Minute 043: Come on, Rookie, Park That Thing

Jack Swigert, Command Module Pilot, is about to retrieve the Lunar Module from the S-IV-B.

“Thrusting forward,” says Swigert, nudging the RCS controller.

“One hundred feet,” says Haise, watching out his window.

“Watch the alignment now,” says Lovell. Swigert fires two bursts with the RCS jets, and glances at Lovell.

“Hey, don’t worry, guys,” says Swigert, “I’m on top of it.”

The CSM edges closer to the LM.

“How are we looking, Fredo?” asks Lovell.

“We’re not there yet,” replies Haise. “Forty feet!” he calls out to Swigert.

Swigert watches through his reticle as he closes on the LM.

“Twenty,” says Haise. Swigert lines up the reticle with the LM’s target.

“Come on, rookie,” says Deke Slayton, “Park that thing.”

“Ten feet,” says Haise.

The CSM probe gets within inches of the LM’s drogue target.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Jim Lovell: Tom Hanks
Jack Swigert: Kevin Bacon
Fred Haise: Bill Paxton
Gene Kranz: Ed Harris
CAPCOM: Brett Cullen
Deke Slayton: Chris Ellis