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An oxygen cylinder exploded in Apollo 13, blowing a side of it.

The Apollo 13 service module experienced an explosion of the oxygen tank 2 about 200,000 miles from earth. Some people think the explosion happened because the O2 tank was dropped, which broke the internal filler tube, but the real reason for the explosion was pure stupidity.

The real reason for the Apollo 13 oxygen tank explosion was due to Beach Aerospace not upgrading the O2 tank thermostat from a 28v system to a 65v system. After the investigation it was discovered that Beech Aerospace never bothered to read the new specs for the Apollo spacecraft, that required an increased voltage system from a standard military 28v system to a 65v system. As soon as the electronics were started for Apollo 13 on the pad, the thermostat fused together allowing the O2 tank pressure to build, the internal tank temp shot up to 1,000f degrees, but the temp gauge in the spacecraft only went up to 85 degrees F, so the crew didn't know there was a problem until the O2 tank was stirred, thereby exploding and disabling the entire service module.

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Who piloted Apollo 11?

Apollo 11 was piloted by Neil Armstrong, with Buzz Aldrin as the lunar module pilot and Michael Collins as the command module pilot. Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the Moon during this mission on July 20, 1969.


Who operated the command lunar module of Apollo 11?

Buzz Aldrin was the one who piloted the Lunar Module. Armstrong was on board it too.


When did Apollo 13 find out there was a problem?

Apollo 13 found out there was a problem on April 13, 1970, while they were en route to the Moon. An oxygen tank exploded on board, causing a critical power loss and life-threatening situation for the crew.


Which Apollo mission to the moon nearly ended?

The Apollo 13 mission nearly ended in disaster when an oxygen tank exploded, causing critical damage to the spacecraft. Through incredible teamwork and quick thinking from NASA and the astronauts on board, they were able to safely return to Earth despite the life-threatening situation.


How many astronauts were there in Apollo 11?

Every manned Apollo mission carried a crew of three. For Apollos 7-17, they had the titles of Commander (CDR), Command Module Pilot (CMP) and Lunar Module Pilot (LMP). The Commander and Lunar Module Pilot flew the Lunar Module while the Command Module Pilot remained in the Command Module. "Lunar Module Pilot" was somewhat of a misnomer as the Commander actually piloted the LM while the LMP acted as a flight engineer on both the Command Module and Lunar Module. The Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz missions did not have a lunar module so the third crewmember had a different title (Science Pilot or Docking Module Pilot, respectively). The Apollo 11 crew consisted of CDR Neil Alden Armstrong, CMP Michael Collins and LMP Edwin Eugene 'Buzz' Aldrin, Jr. Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon while Collins remained in lunar orbit.

Related Questions

Why did they do Apollo 7?

Apollo 7 was launched to test the Command Module, with crew on board, in space.


Who were on board Apollo 11 when it landed on the moon?

Theastronauts on board of Apollo 11 lunar module were Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin.


Who piloted Apollo 11?

Apollo 11 was piloted by Neil Armstrong, with Buzz Aldrin as the lunar module pilot and Michael Collins as the command module pilot. Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the Moon during this mission on July 20, 1969.


Who operated the command lunar module of Apollo 11?

Buzz Aldrin was the one who piloted the Lunar Module. Armstrong was on board it too.


What was Apollo 8?

Apollo 8 was the second manned Apollo flight and the first manned mission to the moon. On board was Spacecraft Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot James Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders. The mission was to prove the capability of the Apollo command and lunar modules and crew to operate the lunar distances. The Lunar Module was not on board because it was not ready for flight at that time.


When did Apollo 13 find out there was a problem?

Apollo 13 found out there was a problem on April 13, 1970, while they were en route to the Moon. An oxygen tank exploded on board, causing a critical power loss and life-threatening situation for the crew.


Which Apollo mission to the moon nearly ended?

The Apollo 13 mission nearly ended in disaster when an oxygen tank exploded, causing critical damage to the spacecraft. Through incredible teamwork and quick thinking from NASA and the astronauts on board, they were able to safely return to Earth despite the life-threatening situation.


How many astronauts were there in Apollo 11?

Every manned Apollo mission carried a crew of three. For Apollos 7-17, they had the titles of Commander (CDR), Command Module Pilot (CMP) and Lunar Module Pilot (LMP). The Commander and Lunar Module Pilot flew the Lunar Module while the Command Module Pilot remained in the Command Module. "Lunar Module Pilot" was somewhat of a misnomer as the Commander actually piloted the LM while the LMP acted as a flight engineer on both the Command Module and Lunar Module. The Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz missions did not have a lunar module so the third crewmember had a different title (Science Pilot or Docking Module Pilot, respectively). The Apollo 11 crew consisted of CDR Neil Alden Armstrong, CMP Michael Collins and LMP Edwin Eugene 'Buzz' Aldrin, Jr. Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon while Collins remained in lunar orbit.


What was Apollo 13 worried about on the trip to the moon?

A couple of oxygen tanks in the service module blew up en route to the Moon, and the crew had to use the lunar module to go around the Moon and go back to the Earth, where they made a safe splash down in the Pacific ocean. They could not instantly go back to the Earth, after the tanks exploded. They had to go to the Moon and back. They did not have enough fuel on board the service module to fire the engine and return to the Earth. The oxygen tanks exploded because of a mechanical error. It was very rough going from the time the tanks blew up, until they safely landed in the ocean.


How many people were aboard the Apollo 13 spaceship?

There were a total of three astronauts on board Apollo 13, they were the commander James Lovell, the command module pilot was John Swigert and the lunar module pilot was Fred .W. Haise.


Which astronaut piloted Apollo 11?

There were two "pilots" on board; Michael Collins was the command module pilot, Buzz Aldrin was the lunar module pilot. However, in practise all three astronauts were pilots - Neil Armstrong actually piloted the lunar module onto the moon's surface.


Who were on board Apollo 13?

The crew of Apollo 13 consisted of Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise. Lovell was the commander of the mission, while Swigert and Haise served as command module pilot and lunar module pilot, respectively.