Jim Lovell is surrounded by the applauding Iwo Jima crew.
TITLE: THE END
MUSIC: “Apollo 13 End Credit, Featuring Annie Lennox”
TITLES:
CAST
Jim Lovell – TOM HANKS
Fred Haise – BILL PAXTON
Jack Swigert – KEVIN BACON
Ken Mattingly – GARY SINISE
Gene Kranz – ED HARRIS
Marilyn Lovell – KATHLEEN QUINLAN
Barbara Lovell – MARY KATE SCHELLHARDT
Susan Lovell – EMILY ANN LLOYD
Jeffrey Lovell – MIKO HUGHES
Jay Lovell – MAX ELLIOTT SLADE
Blanch Lovell – JEAN SPEEGLE HOWARD
Mary Haise – TRACY REINER
Pete Conrad – DAVID ANDREWS
Jane Conrad – MICHELLE LITTLE
Deke Slayton – CHRIS ELLIS
NASA Director – JOE SPANO
Henry Hurt – XANDER BERKELEY
Glynn Lunney – MARC McCLURE
John Young – BEN MARLEY
EECOM White – CLINT HOWARD
EECOM Arthur – LOREN DEAN
EECOM Gold – TOM WOOD
RETRO White – GOOGY GRESS
RETRO Gold – PATRICK MICKLER
FIDO White – RAY McKINNON
FIDO Gold – MAX GRODÉNCHIK
Dr. Chuck – CHRISTIAN CLEMENSON
CAPCOM 1 – BRETT CULLEN
CAPCOM 2 – NED VAUGHN
GUIDO White – ANDY MILLER
LEM Controller White – WAYNE DUVALL
TELMU White – JIM MESKIMEN
TELMU Gold – JOSEPH CULP
INCO White – JOHN SHORT
INCO Gold – BEN BODÉ
FAO White – TODD LOUISO
GNC White – GABRIEL JARRET
Booster White – CHRISTOPHER JOHN FIELDS
Grumman Rep – KENNETH WHITE
Ted – JIM RITZ
Launch Director – ANDREW LIPSCHULTZ
Neil Armstrong – MARK WHEELER
Buzz Aldrin – LARRY WILLIAMS
Guenter Wendt – ENDRE HULES
Tracey – KAREN MARTIN
Woman – MAUREEN HANLEY
Kim – MEADOW WILLIAMS
Technician – WALTER VON HUENE
Pad Rats – BRIAN MARKINSON, STEVE RANKIN
Whiz Kid – AUSTIN O’BRIEN
Whiz Kid Mom – LOUISA MARIE
Orderly – THOM BARRY
SIM Techs – ARTHUR SENZY, CARL GABRIEL YORKE, RYAN HOLIHAN
Reverend – RANCE HOWARD
Neighbor – J.J. CHABACK
Noisy Civilian – TODD HALLOWELL
Stephen Haise – MATTHEW GOODALL
Fred Haise, Jr. – TAYLOR GOODALL
Margaret Haise – MISTY DICKINSON
Congressman – ROGER CORMAN
Loud Reporters – LEE ANNE MATUSEK, MARK D. NEWMAN
Suit Room Assistant – MARK McKEEL
Patty – PATTY RAYA
Science Reporters – JACK CONLEY, JEFFREY S. KLUGER
Anchors – BRUCE WRIGHT, IVAN ALLEN, JON BRUNO
Roger Chaffee – REED RUDY
Virgil Grissom – STEVE BERNIE
Edward White – STEVEN RUGE
Reporters – HERBERT JEFFERSON, JR. , JULIE DONATT, JOHN DULLAGHAN, THOMAS CRAWFORD, JOHN WHEELER, FRANK CAVESTANI, PAUL MANTEE, JOHN M. MATHEWS
Stunt Coordinators – MICKEY GILBERT, JIM HALTY
Stunts – HEATHER BURTON, JOE FINNEGAN, KIM KOSCKI, VINCENT MAZZELLA, JR., JOHN ROBOTHAM
Associate Producer – LOUISA VELIS
Unit Production Manager – CARL CLIFFORD
First Assistant Director – ALDRIC LA’AULI PORTER
Second Assistant Director – JANE PAUL
IN THIS MINUTE:
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Jim Lovell, narrating from the present day, talks about how Jack Swigert ran for Congress from the state of Colorado, “but he died of cancer before he was able to take office.”
On board the Iwo Jima, the Apollo 13 crew walks among the applauding Navy crew.
The Mission Control team applauds and smokes cigars. Ken Mattingly is in the center of the support team.
Lovell narrates: “Ken Mattingly orbited the Moon as Command Module Pilot of Apollo 16, and flew the space shuttle, having never gotten the measles. Gene Kranz retired as director of flight operations just not long ago. And many other members of Mission Control have gone onto other things, but some are still there.”
The Captain of the Iwo Jima salutes Jim Lovell. Lovell returns the salute, and shakes the Captain’s hand.
Lovell narrates: “And as for me, the seven extraordinary days of Apollo 13 were my last in space.”
The Apollo 13 crew bows its head in prayer along with the crew of the Iwo Jima.
Lovell narrates: “I watched other men walk on the Moon and return safely, all from the confines of Mission Control and our house in Houston. I sometimes catch myself looking up at the Moon, remembering the changes of fortune in our long voyage, thinking of the thousands of people who worked to bring the three of us home. I look up at the Moon, and wonder: when will we be going back, and who will that be?”
IN THIS MINUTE:
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Bill Paxton as Fred Haise
Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert
Jim Lovell as Navy Captain
Gary Sinise as Ken Mattingly
Ed Harris as Gene Kranz
Jim Lovell looks up from the life raft outside the returned Odyssey spacecraft.
Later, on the deck of the Iwo Jima, Lovell, Haise, and Swigert exit the helicopter, wearing blue flight suits and sporting Iwo Jima caps.
Marilyn and the Lovell family are elated seeing the crew on television.
The crew of the Iwo Jima applauds. Swigert and Haise wave at the crew.
Lovell narrates: “Our mission was called a successful failure, in that we returned safely, but never made it to the Moon.”
A “Welcome Back” sign appears on the Mission Control monitor, as Mission Control applauds.
The crew of Apollo 13 walks past a cheering Iwo Jima crew.
Lovell narrates: “In the following months, it was determined that a damaged coil built inside the oxygen tank sparked during our cryo stir and caused the explosion that crippled the Odyssey. It was a minor defect that occurred two years before I was even named the flight’s commander. Fred Haise was going back to the Moon on Apollo 18, but his mission was canceled because of the budget cuts, he never flew in space again. Nor did Jack Swigert. Who left the astronaut corps and was elected to Congress from the state of Colorado.”
IN THIS MINUTE:
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Bill Paxton as Fred Haise
Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert
Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell
A Navy frogman knocks on the hatch of Odyssey.
Jim Lovell gives the frogman a thumbs-up sign, then unstraps Fred Haise from his couch. Haise shakes his hand. Swigert and Lovell then shake hands.
“Houston. We’re at Stable One,” radios Lovell. “The ship is secure. This is Apollo 13, signing off.”
In Mission Control, Gene Kranz gives two thumbs-up.
Helicopter 66 lifts a Billy Pugh net carrying Jack Swigert up to the door. Haise is already onboard the helicopter. Lovell stands up in the hatch, blinking in the sunshine. He tumbles into the life raft. while a Navy frogman holds onto him.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Bill Paxton as Fred Haise
Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert
Ed Harris as Gene Kranz
Gene Kranz wipes his eyes and stands up in Mission Control.
Over the Pacific, three parachutes lowering the Command Module are lit by the rising sun.
Flight crews on the USS Iwo Jima applaud and wave as Odyssey floats toward the surface. Odyssey splashes down in brilliant sunshine.
Navy helicopters 66 and 406 head toward the spacecraft.
Mary Haise hugs her family.
Jay Lovell’s schoolmates pat him on the back.
Blanch Lovell smiles broadly as Buzz Aldrin hugs her.
Two Navy frogmen jump into the ocean next to the spacecraft.
In Mission Control, Deke Slayton shakes Gene Kranz’s hand, and also the NASA Director’s hand.
One of the Navy frogmen swims up to Odyssey’s hatch.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton
Loren Dean as John Aaron
Ben Marley as John Young
Todd Louiso as FAO – White Team
Joe Spano as NASA Director
Ed Harris as Gene Kranz
Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney
Clint Howard as Sy Liebergot
Googy Gress as RETRO White
Christian Clemenson as Flight Surgeon Dr. Chuck
Ned Vaughn as CAPCOM 2
Max Grodénchik as FIDO Gold
Walter von Huene as Technician
Kenneth White as Grumman Rep
Jean Speegle Howard as Blanch Lovell
Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell
Mark Wheeler as Neil Armstrong
Walter Cronkite as Himself
Tracy Reiner as Mary Haise
Miko Hughes as Jeffrey Lovell
Rance Howard as Priest
Emily Ann Lloyd as Susan Lovell
Mary Kate Schelhardt as Barbara Lovell
Max Elliott Slade as Jay Lovell
Jay Lovell looks at the classroom clock. It’s 11:56 AM.
“Odyssey, Houston,” says Mattingly, “Do you read?”
Suddenly on the monitor, three large parachutes appear, with the Command Module swaying in the sky.
“Hello, Houston,” says Lovell. “This is Odyssey. It’s good to see you again.”
Mission Control erupts in applause. The Lovell family smiles and hugs each other.
“Odyssey, Houston,” says Mattingly. “Welcome home. We’re glad to see you.”
Gene Kranz sits at his station and rubs his face.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton
Loren Dean as John Aaron
Ben Marley as John Young
Todd Louiso as FAO – White Team
Joe Spano as NASA Director
Ed Harris as Gene Kranz
Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney
Clint Howard as Sy Liebergot
Googy Gress as RETRO White
Christian Clemenson as Flight Surgeon Dr. Chuck
Ned Vaughn as CAPCOM 2
Max Grodénchik as FIDO Gold
Walter von Huene as Technician
Kenneth White as Grumman Rep
Jean Speegle Howard as Blanch Lovell
Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell
Mark Wheeler as Neil Armstrong
Walter Cronkite as Himself
Tracy Reiner as Mary Haise
Miko Hughes as Jeffrey Lovell
Rance Howard as Priest
Emily Ann Lloyd as Susan Lovell
Mary Kate Schelhardt as Barbara Lovell
Max Elliott Slade as Jay Lovell
Blanche Lovell watches the television coverage of her son, with Neil Armstrong.
Mary Haise sits on a couch and watches the coverage with her son.
“We’re about to learn whether or not that heatshield which was damaged, if you remember, by the explosion three days ago has withstood the inferno of re-entry,” says Walter Cronkite.
On board the USS Iwo Jima, the bridge scans the horizon.
A packed Mission Control awaits any word from the spacecraft.
“Odyssey, this is Houston,” says Mattingly.”Do you read me? Odyssey, Houston. Do you read me?”
“Three minutes, thirty seconds,” says INCO. “Standing by.”
Static-filled images from the Pacific are projected on the MOCR screen.
“Odyssey, Houston,” says Mattingly. “Do you read me? Odyssey, this is Houston, do you read me?”
“That’s four minutes,” says INCO. “Standing by.”
The Lovell family holds back tears as they sit in front of their television.
Jay Lovell looks at his classroom clock. It’s 11:56 AM.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton
Loren Dean as John Aaron
Ben Marley as John Young
Todd Louiso as FAO – White Team
Joe Spano as NASA Director
Ed Harris as Gene Kranz
Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney
Clint Howard as Sy Liebergot
Googy Gress as RETRO White
Christian Clemenson as Flight Surgeon Dr. Chuck
Ned Vaughn as CAPCOM 2
Max Grodénchik as FIDO Gold
Walter von Huene as Technician
Kenneth White as Grumman Rep
Jean Speegle Howard as Blanch Lovell
Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell
Mark Wheeler as Neil Armstrong
Walter Cronkite as Himself
Tracy Reiner as Mary Haise
Miko Hughes as Jeffrey Lovell
Rance Howard as Priest
Emily Ann Lloyd as Susan Lovell
Mary Kate Schelhardt as Barbara Lovell
Max Elliott Slade as Jay Lovell
The Lovell family in Houston, and son Jay Lovell in Wisconsin, continue to follow the coverage of reentry on television.
“This is the critical moment,” says Walter Cronkite on television. “Will the heat shield hold? Will the Command module survive the intense heat of re-entry? If it doesn’t, there will only be silence.”
“Mommy, you’re squishing me,” says Jeffrey Lovell.
“Sorry, sorry, Sweetie,” says Marilyn. A priest pats Jeffrey’s head.
Reporters are packed in the NASA press room, watching coverage.
Monitors in the Mission Control Center show video of circling Navy helicopters.
The countdown clock moves to 00:00:00.
“Okay, Flight,” says INCO. “That’s three minutes. We are standing by for acquisition.”
“Copy that,” says Gene Kranz.
“Odyssey, Houston. Do you read me?” says Ken Mattingly. “Odyssey, this is Houston, do you read?”
“Expected time of re-acquisition, the time when the astronauts were expected to come out of blackout, has come and gone,” says Walter Cronkite. “About all any of us can do now is just listen and hope.”
Pete Conrad watches the television intently.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly
Ed Harris as Gene Kranz
Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell
Miko Hughes as Jeffrey Lovell
Rance Howard as Priest
Emily Ann Lloyd as Susan Lovell
Mary Kate Schelhardt as Barbara Lovell
Max Elliott Slade as Jay Lovell
Jules Bergman as Himself
Walter Cronkite as Himself
Rance Howard as Priest
Ed Harris as Gene Kranz
Ben Bode as INCO
David Andrews as Pete Conrad
The radio blackout continues through Odyssey’s reentry. The crew experiences rising G-forces, as Apollo 13 leaves a blazing trail across the pre-dawn sky.
On patrol, two Navy helicopters fly low over the Pacific.
In the Lovell household, Marilyn Lovell is seated behind her son, Jeffrey. Daughter Susan sits next to Marilyn, and daughter Barbara sits nearby.
Jules Bergman narrates the scene on the USS Iwo Jima.
“Back to the Iwo Jima and our live cameras there. The Navy recovery and rescue helicopters already airborne, circling, waiting for first radar contact,” says Bergman.
Barbara begins to cry, and moves next to her mother.
Outside the Lovell home, crowds of reporters fill the street, with broadcast trucks parked everywhere.
“Coming up now on three minutes until time of drogue (chutes) deployment,” says a NASA PAO. “Standing by for any reports of acquisition.”
Two news men stand atop a broadcast truck, listening to a portable radio.
“One minute and thirty seconds to end of blackout,” says an announcement in Mission Control. All the controllers wait and stare at the large monitor.
In Wisconsin, Jay Lovell continues to watch the news coverage in his school classroom.
“No re-entering ship has ever taken longer than three minutes to-,” begins Walter Cronkite.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert
Bill Paxton as Fred Haise
Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly
Ed Harris as Gene Kranz
Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell
Miko Hughes as Jeffrey Lovell
Rance Howard as Priest
Emily Ann Lloyd as Susan Lovell
Mary Kate Schelhardt as Barbara Lovell
Max Elliott Slade as Jay Lovell
Jules Bergman as Himself
Walter Cronkite as Himself
Swigert, Haise, and Lovell ponder many thoughts as Odyssey falls into the re-entry corridor over the South Pacific.
The heat shield begins to ionize, then blaze as the CM decelerates.
Ionized gasses illuminate outside the left window of the Command Module. Water rains from the control panel.
“Flight, we have loss of radio contact,” says CAPCOM Mattingly.
“Roger that,” replies Gene Kranz.
“Expect to regain signal in three minutes,” says INCO.
A countdown clock shows 000: 02: 59
“All depends on the heat shield,” says an engineer.
The ionization is an incandescent white now. Water is leaking from the control panel.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert
Bill Paxton as Fred Haise
Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly
Ed Harris as Gene Kranz
Ben Bode as INCO
RETRO has informed Gene Kranz that the Command Module’s re-entry path may be shallowing out, but there’s nothing that can be done to change the trajectory.
“Then, they don’t need to know, do they?” asks Kranz, re-tying his tie.
“Copy that,” replies RETRO.
“RETRO says the typhoon is still a presence in the splash down area?” says Henry Hurt, the Public Affairs Officer.
“Yeah,” replies the NASA Director.
“What’a we got?” says Henry. “The parachute situation, the heat shield, the angle of trajectory and the typhoon, there’s just so many variables. I’m a little at a loss-”
“I know what the problems are, Henry,” interrupts the NASA Director. “This could be the worst disaster NASA’s ever experienced.”
Gene Kranz, overhearing the conversation, leans in.
“With all due respect, sir,” says Kranz, “I believe this is gonna be our finest hour.”
“Okay,” replies the NASA Director, quietly Ken Mattingly is CAPCOM.
“Expect entry interface in 45 seconds,” says Mattingly, “and on my mark, your velocity will be 35,245 feet per second. Mark. 35 seconds to entry interface.”
The tropical cyclone over Fiji shows lightning rippling through the clouds as the Command Module heads toward the Pacific Ocean.
Inside the Command Module, the crew looks at the instrument panel in front of them.
“Gentlemen,” says Jim Lovell, “It’s been a privilege flying with you.”
Jack Swigert looks to his right.
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
Xander Berkeley as PAO Henry Hurt
Joe Spano as NASA Director
Loren Dean as John Aaron
Brent Cullen as CAPCOM
PAO Henry Hurt is telling a reporter everything that could go wrong with the landing.
“Heatshield could be cracked,” says Henry, “and their parachutes might be three blocks of ice. Clearly we have got some obstacles to overcome.”
“Yeah, Okay,” says the reporter, “But now I’m asking you: when will we know?”
“Blackout lasts for three minutes,” says Henry. “If they’re not back in four, we’ll know.”
In Mission Control, INCO has a report.
“Velocity now reading thrity four thousand, eight hundred two feet per second, range to go
twenty six hundred twenty five nautical miles,” says INCO.
“Copy that,” says Kranz.
In Odyssey, Swigert is in the left seat.
“Okay, Ken,” says Swigert, “We are aligned for re-entry. Jim, we’re gonna need that computer re-entry program. Fred, how are the batteries looking?”
“Okay,” says Haise, “Batt A looks good.”
“Re-entry interface in one minute and thirty seconds,” radios Mattingly.
“Batt B, no volts, amps are okay. Batt C, sh-t. No volts, only two amps. They may die before the main chutes open,” says Haise.
“Roger,” says Lovell. “Let’s tie all the batteries onto main A and main B.”
Back in Mission Control, RETRO has a question for the Flight Director.
“Flight, they’re still shallowing a bit up there. Do you want to tell ’em?” asks RETRO.
“Anything we can do about it?” says Kranz.
“Not now, Flight,” replies RETRO.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Bill Paxton as Fred Haise
Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert
Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly
Tracy Reiner as Mary Haise
Xander Berkeley as Henry Hurt
Herb Jefferson, Jr as Reporter
Ben Bode as INCO
Patrick Mickler as RETRO
Aquarius drifts away from the Command Module.
“She sure was a good ship,” says Haise, looking out the window.
“Farewell, Aquarius. And we thank you,” says Mattingly. Aquarius tilts away from the CM windows.
Back on Earth, a woman walks down the hallway of a suburban home, and knocks on a bedroom door. Mary Haise is sitting on a bed.
“Mary,” says the woman. “It’s almost time, honey.”
Meanwhile, Helicopter 66 takes off from the USS IWO JIMA.
On the bridge, a radio operator calls “Flight 966, 406” a two helicopters leave the flight deck.
TITLE:USS IWO JIMA, SOUTH PACIFIC – APRIL 17, 1970
Back in Houston, NASA PAO Henry Hurt is talking to a reporter.
“Let me put it this way,” says Henry Hurt, “The trajectory may be off, their thrusters may be frozen, their guidance system might be malfunctioning, their heatshield -”
IN THIS MINUTE:
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Bill Paxton as Fred Haise
Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert
Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly
Tracy Reiner as Mary Haise
Xander Berkeley as Henry Hurt
Herb Jefferson, Jr as Reporter
Jack Swigert drifts to the center seat of the CM to look at the battery gauges.
“Okay, pyro batts look good,” says Swigert. “I don’t think we have to tie the other batteries.”
Jim Lovell floats to the left seat and looks at the pilot gauges. Swigert pauses, unable to return to the pilot-in-command seat. It takes a moment for Lovell to catch on that he’s in the wrong seat.
“Sorry, Jack,” says Lovell. “This is an old habit. I’m kinda used to pilot’s seat. She’s yours to fly.” Swigert smiles and they switch places.
“Okay, Odyssey” radios Mattingly, “I wanna double check some re-entry procedures right after we jettison the LM which is coming up in thirty seconds.”
“What is that?” Lovell asks Swigert, pointing at a piece of paper that says “NO” taped over some switches.
“Oh,” says Swigert, “I was getting a little punchy and I — I didn’t wanna cut the LM loose with you guys still in it.”
Lovell ponders that idea for a moment.
“That’s good thinking,” says Lovell.
“Stand by, Houston,” says Swigert. He presses the two switches that were covered by the paper. There’s a thudding sound.
“We have Lunar Module jettison,” says Swigert.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Bill Paxton as Fred Haise
Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert
Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly
Fred Haise returns to the Command Module. Swigert helps him into the rightmost seat.
“Roger that,” says Lovell in the LM.
“Here, let me give you a hand there, Freddo,” says Swigert, strapping Haise in.
Jim Lovell wipes the frost off the left LM window. He looks out at a pre-dawn Earth, looming closer.
Back in Timber Cover, Marilyn Lovell looks up at the sky through her kitchen window.
Jim Lovell wipes the LM window again.
“We’re coming up on LM jettison,” reports Swigert.
“Is everyone strapped in, Ken?” says Gene Kranz in Mission Control. The Grumman Rep, the NASA director, and another man watch the procedings at the back of the MCC. “We’re getting real close.”
“Copy that, Flight,” says Mattingly. “Thirteen, Houston. We’re coming up on LM jettison.”
“Stand by,” says Swigert. The docking hatch is closed for the final time.
“Have you got everybody in the Odyssey?” asks Mattingly. Lovell seals the hatch.
“Yeah, Ken,” replies Swigert. “I’m gonna check those pyro batteries one more-”
IN THIS MINUTE:
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Bill Paxton as Fred Haise
Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert
Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly
Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell
Kenneth White as Grumman Rep
Joe Spano as NASA Director
Ed Harris as Gene Kranz
Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney
“Freddo? You okay?” asks Jim Lovell, as they prepare to exit the Lunar Module for the last time.
“I’m, uh, I’m freezing,” replies Haise.
“Can you hold out just a little longer?” says Lovell.
“As long as I have to,” says Haise.
“Aw, come on,” says Lovell, hugging Haise.
“Damn,” says Haise.
“It won’t be long. Just a little while longer, Freddo,” says Lovell.
“Yeah,” replies Haise.
“Just a little while longer. We’re gonna hit that water in the South Pacific, open up that hatch. It’s eighty degrees out there,” says Lovell.
“Eighty degrees,” repeats Haise, shivering.
“You are a mess,” says Lovell.
“Yeah,” says Haise. And they leave the Lunar Module.
On the radio, Ken Mattingly is calling.
“Odyssey, Houston,” says Mattingly. “How we doing, guys? We’re closing in on Lunar Module jettison. As you know, that is time-critical. We should be making our move into the Command Module. Let’s get the hatch buttoned up. And, when you get a chance, let us know how you’re doing.”
IN THIS MINUTE:
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Bill Paxton as Fred Haise
Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert
Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly
Neil Armstrong asks Blanch Lovell if Jim ever made Eagle Scout.
“Yes, he did,” says Blanch.
“He did?” says Neil.
In the Lovell living room, Marilyn sits with family and friends and her pastor.
“If the heatshield is even slightly cracked,” says a news anchor on TV, “the extreme cold could split it wide open. Worst of all, if the pyrotechnics for controlling the parachutes have been damaged, the chutes may not open at all causing the spacecraft to hit the water not at a gentle twenty miles per hour but at a suicidal three hundred.”
Walter Cronkite narrates stock footage on telvision, saying, “Perhaps never in human history has the entire world been united by such a global drama. In New York city, thousands of people have gathered to watch updates to the mission in Times Square.”
NBC’s Chet Huntley continued with the news, saying, “Many countries offered help. And the State Department said it would ask for it, if it were needed. The House and Senate passed resolutions calling on the American people to pray tonight for the astronauts.”
“In Rome, Pope Paul led fifty thousand people in prayers for the safe return of the astronauts,” continued Cronkite. “In Jerusalem, prayers at the Wailing Wall – ”
Back in Aquarius, Lovell talks to a shivering Fred Haise.
“It’s about time to bail out of this ship, Freddo,” says Lovell.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Jean Speegle Howard as Blanch Lovell
Mark Wheeler as Neil Armstrong
Larry Williams as Buzz Aldrin
Rance Howard as Priest
Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell
Max Elliott Slade as Jay Lovell
Chet Huntley as Himself
Walter Cronkite as Himself
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Bill Paxton as Fred Haise
Bruce Wright as Anchor
Ivan Allen as Anchor
The detached Service Module rolls away from the Command Module.
Jack Swigert floats through the docking tunnel, carrying a camera.
“Okay, Houston, our Service Module is free,” says Lovell. “We’re gonna take a look at what we have here.”
“Copy that, says Mattingly.
“There it is. I see it,” says Haise, looking out the LM Pilot window. Lovell sees it as well, as the SM rolls its damaged side toward their windows.
“Oh, Houston,” says Lovell. “We’re getting our first look at the Service Module now. One whole side of the spacecraft is missing! Right by the high gain antenna — the whole panel is blown out. Right up — right up to our heatshield.”
Mission controllers listen intently.
“Uh, copy that, Aquarius,” says Mattingly.
“It looks like it got the engine bell, too. Can you see that?” asks Haise.
“Oh, man,” says Swigert, “That’s incredible.”
Mattingly looks at Slayton.
“The heatshield,” says Slayton.
On television, Jules Bergman holds a blowtorch to a model of a heat shield.
“The heat will build up to as much as three or four thousand degrees Fahrenheit,” says Bergman. “On a lunar re-entry flight, the heat approaches four thousand degrees.”
Neil Armstrong attempts to distract Blanch Lovell’s attention.
“So Blanch,” says Neil. “Blanch, did — did Jim make Eagle Scout or not?”
IN THIS MINUTE:
Jules Bergman as Himself
Max Elliott Slade as Jay Lovell
Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert
Bill Paxton as Fred Haise
Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell
Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly
Loren Dean as John Aaron
Clint Howard as Sy Liebergot
Ed Harris as Gene Kranz
Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney
Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton
Jean Speegle Howard as Blanch Lovell
Mark Wheeler as Neil Armstrong
Larry Williams as Buzz Aldrin
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
Jay Lovell watches ABC News Science Reporter Jules Bergman as he sits in a classroom at St. John’s Military Academy in Wisconsin.
“…surviving by using the LM’s systems, there can be no easy maneuver,” says Bergman. “And their LM lifeboat is doing things and working longer then it was ever intended to. It’s a race against time until splashdown.”
In the Command Module, Jack Swigert is talking to Ken Mattingly back at Mission Control.
“Okay, Jack,” says Mattingly. “We’re ready to see if the computer will accept uplink of the re-entry data now.” The status lights of the IMU blink on.
“Okay,” says Swigert, “The IMU’s up. We got our eight-balls back.”
Haise and Lovell continue to stow extra ballast in the CM’s storage lockers.
“Copy that,” replies Mattingly.
“Okay, Ken,” says Swigert. “Uplink telemetry, command module to accept, right?”
“That’s affirm,” agrees Mattingly. “Go ahead and try it.”
The controllers at the MCC stare expectently at their monitors.
“Come on,” says Gene Kranz.
Swigert throws the UP TLM switch to “ACCEPT.” Program 20 activates with Verb 37 and Nound 00.
Lights blink. Swigert smiles.
“Uplink completed,” says Swigert.
One of the controller’s monitors switches from a graph showing “REGION III FLOW COMPARISON” to a grid of “CSM ECS-CRYD TAB” listings. The data starts filling in the many fields on the screen.
“Yeah. That’s more like it!” says Mattingly.
“Back in business!” says John Aaron.
IN THIS MINUTE:
Jules Bergman as Himself
Max Elliott Slade as Jay Lovell
Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert
Bill Paxton as Fred Haise
Gary Sinese as Ken Mattingly
Loren Dean as John Aaron
Clint Howard as Sy Liebergot
Ed Harris as Gene Kranz
Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney
Walter von Huene as Technician
