This 1959 black and white educational film is about the July 16, 1959 failed launch of a Juno II missile carrying an Explorer satellite, known throughout the film only as Project 16. The film was produced by Carousel Films for the North American Aviation Space and Information Systems Division, Quality & Reliability Assurance. It is narrated by Edward R. Murrow for CBS News. Shown are the Project 16 rocket with its satellite payload. Those shown for their involvement to compete against the Soviets in the space race are Wernher von Braun, Kurt Debus, Robert Moser, William Pickering, and James Van Allen (2:33-4:05). The plans for Project 16 are shown, followed by views inside the Huntsville Fabrication Lab. The skin for the flying fuel storage tank is made of aluminum alloy. A welding machine joins the ringlets together as it rolls through a stationary arc. Each weld is inspected and x-rayed. A high-pressure water test detects structural weaknesses. The skin is moved to be joined to the rocket engine (4:06-5:45). Months earlier in the Southern California desert, the Rocketdyne engines (also known as a rocket, powerplant, and booster) are fully tested (5:46-6:42). The main (first) stage booster is shown being aligned in Huntsville. This new booster design is tested in place. The control switch is flipped up. Murrow interviews von Braun during the process. They discuss the new Saturn three-stage booster (6:42-9:23). Back in Huntsville, the guidance and control section is shown. The gyroscope platform is tested with a simulated missile. An accelerometer and satellite are also tested (9:24-11:30). The telemetry system of satellite dishes and dials are shown (11:31-12:05). The rocket is loaded into a Boeing Globemaster for transport to Cape Canaveral, where the first stage is hoisted into position (12:06-12:45). Solid fuel rockets are tested. Dr. Pickering explains their use (12:46-14:15). The remaining stages are added. Fueling begins. The guidance system is attached and liquid oxygen loaded. Robert Moser provides the countdown. The destructor unit is attached if the missile needs to be manually destroyed (which ultimately is forced to be used). The crane and all vehicles and personnel are removed from the area. The solid fuel rockets begin to spin. The telemeter calibration test begins for the gauges (14:16-19:19). Close-ups are shown as the individuals in the control center provide information to Moser. They watch dials and turn switches on (19:20-24:06). Rocket launch is initiated. The missile begins to rise and then tips over, erupting in flames. The control room reacts in disbelief. The debris is spread across the area. The launch pad is severely damaged (24:07-25:53). Murrow interviews Dr. Davis for an explanation (25:54-28:09). The diodes that failed in the invertor are shown pre-launch (28:10-28:35). The duplicate launch of 16A, shown on October 13, 1959 is successful. The control room staff nervously watches, talking and smoking cigarettes. An equipment lift notifies them as each stage performs correctly. The Goldstone tracking station (today the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex) picks up communication with the satellite, shown spinning (28:36-33:22).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com