Minute 056: The Ship’s Bleeding to Death

Apollo 13 Minute Podcast

Lovell leans over in his couch, and looks at the dials. The Number One tank pressure is dropping.

“Two hundred pounds and falling,” says Haise.

“Oh-Two Tank Two, still zero,” says EECOM. “Tank One, Two Eighteen PSI and falling.”

“Is that what you’re getting?” asks Haise. “Confirm!”

“Uh, we’re seeing the same, Thirteen,” says CAPCOM.

“Can we review our status here, Cy?” Kranz asks EECOM, “Let’s look at this from a, uh, from a standpoint of status. Uhh – what have we got on the spacecraft that’s good?”

EECOM pauses, and looks at his screen. “I’ll get back to you, Gene,” says EECOM.

On the ship, the three men look at the oxygen gauge.

“We’re not gonna have power much longer,” says Haise. “The ship’s bleeding to death.” There’s another rumble from deep in the spacecraft.

EECOM continues to look at his monitors. He rubs his eyes under his glasses. He pushes his comm button. “Flight?” says EECOM.

“Yeah, go EECOM,” says Kranz.

“Uh, Flight, I recommend we shut down the reactant valves of the fuel cells,” says EECOM.

“What the hell good is that gonna do?” asks Kranz, stepping over to EECOM’s console.

“If that’s where the leak is, we can isolate it,” replies EECOM. “We can isolate it there – ”

IN THIS MINUTE:

Jim Lovell: Tom Hanks
Jack Swigert: Kevin Bacon
Fred Haise: Bill Paxton
Gene Kranz: Ed Harris
EECOM White Team: Clint Howard
TELMU White Team: Jim Meskimen
CAPCOM: Brett Cullen
Flight Surgeon: Christian Clemenson