James Burke Reports On Apollo 13 - "History's most successful failure" (BBC Television)

Watch Full Feature Show (Burke, Apollo and Moon Landing): http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=B0B339DE69C47980&playnext=1

The most successful failure in history. 'Doomed' Apollo 13 escapes sure death through skill, endurance, teamwork and Physics. This mission is the origin of the phrase "Houston, we have a problem" (Lovell) which was transmitted following an explosion in a Service Module oxygen tank. The explosion also damaged the other oxygen tank or its plumbing, resulting in a complete loss of oxygen and electrical power in the command module.

Since the lunar module was still attached, the crew decided to make use of it essentially as a "life boat", which could sustain life just long enough for them to return to earth. The command module, having no oxygen, had to be sealed off for most of the duration of the trip home. It also had no thrusters or electrical power left. This brilliant crew and dozens of engineers on the ground came up with a plan that was as optimistic as it was singular. The lunar module could make a single thrust ONCE for about 10 seconds and, if done at exactly the right time, and in the right direction, could direct the two modules into a survivable re-entry trajectory. After that, what power remained from the lunar module's batteries could be pumped back into the command module and the crew would then re-enter it as it is the one part of the ship containing heat shields able to withstand the tremendous heat generated by colliding with the earth's atmosphere. Once inside the command module, the lunar module would then be discarded and the remainder of the journey guided only by physical law.

And do you know what happend? It worked.

Category:

Science & Technology

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• Houston
• We
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• Problem
• James
• Burke
• Apollo
• Space
• Program
• 13
• Lovell
• John
• Swigert
• Fred
• Haise
• April
• 1970
• BBC
• Coverage
• Successful
• Failure
• Lunar
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• Command
• Splash
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[aaronr1v3r]

isaac newton was on the apollo 13 space shuttle?

also was that real footage yes? :P

[JamesBurkeWeb]

heh... yes, real footage.

[DelaneyRoberts]

I love how James has his fingers crossed during the radio blackout.

[JamesBurkeWeb]

I think I might have as well!

[JamesBurkeWeb]

See full video description for details about this video.

[manalv93]

wtf