Apollo 13 (Encore)

Tank Explosion

The Apollo 13 mission faced a critical challenge when an oxygen tank explosion jeopardized the crew's safety. Gary Arndt explains that the explosion was triggered by a malfunction in the oxygen tank, which had been previously dropped and inadequately repaired, leading to a catastrophic failure during the mission 1. The crew, unaware of the cause, experienced a loud bang and a loss of electrical power, prompting Jack Swigert to famously report, "Houston, we've had a problem."

The problem, as it was later discovered, was that the particular oxygen tank used on Apollo 13 had been installed on Apollo ten, but later removed while it was being switched out, it was dropped slightly.

--- Gary Arndt

This incident resulted in the loss of two fuel cells and a rapid decline in oxygen levels, forcing the crew to take immediate action to stabilize the spacecraft 1.

   

Emergency Measures

In response to the crisis, the Apollo 13 crew and mission control implemented emergency measures to ensure their survival. Gary Arndt describes how the crew was instructed to move into the lunar module, which was repurposed as a lifeboat to conserve power and resources 2. The module, designed for two men for 45 hours, had to support three men for 90 hours, requiring drastic conservation of water and electricity.

They cut water rations to one fifth their normal amount. Temperatures inside the LEM were just above freezing.

--- Gary Arndt

Despite the dire situation, the crew managed to navigate manually and set a record for the furthest distance traveled from Earth, while their plight captured global attention and concern 2.