Space Rocket History Podcast

Electricity was in short supply. A fully functioning, up-and running LEM required about 55 amps of current to operate. The post Space Rocket History #274 – Apollo 13 – Minimizing Power – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast .

Lovell toggled the “master arm” switch to On and glanced around to see if everything else was in order. Guidance control was set to “Primary Guidance”; thrust control was on “Auto”; engine gimbals were enabled; the propellant quantity, temperature, and … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #273 – Apollo 13 – Free Return – Part 3 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast .

Aquarius, can you see any stars yet? The post Space Rocket History #272 – Apollo 13 – Free Return – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast .

Kraft wanted to fire the descent engine now, get the ship back on its free-return slingshot course, and when it emerged from behind the moon and reached the PC+2 point, execute any maneuvers that might be required to refine the … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #271 – Apollo 13 – Free Return – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast .

When Scott tried to release the lunar module, he did not hold the button long enough so the lander got hung on the capture latches. The post An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #183 – Apollo 9 – Lunar Module Maneuvers Part 4 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast .

Cronkite did not look good. He called Schirra over and thrust a sheet of wire-service copy at him. Schirra scanned the text hurriedly, and with each sentence his heart sank. This was bad. This was worse than bad. This was … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #270 – Apollo 13 – The News Breaks first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast .

EECOM, Sy Liebergot looked away from his monitor; the end, he knew, was at last here. Liebergot, through no fault of his own, was about to become the first flight controller in the history of the manned space program to … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #269 – Apollo 13 – “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” – Part 4 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast .

As near as Lovell could tell, it would be a while before the ship’s endgame would play out. He had no way of calculating the leak rate in the tank, but if the moving needle was any indication, he had … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #268 – Apollo 13 – “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” – Part 3 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast .

By the time Flight Director Kranz heard Lovell’s report, of “Houston, we’ve had a problem. ” three controllers had reported related problems. Kranz was wondering which problem Lovell was reporting, as he started relaying the long list of warning indications … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #267 – Apollo 13 – “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket...

Swigert: I believe we’ve had a problem here! CapComm: This is Houston. Say again, please. Lovell: Houston, we’ve had a problem. The post Space Rocket History #266 – Apollo 13 – “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast .