Apollo 13 Minute Podcast

“Now, Jack,” says Mattingly. “Yeah, go ahead, Ken,” says Swigert. “Okay, now,” says Mattingly. “Panel Five. Circuit breakers ‘caution and warning’, main B closed.” “Main B closed,” repeats Swigert. “Master alarm off.” “Okay, Jack,” says Mattingly. “On panel Seven, B mag (magazine) number Two, power to warm up.” “B mag number two,” says Swigert. “Power to warm up. Done.” “Sequential logic one and two on,” says Mattingly. “Sequential logic… Two on,” repeats Swigert. “CM RCS pressure on,” says Mattingly. “CM RCS pressurization,” says Swigert. TITLE: DAY  7 “As her husband prepares to jettison his lunar module lifeboat,” says a TV reporter, “Marilyn Lovell waits with her children, her neighbors, and we are told, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Only the Lovell’s eldest son, Jay, is absent as he holds vigil with his classmates at the St. Johns Military Academy in Wisconsin.” “ABC news science editor, Jules Bergman,” says an announcer. “With a crippled command module and surviving-,” begins Bergman. IN THIS MINUTE: Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly Max Eilliott Slade as Jay Lovell

Jack Swigert is reluctant to touch the wet control panel. “What’s the word on these things shorting out?” asks Swigert Mattingly looks at John Aaron. Aaron shrugs. “We’ll just take that one at a time, Jack,” says Mattingly. “It’s like trying to drive a toaster through a car wash,” says Swigert, pressing the switch. The floodlights come on in the Command Module. The docked spacecraft are approaching Earth. “Main bus B is closed,” says Swigert. “Okay, Thirteen. We’re coming up on entry interface,” says Mattingly. “Flight,” says Flight Dynamics Officer Jerry Bostick. “We’re still shallowing up a bit in the re-entry corridor. It’s almost like they’re under weight.” “Now how could they be under weight?” asks Gene Kranz. “We didn’t land on the Moon,” says RETRO. “Rocks?” asks Gene. “That’s affirm,” says RETRO. “One more thing, Jim,” says Mattingly. “While Jack’s working on the power-up, we’d like you and Freddo to transfer some ballast over to the Command Module.” “Say again, Houston. Ballast?” asks Lovell. “That’s affirm,” says Mattingly. “We gotta get the weight right. We were expecting you to be toting a couple of hundred pounds of moon rocks.” IN THIS MINUTE: Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Brett Cullen as CAPCOM Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton Loren Dean as John Aaron Ben Marley as John Young Todd Louiso as FAO – White Team Joe Spano as NASA Director Ed Harris as Gene Kranz Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney Clint Howard as Sy Liebergot Googy Gress as RETRO White Christian Clemenson as Flight Surgeon Dr. Chuck Ned Vaughn as CAPCOM 2 Max Grodénchik as FIDO Gold Walter von Huene as Technician Kenneth White as Grumman Rep Jean Speegle Howard as Blanch Lovell Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell Mark Wheeler as Neil Armstrong Larry Williams as Buzz Aldrin Michele Little as Jane Conrad

Marilyn Lovell introduces her mother-in-law to two men. “Blanch,” says Marilyn, “These nice young men are gonna watch the television with you. This is Neil Armstrong and this is Buzz Aldrin.” “Nice to meet you,” says Neil Armstrong. “Hi,” says Buzz Aldrin. “Are you boys in the space program, too?” asks Blanch. Back in Mission Control, Ken Mattingly is reading up the instructions for the power-up. “Okay, Jack,” says Mattingly, “Give me a read back on that last procedure.” “Stand by, Ken,” says Swigert. “Ken, I’m a… well, I’m having trouble reading my own writing. I guess, I’m a little more tired than I thought.” “Don’t worry, Jack,” replies Mattingly. “I’ll talk to you through it. Okay, find the main bus breakers on panel 11.” “Yeah, main bus breakers. Got it,” says Swigert. “Close main bus B,” says Mattingly. Swigert looks at the water-soaked control panel. “Uh, Ken,” says Swigert, “There’s an awful lot of condensation on these panels.” IN THIS MINUTE: Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Brett Cullen as CAPCOM Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton Loren Dean as John Aaron Ben Marley as John Young Todd Louiso as FAO – White Team Joe Spano as NASA Director Ed Harris as Gene Kranz Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney Clint Howard as Sy Liebergot Googy Gress as RETRO White Christian Clemenson as Flight Surgeon Dr. Chuck Ned Vaughn as CAPCOM 2 Max Grodénchik as FIDO Gold Walter von Huene as Technician Kenneth White as Grumman Rep Jean Speegle Howard as Blanch Lovell Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell Mark Wheeler as Neil Armstrong Larry Williams as Buzz Aldrin Michele Little as Jane Conrad

Ken Mattingly, John Young, and John Aaron are walking into the entrance of Mission Control. “My notes are clear on that last sequence, right?” asks Mattingly. “Yeah!” replies Aaron. “You’re from Building Five, right?” asks the guard. “Excuse me, Gentlemen!” shouts John Young, and they walk through a crowd of people. The team enters the MCC, where all shifts are on duty. “I was getting a little blurry there,” says Ken Mattingly. “Here’s Ken,” says Glynn Lunney to Gene Kranz. “Here’s John.” “Good to see you, Ken,” says Kranz. “This is the sequence,” says Aaron to Kranz, handing Gene a procedure guide. “Was it tried on the hardware yet?” asks Kranz. “We didn’t have time,” replies Aaron. Mattingly puts on a headset. “Aquarius, Houston. Do you read?” says Mattingly. “Yeah, we read you, Ken,” says Jim Lovell. “Are the flowers blooming in Houston?” “Uh, that’s a negative, Jim,” replies Mattingly. “I don’t have the measles.” Mattingly looks at the Flight Surgeon who grounded him. “Jim,” says Mattingly. “Is Jack in there with you?” “Yeah,” says Lovell. “Stand by one, we gotta get him on comm.” At the Lovell home, many astronaut wives are preparing food in the kitchen. “Put those on the table,” says a woman, handing Jane Conrad a bowl of lettuce. Jane drops it. “Oh, damn it!” says Jane. Another woman helps her clean up the mess. “Thanks, Jackie.” says Jane. Marilyn is leading a man into the Lovell den, where Blanch Lovell is sitting next to another man. “I think it would really help if you could just distract her when the heavy predictions come in,” says Marilyn. “Yeah, yeah,” says the man. “We’ll give it a shot.” “Thanks,” replies Marilyn. Marilyn turns to her mother-in-law. “Blanch,” she begins. IN THIS MINUTE: Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Brett Cullen as CAPCOM Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton Loren Dean as John Aaron Ben Marley as John Young Todd Louiso as FAO – White Team Joe Spano as NASA Director Ed Harris as Gene Kranz Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney Clint Howard as Sy Liebergot Googy Gress as RETRO White Christian Clemenson as Flight Surgeon Dr. Chuck Ned Vaughn as CAPCOM 2 Max Grodénchik as FIDO Gold Walter von Huene as Technician Kenneth White as Grumman Rep Jean Speegle Howard as Blanch Lovell Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell Mark Wheeler as Neil Armstrong Larry Williams as Buzz Aldrin Michele Little as Jane Conrad  

In the CM simulator, Ken Mattingly begins a power-up with the new configuration. He turns on the floodlights. “Okay, says Mattingly. “I’m bringing up the guidance. Here we go.” The power needle creeps up from ten amps. “CMC (Command Module Computer) attitude IMU”, says Mattingly, throwing a switch. “CMC source, CMC mode auto.” The power needle points to eighteen amps. “And we’re on the computer,” says Mattingly. The computer’s ACTY, NO ATT, TEMP, and PROG lights turn on, followed by the STBY light. The needle points at nineteen amps, just below the red line of twenty. “Ken?” says John Aaron. “Go ahead,” replies Mattingly. “Is your computer on now?” asks Aaron. “Up and running,” says Mattingly. “How do we look?” Aaron doesn’t respond for a moment. “John?” says Mattingly. “I think we’ve got it, buddy,” replies Aaron. The scene shifts to the entrance to Building 31N, site of Mission Control. Ken, John Young, and John Aaron step out of a car and head for the doors. “Arthur,” begins Mattingly. IN THIS MINUTE: Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly Loren Dean as John Aaron Ben Marley as John Young  

The CM simulator guys are discussing the LM power umbilical. “Right,” says John Young. “It’s back-up for the LM power supply.” “I’m listening,” says John Aaron. “So,” says Ken Mattingly, “Reverse it. Reverse the flow and see if we can draw these four amps from the LM batteries before we cut it loose. Why can’t we do that?” Aaron and Young look at each other. “We don’t have the procedure for that, do we?” asks Aaron. “You’re gonna lose a lot in the transfer, Ken,” says Young. “Yeah, yeah,” agrees Mattingly. “But all we’re talking about here is four amps.” In Mission Control, Gene Kranz is getting fed up with delays. “I want whatever you guys got on these power procedures,” says Kranz. “Gene,” says Slayton, “They’re already-” “I don’t want the whole damn bible,” interrupt Kranz. “Just gimme a couple chapters. We gotta get something up to these guys.” “They’re working on it now,” says Deke. “I’ll call over at the simulator and get an estimate,” begins the FAO controller. “Goddamnit!” shouts Kranz. “I don’t want another estimate! I want the procedures! Now!” Back in the CM simulator, Mattingly is trying out the new configuration. “IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) is up. How am I reading?” asks Mattingly. “Fine so far,” replies Aaron. “Say again,” asks Mattingly. “You’re under the limit,” says Aaron. “Keep going.” ” Okay,” says Mattingly. “Floodlights to fixed.” IN THIS MINUTE: Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Brett Cullen as CAPCOM Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton Loren Dean as John Aaron Ben Marley as John Young Todd Louiso as FAO – White Team

“Jim, this is Deke,” says Slayton. “It’s Deke,” says Haise to Swigert, who doesn’t have a headset to hear the transmission. “They don’t know how to do it,” says Swigert. “Maybe, Jack’s right,” says Haise to Lovell. “Hello there, Deke, what’s the story?” asks Lovell. “Jim, we’re gonna get that power procedure to you, we’re gonna get it as soon as we possibly can,” replies Slayton. “Ken Mattingly’s in the simulator right now.” “Ken’s working on it,” says Lovell. Back in the CM simulator, Mattingly is discussing the procedure with John Aaron. “Look,” says Mattingly, “I know this sequence works, John.” “The sequence looks good,” replies Aaron. “We’re just overbudget on the amperage.” “By how much?” asks Mattingly. “Three or four amps,” says Aaron. “Goddamnit, John,” says Mattingly. “Is it three, or four?” John Young says, “Four.” “Four,” agrees Aaron. “Four more amps,” says Mattingly, thinking. “We know they have some power left in the LM batteries, right?” “Yeah,” says John Aaron. “We have an umbilical that provides power from the Command Module to the LM,” says Mattingly. IN THIS MINUTE: Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Brett Cullen as CAPCOM Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton Loren Dean as John Aaron Ben Marley as John Young

In the LM, Jack Swigert asks Fred Haise how he’s doing. “I’m okay,” replies Haise. An sudden explosion rumbles near the LM. “What the hell was that?” says Swigert. “Let’s hope it was just the (helium) burst disk,” says Lovell. He presses the mic key. “Houston, can you confirm a burst helium disk?” “We confirm that, Jim,” says CAPCOM. “Houston, is that gonna affect our entry angle at all?” asks Lovell. “Negative. Your entry angle is holding at 6.24, Aquarius,” replies CAPCOM. “Houston, uh… we sure could use the re-entry procedure up here,” says Lovell. “When can we expect that?” “Uh, that’s coming real soon, Aquarius,” says CAPCOM. Deke Slayton stands over CAPCOM’s shoulder. Jim Lovell is losing his patience. “Houston,” says Lovell, “We- we just can’t throw this together at the last minute. So, here’s what you’re gonna do. You’re gonna get the procedure up to us whatever it is. And we’re gonna go over it step by step so there’s no foul-ups. I don’t have to tell you we’re all little tired up here. The world’s getting awfully big in the window.” IN THIS MINUTE: Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Brett Cullen as CAPCOM Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton

Jim Lovell, in a pre-recorded interview, remembers a time when he lost his way over the Sea of Japan at night, in a malfunctioning aircraft. Marilyn Lovell watches the interview in the Lovell living room on TV. ABC Science Reporter Jules Bergman is conducting the interview. “I can’t even tell now what my altitude is,” explains Lovell. “I know I’m running out of fuel, so I’m thinking about… about ditching in the ocean and I… I look down there and then… in… in the darkness there’s this… there’s this green trail, it’s like a long carpet that just laid out right beneath me, and it was the algae, right. It was that phosphorescent stuff that gets turned up in the wake of a big ship and it was… it was… it was just leading me home. And… if my cockpit lights hadn’t shorted out, there’s no way I had ever been able to see that. So a… you a… you never know what… what events are gonna transpire to get you home.” “Okay,” says Jules Bergman, “Spacecraft Commander Jim Lovell, no stranger to emergency, he.” Back on Aquarius, a sleeping Jim Lovell floats in the cold LM. The Earth glides by in the left LM window. Haise floats beneath Lovell, while Swigert glances at Haise from a position above the LM ascent engine cover. “How’s it going, Fred?” whispers Swigert. IN THIS MINUTE: Jules Bergman as Himself Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert

Still missing power for the re-entry sequence in the simulator control room, John Aaron turns to backup commander John Young. “I don’t know where in the hell we’re going to find it,” says Aaron. Meanwhile, on a televsion in the Lovell home, ABC Science Reporter Jules Bergman  is talking about a previous interview with Jim Lovell. “Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell has more time in space,” says Jules Bergman, “almost 24 days already, than any other man. And I asked him recently, if he ever was scared.” Marilyn Lovell moves closer to the television to watch the interview. “Oh well,” says Lovell, “I’ve had an engine flame out a few times in an aircraft, and I was kind of curious as to whether it was gonna light up again, things of that nature, but uh, they seemed to work out.” “Is there a specific instance in an airplane emergency when you can recall fear?” asks Jules Bergman “Oh, well,” says Lovell, “I’ll tell you, I remember this one time. I’m… I’m in a (McDonnell F2H) Banshee at night in combat conditions, so there’s no running lights on the carrier. It was the Shangri-La and we were in the Sea of Japan, and my… my radar had jammed, and my homing signal was gone because somebody in Japan was actually using the same frequency and so it was… was leading me away from where I was supposed to be. And I’m looking down at that big black ocean. So… I flip on my map light. And then suddenly zap everything shorts out right there in my cockpit, all my instruments are gone –” IN THIS MINUTE: Loren Dean as John Aaron Ben Marley as John Young Jules Bergman as himself Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell