What kept happening in the simulator?

What was Jim’s wife's bad omen before the launch?
How do you imagine the astronauts feel about the mission?
Which engine went out?
Why didn’t they abort the mission?
What did Frank do at the beginning of the mission?
How did they drink their juice?
Why were the stations not broadcasting the mission?
What was the name of the spaceship?
What did Swagert tell on the “broadcast”?
What did Jim tell the Control Center when something went wrong?
What were they venting out into space?
Why did they close the reactive valve?
What would happen if closing the valves didn’t work?
How long did they have to get everything shut down?
How did Jim’s wife find out about the electrical outage and oxygen levels?
What did JIm mean by “flying with a dead elephant on their back” when they were having problems?
Why did Swagert want to know if they could power back up once they shut down?

1 answer

It looks like you are asking about the events related to the Apollo 13 mission, which was a significant event in space exploration history. Here are answers to your questions based on the context of the mission:

  1. What kept happening in the simulator?

    • In the training simulator, various malfunctions and scenarios were continuously tested to prepare the astronauts for potential problems they could face during the actual mission.
  2. What was Jim’s wife's bad omen before the launch?

    • Jim Lovell's wife, Marilyn, mentioned that a bad omen came from their son who had a strange dream about Jim being in trouble, which made her uneasy about the upcoming launch.
  3. How do you imagine the astronauts feel about the mission?

    • The astronauts likely had a mix of excitement and anxiety. They were thrilled to be part of a historic lunar mission but also aware of the risks involved in space travel.
  4. Which engine went out?

    • In the Apollo 13 mission, the service module's oxygen tank exploded, which caused the failure of the main engine and other systems.
  5. Why didn’t they abort the mission?

    • They did not abort the mission initially because they were trying to assess the situation and find a way to ensure the crew's safe return, believing they could still make it back to Earth.
  6. What did Frank do at the beginning of the mission?

    • Frank Borman, who was not an astronaut on Apollo 13 but was involved with NASA, would have prepared the crew for launch and ensured everything was in order. In the context of the actual mission participants, Frank (Fred) Haise was focused on the countdown and launch processes.
  7. How did they drink their juice?

    • The astronauts drank their juice from special containers with straws while floating in microgravity.
  8. Why were the stations not broadcasting the mission?

    • Broadcasts were limited during certain operational phases, and there may have been technical reasons or protocols in place that restricted continuous coverage.
  9. What was the name of the spaceship?

    • The name of the spaceship was Apollo 13.
  10. What did Swigert tell on the “broadcast”?

    • Jack Swigert famously communicated the phrase, "Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here," which informed Mission Control about the explosion on board.
  11. What did Jim tell the Control Center when something went wrong?

    • Jim Lovell communicated crucial information regarding the situation, updating them on the problems and coordinating with Mission Control to find solutions.
  12. What were they venting out into space?

    • They were venting excess oxygen and other gases from the damaged systems to prevent toxic buildup in the spacecraft.
  13. Why did they close the reactive valve?

    • The reactive valve was closed to isolate certain systems and contain the damage from the explosion, ultimately trying to manage the limited resources they had left.
  14. What would happen if closing the valves didn’t work?

    • If the valves didn't work, it would mean a continued loss of life-supporting resources and further complications, potentially leading to catastrophic failure of the spacecraft.
  15. How long did they have to get everything shut down?

    • The astronauts had a limited time frame of several hours to get systems in order and implement emergency protocols before their life-support systems failed.
  16. How did Jim’s wife find out about the electrical outage and oxygen levels?

    • Information about the mission's critical status may have been communicated through media coverage and updates from NASA, which would have been monitored by families of the astronauts.
  17. What did Jim mean by “flying with a dead elephant on their back” when they were having problems?

    • Jim used that metaphor to convey the enormity of the problem they were facing and the overwhelming pressure of managing a serious malfunction while trying to ensure their survival.
  18. Why did Swigert want to know if they could power back up once they shut down?

    • Swigert was concerned about the spacecraft’s ability to regain function and power up systems necessary for navigation and re-entry after shutting down to conserve energy.

These answers are rooted in the historical account of the Apollo 13 mission, which faced significant challenges but ultimately showcased the resourcefulness and bravery of the astronauts and the ground crew.