Minute 129: Standing By

GUEST: ACTOR BRETT CULLEN

Blanche Lovell watches the television coverage of her son, with Neil Armstrong.

Mary Haise sits on a couch and watches the coverage with her son.

“We’re about to learn whether or not that heatshield which was damaged, if you remember, by the explosion three days ago has withstood the inferno of re-entry,” says Walter Cronkite.

On board the USS Iwo Jima, the bridge scans the horizon.

A packed Mission Control awaits any word from the spacecraft.

“Odyssey, this is Houston,” says Mattingly.”Do you read me? Odyssey, Houston. Do you read me?”

“Three minutes, thirty seconds,” says INCO. “Standing by.”

Static-filled images from the Pacific are projected on the MOCR screen.

“Odyssey, Houston,” says Mattingly. “Do you read me? Odyssey, this is Houston, do you read me?”

“That’s four minutes,” says INCO. “Standing by.”

The Lovell family holds back tears as they sit in front of their television.

Jay Lovell looks at his classroom clock. It’s 11:56 AM.

IN THIS MINUTE:

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

Walter Cronkite as Himself

Tracy Reiner as Mary Haise

Miko Hughes as Jeffrey Lovell

Rance Howard as Priest

Emily Ann Lloyd as Susan Lovell

Mary Kate Schelhardt as Barbara Lovell

Max Elliott Slade as Jay Lovell