"Mysteries at the Museum" Great Escapes: Special

1 00:00:02,020 --> 00:00:05,120 Desperate miners trapped underground. 2 00:00:05,220 --> 00:00:07,560 This was every miner's worst nightmare. 3 00:00:09,860 --> 00:00:12,930 A daring rescue in the depths of hell. 4 00:00:13,030 --> 00:00:16,370 He was convinced his life was going to come to an end. 5 00:00:19,370 --> 00:00:21,840 And a plumbing disaster at the edge of space. 6 00:00:21,940 --> 00:00:25,540 MAN: The weight of the mission, the weight of the crew's lives, 7 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:27,810 was all resting on his shoulders. 8 00:00:27,910 --> 00:00:31,850 These are the mysteries at the museum. 9 00:00:37,860 --> 00:00:40,390 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, gets its name 10 00:00:40,490 --> 00:00:45,060 from two ancient Greek words -- "philos," meaning "loving," 11 00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:47,700 and "adelphos," meaning "brother," 12 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,370 leading many to affectionately refer to it 13 00:00:50,470 --> 00:00:52,470 as the City of Brotherly Love. 14 00:00:52,570 --> 00:00:55,310 And in Philadelphia's historic center 15 00:00:55,410 --> 00:00:58,880 is an institution also inspired by antiquity... 16 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,450 The Rosenbach Museum and Library. 17 00:01:05,420 --> 00:01:10,250 The collection includes a Greek marble bust from 300 B.C... 18 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:14,860 a gilded chest from England's Windsor Castle, 19 00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:16,730 and a signed first edition 20 00:01:16,830 --> 00:01:19,900 of the James Joyce masterpiece "Ulysses." 21 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,270 But among these prized relics 22 00:01:25,370 --> 00:01:29,170 is an unassuming item that contains an amazing story. 23 00:01:29,270 --> 00:01:31,440 DREHER: The artifact comes in two pieces. 24 00:01:31,540 --> 00:01:34,140 Each piece is about 7 inches tall, 25 00:01:34,250 --> 00:01:35,580 about 4 inches wide. 26 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:39,650 It's made of paper, leather, wood, and thread. 27 00:01:39,750 --> 00:01:41,520 On one of the pages, 28 00:01:41,620 --> 00:01:43,650 we have an engraved illustration 29 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,420 of a man with a thick beard wearing an unusual outfit. 30 00:01:49,660 --> 00:01:52,100 WILDMAN: This is one of the most famous works of fiction 31 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:53,600 in the world. 32 00:01:53,700 --> 00:01:56,170 But few know the harrowing real-life tale 33 00:01:56,270 --> 00:01:57,970 that inspired its author. 34 00:01:58,070 --> 00:02:02,510 This is a story of incredible survival against all odds. 35 00:02:06,550 --> 00:02:10,010 WILDMAN: It's 1704, in the South Pacific. 36 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,020 Scotsman Alexander Selkirk is a sailor 37 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,150 aboard the British ship Cinque Ports. 38 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:22,460 One day, he notices that the ship has sprung a leak. 39 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:27,100 Yet when he informs his captain, his warnings are ignored. 40 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:28,700 DREHER: Selkirk is convinced 41 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,170 that they need to take the time and effort 42 00:02:31,270 --> 00:02:33,270 to repair the ship, 43 00:02:33,370 --> 00:02:34,970 or the ship will fall apart. 44 00:02:36,110 --> 00:02:37,440 WILDMAN: So to save the crew, 45 00:02:37,540 --> 00:02:40,210 Selkirk attempts to incite a mutiny. 46 00:02:40,310 --> 00:02:44,650 But his plan is discovered by the captain. 47 00:02:44,750 --> 00:02:49,490 Selkirk is seized and cast away on a deserted island. 48 00:02:49,590 --> 00:02:54,020 DREHER: Selkirk was left behind with very few belongings. 49 00:02:54,130 --> 00:02:57,230 He had a musket, a pound of gunpowder, 50 00:02:57,330 --> 00:03:00,800 a large supply of bullets, a couple of pounds of tobacco, 51 00:03:00,900 --> 00:03:05,040 a bottle of rum, some cheese, and a bible. 52 00:03:05,140 --> 00:03:07,070 That was it. 53 00:03:07,170 --> 00:03:09,210 WILDMAN: Before long, 54 00:03:09,310 --> 00:03:11,510 the stranded sailor runs out of food 55 00:03:11,610 --> 00:03:13,480 and exhausts his gunpowder supply, 56 00:03:13,580 --> 00:03:16,080 leaving his musket useless. 57 00:03:16,180 --> 00:03:19,620 But Selkirk is determined to survive. 58 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,250 He explores the entire island and learns to catch goats. 59 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,560 So within a couple of weeks or a couple of months, 60 00:03:26,660 --> 00:03:28,660 he has a fairly steady diet 61 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:32,160 of fruits and vegetables, goat meat, fish. 62 00:03:35,070 --> 00:03:37,730 WILDMAN: To attract the attention of passing vessels, 63 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,800 he keeps a fire burning on the highest point of the island. 64 00:03:40,910 --> 00:03:43,640 He can fan it up very quickly 65 00:03:43,740 --> 00:03:45,580 and send up smoke signals of a sort 66 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,140 to try to attract attention. 67 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,680 WILDMAN: Then, one day, there's a glimmer of hope. 68 00:03:53,790 --> 00:03:58,120 Selkirk spots a ship's mast on the edge of the horizon. 69 00:03:58,220 --> 00:04:02,060 But as it sails closer, his heart sinks. 70 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:03,930 It's a Spanish ship, 71 00:04:04,030 --> 00:04:06,000 and they're known for seizing sailors 72 00:04:06,100 --> 00:04:09,270 and selling them into slavery in South America. 73 00:04:09,370 --> 00:04:11,000 Selkirk is forced to hide. 74 00:04:11,100 --> 00:04:13,240 DREHER: There's a chance 75 00:04:13,340 --> 00:04:16,770 that Selkirk could be stranded on this island forever. 76 00:04:22,010 --> 00:04:23,580 For four long years, 77 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,480 Selkirk lives alone on the island. 78 00:04:26,590 --> 00:04:29,390 Then, one day in 1709, 79 00:04:29,490 --> 00:04:33,590 he spots another ship approaching the island. 80 00:04:33,690 --> 00:04:35,790 DREHER: It must have been a combination 81 00:04:35,890 --> 00:04:39,760 of relief and fear and anxiety 82 00:04:39,870 --> 00:04:42,670 when Selkirk finally saw an English-flagged ship 83 00:04:42,770 --> 00:04:44,200 coming into the harbor. 84 00:04:44,300 --> 00:04:47,000 He'd been living by himself for four years. 85 00:04:47,110 --> 00:04:50,010 He didn't know who would actually be on that ship 86 00:04:50,110 --> 00:04:53,080 or what future awaited him after he was rescued. 87 00:04:56,010 --> 00:04:59,080 WILDMAN: Two of the ship's crew come ashore in a small boat. 88 00:04:59,180 --> 00:05:01,990 Selkirk runs down the beach to meet them. 89 00:05:02,090 --> 00:05:05,020 DREHER: Selkirk actually found it hard to speak. 90 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:06,790 His words were very clipped, 91 00:05:06,890 --> 00:05:09,230 and they found it hard to understand him. 92 00:05:09,330 --> 00:05:12,330 And it was the fact that Selkirk hadn't had a conversation 93 00:05:12,430 --> 00:05:16,770 with any human being in over four years. 94 00:05:16,870 --> 00:05:20,640 WILDMAN: The two men identify themselves as British sailors. 95 00:05:20,740 --> 00:05:24,040 And after hearing about Selkirk's incredible ordeal, 96 00:05:24,140 --> 00:05:25,840 they welcome him aboard their ship 97 00:05:25,940 --> 00:05:27,080 and set sail for England. 98 00:05:27,180 --> 00:05:30,880 But Selkirk's story doesn't end there. 99 00:05:34,050 --> 00:05:37,890 In 1711, Alexander Selkirk arrives in London. 100 00:05:37,990 --> 00:05:40,760 Before long, news of his incredible survival 101 00:05:40,860 --> 00:05:43,190 becomes the talk of the town. 102 00:05:43,300 --> 00:05:45,960 Selkirk is said to have traveled the land, 103 00:05:46,060 --> 00:05:48,770 telling his story at pub after pub 104 00:05:48,870 --> 00:05:50,700 in return for a pint and a meal. 105 00:05:53,870 --> 00:05:56,070 WILDMAN: Among the people who hear Selkirk's story 106 00:05:56,170 --> 00:05:59,440 is a young author named Daniel Defoe. 107 00:05:59,540 --> 00:06:03,750 Enthralled, he writes a novel based on Selkirk's adventure. 108 00:06:03,850 --> 00:06:08,490 DREHER: Defoe's story is published in 1719. 109 00:06:08,590 --> 00:06:10,220 It's an instant hit. 110 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,390 WILDMAN: The book, "Robinson Crusoe," 111 00:06:13,490 --> 00:06:16,960 is considered one of the first novels ever created. 112 00:06:17,060 --> 00:06:21,000 Eventually, it is translated into over 100 languages 113 00:06:21,100 --> 00:06:24,130 and read by millions around the world. 114 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,500 Today, this first-edition copy of "Robinson Crusoe" 115 00:06:27,610 --> 00:06:28,910 is in the collection 116 00:06:29,010 --> 00:06:32,510 of the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia -- 117 00:06:32,610 --> 00:06:36,510 a classic book inspired by a real-life castaway. 118 00:06:40,790 --> 00:06:43,150 The Big Island of Hawaii is home 119 00:06:43,260 --> 00:06:46,690 to the awe-inspiring Volcanoes National Park. 120 00:06:46,790 --> 00:06:52,700 This 333,000-acre landscape features two active volcanoes, 121 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,870 steaming gas vents, and scalding-hot lava flows. 122 00:06:56,970 --> 00:06:59,200 And in the center of the park is an institution 123 00:06:59,300 --> 00:07:01,870 that celebrates these natural wonders: 124 00:07:01,970 --> 00:07:05,480 the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum. 125 00:07:05,580 --> 00:07:07,110 [ Suspenseful music plays ] 126 00:07:07,210 --> 00:07:10,210 Dedicated to the study of volcanic activity, 127 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:11,850 it showcases such items 128 00:07:11,950 --> 00:07:14,720 as a fire-resistant, protective suit; 129 00:07:14,820 --> 00:07:17,990 a thermometer that measures the temperature of lava; 130 00:07:18,090 --> 00:07:19,460 and a seismograph, 131 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:24,130 an instrument used to detect earthquakes. 132 00:07:24,230 --> 00:07:27,430 But among these scientific displays is an object 133 00:07:27,530 --> 00:07:30,400 that seems like it belongs in an art museum. 134 00:07:30,500 --> 00:07:33,470 The artifact is made out of colored bits of glass. 135 00:07:33,570 --> 00:07:34,840 It's incredibly sharp. 136 00:07:34,940 --> 00:07:38,610 It's an amazing example of what nature can create. 137 00:07:40,850 --> 00:07:42,580 WILDMAN: Glass formations like this 138 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,880 are created when lava blows out of a volcano; 139 00:07:45,980 --> 00:07:50,120 stretches into long, thin strands; and then cools. 140 00:07:50,220 --> 00:07:51,590 [Suspenseful music climbs] And this filament is linked 141 00:07:51,690 --> 00:07:53,990 to one of the most daring rescue operations 142 00:07:54,090 --> 00:07:56,060 Hawaii has ever seen. -[Coughing] 143 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,930 This story is about a man fighting 144 00:07:59,030 --> 00:08:00,530 against the power of nature. 145 00:08:00,630 --> 00:08:04,700 [ Suspenseful music climbs ] 146 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,340 WILDMAN: November 20, 1992. 147 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:08,810 Hawaii. 148 00:08:08,910 --> 00:08:11,670 49-year-old cameraman Michael Benson 149 00:08:11,780 --> 00:08:13,910 is filming aerial footage from a helicopter 150 00:08:14,010 --> 00:08:16,250 for an upcoming Hollywood thriller. 151 00:08:16,350 --> 00:08:18,650 But this is no ordinary shoot. 152 00:08:18,750 --> 00:08:21,480 Benson, his pilot, and a camera assistant 153 00:08:21,590 --> 00:08:24,650 are shooting one of the world's most active volcanoes: 154 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,890 Kilauea. 155 00:08:26,990 --> 00:08:29,190 This massive geological formation 156 00:08:29,290 --> 00:08:32,900 covers more than 500 square miles. 157 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:34,600 Its many vents and craters 158 00:08:34,700 --> 00:08:38,130 constantly spew molten lava from deep within the Earth, 159 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:40,700 giving it an otherworldly appearance. 160 00:08:40,810 --> 00:08:42,740 Kilauea is incredibly dangerous. 161 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,280 But there's also something very beautiful to it as well. 162 00:08:45,380 --> 00:08:48,440 [ Suspenseful music climbs, chords strike ] 163 00:08:48,550 --> 00:08:50,410 WILDMAN: Eager to get the best shots he can 164 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:54,350 of the volcano's bubbling lava, Benson instructs the pilot 165 00:08:54,450 --> 00:08:57,520 to fly over one of the easternmost craters. 166 00:08:57,620 --> 00:08:58,890 Little does the cameraman know 167 00:08:58,990 --> 00:09:04,560 he's about to get a very different kind of close-up. 168 00:09:04,660 --> 00:09:08,100 As the helicopter passes through a cloud of volcanic gas, 169 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:10,500 its engine unexplainably cuts out. 170 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:12,500 [Alert beeps] Mayday. Mayday. 171 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:15,710 The aircraft falls out of the sky. 172 00:09:15,810 --> 00:09:17,640 Benson thought he was going to die. 173 00:09:17,740 --> 00:09:21,240 [Suspenseful music climbs] [Alert continues beeping] 174 00:09:21,350 --> 00:09:24,650 WILDMAN: The chopper crashes into the volcano's crater. 175 00:09:24,750 --> 00:09:27,850 Luckily, Benson is unharmed. 176 00:09:27,950 --> 00:09:31,150 But in the chaos of the accident, he becomes separated 177 00:09:31,260 --> 00:09:35,990 from his camera assistant and the pilot. 178 00:09:36,090 --> 00:09:37,690 Clouds of thick smoke make 179 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:41,200 seeing more than a few feet in front of him impossible 180 00:09:41,300 --> 00:09:44,400 and, with searing-hot lava in every direction, 181 00:09:44,500 --> 00:09:47,100 Benson seems to have nowhere to turn. 182 00:09:47,210 --> 00:09:50,340 Not only that, the cameraman has nothing to help him 183 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,640 in this hostile environment. 184 00:09:52,740 --> 00:09:54,010 COSTELLO: Benson's lungs were burning. 185 00:09:54,110 --> 00:09:55,880 It's not a place to survive. 186 00:09:55,980 --> 00:09:57,380 He was without food or water. 187 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,050 He can feel the heat of the crater. 188 00:09:59,150 --> 00:10:00,420 He knew that he was in trouble. 189 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:04,150 WILDMAN: The only way out seems to be a sheer rock wall 190 00:10:04,260 --> 00:10:08,460 that appears to lead up to the rim of the crater. 191 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:10,930 Benson begins to climb. 192 00:10:11,030 --> 00:10:12,400 But, as he ascends, 193 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:16,830 the cliff becomes harder and harder to scale. 194 00:10:16,940 --> 00:10:19,270 Not only are the walls getting steeper, 195 00:10:19,370 --> 00:10:23,510 but the rocks are unstable, crumbling beneath his hands. 196 00:10:23,610 --> 00:10:28,010 WILDMAN: Benson decides it's too dangerous to continue climbing. 197 00:10:28,110 --> 00:10:32,020 He stops on a small ledge about 80 feet from the top. 198 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:36,620 Descending back into the lava- filled pit means certain death. 199 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:38,820 The cameraman is trapped. 200 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:43,160 His anxiety starts to turn to desperation, to panic. 201 00:10:43,260 --> 00:10:48,530 WILDMAN: Benson's only option is to wait, and pray for rescue. 202 00:10:48,630 --> 00:10:52,270 For two agonizing nights, he clings to the rock wall. 203 00:10:52,370 --> 00:10:55,840 But as the hours tick by, he starts to lose hope. 204 00:10:55,940 --> 00:10:59,980 Benson was convinced his life was going to come to an end. 205 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,780 WILDMAN: Will Benson make it out alive or will he die 206 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:04,580 in the volcano's crater? 207 00:11:04,680 --> 00:11:06,050 [ Suspenseful chord strikes ] 208 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:09,690 ΒΆΒΆ 209 00:11:09,790 --> 00:11:12,690 It's 1992. Hawaii. 210 00:11:12,790 --> 00:11:15,420 A helicopter has crashed inside the crater 211 00:11:15,530 --> 00:11:18,460 of the Big Island's massive volcano. 212 00:11:18,560 --> 00:11:19,700 Among the survivors 213 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:22,630 is 49-year-old cameraman Michael Benson. 214 00:11:22,730 --> 00:11:24,570 But when Benson becomes separated 215 00:11:24,670 --> 00:11:27,400 from his fellow crew members, he starts to lose hope 216 00:11:27,510 --> 00:11:31,540 that he'll ever make it out of this alive. 217 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:34,180 As Benson clings to life inside the crater, 218 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:37,380 what he doesn't realize is that a daring effort to find him 219 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,620 is already underway. 220 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:41,380 The two other stranded crew members 221 00:11:41,490 --> 00:11:43,020 have been brought to safety. 222 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,720 The film crew's pilot had made it back to the helicopter 223 00:11:45,820 --> 00:11:48,590 and had radioed for help, while the camera assistant 224 00:11:48,690 --> 00:11:51,230 managed to climb to the lip of the crater. 225 00:11:51,330 --> 00:11:54,030 Now, a rescue pilot named Tom Hauptman 226 00:11:54,130 --> 00:11:55,400 is looking for Benson. 227 00:11:55,500 --> 00:11:57,230 It's a treacherous assignment. 228 00:11:57,330 --> 00:12:00,570 As he maneuvers the helicopter over the vast crater, 229 00:12:00,670 --> 00:12:03,270 visibility becomes increasingly poor. 230 00:12:03,370 --> 00:12:05,070 COSTELLO: There's smoke and clouds. 231 00:12:05,180 --> 00:12:06,710 It's incredibly dangerous. 232 00:12:06,810 --> 00:12:09,450 [ Suspenseful music plays ] 233 00:12:09,550 --> 00:12:12,510 WILDMAN: Then the rescue team catches a break. 234 00:12:12,620 --> 00:12:17,890 Through the volcanic mist, he sees Michael Benson. 235 00:12:17,990 --> 00:12:20,890 WILDMAN: Hauptman moves his helicopter into position. 236 00:12:20,990 --> 00:12:22,390 But as the pilot prepares 237 00:12:22,490 --> 00:12:24,790 to drop a safety line down to Benson, 238 00:12:24,900 --> 00:12:28,100 the clouds once again begin to swirl. 239 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,030 Hauptman loses all visibility. 240 00:12:31,140 --> 00:12:33,870 His only option is to let down the rescue line 241 00:12:33,970 --> 00:12:35,600 and hope Benson finds it. 242 00:12:35,710 --> 00:12:37,910 He blindly dangles a safety net down 243 00:12:38,010 --> 00:12:41,940 where he thought Benson was. 244 00:12:42,050 --> 00:12:43,510 WILDMAN: Hauptman lowers the cable. 245 00:12:43,610 --> 00:12:46,280 But there's no bite. 246 00:12:46,380 --> 00:12:47,880 He tries again. 247 00:12:47,990 --> 00:12:49,690 But fares no better. 248 00:12:49,790 --> 00:12:51,520 In these conditions, he can't stay 249 00:12:51,620 --> 00:12:53,690 over the crater for much longer. 250 00:12:53,790 --> 00:12:57,260 He drops the net one last time. 251 00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,290 And, this time, 252 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,300 the rope pulls taught. 253 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,630 As Hauptman winches it skyward, 254 00:13:04,740 --> 00:13:07,200 he sees the welcome sight of Benson, 255 00:13:07,300 --> 00:13:09,470 emerging out of the volcanic smoke. 256 00:13:09,570 --> 00:13:11,440 Benson's alive. 257 00:13:11,540 --> 00:13:13,910 He must have felt immeasurable relief. 258 00:13:14,010 --> 00:13:17,310 WILDMAN: Benson is reunited with his fellow crew members. 259 00:13:17,410 --> 00:13:19,350 Despite their harrowing ideal, 260 00:13:19,450 --> 00:13:23,520 all three have escaped with only minor injuries. 261 00:13:23,620 --> 00:13:25,890 Michael Benson eventually 262 00:13:25,990 --> 00:13:28,560 returns to his work as a cameraman 263 00:13:28,660 --> 00:13:30,630 and goes on to shoot blockbusters like 264 00:13:30,730 --> 00:13:33,030 "Clear and Present Danger," "X-Men," 265 00:13:33,130 --> 00:13:35,930 and "Mission: Impossible III." 266 00:13:36,030 --> 00:13:39,430 Today, this lava formation from the Kilauea Volcano 267 00:13:39,540 --> 00:13:40,570 is on display 268 00:13:40,670 --> 00:13:43,670 at the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum in Hawaii. 269 00:13:43,770 --> 00:13:46,880 It recalls a daring rescue that was more thrilling 270 00:13:46,980 --> 00:13:48,680 than any action movie. 271 00:13:51,550 --> 00:13:52,880 Austin, Texas is famous 272 00:13:52,980 --> 00:13:56,990 for its lively art scene and eccentric residents. 273 00:13:57,090 --> 00:14:01,060 So it's no surprise that this quirky town's unofficial slogan 274 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:03,660 is "Keep Austin weird." 275 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:06,860 And one of its most idiosyncratic establishments 276 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:10,030 is the Austin Toy Museum. 277 00:14:10,130 --> 00:14:12,940 This institution celebrates classic 278 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,470 playthings loved by generations, 279 00:14:16,570 --> 00:14:20,010 including a collection of vintage arcade games, 280 00:14:20,110 --> 00:14:23,180 toy robots from the 1960s, 281 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,950 and Mr. Potato Head's pal, Pete the Pepper. 282 00:14:29,090 --> 00:14:30,590 But tucked away on a shelf 283 00:14:30,690 --> 00:14:34,290 is a character few Americans would recognize. 284 00:14:34,390 --> 00:14:36,830 PORGES: It's about 10 inches high and 5 inches wide, 285 00:14:36,930 --> 00:14:40,100 and it's made of hard molded plastic. 286 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:44,570 It's covered in red, purple, and gold scales. 287 00:14:44,670 --> 00:14:48,600 And it has a ferocious expression on its face. 288 00:14:48,710 --> 00:14:52,510 [ Roar ] 289 00:14:52,610 --> 00:14:55,510 WILDMAN: This toy recalls a diabolical plot 290 00:14:55,610 --> 00:14:59,410 that seems ripped straight out of a Cold War thriller. 291 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,990 This is the story of an infamous dictator, 292 00:15:03,090 --> 00:15:07,490 a shocking kidnapping, and a monster movie. 293 00:15:12,900 --> 00:15:16,370 WILDMAN: It's 1978 in Hong Kong. 294 00:15:16,470 --> 00:15:19,230 South Korean film director Shin Sang-ok 295 00:15:19,340 --> 00:15:21,900 is a moviemaking legend. 296 00:15:22,010 --> 00:15:24,070 PORGES: Shin made massively popular movies. 297 00:15:24,170 --> 00:15:27,040 He was kind of the Steven Spielberg of South Korea. 298 00:15:29,510 --> 00:15:33,150 WILDMAN: One night, Shin is walking along the waterfront 299 00:15:33,250 --> 00:15:35,550 when something terrible happens. 300 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:41,120 He's suddenly grabbed, thrown into a boat 301 00:15:41,230 --> 00:15:43,060 and knocked unconscious. 302 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,670 When he wakes up, he has no idea where he is 303 00:15:49,770 --> 00:15:53,400 until a guard tells him something terrifying. 304 00:15:53,500 --> 00:15:56,070 He's in Pyongyang and is now a prisoner 305 00:15:56,170 --> 00:15:58,870 of the North Korean government. 306 00:15:58,980 --> 00:16:02,440 PORGES: North Korea is the most totalitarian nation on Earth. 307 00:16:02,550 --> 00:16:05,850 They control everybody who goes in and goes out. 308 00:16:05,950 --> 00:16:08,880 There is no escaping. 309 00:16:08,990 --> 00:16:11,550 WILDMAN: And Shin is not the only captive. 310 00:16:11,660 --> 00:16:14,260 Also being held is his ex-wife, 311 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,690 an actress named Choi Eun-hee. 312 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,100 PORGES: Choi was the epitome of glamour, 313 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:23,370 the Marilyn Monroe of South Korea. 314 00:16:23,470 --> 00:16:27,200 WILDMAN: The terrified hostages have no idea 315 00:16:27,300 --> 00:16:28,800 why they've been targeted. 316 00:16:28,910 --> 00:16:32,970 They're held in captivity, monitored around the clock. 317 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:36,340 WILDMAN: And their ordeal is about to get even worse. 318 00:16:36,450 --> 00:16:38,780 Shin and Choi are brought before one of 319 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:42,580 the most feared men in the world, 320 00:16:42,690 --> 00:16:45,990 the tyrant Kim Jong-il. 321 00:16:46,090 --> 00:16:49,890 To their surprise, Kim makes an unexpected request. 322 00:16:49,990 --> 00:16:52,830 Kim Jong-il was a giant movie buff. 323 00:16:52,930 --> 00:16:55,730 He tells them he has a problem. 324 00:16:55,830 --> 00:16:59,970 He loves movies but North Korean movies stink. 325 00:17:00,070 --> 00:17:01,800 The acting is terrible, 326 00:17:01,910 --> 00:17:03,710 the production values are terrible. 327 00:17:03,810 --> 00:17:05,270 Kim Jong-il tells them, 328 00:17:05,380 --> 00:17:06,540 "You are gonna be in charge 329 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:08,310 of the North Korean film industry, 330 00:17:08,410 --> 00:17:11,410 and you can make whatever you want." 331 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:14,780 WILDMAN: Shin and Choi have no choice but to accept. 332 00:17:14,890 --> 00:17:17,090 PORGES: This is North Korea. If they say no, 333 00:17:17,190 --> 00:17:18,920 then they can be thrown into a prison camp 334 00:17:19,020 --> 00:17:20,960 or even executed. 335 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:26,190 WILDMAN: Under the watchful eye of North Korean officials, 336 00:17:26,300 --> 00:17:27,700 the two get to work. 337 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:30,200 PORGES: They start making martial arts movies, 338 00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:32,800 romance movies, movies that span genres. 339 00:17:32,900 --> 00:17:34,370 And they make a lot of them. 340 00:17:34,470 --> 00:17:37,710 Kim Jong-il is thrilled with his captives, 341 00:17:37,810 --> 00:17:40,540 'cause these movies, they're actually pretty good. 342 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:44,850 WILDMAN: Over time, the pair earns the trust of the tyrant. 343 00:17:44,950 --> 00:17:47,680 But Shin and Choi want just one thing, 344 00:17:47,790 --> 00:17:49,950 to get back home. 345 00:17:50,050 --> 00:17:52,150 PORGES: As the years pass, they become focused 346 00:17:52,260 --> 00:17:53,860 on a single goal -- 347 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:58,790 escape North Korea at all costs. 348 00:17:58,900 --> 00:18:02,430 WILDMAN: In 1985, after 7 long years in captivity, 349 00:18:02,530 --> 00:18:05,670 Shin and Choi are summoned by the dictator. 350 00:18:05,770 --> 00:18:08,500 Kim Jong-il demands that they turn their talents 351 00:18:08,610 --> 00:18:11,770 to one of his favorite film genres -- 352 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,010 monster movies. 353 00:18:14,110 --> 00:18:15,710 And he wants them to make the greatest 354 00:18:15,810 --> 00:18:18,680 monster movie the world has ever seen. 355 00:18:21,690 --> 00:18:26,290 With no other options, Shin and Choi begin production. 356 00:18:26,390 --> 00:18:30,330 Months later, their film is finished. 357 00:18:30,430 --> 00:18:32,630 It's titled "Pulgasari." 358 00:18:32,730 --> 00:18:36,160 PORGES: This is a communist spin on "Godzilla." 359 00:18:36,270 --> 00:18:38,300 The monster Pulgasari teams up 360 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,670 with peasants to take on evil landowners. 361 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,370 WILDMAN: Kim Jong-il loves it. 362 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:47,140 PORGES: Kim Jong-il is thrilled. 363 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:51,150 This is the best thing he'd ever seen. 364 00:18:51,250 --> 00:18:52,610 WILDMAN: Shin and Choi realized 365 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:54,250 they can use their good standing 366 00:18:54,350 --> 00:18:57,150 with the tyrant to their advantage. 367 00:18:57,250 --> 00:18:59,390 If they're ever going to flee his clutches, 368 00:18:59,490 --> 00:19:01,420 it needs to happen now. 369 00:19:01,530 --> 00:19:03,630 This was their one chance. 370 00:19:03,730 --> 00:19:09,000 WILDMAN: So they approach Kim Jong-il with a novel idea. 371 00:19:09,100 --> 00:19:12,200 PORGES: They tell him, "Your movies would be bigger, better, 372 00:19:12,300 --> 00:19:16,340 if only they were filmed in Europe." 373 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:18,140 WILDMAN: The egotistical dictator 374 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:19,770 is thrilled with the plan. 375 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:21,980 PORGES: Kim Jong-il eats it up. 376 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:23,580 This is what he wants, 377 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:26,980 to be taken seriously on the world stage. 378 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,620 WILDMAN: He agrees to their approach on one condition. 379 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:31,790 The couple may go to Europe 380 00:19:31,890 --> 00:19:34,820 but are to be guarded at all times. 381 00:19:34,930 --> 00:19:37,990 Shin and Choi know that escaping will not be easy. 382 00:19:38,100 --> 00:19:39,460 If their plot was exposed, 383 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:41,830 they could be executed as traitors. 384 00:19:46,370 --> 00:19:48,670 1986, North Korea. 385 00:19:48,770 --> 00:19:51,970 Communist leader, Kim Jong-il, has kidnapped 386 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,110 two South Korean filmmakers and forced them to make 387 00:19:55,210 --> 00:19:57,880 propaganda films for his oppressive regime, 388 00:19:57,980 --> 00:20:01,950 but what the tyrant doesn't know is this moviemaking duo 389 00:20:02,050 --> 00:20:05,150 is plotting their most ambitious production yet, 390 00:20:05,260 --> 00:20:07,790 an escape to the United States. 391 00:20:09,330 --> 00:20:11,760 In March, the couple travels to Vienna, 392 00:20:11,860 --> 00:20:14,400 where Kim Jong-il believes they will begin 393 00:20:14,500 --> 00:20:17,830 their next production, and just days after their arrival, 394 00:20:17,940 --> 00:20:20,970 Shin and Choi seize their chance. 395 00:20:21,070 --> 00:20:23,340 As they're leaving their hotel, they slip away 396 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:25,470 from their captors... 397 00:20:25,580 --> 00:20:27,110 and make a run for it. 398 00:20:27,210 --> 00:20:30,180 Straightaway, a bodyguard is hot on their trail. 399 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:31,750 Stop! 400 00:20:31,850 --> 00:20:33,280 PORGES: It's like a chase scene from a movie 401 00:20:33,380 --> 00:20:35,850 through the streets of downtown Vienna. 402 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:41,660 WILDMAN: Shin and Choi jump into an empty cab. 403 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,530 PORGES: Shin tells the driver, 404 00:20:44,630 --> 00:20:48,060 "Get to the American Embassy as quick as you can." 405 00:20:48,170 --> 00:20:51,370 WILDMAN: The taxi careens through the streets of Vienna 406 00:20:51,470 --> 00:20:53,740 and finally pulls up at the embassy. 407 00:20:55,770 --> 00:20:58,140 There, the filmmaking duo is questioned 408 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,440 by an official from the U.S. Embassy. 409 00:21:00,550 --> 00:21:02,850 PORGES: They tell the Americans they've been kidnapped 410 00:21:02,950 --> 00:21:05,010 for 8 years by North Korea 411 00:21:05,120 --> 00:21:07,280 and were now seeking asylum. 412 00:21:09,350 --> 00:21:13,720 WILDMAN: To their great relief, their request is granted. 413 00:21:13,830 --> 00:21:16,130 Shin and Choi are finally free. 414 00:21:16,230 --> 00:21:17,890 They end up moving to Los Angeles 415 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,560 and resume work in the film industry. 416 00:21:23,330 --> 00:21:26,070 WILDMAN: Today, this action figure of Pulgasari, 417 00:21:26,170 --> 00:21:29,240 the monster movie character that helped Shin Sang-ok 418 00:21:29,340 --> 00:21:32,240 and Choi Eun-hee gain their freedom 419 00:21:32,340 --> 00:21:35,240 is on display at the Austin Toy Museum. 420 00:21:35,350 --> 00:21:36,810 It recalls the brave couple 421 00:21:36,910 --> 00:21:39,280 who devised a surprising plot twist 422 00:21:39,380 --> 00:21:41,920 to escape a real-life horror film. 423 00:21:46,020 --> 00:21:47,860 Colorado Springs. 424 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:51,690 In the 1890s, hundreds of prospectors struck it rich 425 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:55,360 after gold was discovered in the nearby Rocky Mountains, 426 00:21:55,470 --> 00:21:59,400 earning this town the nickname the City of Millionaires. 427 00:21:59,500 --> 00:22:03,210 Today, the region's heritage is preserved 428 00:22:03,310 --> 00:22:06,080 at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry. 429 00:22:09,650 --> 00:22:13,880 Its collection includes dynamite used to blast mines, 430 00:22:13,990 --> 00:22:17,820 a 35-ton steam engine from 1895, 431 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:20,960 and an interactive exhibit on gold panning. 432 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:29,700 But one object here looks like it belongs not in a mine 433 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,500 but in outer space. 434 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:35,740 SHIRA TEITEL: This object is 12.7 feet tall 435 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:37,540 and weighs 1,800 pounds. 436 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:39,410 It has a cylindrical shape, 437 00:22:39,510 --> 00:22:42,550 and it looks like a caged metal tube. 438 00:22:45,650 --> 00:22:47,450 WILDMAN: This curious contraption 439 00:22:47,550 --> 00:22:51,820 recalls a harrowing rescue that captivated the world. 440 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,090 This is a story of tragedy, ingenuity, 441 00:22:54,190 --> 00:22:55,960 and a fight for survival. 442 00:23:00,970 --> 00:23:05,070 WILDMAN: 2010, Copiapo, Chile. 443 00:23:05,170 --> 00:23:07,600 This remote village nestled in the foothills 444 00:23:07,710 --> 00:23:09,070 of the Andes Mountains 445 00:23:09,170 --> 00:23:13,010 is home to a thriving copper mine. 446 00:23:13,110 --> 00:23:15,380 On the morning of August 5th, 447 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:17,010 a crew of 33 miners 448 00:23:17,110 --> 00:23:21,080 is digging almost half a mile below ground. 449 00:23:21,190 --> 00:23:24,620 It appears to be a normal day, 450 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,360 when all of a sudden... 451 00:23:27,460 --> 00:23:29,020 [ Rumbling ] 452 00:23:29,130 --> 00:23:31,490 ...disaster strikes. 453 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:35,100 A terrifying rumble reverberates throughout the mine. 454 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,300 That kind of crash would suggest 455 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:41,770 a massive collapse somewhere in the mine. 456 00:23:41,870 --> 00:23:44,970 WILDMAN: Clouds of debris fill the air. 457 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:47,610 Fearing they'll be buried under the rubble, 458 00:23:47,710 --> 00:23:51,250 the men race to the mine's safety shelter, 459 00:23:51,350 --> 00:23:56,190 a 540-square-foot enclosure stocked with emergency rations. 460 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:03,730 Minutes later, the deafening rumble abates. 461 00:24:05,860 --> 00:24:07,730 Once the dust settles, 462 00:24:07,830 --> 00:24:10,630 the miners carefully step outside the shelter 463 00:24:10,740 --> 00:24:12,970 and search for a way out, 464 00:24:13,070 --> 00:24:17,040 but it seems their ordeal has just begun. 465 00:24:17,140 --> 00:24:18,910 To their horror, they discover 466 00:24:19,010 --> 00:24:22,210 that the only route to the surface has caved in 467 00:24:22,310 --> 00:24:25,380 and all communication has been cut off. 468 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:27,920 SHIRA TEITEL: They are trapped. 469 00:24:28,020 --> 00:24:29,950 They must have felt absolute terror 470 00:24:30,050 --> 00:24:32,490 that their worst fears have been realized. 471 00:24:32,590 --> 00:24:35,520 [ Clanging and yelling ] 472 00:24:35,630 --> 00:24:37,590 WILDMAN: The miners desperately try to signal 473 00:24:37,700 --> 00:24:42,730 for help by generating as much noise as they can. 474 00:24:42,830 --> 00:24:44,000 SHIRA TEITEL: They honked horns, 475 00:24:44,100 --> 00:24:47,670 banged machinery and even detonated dynamite, 476 00:24:47,770 --> 00:24:50,670 so rescuers would know they were trapped down there. 477 00:24:54,780 --> 00:24:56,980 WILDMAN: But there's no response. 478 00:24:59,120 --> 00:25:01,380 And as the hours stretch into days, 479 00:25:01,490 --> 00:25:05,190 their outlook grows bleak. 480 00:25:05,290 --> 00:25:07,890 There were 33 men, and they have no idea 481 00:25:07,990 --> 00:25:11,360 how long they're going to be in the mine. 482 00:25:11,460 --> 00:25:12,830 WILDMAN: The miners do their best 483 00:25:12,930 --> 00:25:14,860 to stretch out the emergency provisions 484 00:25:14,970 --> 00:25:16,730 of food and water. 485 00:25:16,830 --> 00:25:18,570 SHIRA TEITEL: They rationed the available food so that 486 00:25:18,670 --> 00:25:21,600 each miner only had a couple of mouthfuls every other day. 487 00:25:24,510 --> 00:25:26,680 WILDMAN: But two weeks after the collapse, 488 00:25:26,780 --> 00:25:29,750 there's still no sign of rescue. 489 00:25:29,850 --> 00:25:33,020 You can imagine the morale in the mine would be dwindling. 490 00:25:33,120 --> 00:25:35,780 The miners face death by starvation. 491 00:25:40,620 --> 00:25:43,830 It's 2010 -- Copiapo, Chile. 492 00:25:43,930 --> 00:25:47,060 33 miners have been trapped for 2 weeks 493 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:51,270 underground after the mine they were working in collapsed. 494 00:25:51,370 --> 00:25:53,270 Now they're on the brink of death 495 00:25:53,370 --> 00:25:56,510 and have lost all hope of survival. 496 00:25:56,610 --> 00:25:58,440 But little do they know, there's a team 497 00:25:58,540 --> 00:26:00,580 working desperately to find them. 498 00:26:03,710 --> 00:26:06,350 On the surface, the rescuers have no idea 499 00:26:06,450 --> 00:26:08,720 if the miners made it to the emergency shelter 500 00:26:08,820 --> 00:26:10,550 and are still alive. 501 00:26:10,650 --> 00:26:12,350 So, they search for the shelter 502 00:26:12,460 --> 00:26:16,220 by boring exploratory drills deep into the ground. 503 00:26:18,700 --> 00:26:21,930 The first seven attempts are unsuccessful. 504 00:26:22,030 --> 00:26:24,930 But then as they remove the eighth drill, 505 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:29,000 they notice something attached to the tip. 506 00:26:29,110 --> 00:26:31,210 The miners attached a note to the drill, 507 00:26:31,310 --> 00:26:33,980 letting the rescuers above know that they were safe. 508 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:37,480 The note read "We are well in the shelter, the 33." 509 00:26:39,180 --> 00:26:43,350 Finally they knew that the miners were alive. 510 00:26:43,450 --> 00:26:46,760 WILDMAN: But finding the men was the easy part. 511 00:26:46,860 --> 00:26:50,960 Getting them out will be a monumental task. 512 00:26:51,060 --> 00:26:52,390 The only way to reach the men 513 00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:54,460 is to drill a tunnel from the surface 514 00:26:54,570 --> 00:26:56,670 into the safety shelter. 515 00:26:56,770 --> 00:26:58,630 But with the mine still unstable, 516 00:26:58,740 --> 00:27:03,310 drilling too wide a tunnel could risk another collapse. 517 00:27:03,410 --> 00:27:04,970 The team needs a device 518 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:07,310 that will fit in a narrow opening 519 00:27:07,410 --> 00:27:08,780 and protect the miners 520 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:11,380 during their journey to the surface. 521 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:13,780 So they turn to an unlikely group 522 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:17,820 for help -- NASA. 523 00:27:20,120 --> 00:27:24,160 NASA put together a task force of scientists from 10 centers 524 00:27:24,260 --> 00:27:26,130 to work on the problem. 525 00:27:26,230 --> 00:27:29,530 WILDMAN: The team comes up with a bold solution. 526 00:27:29,630 --> 00:27:33,900 A narrow craft that can lift the miners out one by one. 527 00:27:34,910 --> 00:27:36,370 The lives of 33 men 528 00:27:36,470 --> 00:27:39,640 are dependent on this rescue capsule. 529 00:27:39,740 --> 00:27:42,140 WILDMAN: Two months after the initial collapse, 530 00:27:42,250 --> 00:27:45,050 the device is finally ready. 531 00:27:45,150 --> 00:27:47,480 The completed vessel is a steel cage 532 00:27:47,580 --> 00:27:50,790 that is shaped like a torpedo. 533 00:27:50,890 --> 00:27:54,990 It's 13 feet tall and just 21 inches across 534 00:27:55,090 --> 00:27:59,900 and to help it navigate the rugged 2,300-foot-long hole, 535 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,200 it has a unique feature. 536 00:28:02,300 --> 00:28:03,330 SHIRA TEITEL: They added rollers 537 00:28:03,430 --> 00:28:06,070 to reduce friction with the tunnel walls. 538 00:28:06,170 --> 00:28:09,600 That way they could lower and raise the capsule smoothly. 539 00:28:09,710 --> 00:28:12,910 WILDMAN: The engineers give the machine a fitting name. 540 00:28:13,010 --> 00:28:14,910 SHIRA TEITEL: They named the capsule Phoenix, 541 00:28:15,010 --> 00:28:19,280 the mythical bird that rises from its ashes. 542 00:28:19,380 --> 00:28:22,750 WILDMAN: On October 13th, the Phoenix Rescue Capsule 543 00:28:22,850 --> 00:28:26,320 is slowly lowered into the mine. 544 00:28:26,420 --> 00:28:28,820 Hundreds of people, including the press 545 00:28:28,930 --> 00:28:31,160 and members of the miners' families, 546 00:28:31,260 --> 00:28:33,030 gather at the surface to watch. 547 00:28:33,130 --> 00:28:35,260 Everyone above ground waits anxiously 548 00:28:35,370 --> 00:28:36,730 to see what will happen. 549 00:28:43,970 --> 00:28:45,110 WILDMAN: Finally an hour 550 00:28:45,210 --> 00:28:47,440 after the Phoenix was lowered into the tunnel, 551 00:28:47,540 --> 00:28:50,580 the tiny craft emerges with one of the exhausted 552 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:54,080 but exhilarated miners safely inside. 553 00:28:54,180 --> 00:28:56,180 SHIRA TEITEL: The first miner was welcomed 554 00:28:56,290 --> 00:28:57,490 with a thunderous applause. 555 00:28:57,590 --> 00:29:00,920 It was pandemonium. 556 00:29:01,020 --> 00:29:02,820 WILDMAN: Over the next several hours, 557 00:29:02,930 --> 00:29:05,490 the Phoenix makes 32 more trips 558 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:08,160 to retrieve the other miners. 559 00:29:08,270 --> 00:29:10,900 After 69 days underground, 560 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:12,370 all 33 men 561 00:29:12,470 --> 00:29:15,140 are brought back to the surface alive. 562 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:17,140 This rescue was the first of its kind 563 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:19,710 and a day that history will remember forever. 564 00:29:23,910 --> 00:29:26,920 WILDMAN: Today a full-scale replica of the Phoenix Capsule 565 00:29:27,020 --> 00:29:28,220 remains on display 566 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:31,820 at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry. 567 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:35,560 It's a triumph of technology, international co-operation 568 00:29:35,660 --> 00:29:38,090 and the resilience of the human spirit. 569 00:29:43,430 --> 00:29:46,270 The deserts outside Alamogordo, New Mexico, 570 00:29:46,370 --> 00:29:48,440 were made famous in 1945 571 00:29:48,540 --> 00:29:52,310 as the site for the very first atomic bomb test. 572 00:29:52,410 --> 00:29:55,280 But the town is also home to an institution 573 00:29:55,380 --> 00:29:57,750 that celebrates scientific accomplishments 574 00:29:57,850 --> 00:29:59,310 of a different sort, 575 00:29:59,420 --> 00:30:02,120 the New Mexico Museum of Space History. 576 00:30:05,860 --> 00:30:08,560 The displays include a replica of Sputnik, 577 00:30:08,660 --> 00:30:13,060 the first man-made satellite, launched in 1957, 578 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:16,730 a spare fuel cell for an Apollo spacecraft, 579 00:30:16,830 --> 00:30:18,700 and a capsule used by NASA 580 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:23,670 to send the first chimpanzee into space. 581 00:30:23,770 --> 00:30:26,270 But among these technological triumphs 582 00:30:26,380 --> 00:30:28,880 is a more basic piece of equipment. 583 00:30:28,980 --> 00:30:31,710 The object is 58 inches long 584 00:30:31,820 --> 00:30:33,820 and about 22 inches wide. 585 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:35,220 It's light blue. 586 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:36,620 And there are also multiple 587 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:39,820 very colorful patches that are attached. 588 00:30:41,830 --> 00:30:44,930 WILDMAN: This flight suit recalls a cosmic clog 589 00:30:45,030 --> 00:30:49,060 that left a team of astronauts stranded in space. 590 00:30:49,170 --> 00:30:52,370 ORWOLL: This artifact is truly a reminder that any mission 591 00:30:52,470 --> 00:30:55,600 can be just one flush away from disaster. 592 00:31:00,180 --> 00:31:02,240 WILDMAN: It's 1984. 593 00:31:02,350 --> 00:31:04,150 NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery 594 00:31:04,250 --> 00:31:08,180 is in orbit nearly 200 miles above the Earth. 595 00:31:08,290 --> 00:31:12,150 It is the most technologically advanced spacecraft ever built. 596 00:31:12,260 --> 00:31:13,460 NASA's newest shuttle, 597 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:15,890 Discovery, is straight off the assembly line 598 00:31:15,990 --> 00:31:17,960 and is on its first mission. 599 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:24,430 WILDMAN: On board is a six-person crew 600 00:31:24,530 --> 00:31:28,800 commanded by 50-year-old space veteran Hank Hartsfield. 601 00:31:28,910 --> 00:31:30,070 Their mission is to place 602 00:31:30,170 --> 00:31:32,970 communication satellites in orbit. 603 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:36,210 For the first two days, everything goes smoothly. 604 00:31:36,310 --> 00:31:39,810 But then on September 1st, there's an unusual malfunction. 605 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:42,720 The crew is performing routine operations 606 00:31:42,820 --> 00:31:45,290 when an alarm goes off. 607 00:31:45,390 --> 00:31:47,520 The small port used to flush their waste 608 00:31:47,620 --> 00:31:49,620 into space is clogged. 609 00:31:49,730 --> 00:31:51,430 Initially, they don't know 610 00:31:51,530 --> 00:31:53,030 what the severity of the problem is. 611 00:31:53,130 --> 00:31:54,960 They've got to get a look at it. 612 00:31:57,230 --> 00:31:58,930 WILDMAN: To investigate the blockage, 613 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:00,500 Hartsfield and his crew use 614 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:03,640 the camera on the shuttle's robotic arm. 615 00:32:03,740 --> 00:32:06,340 On the monitors, they see something protruding out 616 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:08,810 of the Space Shuttle -- 617 00:32:08,910 --> 00:32:12,550 a 2-foot-long icicle made of pee. 618 00:32:14,750 --> 00:32:16,450 A big chunk of urine ice, 619 00:32:16,550 --> 00:32:18,850 essentially a pee-sicle, may seem like a joke. 620 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:22,920 But to Hartsfield and the crew, this was no laughing matter. 621 00:32:23,030 --> 00:32:27,130 WILDMAN: The crew's plumbing problem is pretty serious. 622 00:32:27,230 --> 00:32:29,560 If the icicle is not removed, 623 00:32:29,670 --> 00:32:31,570 it could break off during re-entry 624 00:32:31,670 --> 00:32:35,170 and damage the heat shields, causing a catastrophe. 625 00:32:35,270 --> 00:32:36,840 That's extremely bad. 626 00:32:36,940 --> 00:32:40,010 It was a severe threat to the crew 627 00:32:40,110 --> 00:32:42,010 and to the mission. 628 00:32:42,110 --> 00:32:44,480 Hartsfield was extremely concerned. 629 00:32:44,580 --> 00:32:47,620 WILDMAN: So how will these astronauts dislodge 630 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:49,650 the problem pee-sicle? 631 00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:00,900 It's September 1984, in outer space. 632 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,500 Astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery 633 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:05,800 are facing an unusual crisis. 634 00:33:05,900 --> 00:33:07,700 A plumbing problem has created 635 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:11,740 a giant icicle made of urine outside the spacecraft. 636 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:16,210 So how will the crew address this cosmic clog? 637 00:33:18,780 --> 00:33:19,950 On September 2nd, 638 00:33:20,050 --> 00:33:24,020 24 hours after the problem was first identified, 639 00:33:24,120 --> 00:33:28,520 Mission Control radios the crew with a suggestion. 640 00:33:28,620 --> 00:33:31,330 They want to use the shuttle's giant robotic arm 641 00:33:31,430 --> 00:33:32,890 to knock the icicle off. 642 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:36,100 ORWOLL: Utilizing the remote arm was their best option. 643 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:39,700 But the potential for catastrophe was very large. 644 00:33:44,170 --> 00:33:45,840 WILDMAN: It's a risky plan. 645 00:33:45,940 --> 00:33:47,040 One false move, 646 00:33:47,140 --> 00:33:49,210 and the robotic arm could hit the shuttle 647 00:33:49,310 --> 00:33:51,080 and damage the heat shield, 648 00:33:51,180 --> 00:33:53,110 making re-entry impossible. 649 00:33:53,220 --> 00:33:55,120 It will be up to Hartsfield 650 00:33:55,220 --> 00:33:57,950 to pull off the dangerous operation. 651 00:33:58,050 --> 00:33:59,590 ORWOLL: The weight of the mission, 652 00:33:59,690 --> 00:34:03,020 the weight of the crew's lives 653 00:34:03,130 --> 00:34:07,860 was all resting on his shoulders. 654 00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:09,600 WILDMAN: The commander takes control 655 00:34:09,700 --> 00:34:12,570 of the shuttle's robotic arm. 656 00:34:12,670 --> 00:34:17,400 He follows instructions given to him by Mission Control 657 00:34:17,510 --> 00:34:19,640 and carefully guides the robotic arm 658 00:34:19,740 --> 00:34:22,410 towards the blockage. 659 00:34:22,510 --> 00:34:27,080 Finally, the arm is poised next to the icicle. 660 00:34:27,180 --> 00:34:29,120 ORWOLL: Hartsfield took one last deep breath, 661 00:34:29,220 --> 00:34:31,190 and then maneuvered that manipulator arm 662 00:34:31,290 --> 00:34:33,450 and took one swing at it. 663 00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:34,920 WILDMAN: The arm moves forward 664 00:34:35,020 --> 00:34:39,560 and knocks the icicle off in a single stroke, 665 00:34:39,660 --> 00:34:42,360 sending it floating into space. 666 00:34:42,470 --> 00:34:45,230 ORWOLL: Hartsfield and the entire crew felt 667 00:34:45,330 --> 00:34:47,570 just an incredible sense of relief. 668 00:34:47,670 --> 00:34:51,440 Their pee-sicle was gone. 669 00:34:51,540 --> 00:34:54,880 WILDMAN: The crew completes its mission. 670 00:34:54,980 --> 00:34:57,910 And on September 5th, the Space Shuttle Discovery 671 00:34:58,010 --> 00:35:01,850 safely touches down at Edwards Air Force Base in California. 672 00:35:01,950 --> 00:35:04,390 For solving their unique plumbing problem, 673 00:35:04,490 --> 00:35:05,790 the crew is given the nickname 674 00:35:05,890 --> 00:35:07,820 The Ice Busters. 675 00:35:11,790 --> 00:35:13,130 WILDMAN: Today, this flight suit, 676 00:35:13,230 --> 00:35:15,300 worn by one of Discovery's crew, 677 00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:18,400 is on display at the New Mexico Museum of Space History 678 00:35:18,500 --> 00:35:20,330 in Alamogordo. 679 00:35:20,440 --> 00:35:23,540 It stands as a reminder of the resourceful astronauts 680 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:26,710 who had to contend with an unexpected problem 681 00:35:26,810 --> 00:35:29,340 of their own making. 682 00:35:32,250 --> 00:35:34,150 The frontier town of Golden, Colorado, 683 00:35:34,250 --> 00:35:37,650 is a destination for travelers craving beautiful scenery 684 00:35:37,750 --> 00:35:39,490 and outdoor adventures. 685 00:35:39,590 --> 00:35:40,850 And no place gives visitors 686 00:35:40,960 --> 00:35:42,520 a better taste of that adventure 687 00:35:42,630 --> 00:35:45,430 than the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum. 688 00:35:45,530 --> 00:35:48,260 This institution showcases 689 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:51,470 examples of innovations in climbing technology 690 00:35:51,570 --> 00:35:54,770 and even a scale model of Mount Everest. 691 00:35:54,870 --> 00:35:57,610 But within its collection is one small artifact 692 00:35:57,710 --> 00:36:00,510 that's easy for visitors to overlook-- 693 00:36:00,610 --> 00:36:02,180 an ice ax. 694 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:04,450 This ax played a crucial role 695 00:36:04,550 --> 00:36:06,280 in an event so harrowing 696 00:36:06,380 --> 00:36:09,620 that its story is now embedded in mountaineering lore. 697 00:36:09,720 --> 00:36:11,620 It's a tale of incredible courage 698 00:36:11,720 --> 00:36:13,290 and survival against the odds 699 00:36:13,390 --> 00:36:16,220 in one of the harshest environments on earth. 700 00:36:16,330 --> 00:36:18,230 This was Pete Schoening's ice ax, 701 00:36:18,330 --> 00:36:20,290 and he was the youngest member 702 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:23,860 of the 1953 American expedition to K2. 703 00:36:23,970 --> 00:36:25,700 What role did this ax play 704 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:28,700 in a tragic and still unsolved mystery? 705 00:36:31,010 --> 00:36:33,710 1953, northern Pakistan. 706 00:36:33,810 --> 00:36:37,410 American physician and climber Dr. Charles S. Houston, 707 00:36:37,510 --> 00:36:41,180 is determined to scale the 28,000-foot-tall mountain, 708 00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:43,350 K2. 709 00:36:43,450 --> 00:36:45,920 K2 is the second-highest mountain in the world, 710 00:36:46,020 --> 00:36:48,720 and it's been known as the Savage Mountain. 711 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:52,960 For every four or maybe five people 712 00:36:53,060 --> 00:36:55,960 who summit on K2, one has died. 713 00:36:56,070 --> 00:36:59,130 WILDMAN: Houston assembles an experienced team 714 00:36:59,240 --> 00:37:01,140 for this dangerous expedition. 715 00:37:01,240 --> 00:37:03,800 Among them are George Bell and Art Gilkey, 716 00:37:03,910 --> 00:37:06,810 both scientists and avid mountaineers. 717 00:37:06,910 --> 00:37:10,310 And the youngest member is 25-year-old Pete Schoening. 718 00:37:10,410 --> 00:37:13,350 They were all strong climbers, but Pete sort of stood out 719 00:37:13,450 --> 00:37:16,120 as the young gun on the team, if you will. 720 00:37:16,220 --> 00:37:18,950 WILDMAN: On June 26, 1953, 721 00:37:19,060 --> 00:37:22,290 the team leaves base camp in northern Pakistan 722 00:37:22,390 --> 00:37:24,120 and begins the ascent of K2. 723 00:37:24,230 --> 00:37:26,290 Over the next month and a half, 724 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:28,230 they make excellent progress, 725 00:37:28,330 --> 00:37:30,400 but just as they are about to reach the summit, 726 00:37:30,500 --> 00:37:32,370 disaster strikes. 727 00:37:32,470 --> 00:37:34,330 Art Gilkey collapses, 728 00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:36,400 complaining of pain in his leg. 729 00:37:36,510 --> 00:37:40,240 Dr. Houston examines his friend and fellow climber, 730 00:37:40,340 --> 00:37:41,910 but the prognosis isn't good. 731 00:37:42,010 --> 00:37:43,610 You've got this blood clot in your leg, 732 00:37:43,710 --> 00:37:46,350 and--and just moving could dislodge it 733 00:37:46,450 --> 00:37:48,450 and send that clot to your lung 734 00:37:48,550 --> 00:37:51,350 or to your brain and kill you on the spot. 735 00:37:51,450 --> 00:37:55,490 WILDMAN: And their situation is about to get even worse. 736 00:37:55,590 --> 00:37:58,830 A storm system is fast approaching. 737 00:37:58,930 --> 00:38:00,730 If they leave the safety of their tents 738 00:38:00,830 --> 00:38:03,130 and attempt to bring Gilkey back to base camp, 739 00:38:03,230 --> 00:38:06,800 K2, the Savage Mountain, could kill them all. 740 00:38:10,040 --> 00:38:12,810 It's 1953 on the world's deadliest mountain, 741 00:38:12,910 --> 00:38:14,810 K2. 742 00:38:14,910 --> 00:38:18,080 A group of climbers is attempting to reach the summit, 743 00:38:18,180 --> 00:38:20,780 but when one of the mountaineers, 744 00:38:20,880 --> 00:38:23,050 a man named Art Gilkey, collapses, 745 00:38:23,150 --> 00:38:25,520 the trip turns into a rescue mission. 746 00:38:25,620 --> 00:38:28,120 So can they save their fellow climber 747 00:38:28,220 --> 00:38:30,720 and themselves? 748 00:38:34,760 --> 00:38:36,660 Art Gilkey's condition 749 00:38:36,770 --> 00:38:38,830 is deteriorating fast. 750 00:38:38,940 --> 00:38:40,670 And with the weather growing worse, 751 00:38:40,770 --> 00:38:43,170 the team is faced with a difficult choice. 752 00:38:43,270 --> 00:38:46,140 POWERS: They realize that whether the weather is good or not, 753 00:38:46,240 --> 00:38:47,740 they've gotta get down. 754 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:49,880 They cannot stay where they are. 755 00:38:49,980 --> 00:38:53,110 WILDMAN: The team loads Gilkey into a makeshift stretcher, 756 00:38:53,220 --> 00:38:55,580 and the men, tied together in pairs, 757 00:38:55,690 --> 00:38:58,350 begin their descent. 758 00:38:58,450 --> 00:39:00,490 Pete Schoening, who's tied to Gilkey, 759 00:39:00,590 --> 00:39:02,820 lowers him with a mountaineering technique 760 00:39:02,930 --> 00:39:05,030 called belaying, using his ax -- 761 00:39:05,130 --> 00:39:07,190 the very one now on display 762 00:39:07,300 --> 00:39:09,060 at the American Mountaineering Museum. 763 00:39:09,170 --> 00:39:11,230 POWERS: He's run the rope around his body 764 00:39:11,330 --> 00:39:13,600 and around the ice ax 765 00:39:13,700 --> 00:39:17,340 so that the friction of the rope can hold a person. 766 00:39:17,440 --> 00:39:20,170 WILDMAN: But with the wind whipping around them, 767 00:39:20,280 --> 00:39:21,880 catastrophe strikes. 768 00:39:21,980 --> 00:39:24,550 George Bell, who's one of the highest people 769 00:39:24,650 --> 00:39:27,180 on the snow slope, slips. 770 00:39:27,280 --> 00:39:30,080 And that rope tangles 771 00:39:30,190 --> 00:39:32,090 against Art Gilkey. 772 00:39:32,190 --> 00:39:35,160 So pretty soon, all six climbers, 773 00:39:35,260 --> 00:39:38,260 including Art, are falling down this snow slope... 774 00:39:38,360 --> 00:39:42,130 WILDMAN: All except for Pete Schoening. 775 00:39:42,230 --> 00:39:43,800 As he sees his partners 776 00:39:43,900 --> 00:39:46,130 all begin to fall to their death, 777 00:39:46,240 --> 00:39:48,970 he throws his weight onto the ice ax, 778 00:39:49,070 --> 00:39:50,700 jamming it in more deeply 779 00:39:50,810 --> 00:39:53,740 and making that belay secure enough 780 00:39:53,840 --> 00:39:55,440 to hold them all. 781 00:39:55,550 --> 00:39:57,010 WILDMAN: Pete Schoening's quick thinking 782 00:39:57,110 --> 00:39:59,510 and the strength of this wooden ice ax 783 00:39:59,620 --> 00:40:02,520 saves his team from a 6,500-foot fall 784 00:40:02,620 --> 00:40:04,020 and certain death. 785 00:40:04,120 --> 00:40:07,390 Schoening hangs on to his ax for dear life 786 00:40:07,490 --> 00:40:09,260 as the men untangle themselves. 787 00:40:09,360 --> 00:40:11,260 Houston hears Gilkey, 788 00:40:11,360 --> 00:40:14,260 who's suspended over an ice gully, cry out, 789 00:40:14,360 --> 00:40:16,860 a reassuring sign that he's still alive. 790 00:40:19,470 --> 00:40:21,870 But as the team climbs down to retrieve him, 791 00:40:21,970 --> 00:40:24,970 they make a horrifying discovery. 792 00:40:25,070 --> 00:40:27,210 POWERS: And as they arrive, 793 00:40:27,310 --> 00:40:29,510 there's no Art. He's gone. 794 00:40:29,610 --> 00:40:32,010 WILDMAN: The harsh conditions of the mountain 795 00:40:32,110 --> 00:40:33,850 make finding Gilkey impossible, 796 00:40:33,950 --> 00:40:36,850 and all they retrieve are pieces of his gear. 797 00:40:36,950 --> 00:40:39,550 Five days later, on August 15th, 798 00:40:39,660 --> 00:40:41,560 the remaining members of the expedition 799 00:40:41,660 --> 00:40:44,460 reach base camp, frostbitten but alive. 800 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:46,460 A haunting mystery remains-- 801 00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:49,460 what happened to their injured friend? 802 00:40:49,570 --> 00:40:53,030 Some theorize that the ropes that held Gilkey failed, 803 00:40:53,140 --> 00:40:55,440 sending him to his death. 804 00:40:55,540 --> 00:40:59,240 But Houston and his fellow mountaineers have another explanation. 805 00:40:59,340 --> 00:41:01,280 POWERS: But the one theory 806 00:41:01,380 --> 00:41:03,580 that I think holds the most interest 807 00:41:03,680 --> 00:41:06,250 is whether Art actually reached up 808 00:41:06,350 --> 00:41:08,250 and pulled those ice axes 809 00:41:08,350 --> 00:41:11,350 out of the snow and ice himself, 810 00:41:11,450 --> 00:41:13,520 sending himself to his own death 811 00:41:13,620 --> 00:41:15,520 to preserve the opportunity 812 00:41:15,630 --> 00:41:18,190 for his partners to more easily save themselves 813 00:41:18,290 --> 00:41:20,190 and get down the mountain. 814 00:41:20,300 --> 00:41:22,030 WILDMAN: Did Gilkey sacrifice himself 815 00:41:22,130 --> 00:41:25,070 so that his friends could return home alive? 816 00:41:25,170 --> 00:41:27,370 It's a mystery that we'll never know the answer to. 817 00:41:27,470 --> 00:41:30,370 WILDMAN: But the bravery of Pete Schoening 818 00:41:30,470 --> 00:41:33,270 and the members of the 1953 expedition 819 00:41:33,380 --> 00:41:34,840 is without a doubt. 820 00:41:34,940 --> 00:41:37,380 And this ice ax, the physical symbol of that courage, 821 00:41:37,480 --> 00:41:39,010 is on display here 822 00:41:39,120 --> 00:41:41,650 at the Bradford Washburn Mountaineering Museum 823 00:41:41,750 --> 00:41:43,680 in Golden, Colorado. 824 00:41:45,190 --> 00:41:47,620 From an underground rescue 825 00:41:47,720 --> 00:41:50,760 to an outer space disaster. 826 00:41:50,860 --> 00:41:53,090 A deadly volcano 827 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:55,430 to a life-saving ax. 828 00:41:55,530 --> 00:41:58,670 I'm Don Wildman, and these are the mysteries at the museum.