The crew of Apollo 13, consisting of James Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise, experienced a major problem in their spacecraft while on a mission to the moon in 1970. An oxygen tank exploded, cutting off the supply of breathable air, water, and power. NASA engineers worked tirelessly to solve issues of oxygen, water, carbon dioxide removal, temperature control, and re-entry without the normal spacecraft functions. Through the heroic efforts of the astronauts and ground control, the crew was able to safely return to Earth in what became known as a "successful failure." A post-accident investigation determined the cause was a short circuit in one of the oxygen tank fan circuits that ignited Teflon insulation

1. Sacha ROUILLER
Ousmane KANE
Guillaume JEAN
PRESENTPRESENT

2. THE JOURNEY OF APOLLO XIII

3. The crew:
James Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise

4. A good beginning of mission

5. But…They have a problem
« Houston we’ve had a problem »
Jack Swigert
On April 13th

6. A very huge problem indeed
• Oxygen
• Water
• Carbon dioxide
• Direction in space
• Cold
• Energy
• Thermic shield
• Parachute

7. Oxygen, Water and Carbon dioxyde

8. Direction in space

9. Cold and Energy

10. Thermic shield and parachutes

11. A huge stress: will they survive?

12. A huge task for NASA to find
solutions
• Astronauts in simulators
• Engineers at work
• Very caring Doctors

13. The scoop of the century for the media

14. A successful come back: a failed-success.

15. The post-accident investigation

16. Investigation presided by Edgar Cortright
(including Neil Armstrong)

17. 24. Finding An 11.1-amp spike in fuel cell 3 current and a momentary
1.2-volt decrease were measured in ac bus 2 at 55:53:23.
Determinations
- (1) A short circuit occurred in the circuits of the fans in oxygen tank no. 2
which resulted in either blown fuses or opened wiring, and one fan ceased to function.
- (2) The short circuit probably dissipated an energy in excess of 10 joules which,
as shown in subsequent tests, is more than sufficient to ignite Teflon wire insulation
by means of an electric arc.
Example from the rapportExample from the report
24. Finding An 11.1-amp spike in fuel cell 3 current and a momentary
1.2-volt decrease were measured in ac bus 2 at 55:53:23.
Determinations
- (1) A short circuit occurred in the circuits of the fans in oxygen tank no. 2
which resulted in either blown fuses or opened wiring, and one fan ceased to function.
- (2) The short circuit probably dissipated an energy in excess of 10 joules which,
as shown in subsequent tests, is more than sufficient to ignite Teflon wire insulation
by means of an electric arc.

18. Very precise and technical
See it all at :
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo_13_review_board.txt

19. After Apollo XIII?
• New space programs
• A source of inspiration in litterature or cinema
• An example of the mistakes or infiabilities in case of
accident

20. Conclusion: a miracle and a brilliant success
as important as apollo 11 ?