Nov 14

Space Rocket History #278 – Apollo 13 – Leaving the Moon – Part 1

Lovell’s disappointment with Kranz’s decision to not run another star check was quickly becoming academic since the time to conduct it was running out anyway.

Apollo 13 Saturn IVB upper stage impact point

Apollo 13’s view from Aquarius as it rounds the Moon

Leaving the Moon

Nov 08

Space Rocket History #277 – Apollo 13 – Approaching the Moon

“They’re all coming out,” Swigert said, straining for a glimpse through Lovell’s window. 

“You said it,” Lovell said. “There’s Nunki, there’s Antares. We may have enough here for that confidence check.” 

Gimbal Lock

Oblique view of lunar far side, photographed from Apollo 13

View of the lunar far side showing crater Tsiolkovsky taken from Apollo 13

Oct 31

Space Rocket History #276 – Apollo 13 – Minimizing Power – Part 3

According to the profiles Bill Peters and his electrical specialists calculated, it was possible to power the LEM with just 12 amps. Under normal conditions it needed about 55 amps of current to run.

View of the moon from Apollo 13

Alan Shepard commander of Apollo 14 monitors Apollo 13 MCC comm

Lovell & Swigert on Apollo 13

Oct 24

Space Rocket History #275 – Apollo 13 – Minimizing Power – Part 2

“The first burn, Griffin explained, would be a long one. Pushing the descent throttle all the way to the full position, Lovell would leave it there for more than six minutes before shutting the engine down.

This maneuver, which for simplicity’s sake Griffin called the superfast burn, would put the crew down in the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday morning, just thirty-six hours from the scheduled PC+2 time later that night.”

Impromptu Apollo 13 meeting

Prayer service for astronauts