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

Minute 134: When Will We be Going Back?

Aug 13th, 2020

GUEST: NASA ENGINEER STUART MCCLUNG 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 Apol

Minute 133: A Successful Failure

Aug 12th, 2020

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 fam

Minute 132: This is Apollo 13, Signing Off

Aug 11th, 2020

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. “T

Minute 131: NAVY 66

Aug 10th, 2020

GUEST: NASA CHIEF HISTORIAN BILL BARRY 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 Od

Minute 130: Welcome Home

Aug 7th, 2020

GUESTS: ROBIN PERTZ & JOHN OLDHAM, NASA GLENN RESEARCH CENTER 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 Mo

Minute 129: Standing By

Aug 6th, 2020

GUEST: ACTOR BRETT CULLEN 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,

Minute 128: Do You Read Me?

Aug 5th, 2020

GUEST: DR. JOHN DULEMBA, MD, FACOG 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

Minute 127: Standing By for Any Reports

Aug 4th, 2020

GUEST: FR. DAVID MOWRY 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

Minute 126: Expect to Regain Signal in Three Minutes

Aug 3rd, 2020

GUEST: NASA’S “IRON FLIGHT” DIRECTOR PAUL DYE 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

Minute 125: Our Finest Hour

Jul 31st, 2020

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,” rep

Minute 124: If They’re Not Back in Four

Jul 9th, 2020

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,”

Minute 123: Farewell, Aquarius, and We Thank You

Jul 8th, 2020

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

Minute 122: That’s Good Thinking

Jul 7th, 2020

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. Sw

Minute 121: Coming up on LM Jettison

Jul 6th, 2020

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

Minute 120: It’s Eighty Degrees Out There

Jul 3rd, 2020

GUEST: AEROSPACE CAMERMAN ADAM WHITE “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 ha

Minute 119: Time to Bail Out

Jul 2nd, 2020

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

Minute 118: One Whole Side of the Spacecraft is Missing

Jul 1st, 2020

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 t

Minute 117: Typhoon Warning

Jun 30th, 2020

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. “

Minute 116: Back in Business

Jun 29th, 2020

GUEST: PATRICK MULLANE 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 t

Minute 115: BMAG Number Two Power to Warm Up

Jun 26th, 2020

“Now, Jack,” says Mattingly. “Yeah, go ahead, Ken,” says Swigert. “Okay, now,” says Mattingly. “Panel Five. Circuit breakers ‘caution and warning’, main B closed.” “Main B closed,” repeats Swigert. “Master alarm off.” “Okay, Jack,” says Matting

Minute 114: A Toaster Through a Car Wash

Jun 25th, 2020

Jack Swigert is reluctant to touch the wet control panel. “What’s the word on these things shorting out?” asks Swigert Mattingly looks at John Aaron. Aaron shrugs. “We’ll just take that one at a time, Jack,” says Mattingly. “It’s like trying to

Minute 113: Are You Boys with the Space Program Too?

Jun 24th, 2020

Marilyn Lovell introduces her mother-in-law to two men. “Blanch,” says Marilyn, “These nice young men are gonna watch the television with you. This is Neil Armstrong and this is Buzz Aldrin.” “Nice to meet you,” says Neil Armstrong. “Hi,” says

Minute 112: Are the Flowers Blooming?

Jun 23rd, 2020

Ken Mattingly, John Young, and John Aaron are walking into the entrance of Mission Control. “My notes are clear on that last sequence, right?” asks Mattingly. “Yeah!” replies Aaron. “You’re from Building Five, right?” asks the guard. “Excuse me

Minute 111: I Think We Got it, Buddy

Jun 22nd, 2020

In the CM simulator, Ken Mattingly begins a power-up with the new configuration. He turns on the floodlights. “Okay, says Mattingly. “I’m bringing up the guidance. Here we go.” The power needle creeps up from ten amps. “CMC (Command Module Comp