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. “…

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…

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 t…

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 Buil…

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 creep…

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.…

“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 H…

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…

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 …

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.

Mean…

Gene Kranz is happy the engineers have given the astronauts enough power to survive till re-entry.

“Well done,” says Kranz. “Now we gotta get them in. Tell me about the power procedures.”

In the Comm…

Swigert continues the countdown. “7, 6, 5, 4…” Lovell sticks his slippers onto the Velcro-lined floor pad.

Haise knocks the -X RCS motors “Ullage is go,” says Haise.

“…3, 2, 1,” finishes Swigert.

“Ig…

Jim Lovell is piloting the LM’s mid-course correction.

“That’s me around,” says Lovell.

“A little more,” says Haise. “Come on, baby.”

“Come on. That’s it,” says Lovell. “Hold it. Damn it!”

Swigert is…

In the Lunar Module, the astronauts prepare for the course correction.

“Okay, this gonna take all three of us,” says Lovell. “Freddo, you handle the pitch. But on the translation controllers all back…

A news anchor is explaining the mid-course correction on the air.

“In order to enter the atmosphere safely,” says the news anchor, “the crew must aim for a corridor just two and a half degrees wide. …

“Now, come on,” says Gene. “We gotta be able to give these guys something up there.”

“Without power, we can’t give them a read,” replies GUIDO.

“I’m not talking about power,” says Kranz, “I’m talking…

FIDO explains, “We need another burn to get them back in the entry corridor.”

“Definitely another burn,” agrees GNC.

“Another burn,” says Kranz.

“Fire the engines and get them on course,” says FIDO.

…

GUEST: SPACE HIPSTER EMILY CARNEY

“Okay, Jim. Copy that,” replies the CAPCOM, after Lovell informs Mission Control that he’s no longer wearing his sensors.

Swigert and Haise follow suit, disconnectin…

CAPCOM tells Swigert that President Nixon has granted an income tax extension for him, since Jack is most decidedly “out of the country.”

“Roger that, Houston. That’s wonderful news,” replies Swigert…

Blanch Lovell is talking to her granddaughter, Susan.

“Well, don’t you worry, honey,” says Blanche. “If they could get a washing machine to fly, my Jimmy could land it.”

Onboard Aquarius, the cassett…