This is an unlocked patreon bonus episode. If you want to hear more content like this, consider supporting FTL on Patreon. This month, we're mixing things up and achieving a first for this show by reviewing an actually good space movie, Tarkovsky's 1972 classic Solaris, itself based off Stanislaw Lem's novel of the same name. A big thanks to returning guest Nicholas Slayton for bringing his Tarkovsky expertise to the episode! And for informing us of all the crappy Solaris movies (1968...

If you were a cosmonaut and you knew you were about to die, why wouldn't you announce your last words in a comedy Italian accent? Quinn, Chris, and Other Chris are joined by Jake Rockatansky (@RealRockatansky) of the QAA podcast to talk about the Lost Cosmonaut conspiracy theory, how it has evolved over the decades, and the Italian brothers most responsible for inventing it. Support FTL on Patreon and unlock bonus content! Sources: Phantoms of Space, James Oberg ...

This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our Patreon at any tier! Big thanks to Kelly for coming on! Check out his stuff at: https://linktr.ee/bornunderpunchs  https://patreon.com/bornunderpunchs

The first Romanian in space never set out to be a cosmonaut. He just loved to fly. Today, we're talking about Dumitru Prunariu, his unlikely path to space, and how he ran afoul of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu, Romania's dictator duo. Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content! Sources: Interkosmos: The Eastern Bloc's Early Space Program, Bert Vis & Colin Burgess Music by DJ Danarchy

The first man to walk on the Moon was nearly spun to death three years before Apollo 11. We're back and talking with space engineer Scott about Gemini 8, the first orbital docking between two spacecraft and how it went horribly wrong. Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content! Sources: - On the Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini - Gemini 8: The First Docking in Space, Drew LePage Music by DJ Danarchy

This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our Patreon at any tier: https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch

What if the Bioshock Big Daddy suit were actually ideal for moonwalks? In the 1940s, the British Interplanetary Society (BIS) came up with a spacesuit that is both infamous and oddly prescient of spacesuit design. We brought on spacesuit knower JL (@WhaleOil2) to talk about this strange garment. Follow JL's art and designs here! Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content! Music by DJ Danarchy

This week, we're rejoined by journalist and friend of the show @NSlayton to talk about Soyuz T-15, probably the coolest space mission ever attempted. Read Nicholas' work at Task & Purpose and on his Newsletter! Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content Sources: - Mir Hardware Heritage, NASA - The Story of Space Station Mir, David M Harland - The work of space radio tracker Sven Grahn Music by DJ Danarchy

This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our Patreon at any tier: https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch

In September 1980, a fuel leak in a Titan II missile silo came close to turning Damascus, Arkansas, into a crater. This week, we're joined by guest @War_Takes to talk about the atomic spud gun, the folks who fought to prevent it, and how they were punished for their efforts. Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus episodes! Sources: - Titan II: A History of a Cold War Missile Program, David Stumpf - Command and Control, Eric Schlosser Music by DJ Danarchy

In order to spy on American satellites and missile tests, the Soviets built the USS Mobile Chernobyl. We're back and joined by Joe and Tom from Lions Led By Donkeys (@lions_by) to talk about the SSV-33 Ural, the world's largest spy ship. Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content! Theme song by DJ Danarchy

This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our patreon at any tier: https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch

Cape Canaveral is in Florida. Vandenburg launch site is in California. Today, we're joined by meteorologist and former launch forecaster Tenki to talk about the unique problems both face and why lightning and rockets should never mix (see: Apollo 12). If you want to watch this as a video with Tenki's slides and visuals, we will have it posted on Youtube shortly. Subscribe to the channel so you can be notified when it goes up! Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content! Theme...

What if mankind's first contact with alien life was through the barrel of a WW1-era German handgun? We're unlocking our first bonus episode for you, the audience! If you want more of this, consider signing up on Patreon!

We're back and talking about a very dumb Moon Landing Hoax "documentary". Also a fun history primer on how the Moon Hoax conspiracy theory got off the ground evolved over the decades. Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content! Read Paolo Attivisimo's ⁠Moon Hoax: Debunked!⁠ Theme song by DJ Danarchy

This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our patreon at any tier: https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch Somehow it escaped our brains till now that CODBLOPS has a mission where you shoot down Soyuz 2.

History content starts at 19:25 In 1959, the CIA and Mexican DFS stole a Soviet lunar probe in possibly the dumbest heist in spying history. This week, we're joined by @postoctobrist to talk about the CIA Luna Heist. Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content! Read space historian Drew LePage's articles on the first moon race! Sources: - MIT Technology Review Article on the Heist - CIA Article on the Luna Heist Theme song by DJ Danarchy

In response to a lethal accident, NASA pulled off the crisis communications hattrick: lying to the public, lying to Congress, and lying to the Senate. This week, we're back talking to Kyle about the investigation and fallout of the Apollo 1 fire. Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content. Sources: - NASA Apollo 204 Disaster Report Theme song by DJ Danarchy.

This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our patreon at any tier: https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch

*CONTENT WARNING* A rushed development process, a faulty design, and non-existent quality control. This week, we're joined by space industry engineer Kyle (Skyhawk) to talk about the leadup and events of the Apollo 1 disaster. Sources: - NASA Report on AS-204 - Chariots for Apollo, Courtney G. Brooks - Apollo 1: The Tragedy That Put Us On The Moon, Ryan S. Walters Theme song by DJ Danarchy

Did you know that Ballooning was once an Olympic sport? This week, we're rejoined by Nicholas Slayton (@nslayton) to talk about balloons, specifically all the people who died trying to conquer the Stratosphere. Find Nicholas' work here and here! Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content! Theme song by DJ Danarchy Sources The Pre-Astronauts, Craig Ryan Gaddafi article from the Independent

This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our patreon at any tier: https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch

Non-failure topic this week as Quinn, Chris, and Other Chris talk about Max Valier, the Austrian dude largely responsible for popularizing space research, creating the first professional rocket program, and riding rocket cars. Support FTL through Patreon and unlock bonus content! Sources - Max Valier, A Pioneer of Space Travel - Ilse Essers - The Rocket Men (Air Force Magazine) Theme song by DJ Danarchy