55 Years Ago: Apollo 13, Preparations for the Third Moon Landing
On December 19, 1968, NASA’s Apollo 13 mission was scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission’s objective was to land two astronauts on the Moon, while a third astronaut remained in lunar orbit. Apollo 13 was the third mission in the Apollo program, and it was intended to be the first to land on the Moon since Apollo 11 in 1969.
The Apollo 13 crew consisted of Commander James A. Lovell, Command Module Pilot John L. Swigert, and Lunar Module Pilot Fred W. Haise. The crew was selected for their experience and expertise in spaceflight. Lovell had previously commanded the Apollo 8 mission, which had been the first to orbit the Moon. Swigert was a rookie astronaut, but he had extensive experience as a test pilot. Haise was a veteran astronaut who had flown on the Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 missions.
The Apollo 13 spacecraft consisted of three modules: the Command Module (CM), the Service Module (SM), and the Lunar Module (LM). The CM was the living quarters for the astronauts during the mission. The SM provided the CM with power, propulsion, and life support. The LM was the vehicle that would land on the Moon.
The Apollo 13 mission was launched on time on December 19, 1968. The launch was successful, and the spacecraft entered into Earth orbit. The crew then began the journey to the Moon.
On April 13, 1969, the Apollo 13 spacecraft entered into lunar orbit. The crew then began preparing for the lunar landing. However, on April 14, 1969, a problem occurred with the SM’s oxygen tanks. One of the tanks exploded, and the other tank began to leak. The explosion caused the SM to lose power and life support.
The Apollo 13 crew was now in a critical situation. They were stranded in lunar orbit, with no way to return to Earth. The crew quickly worked to conserve power and life support. They also began to plan for a possible return to Earth.
NASA quickly assembled a team of engineers and scientists to work on a solution to the problem. The team came up with a plan to use the LM’s descent engine to propel the spacecraft back to Earth. The plan was risky, but it was the only chance the crew had of surviving.
On April 17, 1969, the Apollo 13 crew began the journey back to Earth. The LM’s descent engine was fired, and the spacecraft began to accelerate. The crew successfully re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 18, 1969.
The Apollo 13 mission was a failure, but it was also a triumph. The crew’s courage and ingenuity saved their lives. The mission also taught NASA valuable lessons about the dangers of spaceflight. The Apollo 13 mission was a reminder that space exploration is a risky endeavor, but it is also an endeavor that is worth pursuing.
55 Years Ago: Apollo 13, Preparations for the Third Moon Landing
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