Apollo 13 Manual

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On April 13, 1970, NASA's Apollo 13 faced a near-catastrophic explosion, halting the planned lunar landing and shifting focus to safely returning the spacecraft to Earth. Written by David Baker, a member of NASA's Apollo 13 Mission Control team, this manual provides detailed coverage of the mission. It begins with an overview of the era's technology and equipment, then delves into the planning, goals, and execution of the mission, including an hour-by-hour timeline of the crew's crisis in space. Baker's analysis of the post-flight investigation reveals design issues with the spacecraft, offering a rare insider's perspective. He not only examines the mission but also highlights NASA's legacy following the event, detailing redesigns of spacecraft sections and changes in mission organization starting with Apollo 14. Illustrated in the style of a Haynes Manual, this work uncovers the extraordinary circumstances behind the team's recovery of their spacecraft just hours before re-entry. More than a technical account, it showcases how ingenuity, teamwork, and determination averted a major disaster in space.