Apollo 13 Minute Podcast

The Earth fills the screen. “Thirteen, this is Houston,” says Capcom. “We’re reading your telemetry. Good to see you again!” Lovell looks out the left LM window, while Swigert and Haise look out the right window. “Good to see you, too, Houston,” replies Haise. In the Lovell bedroom, Marilyn listens to the NASA squawkbox. “We’re picking you up at approximately seven thousand sixty-two feet per second,” says Capcom, “at a distance from the Moon of fifty-six nautical miles.” Lovell watches the Earth rise over the lunar surface. He holds his thumb at arm’s length, and covers the entire disk of the Earth with his thumb. “Standby for your PC Plus Two burn data,” says Capcom.  Lovell lowers his arm. “Gotta tell you,” says Haise, “I had an itch to take this baby down, though – – do some prospecting. Damn, we were close.” Lovell looks at his crew. “Gentlemen,” he says, “what are your intentions?” They both look at Lovell. “I’d like to go home, ” says Lovell. He sighs. “We’ve got a burn coming up. We’re gonna need a contingency if we lose comm with Houston. Freddo, let’s get an idea where we stand on the consumables. Jack, get into the Odyssey and back up all the water you can before it freezes in there.” IN THIS MINUTE: Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Ned Vaughan as Capcom 2

As James Horner’s theme plays, Lovell looks out at the Moon through the LM window. Lovell imagines what it would have been like to have a successful landing. He pictures taking the last few steps down the ladder, and standing in the bowl of the LM footpad.  Placing his left foot on the powdery surface,  Lovell raises his visor, smiling. The LM is parked on the edge of the Fra Mauro highlands. Jim Lovell has a loping gait as he bounds across the lunar surface, leaving an iconic bootprint in the dust.  He takes a knee, and runs his gloved hand through the regolith. In the distance, a half-lit Earth looms on the horizon. Lovell takes in the scene, his Navy anchor emblem clearly visible on the hood of his helmet.  The camera draws closer to Lovell, and the Earth fills the frame. The scene shifts back to the reality of Jim Lovell watching the passing lunar surface from the LM window.   IN THIS MINUTE: Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell

In the LM, Fred Haise holds a camera that he would have used on the lunar surface. Lovell switches on a ceiling light in the LM. Back in Houston, Marilyn quietly cries in a chair, listening to static on the NASA squawk box. The scene fades to black. Along the limb of the Moon’s far side, sunrise lights up Apollo 13. Lovell squints in the sunshine. “Look,” says Haise, “it’s Fra Mauro. I can see our landing site.” “Wow,” says Swigert, “Look at that Tsiolkovskiy Crater! I can’t believe how bright the ejecta blanket is.” “Like snow,” says Haise.  “It’s beautiful.” The lunar surface fills the LM window. “That’s Mare Imbrium to the north.” Lovell looks out at the Moon through the LM window. IN THIS MINUTE: Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Swigert and Haise look at Lovell, realizing he’s already seen the Moon. James Horner’s theme plays on a trumpet. The distant Earth hangs in space.  Apollo 13, surrounded  by torn Kapton foil and debris, glides above the lunar surface. “Aquarius, this is Houston,” says Capcom. “Expect loss of signal in approximately ten seconds.” “So long, Earth, “says Swigert. “Catch you on the flip side.” Lovell looks at his watch as the ship passes into the shadow of the Moon. Back in the visitors’ gallery of Mission Control, all networks are showing coverage of Apollo 13. A videotaped press conference with Jack Swigert is being played on one of the monitors. “And when you go into the shadow of the Moon,” says Swigert, “and the Moon is between you and the Sun, then you see stars that are more brilliant than the clearest nights here on Earth.” Gene Kranz faces away from the monitors in the gallery. “And then you pass into the lunar sunrise,” continues Swigert. “over the lunar surface, and, uh, that must be an awe inspiring sight. I can’t wait to see it myself.” Frank Reynolds of ABC News appears in a contemporary video clip. “The problem now is,” says Reynolds, “not so much a question of inadequate oxygen supply, but it is the rate of consumption of water, which is vitally  needed for the cooling operations of the electronic systems…” Marilyn listens to static on her NASA squawk box in her bedroom. In the LM, Fred Haise holds a camera that he would have used on the lunar surface.   IN THIS MINUTE: Ed Harris as Gene Kranz Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Frank Reynolds as Himself

“We have to burn the engine at PC + 2,” says the FAO. Gene Kranz sits at his console and rubs his eyes. Slayton turns to the NASA director and whispers, “Look, tell him three-to-one.” In the depths of space, a Quindar tone sounds. Aquarius and Odyssey are silhouetted in the sunlight. “Expect loss of signal in one minute,” says Capcom. “When we pick you back up, we will have your PC Plus Two data.” “Okay, roger that, Houston,” replies Haise, “We’ll hear from you again at Acquisition of Signal.” Lovell glances at the crew as the ship approaches the Moon at pericynthion. “You want a look?” he asks, and glides to the back of the LM cabin. “Oh, look at that!” says Haise. Swigert moves to Lovell’s window. “Wow,” says Swigert. Marilyn sits on her bedroom floor, listening to the NASA squawk box. “Aquarius, that’s thirty seconds to loss of signal,” says Capcom. The lunar surface looms large in the LM windows.  Hadley Rille is clearly visible. “Mare Tranquilitatis, ” says Haise. “Neil and Buzz’s old neighborhood. Comin’ up on Mount Marilyn!”  Freddo aims a camera at the window. “Jim, you’ve gotta take a look at this!” “I’ve seen it,” says Lovell.  Fred looks at him. IN THIS MINUTE: Ed Harris as Gene Kranz Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton Mark McClure as Glynn Lunney Joe Spano as NASA Director

One of the flight controllers speaks up. “I was wondering what the Grumman guys think about this.” The Grumman rep shrugs. “We can’t make any guarantees,” he says. “We designed the LM to land on the Moon, not fire the engine out there for course corrections.” “Well,” replies Kranz, “Unfortunately we’re not landing on the Moon, are we?” The Grumman guy nods. “I don’t care what anything was designed to do,” continues Kranz. “I care about what it can do. So let’s get to work. Let’s lay it out, okay?” Back in Mission Control, technicians are sapping out equipment modules from a console.  Technicians talk to each other. TITLE: DAY 4 The Flight Surgeon talks to CapCom. “After this burn,” says the Flight Surgeon, “we’ve got to build some time in the flight plan for them to get some sleep.” “Run it by the FAO,” says CapCom. “I’ve run it by the FAO,” replies the Flight Surgeon. Gene Kranz enters Mission Control, joining a discussion with Glynn Lunney, Deke Slayton, and the NASA director. “He specifically wanted a quote from a flight director,” says the Director. “Who wanted a quote?” asks Kranz. “The President,” replies Deke. “The President?” repeats Kranz. “Nixon,” says Lunney. “He wants odds.” Kranz is shocked. “We are not losing the crew,” he says. “Gene,” says the NASA Director, “I’ve got to give him odds. Five to one against? Three to one? ” “I don’t think they’re that good,” replies Lunney. “We are not losing those men!” says Kranz. Gene steps away to his console. Deke looks at the NASA Director. IN THIS MINUTE: Ed Harris as Gene Kranz Ray McKinnon as FIDO White Team Jerry Bostick Andy Milder as GUIDO White Team Kenneth White as Grumman Rep Christian Clemenson as Flight Surgeon Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton Mark McClure as Glynn Lunney Joe Spano as NASA Director  

FIDO White Team Jerry Bostick is in favor of a free-return trajectory. “It’s the option with the fewest question marks for safety.” “I agree with you,” says Kranz, “Use the Moon’s gravity, slingshot them around.” “No,” says the Grumman representative, “The LM will not support three guys for that amount of time!” “It barely holds two,” says another controller. “I mean, we’ve got to do a direct abort, ” continues the Grumman guy. “We do an about-face, we bring the guys right home, now.” “Get ’em back soon,” says another controller. “Absolutely.” “We don’t even know if the Odyssey’s engine’s even working,” replies Bostick. “There’s been serious damage to this spacecraft –” “– they blow up and they die!” finishes GUIDO. “That is not the argument!” says the Grumman guy. “We are talking about time! Not whether or not these guys –” “I’m not going to sugar coat this for you!” replies GUIDO. “Okay, hold it,” says Kranz, “Let’s hold it down. Let’s hold it down, people. The only engine we’ve got with enough power for a direct abort is the SPS on the Service Module. From what Lovell has told us, it could have been damaged in an explosion, so let’s consider that engine dead. If we light that up, it could blow the whole works. Just too risky. We’re not gonna take that chance. About the only thing the Command Module’s good for is re-entry, so that leaves us with the LM — which means free return trajectory.   Once we get the guys around the Moon, we’ll fire up the LM engine, make a long burn, pick up some speed, and get ’em home as quick as we can. ” “Gene?” asks one of the controllers. IN THIS MINUTE: Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Ed Harris as Gene Kranz Ray McKinnon as FIDO White Team Jerry Bostick Andy Milder as GUIDO White Team

Jack Swigert leaves the darkened Command Module through the tunnel to the LM. “Freddo,” says Jim Lovell, “We’re going to have to execute some sort of a burn here. It’s just a matter of when.” Lovell notices Swigert at the back of the LM. Swigert steadies himself with a hand on the docking port. “Did they shut us all down in there?” asks Lovell. “Yeah,” replies Swigert. “Didn’t think we’d be back in here so soon,” says Haise. “Uh, Houston, how far off course do you project we are, over?” Lovell looks out the window. Meanwhile, Kranz assembles the Mission Control team in room 201. “Okay people,” says Kranz, “Listen up! Gentlemen, I want you all to forget the flight plan. From this moment on, we are improvising a new mission.” Kranz turns on an overhead projector. The lamp in the projector burns out. Kranza pushes the projector aside and raises the screen, revealing a blackboard. “How to get our people home,” continues Kranz. He draws and outline of the Earth and the Moon, and a trajectory reaching almost to the Moon. “They are here,” he says, marking an X at the end of the trajectory. “Straight back, direct abort?” says someone in the crowd. A chorus of “Nos” greets the suggestion. “No sir,” says FIDO White Team Jerry Bostick. “We get them on a free-return trajectory.  It’s–” IN THIS MINUTE: Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Ed Harris as Gene Kranz Ray McKinnon as FIDO White Team Jerry Bostick Andy Milder as GUIDO White Team

Jim Lovell is telling Mission Control they’ve had to learn to “fly all over again, but we’re doing better now, over.” “Roger that, Aquarius,” says Capcom. “Have ’em close it out,” says Flight Director Glynn Lunney. “Jack,” says Capcom, “uh, we can close out your procedure now.” “Now,” replies Swigert,”do we know for sure that we can power this thing back up? It’s going to get awfully cold in here.” “Copy that, Jack,” says Capcom, “We’re just have to deal with that later.”  Swigert stabs a button, and the computer turns off. “Computer off,” says a mission controller. “We’re clear,” says another controller. “We’re go on the LM,” says a third controller. Lunney nods at the Capcom. “We confirm shutdown, Jack,” says Capcom. “Lunar Module now in control.” Swigert turns off the cabin lights and looks at the darkened Command Module. “Roger that, Houston,” says Swigert. “This is Odyssey, signing off.”  Jack takes a last look around the dark ship, and heads back down the tunnel to Aquarius. IN THIS MINUTE: Mark McClure as Glynn Lunney Brett Cullen as Capcom Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell Bill Paxton as Fred Haise Ed Harris as Gene Kranz Ray McKinnon as FIDO White Team Jerry Bostick Andy Milder as GUIDO White Team

In her living room, Marilyn watches ABC News on TV. Science Editor Jules Bergman describes “the terseness of Kraft, and the grim lines of Jim McDivitt. This has been a very close call, and we’re not out of the wood yet. Not by a long shot.” Marilyn gets up to check on her youngest son, Jeff. Jeff is inside a desk fort made of bedsheets. The bedsheets are decorated with galaxies, planets, and starts. He shines a flashlight around the bedsheets in his darkened bedroom. “Jeffrey?” calls Marilyn, entering the dark room. Jeffrey shines the flashlight at his mother. “Why are there so many people here?” asks Jeffrey. “Oh,” says Marilyn, “well, your dad’s flying his mission.” “He said he was going to get me a Moon rock,” says Jeffrey, climbing out from his desk fort. “Right,” says Marilyn, smiling. “Well – – something broke on your daddy’s spaceship – – and he’s going to have to turn around before he even gets to the Moon.” Jeffrey ponders this new information. “Was it the door?” he asks. 180,000 miles away from Houston, Jim Lovell struggles to keep Aquarius’s attitude straight. “Thirteen, Houston,” says CapCom. “We show that venting has pushed you around. How are you doing?” “Houston, Aquarius,” replies Lovell,” We’ve had to learn how to –” IN THIS MINUTE: Jim Lovell: Tom Hanks CapCom: Brett Cullen Fred Haise: Bill Paxton Marilyn Lovell : Kathleen Quinlan Jeff Lovell: Miko Hughes