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N0KFQ > TODAY 13.04.14 17:02l 35 Lines 1442 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 17637_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Apr 13
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Sent: 140413/1559Z 17637@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.59
Apr 13, 1970:
Apollo 13 oxygen tank explodes
On April 13, 1970, disaster strikes 200,000 miles from Earth when
oxygen tank No. 2 blows up on Apollo 13, the third manned lunar
landing mission. Astronauts James A. Lovell, John L. Swigert, and
Fred W. Haise had left Earth two days before for the Fra Mauro
highlands of the moon but were forced to turn their attention to
simply making it home alive.
Mission commander Lovell reported to mission control on Earth:
"Houston, we've had a problem here," and it was discovered that
the normal supply of oxygen, electricity, light, and water had
been disrupted. The landing mission was aborted, and the
astronauts and controllers on Earth scrambled to come up with
emergency procedures. The crippled spacecraft continued to the
moon, circled it, and began a long, cold journey back to Earth.
The astronauts and mission control were faced with enormous
logistical problems in stabilizing the spacecraft and its air
supply, and providing enough energy to the damaged fuel cells to
allow successful reentry into Earth's atmosphere. Navigation was
another problem, and Apollo 13's course was repeatedly corrected
with dramatic and untested maneuvers. On April 17, with the world
anxiously watching, tragedy turned to triumph as the Apollo 13
astronauts touched down safely in the Pacific Ocean.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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