Topzle Topzle

Apollo 13

Updated: Wikipedia source

Apollo 13

Apollo 13 (April 11–17, 1970) was the seventh crewed mission in the Apollo space program and would have been the third Moon landing. The craft was launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 11, 1970, but the landing was aborted after an oxygen tank in the service module (SM) exploded two days into the mission, disabling its electrical and life-support system. The crew, supported by backup systems on the Apollo Lunar Module, instead looped around the Moon in a circumlunar trajectory and returned safely to Earth on April 17. The mission was commanded by Jim Lovell, with Jack Swigert as command module (CM) pilot and Fred Haise as Lunar Module (LM) pilot. Swigert was a late replacement for Ken Mattingly, who was grounded after exposure to rubella. A routine stir of an oxygen tank ignited damaged wire insulation inside it, causing an explosion that vented the contents of both of the SM's oxygen tanks to space. Without oxygen, needed for breathing and for generating electrical power, the SM's propulsion and life support systems could not operate. The CM's systems had to be shut down to conserve its remaining resources for reentry, forcing the crew to transfer to the LM as a lifeboat. With the lunar landing canceled, mission controllers worked to bring the crew home alive. Although the LM was designed to support two men on the lunar surface for two days, Mission Control in Houston improvised new procedures so it could support three men for four days. The crew experienced great hardship, caused by limited power, a chilly and wet cabin and a shortage of potable water. There was a critical need to adapt the CM's cartridges for the carbon dioxide scrubber system to work in the LM; the crew and mission controllers were successful in improvising a solution. The astronauts' peril briefly renewed public interest in the Apollo program; tens of millions watched the splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean on television. An investigative review board found fault with preflight testing of the oxygen tank and Teflon being placed inside it. The board recommended changes, including minimizing the use of potentially combustible items inside the tank; this was done for Apollo 14. The story of Apollo 13 has been dramatized several times, most notably in the 1995 film Apollo 13 based on Lost Moon, the 1994 memoir co-authored by Lovell – and an episode of the 1998 miniseries From the Earth to the Moon.

Infobox

Mission type
Crewed lunar landing attempt (H)
Operator
NASA
COSPAR ID
mw- CSM: 1970-029ALM: 1970-029C
SATCAT no.
4371
Mission duration
5 days, 22 hours, 54 minutes, 41 seconds
Spacecraft
Apollo CSM-109Apollo LM-7
Manufacturer
CSM: North American RockwellLM: Grumman
Launch mass
44,069 kg (CSM: 28,881 kg; LM: 15,188 kg)
Landing mass
5,050 kilograms (11,133 lb)
Crew size
3
Members
James A. Lovell Jr.John L. Swigert Jr.Fred W. Haise Jr.
Callsign
CSM: OdysseyLM: Aquarius
Launch date
April 11, 1970, 19:13:00 (1970-04-11UTC19:13Z) UTC
Rocket
Saturn V SA-508
Launch site
Kennedy LC-39A
Recovered by
USS Iwo Jima
Landing date
April 17, 1970, 18:07:41 (1970-04-17UTC18:07:42Z) UTC
Landing site
South 21°38′24″S 165°21′42″W / 21.64000°S 165.36167°W / -21.64000; -165.36167 (Apollo 13 splashdown)
Closest approach
April 15, 1970, 00:21:00 UTC
Distance
254 kilometers (137 nmi)
Docking date
April 11, 1970, 22:32:08 UTC
Undocking date
April 17, 1970, 16:43:00 UTC

Tables

· Astronauts and key Mission Control personnel
Commander (CDR)
Commander (CDR)
Position
Commander (CDR)
Astronaut
James A. Lovell Jr.Fourth and last spaceflight
Command Module Pilot (CMP)
Command Module Pilot (CMP)
Position
Command Module Pilot (CMP)
Astronaut
John "Jack" L. Swigert Jr.Only spaceflight
Lunar Module Pilot (LMP)
Lunar Module Pilot (LMP)
Position
Lunar Module Pilot (LMP)
Astronaut
Fred W. Haise Jr.Only spaceflight
Position
Astronaut
Commander (CDR)
James A. Lovell Jr.Fourth and last spaceflight
Command Module Pilot (CMP)
John "Jack" L. Swigert Jr.Only spaceflight
Lunar Module Pilot (LMP)
Fred W. Haise Jr.Only spaceflight

References

  1. The event is described as an explosion in modern NASA histories and accounts by the crew. However, the formal accident r
  2. No Apollo astronaut flew without life insurance, but the policies were paid for by private third parties whose involveme
  3. The role of the backup crew was to train and be prepared to fly in the event something happened to the prime crew. Backu
  4. Some sources list Kerwin and others list Pogue as the third member
  5. The record was set because the Moon was nearly at its furthest from Earth during the mission. Apollo 13's unique free re
  6. The others were Robert F. Allnutt (Assistant to the Administrator, NASA Hqs.); John F. Clark (Director, Goddard Space Fl
  7. N2YO.com
    https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=4371
  8. Orloff 2000, p. 309.
  9. "Apollo 13 Command and Service Module (CSM)"
    https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-029A
  10. "Apollo 13 Lunar Module / EASEP"
    https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-029C
  11. Orloff 2000, p. 307.
  12. "Apollo 13"
    https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-029A
  13. "The Apollo 13 accident"
    https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/ap13acc.html
  14. Cortright 1975, pp. 248–249: "I did, of course, occasionally think of the possibility that the spacecraft explosion migh
  15. Accident report, p. 143.
  16. Cooper 2013, p. 21: "Later, in describing what happened, NASA engineers avoided using the word "explosion;" they preferr
  17. "Apollo 11 Mission Overview"
    https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo11.html
  18. Hacker & Grimwood 2010, p. 382.
  19. Chaikin 1995, pp. 232–233.
  20. Chaikin 1995, p. 285.
  21. "Apollo Insurance Covers"
    http://www.spaceflownartifacts.com/flown_apollo_insurance_covers.html
  22. Neufeld, Michael J.
    https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/remembering-chris-kraft-pioneer-mission-control
  23. IEEE
    https://spectrum.ieee.org/apollo-13-we-have-a-solution
  24. "A legendary tale, well-told"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200817125432/https://news.rice.edu/2012/09/13/a-legendary-tale-well-told/
  25. Apollo Program Summary Report 1975, p. B-2.
  26. Launius 2019, p. 186.
  27. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, pp. 108–109.
  28. Space.com
    https://www.space.com/17250-apollo-13-facts.html
  29. "Astronaut Bio: John L. Swigert"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090731012402/http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/swigert-jl.html
  30. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, pp. 111–112.
  31. Chaikin 1995, pp. 589–593.
  32. "50 years ago: NASA names Apollo 11 crew"
    https://www.nasa.gov/feature/50-years-ago-nasa-names-apollo-11-crew
  33. Slayton & Cassutt 1994, p. 137.
  34. Slayton & Cassutt 1994, p. 236.
  35. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
    https://web.archive.org/web/20201024155252/https://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/topics/apollo/apollo-program/landing-missions/apollo13-crew.cfm
  36. "Charles M. Duke, Jr. Oral History"
    https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/DukeCM/DukeCM_3-12-99.htm
  37. NASA 1970, p. 6.
  38. Universe Today
    https://www.universetoday.com/62576/13-things-that-saved-apollo-13-part-3-charlie-dukes-measles/
  39. Slayton & Cassutt 1994, p. 184.
  40. Air & Space/Smithsonian
    https://www.airspacemag.com/space/the-fourth-crewmember-37046329/
  41. Brooks, Grimwood, & Swenson 1979, p. 261.
  42. Slayton & Cassutt 1994, p. 251.
  43. Brooks, Grimwood, & Swenson 1979, p. 378.
  44. Orloff 2000, p. 137.
  45. "Oral History Transcript"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20190501104039/https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/PogueWR/WRP_7-17-2000.pdf
  46. "MSC 69–56"
    https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/83121main_1969.pdf
  47. Mission Operations Report 1970, p. I-1.
  48. Kranz 2000, p. 307.
  49. Lovell & Kluger 2000, p. 79.
  50. Morgan 2001, p. 48.
  51. Orloff & Harland 2006, p. 362.
  52. Lovell & Kluger 2000, p. 81.
  53. Orloff 2000, p. 283.
  54. Daily News
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36238158/daily_news/
  55. Chicago Tribune
    https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-moran-lovell-stories-st-1003-20151002-story.html
  56. Chicago Tribune
    https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/clip/36239172/chicago_tribune/
  57. Chaikin 1995, p. 291.
  58. Lovell & Kluger 2000, p. 87.
  59. Lattimer 1988, p. 77.
  60. airandspace.si.edu
    https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/medal-robbins-commemorative-apollo-13/nasm_A19850166000
  61. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, p. 74.
  62. Orloff 2000, p. 284.
  63. Apollo Lunar Flight Journal
    https://www.nasa.gov/history/afj/ap13fj/02earth_orbit_tli.html
  64. Apollo Lunar Flight Journal
    https://www.nasa.gov/history/afj/ap10fj/as10-day1-pt1.html
  65. Orloff & Harland 2006, p. 364.
  66. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, pp. 78, 81.
  67. "MSC 70–9"
    https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/83122main_1970.pdf
  68. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1970/01/09/archives/apollos-schedule-shifted-by-nasa-next-flight-in-april.html
  69. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1970/01/06/archives/apollo-13-and-14-may-be-set-back.html
  70. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, p. 104.
  71. Phinney 2015, p. 100.
  72. Phinney 2015, pp. 103–104.
  73. Phinney 2015, pp. 107–111.
  74. Phinney 2015, p. 134.
  75. Phinney 2015, pp. 141–142.
  76. Harland 1999, p. 53.
  77. Orloff & Harland 2006, p. 363.
  78. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, p. 105.
  79. Apollo Lunar Surface Journal
    https://www.nasa.gov/history/alsj/LLTV-952.html
  80. Harland 1999, pp. 51–53.
  81. Harland 1999, pp. 38–39.
  82. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, p. 29.
  83. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, p. 42.
  84. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, p. 33.
  85. Science News 1970-04-04, p. 354.
  86. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, p. 49.
  87. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, p. 51.
  88. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, p. 62.
  89. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, p. 65.
  90. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, pp. 33, 65.
  91. Apollo 13 Press Kit 1970, p. 73.
  92. Apollo Lunar Surface Journal
    https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/alsj-CDRStripes.html
  93. Turnill 2003, p. 316.
  94. Apollo Lunar Surface Journal
    https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/alsj-DrinkFood.html
  95. Accident report, p. 3-26.
  96. Orloff & Harland 2006, p. 385.
  97. Saturn 5 Launch Vehicle Flight Evaluation Report: AS-508 Apollo 13 Mission
    https://archive.org/details/nasa_techdoc_19900066486
  98. Benson & Faherty 1979, pp. 494–499.
  99. Larsen 2008, p. 5-13.
  100. Threshold
    https://web.archive.org/web/20071213010936/http://www.engineeringatboeing.com/articles/pogo.htm
  101. Larsen 2008, pp. 5-7–5-12.
  102. Crosslink
    http://aerospace.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/crosslink/V5N1.pdf
  103. Apollo 13 Flight Journal
    https://www.nasa.gov/history/afj/ap13fj/01launch_ascent.html
  104. Universe Today
    https://www.universetoday.com/62672/13-things-that-saved-apollo-13-part-5-unexplained-shutdown-of-the-saturn-v-center-engine/
  105. Apollo Lunar Flight Journal
    https://www.nasa.gov/history/afj/ap13fj/03tde.html
  106. Orloff & Harland 2006, p. 367.
  107. Apollo Lunar Flight Journal
    https://www.nasa.gov/history/afj/ap13fj/05day2-mcc2-tv.html
  108. Apollo Lunar Flight Journal
    https://www.nasa.gov/history/afj/launchwindow/lw1.html
  109. NASA 1970, p. 8.
  110. Apollo 13 Flight Journal
    https://www.nasa.gov/history/afj/ap13fj/07day3-before-the-storm.html
  111. Houston, Heflin & Aaron 2015, p. 206.
  112. Chaikin 1995, pp. 285–287.
  113. Apollo Lunar Flight Journal
    https://www.nasa.gov/history/afj/ap13fj/08day3-problem.html
  114. Chaikin 1995, p. 292.
  115. Houston, Heflin & Aaron 2015, p. 207.
  116. Orloff & Harland 2006, p. 368.
  117. Orloff 2000, pp. 152–157.
  118. Accident report, p. 4-44.
  119. Chaikin 1995, p. 293.
  120. Chaikin 1995, pp. 293–294.
  121. Houston, Heflin & Aaron 2015, p. 215.
  122. Chaikin 1995, p. 299.
  123. IEEE
    https://spectrum.ieee.org/apollo-13-we-have-a-solution-part-2
  124. Lovell & Kluger 2000, pp. 83–87.
  125. NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive
    https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-029C
  126. "'Houston, we've had a problem': Remembering Apollo 13 at 50"
    https://news.yahoo.com/houston-ve-had-problem-remembering-050652323.html
  127. Chaikin 1995, pp. 297–298.
  128. Orloff & Harland 2006, p. 369.
  129. Glenday 2010, p. 13.
  130. Adamo 2009, p. 37.
  131. Adamo 2009, p. 41.
  132. Apollo Lunar Flight Journal
    https://www.nasa.gov/history/afj/ap13fj/13day4-leaving-moon.html
  133. Cooper 2013, pp. 84–86.
  134. Houston, Heflin & Aaron 2015, pp. 221–222.
  135. Orloff & Harland 2006, p. 391.
  136. Houston, Heflin & Aaron 2015, p. 224.
  137. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36237422/detroit_free_press/
  138. Barell 2016, p. 154.
  139. NASA
    https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/putting-a-square-peg-in-a-round-hole
  140. Cortright 1975, pp. 257–262.
  141. Mission Operations Report 1970, pp. III‑17, III-33, III-40.
  142. Cortright 1975, pp. 254–257.
  143. Apollo Lunar Surface Journal
    https://www.nasa.gov/history/alsj/a13/a13.summary.html
  144. Cortright 1975, pp. 262–263.
  145. Life Sciences in Space Research
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4170231
  146. NASA
    https://www.nasa.gov/feature/50-years-ago-apollo-13-crew-returns-safely-to-earth
  147. Cortright 1975, pp. 257–263.
  148. Constellation Program
    https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/main/A13_panel.html
  149. IEEE
    https://spectrum.ieee.org/apollo-13-we-have-a-solution-part-3
  150. EE Times
    https://www.eetimes.com/power-engineer-video-interview-with-apollo-astronaut-ken-mattingly/
  151. "Apollo Flight Journal: Day 6 Part 4"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20220118020508/https://www.history.nasa.gov/afj/ap13fj/25day6-thelastcoursecorrection.html
  152. Orloff & Harland 2006, pp. 370–371.
  153. The Globe and Mail
    https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/science/bernard-etkin-helped-avert-apollo-13-tragedy/article19735265/#dashboard/follows/
  154. NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive
    https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo_impact.html
  155. Air & Space/Smithsonian
    http://www.airspacemag.com/need-to-know/did-ron-howard-exaggerate-the-reentry-scene-in-the-movie-apollo-13-17639496/
  156. Apollo 13 Mission Report 1970, p. 1-2.
  157. Orloff & Harland 2006, p. 371.
  158. The Philadelphia Inquirer
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39764154/the_philadelphia_inquirer/
  159. Apollo 13 Mission Report 1970, p. 10-5.
  160. Richard Nixon Foundation
    https://www.nixonfoundation.org/2016/04/behind-scenes-apollo-13/
  161. "Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team in Houston"
    https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/241054
  162. NASA 1970, p. 15.
  163. Benson & Faherty 1979, pp. 489–494.
  164. Chaikin 1995, p. 316.
  165. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1970/04/18/archives/tv-millions-of-viewers-end-vigil-for-apollo-13-unusual-color.html
  166. Accident report, pp. 1-1–1-4.
  167. Accident report, p. 15.
  168. Accident report, p. 4-36.
  169. Orloff & Harland 2006, pp. 372–373.
  170. Accident report, pp. 5-6–5-7, 5-12–5-13.
  171. Accident report, p. 4-37.
  172. Accident report, p. 4-40.
  173. Orloff & Harland 2006, p. 372.
  174. Accident report, p. 4-43.
  175. Orloff & Harland 2006, p. 375.
  176. Accident report, p. ii.
  177. Accident report, p. 4-2.
  178. Accident report, p. 4-23.
  179. Orloff & Harland 2006, p. 374.
  180. Accident report, pp. 4–19, 4–21.
  181. Chaikin 1995, pp. 330–331.
  182. NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive
    https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/ap13acc.html
  183. Chaikin 1995, p. 333.
  184. Accident report, appendix F–H, pp. F-48–F-49.
  185. Accident report, appendix F–H, pp. F-70–F-82.
  186. Gatland 1976, p. 281.
  187. Apollo 14 Press Kit 1971, pp. 96–97.
  188. Apollo 14 Press Kit 1971, pp. 96–98.
  189. USRA
    https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_14/
  190. Apollo 14 Lunar Surface Journal
    https://www.nasa.gov/history/alsj/a14/a14.landing.html
  191. Apollo 14 Lunar Surface Journal
    https://www.nasa.gov/history/alsj/a14/a14.tocone.html
  192. "Astronaut Bio: James A. Lovell"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170112213829/https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lovell-ja.html
  193. "Acting NASA Administrator Reflects on Legacy of Astronaut Jim Lovell"
    https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/acting-nasa-administrator-reflects-on-legacy-of-astronaut-jim-lovell/
  194. "For Jack Swigert, on his 83rd birthday"
    https://www.americaspace.com/2014/08/29/for-jack-swigert-on-his-83rd-birthday/
  195. Space.com
    http://www.space.com/20318-fred-haise-apollo-13-biography.html
  196. USRA
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180915105402/https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_13/experiments/
  197. Harland 1999, p. 50.
  198. Spaceflight Insider
    https://web.archive.org/web/20201112041957/https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/space-centers/kennedy-space-center/the-apollo-13-invoice/
  199. Spokane Daily Chronicle
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1338&dat=19700418&id=Owg0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=O_gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5822,839543
  200. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1970/04/18/archives/towing-fee-is-asked-by-grumman.html
  201. The Manhattan Mercury
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35462879/the_manhattan_mercury/
  202. Cortright 1975, pp. 247–249.
  203. "Members of Apollo 13 Team Reflect on 'NASA's Finest Hour'"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180924162717/https://www.nasa.gov/content/members-of-apollo-13-team-reflect-on-nasas-finest-hour/
  204. Lagniappe
    https://www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis/pdf/445767main_April_10_Lagniappe.pdf
  205. Boeing News Now
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120409192033/http://www.cgpublishing.com/Rpdf/Apollo%20EECOM%20Boeing%20News%201(FL)1.pdf
  206. Chaikin 1995, p. 335.
  207. Burgess 2019, p. 23.
  208. Compton 1989, pp. 196–199.
  209. Houston, Heflin & Aaron 2015, p. 199.
  210. Launius 2019, p. 187.
  211. Chaikin 1995, p. 336.
  212. Burgess 2019, pp. 22–27.
  213. The South Bend Tribune
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35088956/the_south_bend_tribune/
  214. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/04/13/houston-we-have-a-problem-the-amazing-history-of-the-iconic-apollo-13-misquote/
  215. The Observer
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35940813/the_observer/
  216. Chicago Tribune
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35947551/chicago_tribune/
  217. Florida Today
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35947573/florida_today/
  218. The Post-Crescent
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39589313/the_postcrescent_11_december_1994/
  219. NASA
    https://web.archive.org/web/20190713193613/https://www.nasa.gov/content/members-of-apollo-13-team-reflect-on-nasas-finest-hour/
  220. The Herald-Palladium
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35088898/the_heraldpalladium/
  221. St. Louis Post Dispatch
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35088927/st_louis_postdispatch/
  222. Santa Cruz Sentinel
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35053645/santa_cruz_sentinel/
  223. BBC
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xttx2/episodes/downloads
  224. BBC
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p083wp70
  225. Air and Space Magazine
    https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/relive-drama-apollo-13-real-time-it-happened-180974625/
  226. "Celebrate Apollo 13 at 50 with NASA's 'Home Safe' documentary (and much more!)"
    https://www.space.com/apollo-13-50th-anniversary-webcast-digital-celebrations.html
  227. "Houston, we've had a delay: Apollo 13 50th celebrations rescheduled"
    https://www.space.com/apollo13-50th-celebrations-rescheduled.html
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.