Failure To Launch

Follow Failure To Launch
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

This is a podcast about all the mistakes, failures, and explosions that made space exploration possible.

Failure To Launch Podcast


    • Apr 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 4m AVG DURATION
    • 77 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Failure To Launch with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Failure To Launch

    *PREVIEW* Marooned (1969)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 15:01


    This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest of the episode and unlock more bonus content, consider supporting Failure To Launch on Patreon.

    The 2007 ASAT Test & Space Militarization

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 62:58


    Ever since satellites have existed, people have wanted to find ways to kill them. This week, Quinn, Chris, and Other Chris are taking a look at the 2007 Chinese Anti-Satellite Test - the largest debris-creating event in space history - and the larger trend of nations trying to turn Low Earth Orbit into the zero-g Somme. Support FTL on Patreon and unlock bonus content!Sources:- Characteristics and Consequences of the Break-up of the Fengyun-1C Spacecraft, NASA- Analysis of the 2007 Chinese ASAT Test and the Impact of its Debris on the Space Environment, T.S. KelsoTheme song provided by DJ Danarchy

    *PREVIEW* Moon Zero Two (1969)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 20:11


    This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest of the episode and unlock more bonus content, consider supporting Failure To Launch on Patreon.

    Part 3: Jack Parsons and Babalon

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 100:01


    Heartbreak can be a terrible thing and people work through it in all kinds of ways. Some people drink. Some people attempt to summon an incarnation of Babalon to be their new girlfriend. We're back and we're talking with rocket test engineer Guest Chris about Jack Parsons. In this episode we cover the downfall of Jack Parsons and his ostracization from both the scientific and magical communities. Support FTL on Patreon and unlock bonus content!Sources:- Strange Angel, George PendelTheme song provided by DJ Danarchy

    Part 2: Jack Parsons. Devil Summoner, Rocket Scientist, YA Author

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 104:04


    Part 1: Jack Parsons, The Satanist Rocket Visionary

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 93:07


    In a field of weirdos and freaks, Jack Parsons is broadly considered the weirdest freak of all. This week, we're joined by guest and space engineer Chris for our series on the life, accomplishments, and sex life of John Whiteside Parsons. Support FTL on Patreon and unlock bonus content!Sign up to the FTL Patreon at any tier and get access to our new Discord community. Sources: - Strange Angel, George Pendel- Jack Parsons, Famous Bi PeopleTheme song provided by DJ Danarchy

    Toyohiro Akiyama & Glavkosmos (w. Josh Boerman)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2025 102:22


    In the late 80s, the Soviet Union attempted to dominate the commercial launch market. Their principal success was launching the most miserable salaryman into orbit. Today, we're joined by Josh from The Worst of All Possible Worlds podcast to talk about Glavkosmos, the Soviet private space program. Find Josh and Worst Of All Possible Worlds here Support FTL on Patreon and unlock bonus content! Source: - Soyuz TM-11, Spacefacts.de - Soviet Efforts To Enter the Launch-Services Market, CIA - Akiyama Toyohiro: The Japanese Astronaut Who Hated Space, Unseen Japan Theme song provided by DJ Danarchy.

    Part 2: Nikolai Kibalchich, the Rocket Pioneer Who Blew up the Tsar

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 75:31


    Part 1: Nikolai Kibalchich, the Rocket Pioneer Who Blew up the Tsar

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2025 96:15


    A travelling clown, a socialist revolutionary, an assassin, an edgelord. Today, we talked to Kelly from Canuck is a Slur about the strange life of one of the first men to theorize manned rockets and also blew up Tsar Alexander II, Emperor of Russia. Come back for Part 2, where we cover the assassination and how he factors into space history. Follow Canuck is a Slur here! Support Failure To Launch on Patreon and unlock bonus content! Source: - Nikolai Ivanovich Kibalchich: Terrorist Rocket Pioneer, Lee B Croft Theme song provided by DJ Danarchy.

    *PREVIEW* Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (1964)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 14:37


    This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest of the episode and unlock more bonus content, consider supporting Failure To Launch on Patreon.

    The DLR and the Art of Satellite Operations (w. Jake)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 99:13


    A communications satellite is a bundle of computers (all made by different people) the size of a minivan. Coordinating all these systems to work together, send info to Earth, and accept new commands is nightmarish. This week, we're joined by Jake, a software engineer at the German Space Operations Center (GSOC) to learn a little bit about spacecraft operations. Follow along with Jake's slides Support Failure To Launch on Patreon and unlock bonus content! Theme song provided by DJ Danarchy

    Andree's Arctic Balloon Expedition (w. Joe Kassabian)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2024 86:04


    Expedition Packing List. Food: 200 lb / Sledge: 150 lb / Science Equipment: 50 lb / Bear Meat: 12,000 lb. Today, Quinn and Chris are joined by Joe Kassabian, host of the Lions Led By Donkeys podcast to talk about a Victorian aerospace disaster: S A Andrée's attempt to reach the North Pole by balloon. Follow Joe here! Support Failure To Launch on Patreon and unlock bonus content! Sources: - The Ice Balloon: S. A. Andrée and the Heroic Age of Arctic Exploration, Alec Wilkinson Theme song provided by DJ Danarchy

    *PREVIEW* Stalker (1979) w. Nicholas Slayton

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 13:09


    This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our Patreon at any tier!

    *UNLOCKED* Solaris (1972)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 117:06


    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 & 2002) we can inflict on you at a later date.

    Lost Cosmonauts (w. Jake Rockatansky)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 102:08


    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 http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/trackind/Torre/TorreB.html Related viewing: the dumb conspiracy short film I made everyone watch Music by DJ Danarchy

    space italian lost cosmonauts qaa other chris james oberg
    *PREVIEW* Mars & April (2012) w. Born Under Punches

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 15:05


    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

    Dumitru Prunariu, Covered Up for Being Too Cool

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 87:51


    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

    Gemini 8: The Orbital Spin Cycle

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 84:28


    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

    *PREVIEW* First on the Moon (2005)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 14:25


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

    BIS Spacesuit (w. JL)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 99:38


    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

    Soyuz T-15: Space Truckers (w. Nicholas Slayton)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 62:40


    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

    *PREVIEW* Spaceman (2024)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 15:19


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

    The Damascus Incident (w. War_Takes)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 96:51


    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

    SSV-33 Ural (w. Lions Led By Donkeys)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 71:27


    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

    *PREVIEW* Eolomea (1972)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 10:47


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

    The Science of Launch Forecasting

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2024 112:08


    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 song by DJ Danarchy

    *UNLOCKED* Planet of the Storms (1962)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 57:30


    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!

    A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Moon (2001)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 81:17


    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

    *PREVIEW* Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 9:38


    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.

    The CIA Luna Heist (w. November Kelly)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 96:28


    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

    Part 2: The Apollo 1 Disaster

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 95:36


    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.

    *PREVIEW* Space Amoeba (1970)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 9:26


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

    Part 1: The Apollo 1 Disaster

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024 90:16


    *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

    Balloonomania 2: The Pre-Space Race

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2024 74:37


    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

    *PREVIEW* Solaris (1972)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024 16:25


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

    Max Valier: The Space Evangelist

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2024 56:46


    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

    Part 2: Soyuz 11 Disaster (w/ Beyond the Breakers)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 97:08


    *CONTENT WARNING* This week, we're back with Taylor and Tanner of the Beyond the Breakers podcast for part 2 of our series on Soyuz 11. Follow Beyond the Breakers here Support FTL through Patreon and unlock new bonus content Sources: - Salyut - The First Space Station: Triumph and Tragedy, Grujica Ivanovich (2008) - Rockets and People Volume 4: The Moon Race, Boris Chertok (2013) Theme song by DJ Danarchy

    Part 1: Soyuz 11 Disaster (w/ Beyond the Breakers)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 80:17


    The story of the world's first space station is complicated, tragic, and incredibly stupid. Today, we're joined by Tanner and Taylor from @beyond_breakers to talk about it. Follow Beyond the Breakers here! Support FTL through Patreon and unlock new bonus content! Sources: - Salyut - The First Space Station: Triumph and Tragedy, Grujica Ivanovich (2008) - Rockets and People Volume 4: The Moon Race, Boris Chertok (2013) - Mir Hardware Heritage, NASA (1995) Theme song by DJ Danarchy

    *PREVIEW* Teens In The Universe (1974)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2024 10:38


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

    Balloonomania (w. Nicholas Slayton)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 78:33


    The French were the first to fly and it made them really weird about balloons. This episode, we're joined by journalist @NSlayton to talk all about the first balloons and aeronauts. Find Nicholas' work here and here! Support FTL through Patreon and unlock new bonus content! Sources: - The Aeronauts, Donald Dale Jackson - The Early History of Ballooning, Fraser Simons

    Operation Argus: The Great America Death Cloud (w. Phrosphor)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2024 82:42


    What if America got so scared they let a Greek elevator repairman turn off the sky? In this episode, Quinn, Chris, and Other Chris are joined by guest youtuber Phrosphor to talk all about Operation Argus, the Cold War plan to hide America under a radioactive death cloud. Check out Phros' work here! Support the show and unlock bonus content! Sources: Burning the sky: Operation Argus and the Untold Story of the Cold War Nuclear Tests in Outer Space. Mark Wolverton, 2018

    The Soviet Death Star (w. Lions Led By Donkeys)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 80:27


    Iron Sky was alarmingly close to being a documentary. This week, Quinn is joined by Joe and Tom, the hosts of Lions Led By Donkeys to talk about all the ways the Soviets tried to put weapons in space. It involves far more flamingos than you'd expect. Sources: - Energiya-Buran: The Soviet Space Shuttle, Bart Hendrickx - RussianSpaceWeb.com, Anatoly Zak

    *PREVIEW* Moscow-Cassiopeia (1973)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2024 8:06


    This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our patreon at any tier: https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch Turns out there were a lot of Soviet space teen movies. And some of them are even good.

    Sea Dragon Part 2: Bob Truax

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2024 85:21


    Last time, we talked about the biggest rocket ever designed. This time, we're rejoined by guest Scott to talk about the lunatic who designed it, Bob Truax. Also making appearances in this story: Johnny Carson, Evel Knievel, Robert Goddard, and a tortilla baron. Sources: - Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Condition, Ed Regis We've also got a patreon! If you want to support FTL and unlock bonus episodes, follow the link below!https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch

    Sea Dragon Part 1: The Big Dumb Booster

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 95:22


    The 60s was a time for scientists and engineers to ask the tough questions. Questions like: what if a rocket was so big it was a railroad? This episode, we're joined by friend of the show and rocket engineer Scott to talk about Sea Dragon, the largest rocket ever designed. *This was our longest recording ever and ran into a couple of technical problems so please excuse some muddiness here and there that we couldn't edit around. We've also got a patreon! If you want to support the show and unlock bonus episodes, follow the link below!https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch

    *PREVIEW* Planet of the Storms (1962)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 6:14


    This is a preview of a bonus episode. To hear the rest, join our patreon at any tier: https://www.patreon.com/posts/96333556?pr=true If you ever wanted to see a dude drill a venusian rabbit-lizard with a WW1-era handgun, we've got you covered.

    Forgotten Cosmonauts Pt 2: Grigory Nelyubov

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 63:47


    Couldn't have happened to a worse guy (still didn't deserve to be airbrushed). Today Quinn, Chris, and Other Chris start off 2024 by talking about Grigory Nelyubov, the cosmonaut who fell from grace and got written out of history for being an arrogant prick. We've also got a patreon! If you want to support the show and unlock a new bonus episode, follow the link below! https://www.patreon.com/failuretolaunch Sources: - The First Soviet Cosmonaut Team, Colin Burgess - The Cosmonauts Who Weren't There, James Oberg

    forgotten cosmonauts grigory other chris james oberg
    Comet & Joke: The Soviet Christmas Miracle

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2023 42:15


    A few days before Christmas in 1960, a pair of Soviet space dogs (Comet and Joke) were launched toward orbit to pave the way for Yuri Gagarin. To every listener of FTL, thank you, have good holidays however you celebrate it, and you can expect a lot more fun (horrible) stories and guests in 2024.

    Forgotten Cosmonauts: Valentin Bondarenko

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 46:49


    In the early 60s, the Soviets convinced the world their space program worked flawlessly by only announcing successes and covering up all failures. This policy extended to the people who worked for them. In this short series, we'll be looking at all the cosmonauts who were written out of history, starting with the first cosmonaut to ever die in the line of duty: Valentin Bondarenko. Sources - The First Soviet Cosmonaut Team, Colin Burgess - The Cosmonauts Who Weren't There, James Oberg

    Operation Third Bridge (W. RedEye Reviews)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2023 49:34


    In late 1944, the Polish Home Army undertook one of the coolest resistance missions in WW2: stealing an entire V2 rocket and smuggling it to the UK. This episode, we're joined by @RedeyeReviewer to talk about a story that really deserves to be an action flick. Check out Redeye's channel! Sources: The Polish Underground, 1939-1947 Animals in Space

    The Engineer Who Built Saddam a Supergun (w. BobbyBroccoli)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2023 90:25


    From space engineer to arms dealer to the pawn of a dictator. This episode, Quinn, Chris, and Other Chris talk to documentary maker BobbyBroccoli about the story of Gerald Bull, the most infamous figure in Canadian space history.

    canadian built engineers saddam gerald bull other chris

    Claim Failure To Launch

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel