13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle 13 Minutes to the Moon: 8. ‘We’re go for powered descent’
Jun 30, 2019
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Mission Control's Human Pre-Landing Moment
- Mission control team was highly anxious before the lunar landing but showed intense focus and professionalism.
- Pre-landing bathroom rush and silence highlighted their human side under pressure.
The Precision of Apollo's P63 Program
- Program P63 precisely calculates engine ignition time and attitude based on current position and velocity.
- The computer updates every two seconds to keep the lunar module on the trajectory.
Steve Bales' Calm Before Storm
- Steve Bales felt a brief calm before the high-stakes decision for the powered descent go/no-go.
- Mission control line was unusually silent, reflecting the gravity of the moment.