this time.

That's the Cobb I was looking for.

RCS is good. No flags.

Position checks downrange. Short by 15 nautical miles.

DPS pressure is still good.

Coming over Shackleton.

Sure is dark down there.

Still over the crater, about four nautical miles from the rim,

so altitude readings are high.

Seventeen percent fuel.

That could become an issue, Flight.

Come on, Ed.

PNGCS and AGS compare.

Fuel and oxidizer within one percent. Looking good.

Okay, boss. Time to find us a campsite.

Okay. Houston, I have designated a nice, flat patch,

about a quarter mile from Shackleton, as our landing site.

That's gonna be a tight needle to thread.

Well, that's what they pay me for.

Two thousand feet, 42.

Okay.

This is a good spot.

800 feet. Forty-four. Forty-five.

Seahawk, Houston. Go for landing.

Okay. Here we go.

Forty-four, 400 feet. Twenty feet per second.

Okay. I'm in P66.

Fifty feet at minus three.

Cross-pointer's looking good. Seven percent fuel.

Okay, picking up a lot of dust.

Fifteen at one. Minus one. Six percent fuel.

Eight feet. Minus one.

-Contact. -Shutdown.

Houston, Shackleton Base. Seahawk has landed.

Wow.

We're really here.

I have never wanted a cigarette more in my entire life.

You've come a long way, baby.

Okay, let's go around the horn. Stay or no stay for T-1.

- -Mm.

What do you think of your dad?

-He's the best. -He is, right? Mm.