Apollo 11 launch: 'If you can survive the simulations, the mission is a piece of cake'

BBC 's John Parry and James Burke visited Nasa simulator in California in 1968 .

Nasa had painstakingly created a 3D scale model of the Earth and an optical system that projected realistic out-the-window views as the spacecraft rotated for each stage of the mission.

It was designed to have exactly the same "feel" as the ones the astronauts would eventually use so they could develop their muscle memory.

Nasa simulated potential system failures, anomalies and emergencies to test astronauts' ability to remain calm and work together, communicate accurately and make sound decisions quickly under pressure.

Training was about as real as you could get, says former Nasa flight director of the Apollo missions.

These gruelling training simulations enabled the astronauts and the flight controllers to understand the different systems and machines.

It amazes me still that we were able to do what we did." -- For more stories and never-before-published radio scripts to your inbox, sign up to the In History newsletter, while The Essential List delivers a handpicked selection of features and insights twice a week..