Summary
The 1970 Moon mission that almost ended in tragedy after an explosion on board the spaceship. Fred Haise was one of the Apollo 13 astronauts. In 2010 he spoke to Richard Howells about how they managed to get back to Earth despite the odds.
Photo: The Apollo 13 astronauts after they were picked up from the Pacific. Left to right: Fred Haise, Jim Lovell and Jack Swigert. Credit: SSPL/Getty Images.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Just before this BBC podcast gets underway, here's something you may not know. |
| 0:04.7 | My name's Linda Davies and I Commission Podcasts for BBC Sounds. |
| 0:08.5 | As you'd expect, at the BBC we make podcasts of the very highest quality featuring the most knowledgeable experts and genuinely engaging voices. |
| 0:18.0 | What you may not know is that the BBC makes podcasts about all kinds of things like pop stars, |
| 0:24.6 | poltergeist, cricket, and conspiracy theories and that's just a few examples. |
| 0:29.7 | If you'd like to discover something a little bit unexpected, find your next podcast over at BBC Sounds. |
| 0:37.0 | Hello, you're listening to the Witness History podcast from the BBC World Service. |
| 0:46.0 | I'm Claire Bowes. |
| 0:48.0 | To mark 50 years since the first moon landing, |
| 0:51.0 | we're looking back at some major moments in the history of space exploration. |
| 0:56.5 | In April 1970, three American astronauts were on their way to the Moon when disaster struck. Richard Howell spoke to one of those |
| 1:05.6 | on board Apollo 13, former astronaut Fred Hayes. |
| 1:10.3 | April the 14th, 1970. Apollo 13 is 200,000 miles from Earth, heading for the Moon. |
| 1:18.0 | The astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swaggot and Fred Hayes are carrying out routine checks and procedures according to schedule. |
| 1:25.0 | The mission is going smoothly. They are receiving instructions from Mission Control in Houston. |
| 1:31.0 | We've got one more item for you when you get a chance and we'd like |
| 1:34.8 | it to stir up your cryot tanks. In addition, I have a shaft and trunion. |
| 1:40.0 | Okay. For a look at the comet Bennett if you need it. |
| 1:42.3 | Stand by. Okay, or look at the common Bennett if you need it. |
| 1:43.0 | Stand by. |
| 1:44.0 | An explosion on board. |
| 1:50.0 | An explosion on board, Fred Hayes rushes back to his station. There was a loud bang, metallic sound. |
... |
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