Explore every episode of the podcast Apollo 13 Minute Podcast

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 […]

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 Apollo 13 crew walks among the applauding Navy crew. The Mission Control […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 Odyssey floats toward the surface. Odyssey splashes down in brilliant sunshine. Navy […]

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 Module swaying in the sky. “Hello, Houston,” says Lovell. “This is Odyssey. It’s good to see you […]

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, if you remember, by the explosion three days ago has withstood the inferno of […]

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 hold? Will the Command module survive the intense heat of re-entry? If it doesn’t, there […]

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 Lovell household, Marilyn Lovell is seated behind her son, Jeffrey. Daughter Susan sits next to Marilyn, […]

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 illuminate outside  the left window of the Command Module. Water rains from the control panel. “Flight, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 have to,” says Haise. “Aw, come on,” says Lovell, hugging Haise. “Damn,” […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 their LM lifeboat is doing things and working longer then it was ever intended to. […]

“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 Mattingly. “On panel Seven, B mag (magazine) number Two, power to warm up.” “B mag number two,” says Swigert. “Power […]

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 drive a toaster through a car wash,” says Swigert, pressing the switch. The […]

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 Buzz Aldrin. “Are you boys in the space program, too?” asks Blanch. Back in Mission […]

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, Gentlemen!” shouts John Young, and they walk through a crowd of people. The team enters the […]

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 Computer) attitude IMU”, says Mattingly, throwing a switch. “CMC source, CMC mode auto.” The power […]

The CM simulator guys are discussing the LM power umbilical. “Right,” says John Young. “It’s back-up for the LM power supply.” “I’m listening,” says John Aaron. “So,” says Ken Mattingly, “Reverse it. Reverse the flow and see if we can draw these four amps from the LM batteries before we cut it loose. Why can’t […]

“Jim, this is Deke,” says Slayton. “It’s Deke,” says Haise to Swigert, who doesn’t have a headset to hear the transmission. “They don’t know how to do it,” says Swigert. “Maybe, Jack’s right,” says Haise to Lovell. “Hello there, Deke, what’s the story?” asks Lovell. “Jim, we’re gonna get that power procedure to you, we’re […]

In the LM, Jack Swigert asks Fred Haise how he’s doing. “I’m okay,” replies Haise. An sudden explosion rumbles near the LM. “What the hell was that?” says Swigert. “Let’s hope it was just the (helium) burst disk,” says Lovell. He presses the mic key. “Houston, can you confirm a burst helium disk?” “We confirm […]

Jim Lovell, in a pre-recorded interview, remembers a time when he lost his way over the Sea of Japan at night, in a malfunctioning aircraft. Marilyn Lovell watches the interview in the Lovell living room on TV. ABC Science Reporter Jules Bergman is conducting the interview. “I can’t even tell now what my altitude is,” […]

Still missing power for the re-entry sequence in the simulator control room, John Aaron turns to backup commander John Young. “I don’t know where in the hell we’re going to find it,” says Aaron. Meanwhile, on a televsion in the Lovell home, ABC Science Reporter Jules Bergman  is talking about a previous interview with Jim […]

Gene Kranz is happy the engineers have given the astronauts enough power to survive till re-entry. “Well done,” says Kranz. “Now we gotta get them in. Tell me about the power procedures.” In the Command Module simulator, Ken Mattingly works with John Aaron, who is sitting in the simulator control room, to figure out the […]

Swigert continues the countdown. “7, 6, 5, 4…” Lovell sticks his slippers onto the Velcro-lined floor pad. Haise knocks the -X RCS motors “Ullage is go,” says Haise. “…3, 2, 1,” finishes Swigert. “Ignition,” says Lovell, and the LM descent engine fires up. “She’s burning!” says Haise. “Oh yeah,” agrees Lovell. “Master arm off,” reports […]

Jim Lovell is piloting the LM’s mid-course correction. “That’s me around,” says Lovell. “A little more,” says Haise. “Come on, baby.” “Come on. That’s it,” says Lovell. “Hold it. Damn it!” Swigert is counting the final ten seconds of the burn. “5, 6, 7…” “Back, back!” says Lovell. “That’s it. Hold it. Steady.” “8…” says […]

In the Lunar Module, the astronauts prepare for the course correction. “Okay, this gonna take all three of us,” says Lovell. “Freddo, you handle the pitch. But on the translation controllers all backwards so if the… the Earth starts drifting down you need to thrust ‘aft’ not ‘forward’. I’ll do the same on mine with […]

A news anchor is explaining the mid-course correction on the air. “In order to enter the atmosphere safely,” says the news anchor, “the crew must aim for a corridor just two and a half degrees wide. If they’re too steep, they will incinerate in the steadily thickening air, if they’re too shallow, they’ll ricochet off […]

“Now, come on,” says Gene. “We gotta be able to give these guys something up there.” “Without power, we can’t give them a read,” replies GUIDO. “I’m not talking about power,” says Kranz, “I’m talking about reference.” “No, no. There’s no references, ” says GNC. “We have a bunch of debris up there.” “Houston, what’s […]

FIDO explains, “We need another burn to get them back in the entry corridor.” “Definitely another burn,” agrees GNC. “Another burn,” says Kranz. “Fire the engines and get them on course,” says FIDO. “Copy that,” says Gene Kranz. Onboard Aquarius, Jim Lovell examines a frozen hot dog. Swigert coughs. Lovell taps the hot dog against […]

GUEST: SPACE HIPSTER EMILY CARNEY “Okay, Jim. Copy that,” replies the CAPCOM, after Lovell informs Mission Control that he’s no longer wearing his sensors. Swigert and Haise follow suit, disconnecting their sensors.  In Mission Control, the Flight Surgeon’s screen shows three flat lines. “Flight,” says the Flight Surgeon, “Now I’m losing all three of them!” […]

CAPCOM tells Swigert that President Nixon has granted an income tax extension for him, since Jack is most decidedly “out of the country.” “Roger that, Houston. That’s wonderful news,” replies Swigert. In Mission Control, the Flight Surgeon has advice for Gene Kranz. “Tell them they have to sleep,” says the Flight Surgeon. “Haise is running […]

Blanch Lovell is talking to her granddaughter, Susan. “Well, don’t you worry, honey,” says Blanche. “If they could get a washing machine to fly, my Jimmy could land it.” Onboard Aquarius, the cassette player is losing power. “BLUE MOON,” performed by The Mavericks plays slowly as the player bounces around the Lunar Module. Moisture covers […]

Marilyn, Susan, and Barbara Lovell are visiting Jim Lovell’s mother, Blanch, at the nursing home. “I was gonna see Jimmy,” says Blanch, pointing at the TV. “I know,” says Marilyn. “I know. We came to tell you something. There’s been an accident. Jimmy’s okay. He’s all right – – but he’s not gonna get to […]

Everyone in Mission Control is relieved that the CO2 scrubber improvisation is working. Back in the Command Module simulator, Ken Mattingly is piecing together a reentry sequence power-up. “Okay, spacecraft control to computer,” says Mattingly. A Master Alarm lights up as the ammeter in the control room buzzes the overload indication. “Damn,” says John Aaron. […]

The makeshift CO2 scrubber has been attached to the LM. Lovell looks at Swigert and Haise. “Just breathe normal, fellas,” he says to them. “Aquarius, please advise on CO2 status,” says CAPCOM. ” Yeah, Houston,” says Lovell. “We’re taking a look at those numbers right now. We’re still holding close to 15, Houston. “Roger that. […]

Swigert watches Haise and Lovell assembling the CO2 scrubber. Meanwhile, in the Haise household, Mary Haise sits with several children and family and friends. ABC’s Jules Bergman is reporting on television. “As most of you are aware,” says Bergman, “there is no rescue possible in space flight, any rescue system the space agency has long […]

A news anchor explains that the CO2 scrubbers “are quickly becoming saturated.” On board Aquarius, Jim Lovell coughs as he helps assemble the makeshift scrubber. Fred looks at a rip in one of the bags. “Sh-t, I tore it,” says Haise. “Sh-t,” echoes Swigert. “Houston, what do we do if we rip the bag?” asks […]

Andy, the CAPCOM, continues explaining the construction of the carbon dioxide scrubber to the crew. “Canisters, I’m sorry,” says Andy. “A roll of gray tape.” “Duct tape,” corrects the technician. “The duct tape,” repeats Andy. “You need an LCG (Liquid-Cooled Garment) bag, two LCG bags, red suit hoses and you’ve got the flight plan cover.” […]

Swigert looks at Haise and Lovell, after hearing that the CO2 use was only calculated for two astronauts. “Maybe I should just hold my breath,” says Swigert. Back in Houston, the engineers have devised a carbon dioxide scrubber adapter. A television blares in the background. ” … the deadly CO2 gas is literally poisoning the […]

Swigert, Lovell, and Haise are having a loud discussion. “I just asked you what the gauge was reading!” says Haise “All right,” begins Lovell. “And you don’t know!” yells Haise. “All right,” says Lovell, “we’re not doing this, gentlemen! We’re not gonna do this. We’re not gonna go bouncing off the walls for ten minutes, […]

Lovell, Haise, and Swigert are in the Lunar Module. Swigert is expressing his concerns. “You think they would tell us?” asks Swigert. “There’s no reason for them to tell us!” “What you mean they’re not gonna tell us?” replies Haise. “That’s bullsh–!” “All right!” says Lovell. “There are thousand things that have to happen in […]

Haise and Lovell are laughing about Haise’s symptoms. “That’s another first for America’s space program,” says Lovell. “Listen,” says Haise, “um, I’ve been going over some stuff, and I’m a little worried about this cold affecting our battery efficiency. See. we quit heating the glycol to save water and power, so that’s not helping us […]