Ep 2. Apollo One

From The Earth To The Moon is an American docudrama TV miniseries that aired in 1998. The series follows the story of the United States space program, from the early days of the Mercury program to the last Apollo moon landing, covering the behind-the-scenes aspects of the missions.

Season 1 episode 2, "Apollo One", opens with astronaut Gus Grissom (Mark Harmon) piloting a spacecraft during a training exercise. Meanwhile, NASA is preparing for the first manned Apollo mission, which will take place in 1967. The episode centers around the events leading up to the launch of Apollo One, including the design and testing of the spacecraft, and the selection of the crew.

However, tragedy strikes during a routine rehearsal on January 27, 1967, when a fire breaks out in the cabin of the spacecraft. The fire kills all three astronauts aboard, including Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee. The episode then follows the aftermath of the disaster, including the official investigation led by astronaut Frank Borman (David Andrews) and the changes made to the spacecraft before future launches.

The episode reflects on how NASA has become ambitious and with the help of the public and federal funding, their aim is to land on the moon. It highlights how the Apollo One tragedy became a turning point in the history of NASA. Through the tragedy, NASA faced criticism regarding safety measures and pressure from other countries who had launched their astronauts before the US.

Overall, "Apollo One" is a powerful episode that showcases the sacrifices and risks made by the brave astronauts and individuals at NASA determined to push boundaries for their country and humanity's exploration of the world beyond Earth. The episode delves into the events that led to the tragedy that resulted in better safety measures, which led to the success of the later missions. It perfectly blends both historical footage and gripping reenactments made possible by special effects enabling the audience to experience the physical and emotional toll for those who dared venture towards moons and the stars.