The Man and the Challenge

S1 E1 - The Sphere of No Return

In order to test human stamina at high altitudes, Barton and two other men go up in a balloon. When one panics and fails the required standards he is replaced by a woman which draws a hostile response from the remaining pilot.

Sep 12, 1959 • 30m

S1 E2 - Maximum Capacity

Barton sends two men into the frozen north to test their endurance in extreme levels of cold and isolation. He wants to determine the best way to train men for high security jobs in the Arctic.

Sep 19, 1959 • 30m

S1 E3 - Odds Against Survival

Sep 26, 1959 • 30m

S1 E4 - Sky Diving

To study the effects of gravity on potential astronauts, Barton goes to France to learn free fall parachuting from a brother-and-sister team of skydivers: Suzanne and Georges Bolet.

Oct 3, 1959 • 30m

S1 E5 - Experiments in Terror

Oct 10, 1959 • 30m

S1 E6 - Invisible Force

In a hostile country, three Americans are being held captive. Barton is asked by a Washington official to form a clandestine athletic unit to free them.

Oct 17, 1959 • 30m

S1 E7 - Escape to Nepal

In order to test the U2-21 drug which supposedly increases a man's ability to retain oxygen at great heights, Barton puts a group of mountaineers through a rigorous test in the Rockies before sending them to the Himalayas for a final test.

Oct 24, 1959 • 30m

S1 E8 - Border to Border

Two antagonistic jet pilots are entered into a Mexican auto race to prove that a team can overcome obstacles better than any single person could.

Oct 31, 1959 • 30m

S1 E9 - Trial by Fire

Barton enters an active volcano to test a new type of fire suit. He nearly loses his life in the experiment.

Nov 7, 1959 • 30m

S1 E10 - White Out

Barton researches hypothermia in Antarctica by reducing the body temperature of two doctors. He hopes the experiment will lead to an understanding of how to freeze astronauts to withstand certain aspects of interplanetary flight.

Nov 14, 1959 • 30m

S1 E11 - The Breaking Point

A volunteer is sealed in a cell for 30 days and is subjected to psychological torment in order to determine his breaking point.

Nov 28, 1959 • 30m

S1 E12 - Jungle Survival

Glenn Barton is sent on a dual mission: test survival techniques in the Amazon Basin and determine the fate of four lost fliers.

Dec 5, 1959 • 30m

S1 E13 - I've Killed Seven Men

Dec 12, 1959 • 30m

S1 E14 - Man Without Fear

Barton uses a chemical names LSD-25 on a firefighter. The chemical removes fear, but raging forest fires prove that fear is a necessary part of courage.

Dec 19, 1959 • 30m

S1 E15 - The Visitors

Dec 26, 1959 • 30m

S1 E16 - The Storm

Glenn Barton is asked to clear the reputation of a man who died mysteriously.

Jan 1, 1960 • 30m

S1 E17 - Killer River

On a cliff above the Colorado River, Barton rescues a parachuted pilot.

Jan 9, 1960 • 30m

S1 E18 - Rodeo

Barton investigates the effects of a new rocket belt at a rodeo.

Jan 23, 1960 • 30m

S1 E19 - The Windowless Room

A crack test pilot crashes his aircraft. After the crash he experiences a self-induced paralysis that slowly destroys his career and marriage. Barton restores the pilot's confidence by using hypnotic techniques.

Jan 30, 1960 • 30m

S1 E20 - Nightmare Crossing

Barton tests candidates for command positions in space.

Feb 6, 1960 • 30m

S1 E21 - The Lure of Danger

Barton looks individuals that subconsciously want to destroy themselves. He wants to learn why some men desire death.

Feb 13, 1960 • 30m

S1 E22 - Recovery

Feb 20, 1960 • 30m

S1 E23 - Buried Alive

Barton experiments with Yoga to show that it can be helpful in adverting tragedy.

Feb 27, 1960 • 30m

S1 E24 - Recondo

A warden's daughter is held hostage by four escaped convicts.

Mar 3, 1960 • 30m

S1 E25 - Flying Lab

Barton performs and experiment to show that ignorance and fear cause lack of efficiency.

Mar 12, 1960 • 30m

S1 E26 - Hurricane Mesa

Barton conducts a test on a pilot to prove that he can be switched successfully to a desk job.

Mar 19, 1960 • 30m

S1 E27 - Astro Female

Barton puts four women against four men in order to prove that woman can equal and perhaps surpass males as astronauts.

Mar 26, 1960 • 30m

S1 E28 - The Extra Sense

In order to prove that emotional stress promotes telepathy, Barton parachutes from a high precipice.

Apr 2, 1960 • 30m

S1 E29 - Man in a Capsule

Barton conducts a survival test on the surface of the ocean.

Apr 9, 1960 • 30m

S1 E30 - The Dropper

Apr 23, 1960 • 30m

S1 E31 - High Dive

Apr 30, 1960 • 30m

S1 E32 - Daredevils

Barton puts the king of syut drivers through an incredibly dangerous test believing that the secret to survival lies in body chemical reactions.

May 7, 1960 • 30m

S1 E33 - Shooter McLaine

Barton almost dies when a scientist ignoring his own physical limits and Barton's warnings misreads important test instruments.

May 21, 1960 • 30m

S1 E34 - Early Warning

May 28, 1960 • 30m

S1 E35 - Breakoff

Jun 4, 1960 • 30m

S1 E36 - Highway to Danger

Barton researches highway hypnosis by subjecting himself to driving conditions that have killed five truck drivers.

Jun 11, 1960 • 30m