Minute 114: A Toaster Through a Car Wash

Jack Swigert is reluctant to touch the wet control panel.

“What’s the word on these things shorting out?” asks Swigert

Mattingly looks at John Aaron. Aaron shrugs.

“We’ll just take that one at a time, Jack,” says Mattingly.

“It’s like trying to drive a toaster through a car wash,” says Swigert, pressing the switch.

The floodlights come on in the Command Module.

The docked spacecraft are approaching Earth.

“Main bus B is closed,” says Swigert.

“Okay, Thirteen. We’re coming up on entry interface,” says Mattingly.

“Flight,” says Flight Dynamics Officer Jerry Bostick. “We’re still shallowing up a bit in the re-entry corridor. It’s almost like they’re under weight.”

“Now how could they be under weight?” asks Gene Kranz.

“We didn’t land on the Moon,” says RETRO.

“Rocks?” asks Gene.

“That’s affirm,” says RETRO.

“One more thing, Jim,” says Mattingly. “While Jack’s working on the power-up, we’d like you and Freddo to transfer some ballast over to the Command Module.”

“Say again, Houston. Ballast?” asks Lovell.

“That’s affirm,” says Mattingly. “We gotta get the weight right. We were expecting you to be toting a couple of hundred pounds of moon rocks.”

IN THIS MINUTE:

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert

Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell

Brett Cullen as CAPCOM

Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton

Loren Dean as John Aaron

Ben Marley as John Young

Todd Louiso as FAO – White Team

Joe Spano as NASA Director

Ed Harris as Gene Kranz

Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney

Clint Howard as Sy Liebergot

Googy Gress as RETRO White

Christian Clemenson as Flight Surgeon Dr. Chuck

Ned Vaughn as CAPCOM 2

Max Grodénchik as FIDO Gold

Walter von Huene as Technician

Kenneth White as Grumman Rep

Jean Speegle Howard as Blanch Lovell

Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell

Mark Wheeler as Neil Armstrong

Larry Williams as Buzz Aldrin

Michele Little as Jane Conrad