Minute 117: Typhoon Warning

Apollo 13 Minute Podcast

The crew continues to coordinate the power-up sequence with Mission Control.

“Let’s go!” says Flight Director Glynn Lunney.

“Take a look at your amps,” says CAPCOM Ken Mattingly. “How’re we doing?”

“You got her back up, Ken,” replies Swigert. “Boy, I wish you were here to see it.”

Mattingly smiles. “I bet you do,” says Mattingly.

“Way to go, Jack,” says Haise, looking up the docking tunnel to Swigert.

“Flight, this is RETRO,” says White Team’s RETRO.

“Go, RETRO,” replies Gene Kranz.

“Flight. We are looking at a typhoon warning at the edge of the prime recovery zone,” says RETRO, looking at a satellite image of a large cyclone formation.

“Say again, RETRO,” says Kranz.

“Flight. We are looking at a typhoon warning on the edge of the prime recovery area,” replies RETRO. “Now this is just a warning, Flight, it could miss them.”

Kranz shakes his head. “Only if their luck changes,” says Kranz.

Back in the Apollo 13 Command Module, Swigert prepares to coordinate a maneuver with Lovell, who is piloting the Lunar Module.

“Jim, we’re ready for SM jettison!” says Swigert.

“All right, Jack,” replies Lovell. “On 3… 1…, 2… Upward thrust!” Lovell fires the LM’s RCS thrusters, as Swigert throws the Service Module jettison switches to sever the connections between the CM and the SM.

“We’re loose!” shouts Swigert.

“Reverse thrust!” says Lovell as he fires the RCS thrusters again.

“We have service module jettison,” reports Swigert to Mission Control.

“Okay, Houston, our Service Module is free,” says Lovell.

IN THIS MINUTE:

Mark McClure as Glynn Lunney

Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Googy Gress as RETRO – White

Ed Harris as Gene Kranz

Loren Dean as John Aaron