Apollo 13 Minute Podcast

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Minute 125: Our Finest Hour Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

RETRO has informed Gene Kranz that the Command Module’s re-entry path may be shallowing out, but there’s nothing that can be done to change the trajectory.

“Then, they don’t need to know, do they?” asks Kranz, re-tying his tie.

“Copy that,” replies RETRO.

“RETRO says the typhoon is still a presence in the splash down area?” says Henry Hurt, the Public Affairs Officer.

“Yeah,” replies the NASA Director.

“What’a we got?” says Henry. “The parachute situation, the heat shield, the angle of trajectory and the typhoon, there’s just so many variables. I’m a little at a loss-”

“I know what the problems are, Henry,” interrupts the NASA Director. “This could be the worst disaster NASA’s ever experienced.”

Gene Kranz, overhearing the conversation, leans in.

“With all due respect, sir,” says Kranz, “I believe this is gonna be our finest hour.”

“Okay,” replies the NASA Director, quietly Ken Mattingly is CAPCOM.

“Expect entry interface in 45 seconds,” says Mattingly, “and on my mark, your velocity will be 35,245 feet per second. Mark. 35 seconds to entry interface.”

The tropical cyclone over Fiji shows lightning rippling through the clouds as the Command Module heads toward the Pacific Ocean.

Inside the Command Module, the crew looks at the instrument panel in front of them.

“Gentlemen,” says Jim Lovell, “It’s been a privilege flying with you.”

Jack Swigert looks to his right.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Mark McClure as Glynn Lunney

Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Googy Gress as RETRO – White

Ed Harris as Gene Kranz

Xander Berkeley as PAO Henry Hurt

Joe Spano as NASA Director

Loren Dean as John Aaron

Brent Cullen as CAPCOM

Minute 124: If They’re Not Back in Four Jul 09, 2020

Show notes

PAO Henry Hurt is telling a reporter everything that could go wrong with the landing.

“Heatshield could be cracked,” says Henry, “and their parachutes might be three blocks of ice. Clearly we have got some obstacles to overcome.”

“Yeah, Okay,” says the reporter, “But now I’m asking you: when will we know?”

“Blackout lasts for three minutes,” says Henry. “If they’re not back in four, we’ll know.”

In Mission Control, INCO has a report.

“Velocity now reading thrity four thousand, eight hundred two feet per second, range to go
twenty six hundred twenty five nautical miles,” says INCO.

“Copy that,” says Kranz.

In Odyssey, Swigert is in the left seat.

“Okay, Ken,” says Swigert, “We are aligned for re-entry. Jim, we’re gonna need that computer re-entry program. Fred, how are the batteries looking?”

“Okay,” says Haise, “Batt A looks good.”

“Re-entry interface in one minute and thirty seconds,” radios Mattingly.

“Batt B, no volts, amps are okay. Batt C, sh-t. No volts, only two amps. They may die before the main chutes open,” says Haise.

“Roger,” says Lovell. “Let’s tie all the batteries onto main A and main B.”

Back in Mission Control, RETRO has a question for the Flight Director.

“Flight, they’re still shallowing a bit up there. Do you want to tell ’em?” asks RETRO.

“Anything we can do about it?” says Kranz.

“Not now, Flight,” replies RETRO.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert

Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly

Tracy Reiner as Mary Haise

Xander Berkeley as Henry Hurt

Herb Jefferson, Jr as Reporter

Ben Bode as INCO

Patrick Mickler as RETRO

Minute 123: Farewell, Aquarius, and We Thank You Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

Aquarius drifts away from the Command Module.

“She sure was a good ship,” says Haise, looking out the window.

“Farewell, Aquarius. And we thank you,” says Mattingly. Aquarius tilts away from the CM windows.

Back on Earth, a woman walks down the hallway of a suburban home, and knocks on a bedroom door. Mary Haise is sitting on a bed.

“Mary,” says the woman. “It’s almost time, honey.”

Meanwhile, Helicopter 66 takes off from the USS IWO JIMA.

On the bridge, a radio operator calls “Flight 966, 406” a two helicopters leave the flight deck.

TITLE:USS IWO JIMA, SOUTH PACIFIC – APRIL 17, 1970

Back in Houston, NASA PAO Henry Hurt is talking to a reporter.

“Let me put it this way,” says Henry Hurt, “The trajectory may be off, their thrusters may be frozen, their guidance system might be malfunctioning, their heatshield -”

IN THIS MINUTE:

Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert

Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly

Tracy Reiner as Mary Haise

Xander Berkeley as Henry Hurt

Herb Jefferson, Jr as Reporter

Minute 122: That’s Good Thinking Jul 07, 2020

Show notes

Jack Swigert drifts to the center seat of the CM to look at the battery gauges.

“Okay, pyro batts look good,” says Swigert. “I don’t think we have to tie the other batteries.”

Jim Lovell floats to the left seat and looks at the pilot gauges. Swigert pauses, unable to return to the pilot-in-command seat. It takes a moment for Lovell to catch on that he’s in the wrong seat.

“Sorry, Jack,” says Lovell. “This is an old habit. I’m kinda used to pilot’s seat. She’s yours to fly.” Swigert smiles and they switch places.

“Okay, Odyssey” radios Mattingly, “I wanna double check some re-entry procedures right after we jettison the LM which is coming up in thirty seconds.”

“What is that?” Lovell asks Swigert, pointing at a piece of paper that says “NO” taped over some switches.

“Oh,” says Swigert, “I was getting a little punchy and I — I didn’t wanna cut the LM loose with you guys still in it.”

Lovell ponders that idea for a moment.

“That’s good thinking,” says Lovell.

“Stand by, Houston,” says Swigert. He presses the two switches that were covered by the paper. There’s a thudding sound.

“We have Lunar Module jettison,” says Swigert.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert

Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly

Minute 121: Coming up on LM Jettison Jul 06, 2020

Show notes

Fred Haise returns to the Command Module. Swigert helps him into the rightmost seat.

“Roger that,” says Lovell in the LM.

“Here, let me give you a hand there, Freddo,” says Swigert, strapping Haise in.

Jim Lovell wipes the frost off the left LM window. He looks out at a pre-dawn Earth, looming closer.

Back in Timber Cover, Marilyn Lovell looks up at the sky through her kitchen window.

Jim Lovell wipes the LM window again.

“We’re coming up on LM jettison,” reports Swigert.

“Is everyone strapped in, Ken?” says Gene Kranz in Mission Control. The Grumman Rep, the NASA director, and another man watch the procedings at the back of the MCC. “We’re getting real close.”

“Copy that, Flight,” says Mattingly. “Thirteen, Houston. We’re coming up on LM jettison.”

“Stand by,” says Swigert. The docking hatch is closed for the final time.

“Have you got everybody in the Odyssey?” asks Mattingly. Lovell seals the hatch.

“Yeah, Ken,” replies Swigert. “I’m gonna check those pyro batteries one more-”

IN THIS MINUTE:

Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert

Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly

Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell

Kenneth White as Grumman Rep

Joe Spano as NASA Director

Ed Harris as Gene Kranz

Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney

Minute 120: It’s Eighty Degrees Out There Jul 03, 2020

Show notes

GUEST: AEROSPACE CAMERMAN ADAM WHITE

“Freddo? You okay?” asks Jim Lovell, as they prepare to exit the Lunar Module for the last time.

“I’m, uh, I’m freezing,” replies Haise.

“Can you hold out just a little longer?” says Lovell.

“As long as I have to,” says Haise.

“Aw, come on,” says Lovell, hugging Haise.

“Damn,” says Haise.

“It won’t be long. Just a little while longer, Freddo,” says Lovell.

“Yeah,” replies Haise.

“Just a little while longer. We’re gonna hit that water in the South Pacific, open up that hatch. It’s eighty degrees out there,” says Lovell.

“Eighty degrees,” repeats Haise, shivering.

“You are a mess,” says Lovell.

“Yeah,” says Haise. And they leave the Lunar Module.

On the radio, Ken Mattingly is calling.

“Odyssey, Houston,” says Mattingly. “How we doing, guys? We’re closing in on Lunar Module jettison. As you know, that is time-critical. We should be making our move into the Command Module. Let’s get the hatch buttoned up. And, when you get a chance, let us know how you’re doing.”

IN THIS MINUTE:

Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert

Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly

Minute 119: Time to Bail Out Jul 02, 2020

Show notes

Neil Armstrong asks Blanch Lovell if Jim ever made Eagle Scout.

“Yes, he did,” says Blanch.

“He did?” says Neil.

In the Lovell living room, Marilyn sits with family and friends and her pastor.

“If the heatshield is even slightly cracked,” says a news anchor on TV, “the extreme cold could split it wide open. Worst of all, if the pyrotechnics for controlling the parachutes have been damaged, the chutes may not open at all causing the spacecraft to hit the water not at a gentle twenty miles per hour but at a suicidal three hundred.”

Walter Cronkite narrates stock footage on telvision, saying, “Perhaps never in human history has the entire world been united by such a global drama. In New York city, thousands of people have gathered to watch updates to the mission in Times Square.”

NBC’s Chet Huntley continued with the news, saying, “Many countries offered help. And the State Department said it would ask for it, if it were needed. The House and Senate passed resolutions calling on the American people to pray tonight for the astronauts.”

“In Rome, Pope Paul led fifty thousand people in prayers for the safe return of the astronauts,” continued Cronkite. “In Jerusalem, prayers at the Wailing Wall – ”

Back in Aquarius, Lovell talks to a shivering Fred Haise.

“It’s about time to bail out of this ship, Freddo,” says Lovell.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Jean Speegle Howard as Blanch Lovell

Mark Wheeler as Neil Armstrong

Larry Williams as Buzz Aldrin

Rance Howard as Priest

Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell

Max Elliott Slade as Jay Lovell

Chet Huntley as Himself

Walter Cronkite as Himself

Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Bruce Wright as Anchor

Ivan Allen as Anchor

Minute 118: One Whole Side of the Spacecraft is Missing Jul 01, 2020

Show notes

The detached Service Module rolls away from the Command Module.

Jack Swigert floats through the docking tunnel, carrying a camera.

“Okay, Houston, our Service Module is free,” says Lovell. “We’re gonna take a look at what we have here.”

“Copy that, says Mattingly.

“There it is. I see it,” says Haise, looking out the LM Pilot window. Lovell sees it as well, as the SM rolls its damaged side toward their windows.

“Oh, Houston,” says Lovell. “We’re getting our first look at the Service Module now. One whole side of the spacecraft is missing! Right by the high gain antenna — the whole panel is blown out. Right up — right up to our heatshield.”

Mission controllers listen intently.

“Uh, copy that, Aquarius,” says Mattingly.

“It looks like it got the engine bell, too. Can you see that?” asks Haise.

“Oh, man,” says Swigert, “That’s incredible.”

Mattingly looks at Slayton.

“The heatshield,” says Slayton.

On television, Jules Bergman holds a blowtorch to a model of a heat shield.

“The heat will build up to as much as three or four thousand degrees Fahrenheit,” says Bergman. “On a lunar re-entry flight, the heat approaches four thousand degrees.”

Neil Armstrong attempts to distract Blanch Lovell’s attention.

“So Blanch,” says Neil. “Blanch, did — did Jim make Eagle Scout or not?”

IN THIS MINUTE:

Jules Bergman as Himself

Max Elliott Slade as Jay Lovell

Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell

Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly

Loren Dean as John Aaron

Clint Howard as Sy Liebergot

Ed Harris as Gene Kranz

Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney

Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton

Jean Speegle Howard as Blanch Lovell

Mark Wheeler as Neil Armstrong

Larry Williams as Buzz Aldrin

Minute 117: Typhoon Warning Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

The crew continues to coordinate the power-up sequence with Mission Control.

“Let’s go!” says Flight Director Glynn Lunney.

“Take a look at your amps,” says CAPCOM Ken Mattingly. “How’re we doing?”

“You got her back up, Ken,” replies Swigert. “Boy, I wish you were here to see it.”

Mattingly smiles. “I bet you do,” says Mattingly.

“Way to go, Jack,” says Haise, looking up the docking tunnel to Swigert.

“Flight, this is RETRO,” says White Team’s RETRO.

“Go, RETRO,” replies Gene Kranz.

“Flight. We are looking at a typhoon warning at the edge of the prime recovery zone,” says RETRO, looking at a satellite image of a large cyclone formation.

“Say again, RETRO,” says Kranz.

“Flight. We are looking at a typhoon warning on the edge of the prime recovery area,” replies RETRO. “Now this is just a warning, Flight, it could miss them.”

Kranz shakes his head. “Only if their luck changes,” says Kranz.

Back in the Apollo 13 Command Module, Swigert prepares to coordinate a maneuver with Lovell, who is piloting the Lunar Module.

“Jim, we’re ready for SM jettison!” says Swigert.

“All right, Jack,” replies Lovell. “On 3… 1…, 2… Upward thrust!” Lovell fires the LM’s RCS thrusters, as Swigert throws the Service Module jettison switches to sever the connections between the CM and the SM.

“We’re loose!” shouts Swigert.

“Reverse thrust!” says Lovell as he fires the RCS thrusters again.

“We have service module jettison,” reports Swigert to Mission Control.

“Okay, Houston, our Service Module is free,” says Lovell.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Mark McClure as Glynn Lunney

Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Googy Gress as RETRO – White

Ed Harris as Gene Kranz

Loren Dean as John Aaron

Minute 116: Back in Business Jun 29, 2020

Show notes

GUEST: PATRICK MULLANE

Jay Lovell watches ABC News Science Reporter Jules Bergman as he sits in a classroom at St. John’s Military Academy in Wisconsin.

“…surviving by using the LM’s systems, there can be no easy maneuver,” says Bergman. “And their LM lifeboat is doing things and working longer then it was ever intended to. It’s a race against time until splashdown.”

In the Command Module, Jack Swigert is talking to Ken Mattingly back at Mission Control.

“Okay, Jack,” says Mattingly. “We’re ready to see if the computer will accept uplink of the re-entry data now.” The status lights of the IMU blink on.

“Okay,” says Swigert, “The IMU’s up. We got our eight-balls back.”

Haise and Lovell continue to stow extra ballast in the CM’s storage lockers.

“Copy that,” replies Mattingly.

“Okay, Ken,” says Swigert. “Uplink telemetry, command module to accept, right?”

“That’s affirm,” agrees Mattingly. “Go ahead and try it.”

The controllers at the MCC stare expectently at their monitors.

“Come on,” says Gene Kranz.

Swigert throws the UP TLM switch to “ACCEPT.” Program 20 activates with Verb 37 and Nound 00.

Lights blink. Swigert smiles.

“Uplink completed,” says Swigert.

One of the controller’s monitors switches from a graph showing “REGION III FLOW COMPARISON” to a grid of “CSM ECS-CRYD TAB” listings. The data starts filling in the many fields on the screen.

“Yeah. That’s more like it!” says Mattingly.

“Back in business!” says John Aaron.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Jules Bergman as Himself

Max Elliott Slade as Jay Lovell

Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly

Loren Dean as John Aaron

Clint Howard as Sy Liebergot

Ed Harris as Gene Kranz

Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney

Walter von Huene as Technician

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GUEST: AEROSPACE CAMERMAN ADAM WHITE

GUEST: PATRICK MULLANE

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