Ep 5. Spider

From The Earth To The Moon season 1 episode 5, titled "Spider," depicts the challenges faced by the NASA team in designing and building the Lunar Module, which was essential for landing humans on the moon. The episode follows the journey of Tom Kelly, the lead engineer for the Lunar Module, who faces multiple roadblocks in his quest for building a machine that can land humans on the moon and bring them back safely.

The episode begins with Kelly's team facing criticism from their superiors, who are skeptical about the Lunar Module's design. They believe that the module's legs, which were designed to support the module's weight, would sink into the moon's surface, making it impossible to take-off. Kelly and his team are tasked with coming up with a solution that would allow the Lunar Module to operate on the moon's surface.

The team begins by devising a spider-like configuration for the Lunar Module. The design would allow the module to distribute its weight evenly across the moon's surface, reducing the risk of sinkage. To test their theory, the team sets up a simulated moon landing, spreading sand on the floor of a giant hangar and then attempting to land the module on it. The team is successful in landing the module without any issues, paving the way for future advancements in the Lunar Module's design.

However, the journey doesn't end there. The team still faces multiple difficulties in building the module, including weight restrictions and structural integrity. They must also address the issue of limited space in the module, as it must carry two astronauts and all the necessary equipment for their journey. The team must work tirelessly to ensure that the module is light enough to be transported to the moon yet strong enough to support the astronauts' weight and withstand the harsh environment of the moon's surface.

Despite numerous setbacks, Kelly and his team persevere, finally completing the Lunar Module just in time for the Apollo 9 mission. The mission involves an unmanned test flight of the Lunar Module, which must be able to successfully dock with the Command Module in lunar orbit. While the mission is fraught with tension, the Lunar Module successfully docks, marking a major milestone in NASA's efforts to land humans on the moon.

Overall, "Spider" is a fascinating episode that sheds light on the painstaking efforts of NASA scientists and engineers in designing and building the Lunar Module. The episode shows that success in the space race was not achieved easily and required the ingenuity, determination, and perseverance of countless individuals working together towards a common goal.