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In August 1969, the crew assignments were announced for Apollo 13. The mission commander was James A. Lovell Jr.
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During a countdown demonstration test, a problem with the oxygen tanks was noted. Each of the two tanks held 320 lbs. of oxygen. During the test, the second tank did not empty properly.
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Apollo 13 launched successfully, on schedule. While there was a minor anomaly during liftoff, the liftoff was successful and the mission proceeded normally for the first 56 hours.
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After a television broadcast on April 14, the crew was asked to power on the oxygen tank fans. They did so, and approximately two minutes later, a loud pop or bang was heard. Power fluctuated and communications with earth went down briefly.
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The oxygen tanks served not only to provide the crew with air, but also as a key part of the power source for the shuttle. With the oxygen tank failure, the crew was forced to power down the command service module and use the lunar module as a lifeboat of sorts. Life support on the lunar module was minimal, and only barely adequate.
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As soon as news spread of the accident, mission command gathered, bringing in off duty specialists, and specialists from around the country at various sites to brainstorm solutions to bring the crew home alive.
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On April 15, 1970, Apollo 13 made its closest approach to the moon. The lunar landing had been called off following the accident.
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After careful assessment, a plan was made to bring the astronauts home. The command module had to be powered up from a complete shut down, and adaptations made to the lunar module to remove excess carbon dioxide. The landing plan was successful.
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Some 45 minutes after landing, the crew was rescued. All were healthy, but one crew member had a urinary tract infection caused by dehydration.
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Edgar Cortright was assigned to head the Apollo 13 Review Board, designed to determine the cause of the accident and address any errors.
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NASA had assembled the investigative review board for the Apollo 13 accident.
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The final report was submitted, showing flaws in the oxygen tank that led to the accident.
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