Apollo 13 Full Mission Timeline

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Apollo 13: Mission took place in 1970. Year display to be updated.

Spacecraft Event Time. UTC/GMT Times.


Historic Simulation of this mission is currently not available. It is scheduled to be show again for the next anniversary of this event.

Time (UTC/GMT+0)Event
1970-04-10  05:00:00Terminal countdown started at T-28 hours.
1970-04-11  00:00:00Scheduled 9-hour 13-minute hold at T-9 hours.
1970-04-11  09:13:00Countdown resumed at T-9 hours.
1970-04-11  14:43:00Scheduled 1-hour hold at T-3 hours 30 minutes.
1970-04-11  15:43:00Countdown resumed at T-3 hours 30 minutes.
1970-04-11  19:12:43Guidance reference release.
1970-04-11  19:12:51S-IC engine start command.
1970-04-11  19:12:53S-IC engine ignition (#5).
1970-04-11  19:12:58All S-IC engines thrust OK.
1970-04-11  19:13:00Range zero.
1970-04-11  19:13:00All holddown arms released (1st motion) (1.06 g).
1970-04-11  19:13:00Liftoff (umbilical disconnected).
1970-04-11  19:13:02Tower clearance yaw maneuver started.
1970-04-11  19:13:10Yaw maneuver ended.
1970-04-11  19:13:12Pitch and roll maneuver started.
1970-04-11  19:13:32Roll maneuver ended.
1970-04-11  19:14:08Mach 1 achieved.
1970-04-11  19:14:16Maximum bending moment achieved (69,000,000 lbf-in).
1970-04-11  19:14:21Maximum dynamic pressure (651.63 lb/ft2).
1970-04-11  19:15:15S-IC center engine cutoff command.
1970-04-11  19:15:43Pitch maneuver ended.
1970-04-11  19:15:43S-IC outboard engine cutoff.
1970-04-11  19:15:43S-IC maximum total inertial acceleration (3.83 g).
1970-04-11  19:15:44S-IC maximum Earth-fixed velocity.
1970-04-11  19:15:44S-IC/S-II separation command.
1970-04-11  19:15:45S-II engine start command.
1970-04-11  19:15:46S-II ignition.
1970-04-11  19:16:14S-II aft interstage jettisoned.
1970-04-11  19:16:21Launch escape tower jettisoned.
1970-04-11  19:16:24Iterative guidance mode initiated.
1970-04-11  19:17:31S-IC apex.
1970-04-11  19:18:30S-II center (or inboard) engine cutoff (S-II engine #5 cutoff 132.36 seconds early).
1970-04-11  19:20:00CMP (Swigert): Inboard.
1970-04-11  19:20:42S-II command to complete CECO.
1970-04-11  19:21:57S-II maximum total inertial acceleration (1.66 g).
1970-04-11  19:22:06S-IC impact (theoretical).
1970-04-11  19:22:52S-II outboard engine cutoff (34.53 seconds later than planned).
1970-04-11  19:22:53S-II maximum Earth-fixed velocity; S-II/S-IVB separation command.
1970-04-11  19:22:53S-IVB 1st burn start command.
1970-04-11  19:22:56S-IVB 1st burn ignition.
1970-04-11  19:23:05S-IVB ullage case jettisoned.
1970-04-11  19:23:32S-II apex.
1970-04-11  19:24:00CAPCOM (Joe Kerwin): We confirm inboard out.
1970-04-11  19:25:29S-IVB 1st burn cutoff (9 seconds later than planned).
1970-04-11  19:25:30S-IVB 1st burn maximum total inertial acceleration (0.58 g).
1970-04-11  19:25:30S-IVB 1st burn maximum Earth-fixed velocity.
1970-04-11  19:25:39Earth orbit insertion.
1970-04-11  19:25:50Maneuver to local horizontal attitude started.
1970-04-11  19:26:00CDR (Lovell): That should not have happened.
1970-04-11  19:27:10Orbital navigation started.
1970-04-11  19:28:00CMP: No, that is 7:42. That is two minutes early. [engine cutoff should have occurred  at 7 minutes 42 seconds, not 5 minutes 30 seconds].
1970-04-11  19:33:58S-II impact (theoretical).
1970-04-11  20:50:00TV transmission started.
1970-04-11  20:56:00TV transmission ended.
1970-04-11  21:39:08S-IVB 2nd burn restart preparation.
1970-04-11  21:48:38S-IVB 2nd burn restart command.
1970-04-11  21:48:46S-IVB 2nd burn ignition.
1970-04-11  21:54:37S-IVB 2nd burn cutoff.
1970-04-11  21:54:37S-IVB 2nd burn maximum total inertial acceleration (1.44 g).
1970-04-11  21:54:37S-IVB 2nd burn maximum Earth-fixed velocity.
1970-04-11  21:54:37S-IVB safing procedures started.
1970-04-11  21:54:47Translunar injection.
1970-04-11  21:57:08Maneuver to local horizontal attitude and orbital navigation started.
1970-04-11  22:09:38Maneuver to transposition and docking attitude started.
1970-04-11  22:19:38CSM separated from S-IVB.
1970-04-11  22:22:00TV transmission started.
1970-04-11  22:32:08CSM docked with LM/S-IVB.
1970-04-11  23:14:00CSM/LM ejected from S-IVB.
1970-04-11  23:22:00S-IVB maneuver to evasive APS burn attitude.
1970-04-11  23:31:00S-IVB APS evasive maneuver ignition.
1970-04-11  23:32:20S-IVB APS evasive maneuver cutoff.
1970-04-11  23:33:00TV transmission ended.
1970-04-11  23:40:40S-IVB maneuver to LOX dump attitude initiated.
1970-04-11  23:47:39S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - CVS vent opened.
1970-04-11  23:52:19S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - LOX dump started.
1970-04-11  23:52:39S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - CVS vent opened.
1970-04-11  23:53:07S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - LOX dump ended.
1970-04-12  01:01:07Maneuver to attitude for final S-IVB APS burn initiated.
1970-04-12  01:12:59S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - APS ignition.
1970-04-12  01:16:36S-IVB lunar impact maneuver - APS cutoff.
1970-04-12  02:30:14Earth weather photography started.
1970-04-12  02:56:02Unsuccessful passive thermal control attempt.
1970-04-12  06:30:19Earth weather photography ended.
1970-04-12  08:55:332nd S-IVB transposition maneuver (unplanned) initiated by launch vehicle digital computer.
1970-04-12  14:42:10Unplanned S-IVB velocity increase of 5 feet per second which altered lunar impact trajectory closer to   target point.
1970-04-13  01:26:00TV transmission started.
1970-04-13  01:53:49Midcourse correction ignition (SPS) - transfer to hybrid non-free return trajectory.
1970-04-13  01:53:53Midcourse correction cutoff.
1970-04-13  02:15:00TV transmission ended.
1970-04-13  03:03:00Photography of Comet Bennett.
1970-04-13  03:34:49Unsuccessful passive thermal control attempt.
1970-04-13  17:15:00Crew turned on fans in oxygen tank #2 (routine procedure).
1970-04-13  17:18:05Cryogenic oxygen tank #2 quantity gauge indicated off-scale high, of over 100% (probably due to short   circuit). First indication of a problem.
1970-04-13  17:21:08Cryogenic oxygen tank #2 quantity probe short circuited.
1970-04-13  19:03:50Oxygen tank #2 fans turned on again with no apparent adverse affects. Quantity gauge continued to read  off-scale high.
1970-04-13  22:57:44Oxygen tank #2 fans turned on again with no apparent adverse affects. Quantity gauge continued to read   off-scale high.
1970-04-14  00:40:00CDR and LMP cleared to enter the LM to commence inflight inspection.
1970-04-14  01:33:00LMP entered LM.
1970-04-14  01:38:00CDR entered LM.
1970-04-14  01:53:00LM system checks.
1970-04-14  02:27:00TV transmission started.
1970-04-14  02:43:00CDR and LMP entered LM.
1970-04-14  02:59:30TV transmission ended.
1970-04-14  03:03:00Tunnel hatch closed.
1970-04-14  03:05:31 Master caution and warning triggered by low hydrogen pressure in tank #1. Alarm turned off after  4 seconds.
1970-04-14  03:05:58  CAPCOM (Jack Lousma): 13, we have got one more item for you, when you get a chance. We would like you to stir up your cryo tanks. In addition, I have shaft and trunnion...
1970-04-14  03:06:06CMP (Swigert): Okay.
1970-04-14  03:06:07CAPCOM: ...for looking at the Comet Bennett, if you need it.
1970-04-14  03:06:12CMP: Okay. Stand by.
1970-04-14  03:06:18Oxygen tank #1 fans on.
1970-04-14  03:06:19Oxygen tank #1 pressure decreased 8 psi due to normal destratification. Spacecraft current increased by  1 ampere.
1970-04-14  03:06:20Oxygen tank #2 fans on. Stabilization control system electrical disturbance indicated a power transient.
1970-04-14  03:06:21Oxygen tank #2 pressured decreased 4 psi.
1970-04-14  03:06:22Electrical short in tank #2 (stabilization control system electrical disturbance indicated a power transient.)
1970-04-14  03:06:221.2-volt decrease in AC bus #2 voltage.
1970-04-14  03:06:2211.1 ampere “spike” recorded in fuel cell #3 current followed by drop in current and rise in voltage.
1970-04-14  03:06:36Oxygen tank #2 pressure started to rise for 24 seconds.
1970-04-14  03:06:3811-volt decrease in AC bus #2 voltage for one sample.
1970-04-14  03:06:38Stabilization control system electrical disturbance indicated a power transient.
1970-04-14  03:06:4122.9-ampere “spike” recorded in fuel cell #3 current, followed by drop in current and rising voltage
1970-04-14  03:06:41Stabilization control system electrical disturbance indicated a power transient.
1970-04-14  03:07:00Oxygen tank #2 pressure rise ended at a pressure of 953.8 psia.
1970-04-14  03:07:15Oxygen tank #2 pressure started to rise again.
1970-04-14  03:07:30Oxygen tank #2 quantity dropped from full scale for two seconds and  then read 75.3% full. This indicated the gauge short circuit may have corrected itself.
1970-04-14  03:07:31Oxygen tank #2 temperature started to rise rapidly.
1970-04-14  03:07:43Flow rate of oxygen to all three fuel cells started to decrease.
1970-04-14  03:07:45Oxygen tank #2 pressure reached maximum value of 1,008.3 psia.
1970-04-14  03:07:48Oxygen tank #2 temperature rises 40 °F for one sample (invalid reading)
1970-04-14  03:07:51Oxygen tank #2 quantity jumped to off-scale high and then started to drop, indicating a failed sensor.
1970-04-14  03:07:52Oxygen tank #2 temperature read -151.3 °F. Last valid indication.
1970-04-14  03:07:52Oxygen tank #2 temperature suddenly went off-scale low, indicating a failed sensor.
1970-04-14  03:07:52Last telemetered pressure from oxygen tank #2 before telemetry loss was 995.7 psia.
1970-04-14  03:07:53Sudden accelerometer activity on X, Y, and Z axes.
1970-04-14  03:07:53Body-mounted roll, pitch, and yaw rate gyros showed low-level activity for 1/4 second.
1970-04-14  03:07:53Oxygen tank #1 pressure dropped 4.2 psi.
1970-04-14  03:07:532.8-amp rise in total fuel cell current.
1970-04-14  03:07:53X, Y, and Z accelerations in CM indicate 1.17 g, 0.65 g, and 0.65 g.
1970-04-14  03:07:53Telemetry loss for 1.8 seconds. Master caution and warning triggered by DC main bus B undervoltage.
1970-04-14  03:07:53Cryogenic oxygen tank #2 lost pressure. Crew hears loud bang
1970-04-14  03:07:54Nitrogen pressure in fuel cell #1 went off-scale low indicating a failed sensor.
1970-04-14  03:07:55Telemetry recovered.
1970-04-14  03:07:56Oxygen tank #2 appears failed. Oxygen tank #1 failing.Fuel cell #2 starving
1970-04-14  03:07:57Oxygen tank #2 quantity read off-scale high following telemetry recovery indicating a failed sensor.
1970-04-14  03:07:59The reaction control system helium tank C temperature began a 1.66 °F increase in 36 seconds.
1970-04-14  03:08:01Oxygen flow rates to fuel cells #1 and #3 approached zero after decreasing for 7 seconds.
1970-04-14  03:08:02Surface temperature of SM oxidizer tank in bay #3 started a 3.8 °F increase in a 15-second period.
1970-04-14  03:08:02Service propulsion system helium tank temperature started a 3.8 °F increase in a 32-second period.
1970-04-14  03:08:09DC main bus A voltage recovered to 29.0 volts. DC main bus B recovered to 28.8.
1970-04-14  03:08:20CMP: Okay, Houston, we have had a problem here.
1970-04-14  03:08:28CAPCOM: This is Houston. Say again, please.
1970-04-14  03:08:35CDR: Houston, we have had a problem. We have had a main B bus undervolt.
1970-04-14  03:08:42CAPCOM: Roger. Main B bus undervolt.
1970-04-14  03:08:49Oxygen tank #2 temperature started steady drop lasting 59 seconds, indicating a failed sensor.
1970-04-14  03:09:10LMP (Haise): Okay. Right now, Houston, the voltage is - is looking good. And we had a pretty large bang  associated
1970-04-14  03:09:20... with the caution and warning there. And as I recall, main B was the one that had an amp spike  on it once before.
1970-04-14  03:09:30CAPCOM: Roger, Fred.
1970-04-14  03:09:38Oxygen tank #2 quantity became erratic for 69 seconds before assuming an off-scale-low state, indicating a failed sensor.
1970-04-14  03:09:54LMP: In the interim here, we are starting to go ahead and button up the tunnel again.
1970-04-14  03:10:04LMP: That jolt must have rocked the sensor on - see now – O2 oxygen quantity 2.
1970-04-14  03:10:09... It was oscillating down around 20 to 60 percent. Now it is full-scale high.
1970-04-14  03:10:39Master caution and warning triggered by DC main bus B undervoltage. Alarm was turned off in six seconds.
1970-04-14  03:10:40DC main bus B dropped below 26.25 volts and continued to fall rapidly.
1970-04-14  03:10:41CDR: Okay. And we are looking at our service module RCS helium 1. We have – B is barber poled and D is barber poled,
1970-04-14  03:10:44... helium 2, D is barber pole, and secondary propellants, I have A and C barber pole. AC bus fails within two seconds.
1970-04-14  03:10:45Fuel cell #3 failed.
1970-04-14  03:10:59Fuel cell current started to decrease.
1970-04-14  03:11:02Master caution and warning caused by AC bus #2 being reset.
1970-04-14  03:11:06Master caution and warning triggered by DC main bus A undervoltage.
1970-04-14  03:11:07DC main bus A dropped below 26.25 volts and in the next few seconds leveled off at 25.5 volts.
1970-04-14  03:11:07LMP: AC #2 is showing zip.
1970-04-14  03:11:25LMP: Yes, we got a main bus A undervolt now, too, showing. It is reading about 25 and a half.
1970-04-14  03:11:29... Main B is reading zip right now.
1970-04-14  03:13:06Master caution and warning triggered by high hydrogen flow rate to fuel cell #2.
1970-04-14  03:22:07CDR: ...It looks to me, looking out the hatch, that we are venting something.
1970-04-14  03:22:17... We are venting something out into the - into space.
1970-04-14  03:22:58LMP reported fuel cell #1 off line.
1970-04-14  03:46:49Emergency power-down.
1970-04-14  03:47:46LMP reported fuel cell #3 off line.
1970-04-14  04:56:00CDR and LMP entered LM.
1970-04-14  05:13:00Shutdown of fuel cell #2.
1970-04-14  05:23:00CM computer and platform powered down.
1970-04-14  05:53:00CSM systems powered down. LM systems powered up.
1970-04-14  08:42:43Midcourse correction ignition to free-return trajectory (LM DPS).
1970-04-14  08:43:17Midcourse correction cutoff.
1970-04-14  10:03:00LM systems powered down.
1970-04-15  00:21:35Lunar occultation entered.
1970-04-15  00:46:10Lunar occultation exited.
1970-04-15  01:09:40S-IVB impact on lunar surface.
1970-04-15  01:13:00LM systems powered up.
1970-04-15  01:23:00Abort guidance system to primary guidance system aligned.
1970-04-15  02:40:39Transearth injection ignition (LM DPS).
1970-04-15  02:45:02Transearth injection cutoff.
1970-04-15  05:23:00LM systems powered down.
1970-04-15  20:26:53Apparent short-circuit in LM electrical system, accompanied by a “thump in vicinity of descent stage
1970-04-15  20:27:03Observation of venting for several minutes in area of LM descent batteries #1 and #2.
1970-04-15  23:13:00LM configured for midcourse correction.
1970-04-16  00:33:00CSM power configuration for telemetry established.
1970-04-16  01:06:00CM powered up.
1970-04-16  04:03:00LM systems powered up.
1970-04-16  04:31:28Midcourse correction ignition (LM DPS).
1970-04-16  04:31:42Midcourse correction cutoff.
1970-04-16  04:33:00Passive thermal control started.
1970-04-16  05:03:00LM systems powered down.
1970-04-16  11:18:00LM power transferred to CSM.
1970-04-16  11:33:00Battery A charge initiated.
1970-04-17  01:23:00Battery A charge terminated. Battery B charge initiated.
1970-04-17  03:23:00Battery B charge terminated.
1970-04-17  08:48:00LM systems powered up.
1970-04-17  09:53:00Platform aligned.
1970-04-17  11:43:00Preparation for midcourse correction.
1970-04-17  12:52:51Midcourse correction ignition (LM RCS).
1970-04-17  12:53:13Midcourse correction cutoff.
1970-04-17  13:14:48SM separation.
1970-04-17  13:28:00SM photographed.
1970-04-17  15:23:00CM powered up.
1970-04-17  15:53:00Platform aligned.
1970-04-17  16:03:00LM maneuvered to undocking attitude.
1970-04-17  16:43:00LM jettisoned.
1970-04-17  17:53:45Entry.
1970-04-17  18:01:00S-band contact with CM established by recovery aircraft.
1970-04-17  18:02:00Visual contact with CM established by recovery helicopters.
1970-04-17  18:03:00Voice contact with CM established by recovery helicopters. Visual contact with CM established by recovery ship.
1970-04-17  18:07:41Splashdown (went to apex-up).
1970-04-17  18:09:00Swimmers deployed to retrieve main parachutes.
1970-04-17  18:16:001st swimmer deployed to CM.
1970-04-17  18:24:00Flotation collar inflated.
1970-04-17  18:31:00Life preserver unit delivered to lead swimmer.
1970-04-17  18:32:00CM hatch opened for crew egress.
1970-04-17  18:35:00Crew egress.
1970-04-17  18:42:00Crew aboard recovery helicopter.
1970-04-17  18:53:00Crew aboard recovery ship.
1970-04-17  19:36:00CM aboard recovery ship.
1970-04-18  18:20:00Crew departed recovery ship for Samoa and then Hawaii.
1970-04-19  02:35:00Crew arrived in Hawaii.
1970-04-20  03:30:00Crew arrived at Ellington AFB, Houston, TX.
1970-04-24  19:30:00Recovery ship arrived in Hawaii.
1970-04-26  02:35:00Safing of CM pyrotechnics completed.
1970-04-26  19:28:00Deactivation of fuel and oxidizer completed.
1970-04-27  14:00:00CM arrived at contractor facility in Downey, CA.