CBS News Coverage of Apollo 13 Part 1

From the early morning hours of Tuesday Apirl 14th 1970, CBS News Covers the Apollo 13 mission
in Breaking News mode. Walter Cronkite is joined with former astronaut Wally Schirra.


At 10:08 p.m. EST April 13, the crew reported an undervoltage alarm on the CSM main bus B, rapid loss of pressure in SM oxygen tank No. 2, and dropping current in fuel cells 1 and 3 to a zero reading. The loss of oxygen and primary power in the service module required an immediate abort of the mission. The astronauts powered up the LM, powered down the CSM, and used the LM systems for power and life support. The first maneuver following the abort decision was made with the descent propulsion system to place the spacecraft back in a free-return trajectory around the moon. After the spacecraft swung around the moon, another maneuver reduced the coast time back to earth and moved the landing point from the Indian Ocean to the South Pacific.


The Apollo 13 crew:

Commander :James A. Lovell, Jr.

Command Module Pilot :John L. Swigert

Lunar Module Pilot :Fred W. Haise, Jr.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• CBS
• News
• Apollo
• 13
• 1970
• Breaking

[noslashnognr]

This is a real gem. Thank you so much for loading this! Wow! I was 7 when the Apollo 13 movie with Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon came out. I watched it on VHS every day after school for at least 5 years. It's what inspired me to become an engineer. This is so crazy watching this footage. This is just great. What a defining moment in America's history. God bless America's space program.

[waltonfrancis1]

This is the manner in which news should be presented today. How I miss the matter of fact coverage. These men express less emotion reporting this significant event than today's' so called newspeople do when they report the weather.

[aj0446]

@irock0456 gotta remember too that the computers were no stronger then an old gameboy. Americans can do anything! with anything

[aj0446]

@ScooterpupReljac that place is amazing, got a tour plus it is fun for kids too.

[Exclavion]

There is no problem that can't be conquered by Houston or Man! We are at the apex it's just society that suffocates us through their idiocy! I understand English and many other languages and disciplines. The problem is that I cannot feel free to express myself. Your people would be free if they were allowed to express themselves and their creativity!

[ScooterpupReljac]

Everyone should visit the historic control room in Houston. Anyone who grew up watching the space program will get chill bumps when visiting there.

[ScooterpupReljac]

@noslashnognr

Well, this will blow your mind but I was 7 when Apollo 13 actually occured, so you make me fell 100 years old!

[joesmoe71]

Wow! Another historic gem like the JFK assassination and Challenger disaster coverage, except fortunately this one has a happy ending, thanks for posting!

[sd31263]

Adjust the vertical hold, please! Goddamn old Magnavox TVs don't work for shit! ;)

[irock0456]

man the movie was great but actually thinking that this ACTUALLY happened is just amazing that they got back safley its just wow

[WizzRacing]

It was a damn miracle they didn't die. If you read the full story you see divine intervention from the bad fuel cell placement to being used on Apollo 13 and not 12 as it was to be mounted on. Then the containment door blowing off when it should have stayed on. Then the perfect crew being the ones onboard with the expertise on shut down proceeders, manual guidance etc..

[BuzzCola09]

Just listening to this is giving me goosebumps, its like going back in time! god bless all the men that worked to bring the crew home safely!