Spacelog Apollo 13

Only other readouts we need are those on page 3-13 of the flight plan. BAT C, pyro BAT A, pyro BAT B, RCS A, B, C, and D readings, and DC INDICATOR select main A or B.

Okay. Stand by.

And, Vance, we're still charging BAT B. Did you want to dispense with that in a few minutes?

Stand by on that, Fred.

Okay, Vance, I've got your readouts on page 3-13 of the flight plan.

Okay. Ready to copy.

Okay, BAT C is 37, pyro BAT A is 37, pyro BAT B is 37, RCS A 94 percent, B 95 percent, C 93 percent, D 96 percent.

Roger. Copy that.

Apollo 13, Houston.

Go ahead.

Okay. In answer to the battery-charging questions, I calculate it should be fully charged at 12:35. Play that one, though, the same as the waste vent. If you want to do it earlier because you're turning in, why that's fine with us.

Okay, we'll continue on with a few other things we got to get done, and just before turning in, we'll check with you, and you can remind us then.

Houston, Apollo 13. Give me a call when you're ready for E-memory dump.

This is Houston, 13. You are weak. Please repeat.

Okay, Vance, give me a call when you're ready for our E-memory dump.

Okay, 13. We're not quite ready yet. We'll give you a call when we're ready.

Roger. Go ahead.

Okay, Vance. I understand you're ready.

Negative, GUIDO isn't quite ready yet.

Okay. I thought I heard you call us.

But we're ready now, Jack, so GUIDO says he's ready to take it.

On the way down.

Houston, Apollo 13.

13, Houston. Go.

Okay, Vance. Requesting clearance now to turn the vent valve back to CLOSE again, and also the battery charge off.

Roger. That's fine with us, Jim. Proceed.

Apollo 13, Houston.

Go ahead, Vance.

We think the spacecraft's looking in good shape. Nobody has any comment down here before you hit the hay.

Okay. Row do they think we stand on the way of consumables so far?

You're looking in good shape in all respects—consumables-wise.

13, Houston.

Okay, go ahead, Vance.

Just the last comment, Jack. Would you clear Hal, please, so he doesn't burn his lights out there tonight?

No, I—I was just—I'll do that for you.

Okeydoke.

And we'll see you in the morning, huh?

Okay. It'll be just a minute or 2 yet. We have to finish up a couple more chores.

What do you mean? It is morning.

Hey, that's right.

It's been a long day, huh?

Yes, it sure was.

Hello, Houston. Houston, Apollo 13. Over.

Good morning, 13. This is Houston. How are you?

Read you loud and clear. We had a fairly good night's sleep.

Okay. Real fine. At your leisure, you can give us radiation reports, I guess. We are getting a consumables update together for you, and a few other little details whenever you are ready to talk. About the only major thing on the spacecraft is that it's been getting farther away.

Okay. Well, that's to be expected, I guess.

And we're starting to charge battery A, Houston.

Roger on battery A, Fred. EECOM says battery B looks real good.

Okay.

Houston, 13.

Go ahead.

Okay. For information, Fred was on COMM last night; and he was over in the left-hand seat, and if you want our radiation readings, we just goofed. We left them all in the suits which are now nicely tucked away. We are going to get out Jack's suit in an hour or so anyway, and we'll get his dosimeter out if you wanted to get the reading on that one.

Okay. That will be satisfactory.

Okay.

And in exchange for that, the surgeon would like to have a rough number of hours each of you slept and a qualitative verb to describe whether it was good, fair, or poor.

Okay. Stand by.

Okay, Houston. We had an average of around 5 or …

Jim, Houston. Your COMM got pretty garbled there just as you started to talk.

Okay. Houston, Apollo 13.

Okay, 13. You're loud and clear again.

We averaged about 5-1/2 hours' sleep apiece, and we are estimating that the sleep was good.

Okay. Copy that. Let's see what else we have for you, Jim. Midcourse-2 looks like about 23 feet per second, approximately retrograde and on time. And it's holding real firm now. For your information, and you don't need to copy this down, because it's still pretty soft, but we have an S-IVB impact of about 8.57 south and about 33.9 west, which is a little west and a little south of the flight plan value. We have it at a GET of about 77 plus 51 which is just before AOS, and the LOI pads are a little bit late, and as I say, it's still pretty soft, and we'll be updating you with firm numbers.

That's fine, Joe. Just as long as it doesn't hit Cone Crater.

Okay. And I'll have a consumables update for you in a little while, and I have a small flight plan update for you sometime a little later on when you're ready to copy. There's no big deals in it.

Roger.

And, 13, Houston. We'd like to verify that you cycled the O₂ cryo fans. We saw the H₂, but we didn't see the O₂ get stirred up.

Yes, Joe. We did, and it kind of looked like we might have had a little stratification because right after we put them on, we had a CRYO PRESS light.

Okay. EECOM told me that might happen, and he was right.

Okay, Joe. We're ready to copy a flight plan update and your consumables.

Okay, Jack. The flight plan update has a couple of items in it, and the first one we'd like to do is to update the T_ephem values in the G&C checklist on page G/9-2. These are fairly small changes, but in case you need them, we'd like you to have the exact numbers. Over.

Okay. Just a minute. I'll get it out.

Joe, was that the G&C checklist, page 9-2?

That's affirmative. G&C, page G/9-2.

Okay. Go ahead.

Okay. On that page in line 04, column B, change the number from 03366 to 05253. Over.

— 53.

Okay. And in line 05, column B, change from 11000 to 33661. Over.

33661.

Okay. That's right. The only other thing I've got for you, Jack, is three additional questions for the booster systems debriefing, which is to take place at about 25 hours, and we thought we'd pass these questions up to you early so you can consider them. Over.

Okay. We're ready to copy.

Okay. The first extra is, and let me get the original question because this question says, “More specifically on item 2,” and item 2 says, “Were there any significant changes in the noise vibration level during the single stage of powered flight?” Specifically, describe your observations during the early S-II center engine out-off, and approximately 90 seconds prior to TLI cut-off, you reported a high vibration in the S-IVB. We'd like you to describe the buildup of this vibration and its behavior through cut-off. Over.

Okay. Essentially, what you'd like us to talk about is vibration sequence during the early S-II cut-off of the center engine and also describe the vibrations that we encountered during the S-IVB TLI burn. Is that correct?

That's it. Okay. The second extra question is for you, Jim, and it says, “Comparing this flight with your ride on Apollo 8, were there any significant differences in the powered flight environment?”

Okay. We'll describe a comparison with 8 and 13 as far as powered flight goes.

Roger. And the last additional question is what did the ORDEAL ball look like during TLI? As you know, we passed you an update to that setting, and we'd like to know whether it was riding right on zero or what during the burn. Over.

Okay. Will do. We'll describe the ORDEAL ball.

Okay. That's it, and that's the whole flight plan update. I have a consumables update now if you want to listen to that.

Okay, Joe. We're ready to copy.

Okay. At 23 hours the total RCS is 1121, quad A is 274, quad Bravo is 286, quad Charlie is 274, quad Delta is 287, and the cryos are as follows: H₂ tank 1, 83 percent; H₂ tank 2, 86 percent; O₂ tank 1, 87 percent; O₂ tank 2, 87 percent. Over.

Okay, Joe. We got all those, and how do we compare them with where we should be in the time line?

As I understand it, Jack, you're running slightly ahead of nominal in both those areas.

Okay; real fine.

No problem.

And, 13, Houston. That's all the business I got right now. I have a little news and plan of the day for you, if you feel like listening to that a little later on.

Just hold off a little bit there, Joe if you don't mind. …

Stand by one, Jim. You're coming in garbled again.

Houston, 13.

Okay, 13; Houston. Loud and clear again. Go ahead.

Okay. Joe. On the news, Jim would like to hold off a little bit on that, and I want to make a request to FAO, if he will at sometime during the day, when we get a flight plan update with those activities we agreed to make optional during lunar orbit and the few activities we were going to delete, I think that I forgot and left that card back during the press of suiting, I left it in the suit room.

Okay. Wilco.

Okay, Jack. I understand FAO's working on that and we'll have something for you later on.

Okay. We're not in any hurry.

Okay, Houston; 13.

Okay. Jack. We copy the angles. You can go ahead and torque them.

Okay. Joe. The time of torquing will be 23 hours 47 minutes 30 seconds.

Houston, 13.

13, Houston. Go ahead.

For information, Joe, we're all configured back again now to our regular seating positions, if you're monitoring us.

Hello there, Houston; 13.

13, Houston. Go ahead.

Gosh, we had forgotten, but we'd like to hear what the news is.

Okay. There's not a whole lot to it. Well, let's see, we'll start with the—Let's start with sports, what the heck. The Astros survived 8 to 7, the Braves got five or six runs in the—five runs in the ninth inning, but they just made it; and in the other important game of the day, the Cubs were rained out. I have all the rest of the scores, you can tell me if you want any of them. They had earthquakes in Manila and other areas of the island of Luzon. There were three tremors and they kept the buildings shaking for about a half an hour or so, and it was about a 5 on the Richter scale. Okay, let's see. The Beatles have announced they will no longer perform as a group. The quartet is reported to have made in excess of a half billion dollars during their short musical career. However, rumors that they will use this money to start their own space program are false.

Maybe we could borrow some.

(Laughter) Okay. Okay; West German Chancellor Willy Brandt, who witnessed your launch from the Cape yesterday, and President Nixon will complete their round of talks today. Brandt reportedly came to the U.S. to seek assurance from the President to go ahead with talks with the eastern European nations, especially East Germany, Poland, and Russia. Many air traffic controllers are still out, but reports indicate that they are slowly returning to work, and you'll be happy to know the controllers here in the MOCR are still on the job.

…

Go ahead.

I said thank goodness for that.

Okay. Some truck lines are being struck in the Midwest, and the school teachers have walked off the job in Minneapolis. Today's favorite pastime across the—Uh oh; have you guys completed your income tax?

How do I apply for an extension?

(Laughter)

Yes, Joe. I got to—hey, listen—It ain't too funny; things kind of happened real fast down there, and I do need an extension.

(Laughter)

I didn't get mine filed. And this is serious; would you —

You're breaking up the room down here.

— because I may be spending time in a —

We'll see —

I may be spending time in a—I may be spending time in another quarantine besides the one that they are planning for me.

We'll see what we can do, Jack. We'll get with Recovery and see if we can get the agent out there in the Pacific when you come back. By golly, let's see. In professional basketball, the Nicks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 110 to 102, and Billy Casper is leading the Masters after 54 holes with a 208, and spring football practice is in full swing. And that's about all the news we got; the updated plan of the day for you guys, the uniform will be service dress inflight coverall garments with swords and medals, and tonight's movie shown in the lower equipment bay will be John Wayne, Lou Costello, and Shirley Temple in the “The Flight of Apollo 13.” Over.

Outstanding.

Houston, this is 13. Is it true that Jack's income tax return was going to be used to buy the ascent fuel for the LM?

Well, considering that he's a bachelor and hasn't got that deduction to take, yes.

Hey, Joe. I'm glad you brought that up, because I was really serious about that.

Okay, Jack. We'll—We'll take care of it. Tom Stafford says he'll get an extension for you.

Okay.

And Jim McDivitt says, “yes, now that you mention it, he forgot to fill the ascent stage.”

(Laughter) Suspicions confirmed.

Should give you very good performance on descent.

We should have a lot more hover time, huh?

That's right.

Okay, crew. About the only other thing I've got for you right now is an update to your P37 pad for lift-off plus 35. This is a change to the pad we gave you yesterday. The reason for the update is for weather avoidance in the mid-Pacific landing area at 70 hours, which is the return time for this pad, and in case the question arises in your mind, we don't expect any problem there for the end of the mission. The weather area is 20 degrees south of your end-of-mission landing point, and it appears to be moving to the south.

Okay, Joe. I'm ready to copy the pad.

Okay. GET of ignition is 035:00, DELTA-V_T 7883, Longitude minus 155, and the GET 400K 069:54. Over.

GETI is 035:00, 7883, minus 155, 069:54.

Okay.

And, Houston, Jack's going to try donning his suit now for practice, himself, and when he gets it out, we'll give you a dosimeter reading.

Houston, Apollo 13.

13, Houston. Go.

Okay. We've retrieved Jack's dosimeter, and it's reading 02022.

Okay. We copy 02022 on the dosimeter, Jim.

That's affirm.

13, Houston. At your convenience, we'd like the LM/CM DELTA-P reading.

That reading is 0.65 psi.

Apollo 13, Houston.

Houston, Apol … Roger. We're thinking together. And we're here waiting for your call.

Okay, you were a little broken up there, Jim, but I think it's getting better. We are ready for the launch-vehicle-systems debriefing whenever you are.

Okay, Houston; Apollo 13. You were cut out again; say again, please.

Roger, Jim. We are ready for the launch-vehicle-systems debriefing whenever you are. Over.

Okay. Stand by 1.

Okay, Houston; 13. In answer to Question 1, the changes in noise level occurred mainly between the first stage and the other stages—the other stages were about the same in noise level, very quiet, with the first stage, of course, making quite a bit of noise in the beginning but—which built up during the high Q, and then … went quiet just after high Q.

Okay, copy that, Jim.

I might mention that the noise level during the first stage was not sufficient to be uncomfortable at all.

Roger. And I assume COMM was okay.

That's affirm. COMM was very good all during—throughout the entire flight. Much better than I expected.

Okay.

Now, in answer to Question 2, there was, of course, a vibration transient in the second stage that—due to the number 5 engine going out—which occurred shortly before the engine went out, and slightly after that then the S-II stage was very smooth.

Okay, Jim. I guess the significant point there is that you didn't notice the vibration before you saw the engine light.

That's right. We—we noticed the vibration but it wasn't such that we thought something catastrophic was going to happen; it just started vibration and then the EN light came on, and then the vibration went away and the stage itself was smooth.

Okay, copy that.

Yes, and that—it was all pretty—pretty short in span—just a second or so before and like a second afterwards, Joe.

Oh. Roger.

And on the S-IVB, the vibration of the vehicle itself wasn't what … second … powered flight—a very-high-frequency vibration.

That was—was that during—just during TLI, or did you notice that at insertion?

Well, it was a high-frequency viola—vibration but more noticeable during the TLI burn than it was during the … flight.