Aug 09

Space Rocket History #265 – Apollo 13 – Translunar Coast – The Calm Before the Storm

As Lovell prepared for the thruster adjustments, Haise finished closing down the LEM and drifted through the tunnel back toward the command module and Swigert threw the switch to stir all 4 cryogenic tanks.

Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo spacecraft comparison

Apollo Service Module diagram

Image from the unaired Apollo 13 TV show just before the problem occurred

Jul 31

Space Rocket History #264 – Apollo 13 – Orbit, Translunar Injection, Docking, and Extraction

Milt Windier’s team at mission control quickly reviewed the status of the remaining four engines, ran the computations for the new engine cutoff times, and passed them to the crew.

POGO. Experienced on the S-II stage of Apollo 13

Saturn V, S-II stage, engine cluster

Docking with the Lunar Module

Jul 25

Space Rocket History #263 – Apollo 13 – The Launch

During the Apollo era, North American-Downey built the Apollo Command & Service Module. After each completed spacecraft, Nasa conducted formal reviews of the build paper work before each vehicle was accepted for flight.

Apollo 13 launch day breakfast

Jack Swigert suiting up for launch

Launch of Apollo 13

Jul 05

Space Rocket History #261 – Apollo 13 – Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise

At thirty-six, Haise was the youngest member of the crew of Apollo 13, and his black hair and angular features made him seem younger still.

Fred Haise in 1966

Fred Haise suits up for Apollo 13

Fred Haise in front of Space Shuttle Enterprise in 1976