Apollo 14 PAO Mission Commentary Transcript

8/7/2019 Apollo 14 PAO Mission Commentary Transcript

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A_'OLLO14 AiR/GROUND TRanSCRIPT INDEXEvent Tape/Page

3o/1Translunar Injection 39/1Docking probe problem @ LM extraction 41/2Successful docking 57/tTV,of probe & drogue analysis 67/1"Go" for lunar landing 110/I}{idcourse correction 23_/!First AO5 after lunar orbit insertion 24_/1Descent Orbit Insertion 255/1_M/LM tmdockar_g 289/tLunar landing 314/1First EVA 313/1U_ Flag planted 341/1ALSEP activated 368/ILM hatch closed-end EVA I 386_1SSart sedhnd surface _A 406/2$hepard tees off with 6-iron on moon 448_ITV of inflight demonstrations 524/1TV of crew inflight press conference 571/!_/SM seimr_tion 607/1Splashdown 610/1Crew arrives aboard prime recovery vessel 620/1


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6-2 APOLLO14TABLE 6-I.- SEQUENCE OF EVENTS a

Elapsed time,hr:min:sec

Range zero - 21:03:02 G.m.t., January 31, 1971Lift-off - 21:03:02.6 G.m.t., January 31, 1971Translunar injection maneuver, Firing time = 350.8 sec 02:28:32Translunar injection 02:34:32S-IVB/command module separation 03:02:29Translunar docking 04:56:56Spacecraft ejection 05:47:14First midcourse correction, Firing time = 10.1 sec 30:36:08Second midcourse correction, Firing time = 0.65 sec 76:58:12Lunar orbit insertion, Firing time = 370.8 sec 81:56:41S-IVB lunar impact 82:37:52Descent orbit insertion, Firing time = 20.8 sec 86:10:53Lunar module undocking and separation 103:47:42Circularization maneuver, Firing time = 4 sec 105:1t:46Powered descent initiation, Firing time =_764.6 sec 108:02:27Lunar landing 108:15:09Start first extravehicular activity 113:39:11First data from Apollo lunar surface experiment package 116:47:58Plane change, Firing time = 18.5 sec 117:29:33Complete first extravehicular activity 118:27:01Start second extravehicular activity 131:08:13End second extravehicular activity 135:42:54Lunar lift-off, Firing time = 432.1 sec 141:45:40Vernier adjustment maneuver, Firing time = 12.1 sec 141:56:49Terminal _hase initiation 142:30:51Terminal ph_e finalization 143:13:29Do cking 143: 32: 51Lunar module jettison 145:44:58Separation maneuver 145:49:43Lunar module deorbit maneuver, Firing time = 76.2 sec 147:14:17Lunar module lunar impact 147:42:23Transearth injection, Firing time = 149.2 sec 148:36:02Third midcourse correction, Firing time = 3.0 sec 165:34:57Command module/service module separation 215:32:42Entry interface 215:47:45Begin blackout 215:48:02End blackout 215: 51:19Drogue deployment 215:56:08Lan ding 216: 01: 58

asee table 6-11 for event definitions.


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY, 1:31-71, 13:00CST 1/1SPEAKER This is Kennedy Launch Control at

T-1 hour 30 minutes and counting now 90 minutes away from theApollo 14 liftoff. Ail aspects of the countdown still run-ning smoothly at this time. In fact, a number of nontimecritical items have been accomplished well ahead of theirprescribed time in the countdown. We're essentially aheadin the count with all going well. At the white room levelthe closeout crew now has completed purging the cabin, bring-ing it to the proper environment and they are Just doing thefinishing touches on placeing the boost protector cover onthe hatch. Ail aspects going well with the count. Otherwork in process during this period is Spacecraft CommanderAlan Shepard now has come back on line with the spacecrafttest conductor and is securing from this rather extensiveemergency detection system checks that had been in progress.Now, here in the firing room, we're performing some specialtests of the flight computer. We're running it through aprepare to launch mode, exercising the flight computer toinsure that it will, in fact, operate satisfactorily inflight. Houston flight is standing by at this time to sendsome commands to the launch vehicle. This will be comingup in a few minutes. This is Mitch, the flight directorin Houston has the capability of sending commands to the

-_ vehicle in flight. We want to check this at this point tobe sure that the Houston commands actually will get throughto the vehicle and that it is verified. We're at 1 hour,28 minutes, 29 seconds and counting. This is Kennedy LaunchControl.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY, 1/31/71, 13:00CST 2/1SPEAKER This is Kennedy Launch Control at

T-minus 1 hour, 23 minutes and counting. Ail still proceedingvery smoothly with the Apollo 14 count at this time. Astro-naut Alan Shepard aboard the Apollo 14 spacecraft now busywith the start of some extensive guidance and command checksthat will be inprogress for the next 10 or 15 minutes or so.This starts with checks of stabilization and control systemof the spacecraft and also checks out the various guidancecontrols on board. T-minus 1 hour, 22 minutes, 29 secondsand counting and this is Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY, 1/31/71, 13:13CST 3/1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control at

T minus one hour ten minutes and counting, now 70 minutesaway from the Apollo 14 liftoff. We're still proceedingvery satisfactorily at this time. Our weather posture seemsto be improving. However, we are still keeping a close lookon that weather front to the west of us. A squall in frontof it seems to be breaking up. However, it is still beinglooked at closely. As far as weather in the Atlantic Ocean,which had had high seas and some high winds, it appears thatthe most severe aspect of that weather will be north of thetrajectory on the flight. This is the area that would beconcerned with am emergency abort condition. It is predictedthat the more severe weather will not move into - anywherealong the line of the track. As a result, we appear to beGO as far as the abort weather conditions are concerned. Inthe meanwhile, Alan Shepard, the spacecraft commander, now inthe midst of his guidance and control checks working withspacecraft conductor Skip Chauvin. At one point in thistest he does actually drive that big service propulsion sys-tem engine below him. He actually gimbals the engine, hasit sway in response to commands from the spacecraft. We alsoare checking here in the firing room two of the two trackingbeacons on the launch vehicle that are used for C-band radartracks during the powered phase of the flight. AstronautsDave Scott and Jim Erwin, the commander and lunar modulepilots of the Apollo 15 mission, are here in the firing roomat this time, and they are at this point talking with actingadministrator George Low and Dr. Werner yon Braun. Ourcountdown is proceeding, T minus one hour 8 minutes 17 secondsand counting. This is Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY, 1/31/71, 13:23CST 4/1SPEAKR This is Kennedy Launch Control at

T-60 minutes and counting. T-60, one hour away from theApollo 14 liftoff. All aspects of the countdown still pro-ceeding very satisfactorily at this time. As a matter offact, a number of events with some 10 or 15 minutes aheadof the assigned work in the countdown manual. Because ofthis the Apollo access arms swing on number 9, will probablycome back about 10 minutes earlier than it usually would inthe countdown. By coming back early, it will be moving inabout 7 or 8 minutes from this point. It's moved 12 degreesfrom the spacecraft -- that'S about 6 feet -- and remains inthat standby position until a 5 minute mark in the countwhen it's fully retracted. A short while ago Alan Shepardwas told by the Spacecraft Test Conductor, Skip Chauvin,things were going very well and that we were ahead on thecount. Alan at that point said thank him for the informationand said how's the weather out there. The reply came backthat there is some cover but it looks pretty fair. Actuallythe clouds we have in the area at the present time have abase of about 3000 feet and extend up to 8000 feet with somegetting as high as 12,000 feet. This does not appear to beany constraint to a launch attempt as far as the cloud coveris concerned at this time. That's our status. The count-down is still running smoothly. We're GO on Apollo 14.T-58 minutes, 33 seconds and counting. This is KennedyLaunch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY, 1-31-71, 13:28 CST 5/1-- PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control, T-55 minutes

and counting. T-55 and counting all still proceeding verysatisfactorily with Apollo t4. We've just completed sometelemetry checks of the launch vehicle as the launch continues.The astronaut crew has been advised that the swing arm, theApollo access arm swing on number 9 will be coming back in abouta minute and 40 seconds from this time. We will remain in astandby position about 6 feet from the spacecraft until wereach the five minute mark in the count when it will be fullyretracted. The pad leader and the closeout crew have departedfrom the 320 foot level and are now at the roadblock positionstanding by. For an update on network operations concerned withthe mission, we now switch to mission control in Houston.

PAO This is Apollo Control, Houston atminus 54 minutes and counting. The worldwide manned space-flight network is prepared for launch at this time. Onlyone problem has emerged. This is a very minor problem. AtCarnarvon seaband coverage is red because of computer prob-lems, however, this gives no constraint to launch because ofthe unified S-band coverage in that area. Weather conditionsalong the ground track across the Atlantic are expected tobe satisfactory as it has been reported with one area ofhigh winds and seas midway between Florida and Bermuda. Inthe area we expect southwesterly winds of some 25 to 30 knotsand seas of 8 to 12 feet. Here in Mission Control except

-_ for a few more people than we see in simulations, it's muchthe same. A quiet calmness best describes the mood of thecontrol center as the Houston Flight Control Team monitorsthe final countdown now in progress. However, in less thanan hour the atmosphere here will change when the control ofthe flight switches to Houston. Our flight director today,Pete Frank will be calling for rapid status reports from eachmember of the his team throughout the booster or poweredphase of flight. Over what is known as the flight director'sloop we expect to hear a great deal from a gentleman namedDave Reed, our flight dynamics officer and Frank Van Rensilerthe booster systems engineer. Since they will be monitoringthe crucial trajectory and launch vehicle data. We're atminus 52 minutes and this is Apollo Control Houston.

PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control,we're now 52 minutes, 13 seconds and counting. And as theastronauts were alerted, it did occur. The Apollo access armnow has been retracted and is in the standby position. As soonas the arm is retracted, the pyrotechnic systems within thespacecraft are armed. This means now that 155 pound thrustescape tower that is atop of the spacecraft can be deployed ina critical emergency if necessary from this point down in thecountdown. 51 minutes, 42 seconds and counting. This is KennedyLaunch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY, 1/31/71, 13:38 CST 6/1SPEAKER This is Kennedy Launch Control.

T minus 45 minutes and counting. T minus 45 still GO withApollo 14 in the countdown at this time. Just a matter ofa few minutes ago astronaut Stu Roosa wound up pressurizingthe reaction control system of the Service Module on thespacecraft. These are the big 100 lb. thrust engines whichare in quandrants - 4 quadrants around the side of theService Module which are used for certain types of spacecraftmaneuvers on the trajectory to and from the moon. Stu Roosaread out the various pressures involved in the differentquadrants and they were recorded by the spacecraft testconductor. Coming up in a matter of a few minutes will beone of the final major checks of the range safety commanddestruct system aboard the vehicle. These are the destructpackages in each of the stages which would be initiated inthe event the vehicle veered violently off trajectory andcould be a danger to anyone or anything below. Of coursebefore destruct action would ever occur the escape towerfirst would be triggered on the spacecraft to successfullyseparate the astronauts from the vehicle in trouble.43 minutes, 43 seconds and counting, this is Kennedy LaunchControl.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 13:43 CST 7/1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control at

T minus 40 minutes and counting. T minus 40, we are pro-ceeding satisfactorily with Apollo 14. Just as thisannouncement began, we began a key check here in the firingroom of power transfer test in which we switched from theexternal power on the vehicle to the batteries in each ofthe three stages and the instrument unit of the Saturn 5.This test is in progress at this time and after we areassured that all batteries are operating satisfactorily,we will return to external power in order to preserve thepower of those batteries for the actual power phase offlight. We actually will return to internal power at50 seconds in the countdown. The astronauts are standing byin the spacecraft at the 320 foot level of launch pad A.They are about 10 minutes ahead in their work and they havefinished up the pressurization of the reaction controlsystem of the Apollo spacecraft. 39 minutes and counting.We're go with Apollo 14 at this time. We will take a closelook at our cloud conditions at about the 10 minute markcount to determine our statu:!_. Now 38 minutes, 45 secondsand counting. This is KenneJy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY, 1/31/71, 13:48 CST 8/1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control at

T minus 35 minutes and counting. T minus 35 and all goingwell with Apollo 14. The Astronauts have just been advisedby the spacecraft test conductor Skip Chauvin that we'vejust passed the 35 minute mark and a crisp "Roger" came backin reply. The countdown is still going well and we're keep-ing a close look at our cloud cover and we'll proceed tocountdown to the 10 minute mark and take a close look thereand if it appears that we will be clear we will continueour countdown down through liftoff. We have completed ourpower transfer test and all is still going well with the count.Thirty four minutes, twenty one seconds and counting. Thisis Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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T minus 30 minutes and counting, T minus 30, all elements ofthe Apollo 14 countdown still go at this time. At this pointin the count the Apollo 14 lunar module, named Antares is nowgoing on internal power. There are 2 batteries in the ascentstage and 4 batteries on the descent stage of the lunar modulefor Apollo 14. The lunar module will remain internal for some20 minutes until the 10 minute mark in the count as we take afinal look at the lunar module systems before we're ready tocommit to fly. The LM then again will be powered down at the10 minute mark in the countdown. Still well ahead on a numberof functions - the astronauts standing by in the spacecraft,all still going well. T-minus 29 minutes 10 seconds andcounting. This is Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 13:58 CST 10/1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control,

T minus 25 minutes and counting, T minus 25. Ail is stillgo with the Apollo 14 count. We are keeping a close look onthe clouds in the KSC area, particularly here at complex 39at this time. These clouds are ranging from 3 to 8 thousandfeet at the present time. We'll take a close look at the10 minute mark to determine our posture to continue thecount. We're still aiming at this time toward our plannedT zero lift off at 3:23 PM Eastern Standard time. In progresshere in firing room 2, the crew is monitoring some automatictelemetry calibrations of the saturn 5 launch vehicle. Thisis to assure that we are properly calibrated to receive thein flight information during the powered phase of the mission.24 minutes 11 seconds and counting, this is Kennedy LaunchCon trol.END OF TAPE.


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY, 1/31/71, 14:00 CST 11/1SPEAKER T minus 23. We are GO with Apollo 14

at this time. Just a matter of seconds ago, the spacecraftCommander Alan Shepard was advised of the status of thecount at the 24 minute mark. Shepard reported back, he said,"It's rather quiet out there" and he was informed it wasquiet because things are going so well. He was referringto the communications circuit he's on. He said, "I'm gladto hear that." This is Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 14:02CST 12/1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control,

T minus 23 minutes and counting, T minus 23 - - Thisis Kennedy Launch Control, T minus 20 minutes and counting.T minus 20. Still go with Apollo 14 at this time. TheVice President of the United States, Spiro Agnew and theRoyal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Spain havearrived at the viewing site at this time. Meanwhile herein the firing room, we're continuing to monitor the statusof all those propellants, more than a million gallons ofpropellants aboard the Saturn 5 launch vehicle. The reportskeep coming back that all is still going well. The astronautsstanding by in the spacecraft at this point. We're keepinga close eye on the clouds overhead and we'll take a hardlook at the situation at the 10 minute mark in the countto determine our progress from then on down. T minus 19 minutes,15 seconds and counting. This is Kennedy Launch Control.

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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 14:08 CST 13/1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control, T minus

15 minutes and counting, T minus 15. We are still go with ourcount down, taking a close look at cloud conditions, and we'lltake a close look at the 10 minute mark in the count. Startingat this point the astronaut crew is going to be quite busyin the spacecraft as the Apollo 14 spacecraft goes on fullinternal power. This is the full internal power of thefuel cell. Up to this time in the countdown, we've beensharing the load sort of speak with an external power sourcealong with the fuel cells. As we go on internal power, theLunar Module Pilot, Ed Mitchell will give readouts to thespacecraft test conductor on how the power situation looks.Spacecraft Commander, Alan Shepard will also give some finalreadouts on the stabilization and control system of theApollo spacecraft. Both Shepard and Stu Roosa will arm therotational hand controllers that are on their arm rest in thecabin. We'll take a close look at the clouds at the 10 minutemark in the count to determine our posture for proceedingwith the countdown. Thirteen minutes, 55 seconds andcounting, this is Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE.


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T minus 10 minutes and counting, t minus 10. We are proceed-ing at this time, however, the weather conditions - the cloudsin the area are being evaluated at this point. If a hold isrequired, it could occur about 2 minutes from this time. We'llstand by for further reports. In the meantime, in the Apollo 14flight crew have completed some checks on what's called theafter launch circuit. This is a special radio frequency circuitused by the spacecraft communicator, the launch operationsmanager and the spacecraft test conductor to advise the astro-nauts of abort conditions. This is Kennedy Launch Control.We are now advised that we will hold for weather. We will holdthe countdown at the 8 minute mark in the count. We're now at9 minutes 10 seconds and counting. We repeat, we will holdwith the countdown at the 8 minute mark because of cloud condi-tions in the launch facility area. This is Kennedy LaunchControlEND OF TAPE

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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 14:15 CST 15 1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control. We're

standing by we're coming up in the 8 minute mark of thisflight. Mark, we are holding. The clock shows 8 minutesand 2 seconds in the count. We are holding at this time.The reason for the hold is cloud conditions in the area. Itappeared that one bad cloud patch could be over the launchpad at the planned time of 23 minutes past the hour. Weare standing by at this time, at 8 minutes and 2 seconds andholding. This is Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE.


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY, 1/31/71 14:18 PM CST 16/1SPEAKER This is Kennedy Launch Control.

We remain on our HOLD on the Apollo 14 countdown. Theclock reading minus 8 minutes and 2 seconds and HOLDING.The reason, cloud conditions in the area. We have had anaircraft aloft in the area during - of the full progress ofthe final countdown and we were advised that the ten minutemark on the count, that it appeared one particular cloudcell coming across the Indian River that is coming west overthe launch pad area appeared to have rain in it and somepotential and it was reaching up to altitudes of some15 000 feet. As a result, the Launch Director, Walt Kapryandetermined that we should HOLD. We're going to remain inthis posture at approximately 8 minute mark to try to beno more than some l0 minutes away from a launch attempt aslong as this is possible. We are going to be advised bythe flying aircraft of conditions and hopefully be able toget a forecast that things will look better in 15 minuteincrements. That is when we get a GO from the aircraft, wewill be able to launch some 15 minutes later. So we do nothave a firm estimate at this time. However, the aircraftcommander has advised that he feels he will be able to giveus one in a short while. That is our situation, standing byat 8 minutes and 2 seconds and HOLDING. The Apollo 14 crewhas been advised. They're also standing by in the spacecraft.It is possible we may get some rain in the area shortly fromthis same cloud cell that we were concerned about for thelaunch attempt. This is Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 14:23CST 17/1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control.

We remain in our hold at T minus 8 minutes and 2 secondsand holding because of cloud conditions in the area. Wecan remain in this posture at the 8 minute mark for approxi-mately one hour. If we had to remain in the hold longer,we would have to recycle to an earlier mark in the countdown.But we can remain here at the 8 minute mark for approximatelyone hour from the time the count was held. Our situationas far as the clouds are concerned: - from the latestadvice from the aircraft is, at its earliest, these cloudconditions might be able to pass through this area in about15 minutes. If at the end of that time the aircraft couldgive us a good forecast that would be fairly clear for20 minutes beyond that time, it's very possible that count-down could be resumed. However, we expect to be in thisposition at the present time for at least 15 to 20 minutes.We remain at T minus 8 minutes, 2 seconds and holding. Thisis Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 14:31 CST 18/1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control, we

remain in our hold at T minus 8 minutes and 2 seconds by theclock. The launch vehicle test conductor Gene Sestile hasjust advised all the support elements for the 3 stages ininstrument of Saturn 5 that the best estimate at this timeis this hold will continue for another 15 minutes. Healso pointed out to his test conductors for the variousstages that they should be ready when they are alerted tobe able to pick up the count at the 8 minute mark. That isour status. We are waiting further word from the aircraftthat's surveying the clouds from the top, and we remainat T minus 8 minutes. This is Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 14:37 CST 20/1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control.We remain in our hold at T minus 8 minutes and 2 seconds

on the clock. The Apollo 14 Flight Crew, Astronauts AlanShepard, Stu Roosa and Ed Mitchell have been advised of oursituation and they acknowledge the information and they'vebasically been resting back in the spacecraft. We have notheard any reports from them lately. However, the spacecrafthas conductors, Skip Chauvin is keeping them updated on theweather information. They have been told, as we have beentold, here in the firing room that the conditions couldpossibly improve in some 20 to 30 minutes and there doesappear to be a clear area behind this present large cloudshell that is passing over complex 39 at this time. That'sour status. We remain in a hold at 8 minutes and 2 seconds.This is Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY, 1/31/71, 1439 PM CST 21/1SPEAKER This is Kennedy Launch Control

remaining in the HOLD - T minus 8 minutes and 2 seconds atthis time on Apollo 14. We're standing by for furtheradvisory from the National Weather Service Aircraft which issurveying the cloud conditions in the area. Just a matterof a minute or two ago, the Director of Flight Crew OperationsDeke Slayton called in to A1 Shepard in the spacecraft andmentioned to A1 that at least it's more comfortable up therethan it was in the old days. A1 reported back, "Oh, my yes."He also added to Deke that we're in good shape up here.We're standing by for further reports. HOLDING 8 minutesand 2 seconds. This is Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 14:42 CST 22/1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control.

Still in the hold T minus 8 minutes and 2 seconds in ourApollo 14 countdown. We're still standing by for furtherreports from the weather plane. Indications are about thesame as reported earlier. From 10 minutes or 15 minutesthis time has extended a little bit as we have remained inthe hold. However, we are still being told that we expectthat this cloud cover will clear the area. Obviously, whenwe do resume the count, as hopefully we will, a new asimuthupdate must be given to the astronauts to be placed in thecomputer for the flight. We were planning to fly on a72 degree flight launch azimuth had we gone at the describedtime of 3:23 PM EST. This azimuth will increase as theresult of - we're standing by. We've just been informedhere in the firing - we expect to pick up our countdown in5 minutes from this time. Just as this announcement wasbeing made, we have been alerted by launch director, WaltKapryan. He has now given the go ahead to resume thecountdown in 5 minutes from this time. We remain at 8 minutesan 2 seconds and holding on the clock. This is KennedyLaunch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 14:50 CST 25/1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control,

Apollo 14 countdown holding at 8 minutes and 2 seconds, butexpecting to resume the count 5 minutes from this time. Thelaunch team has been advised here in the firing room, and thespacecraft team back at the Man Spacecraft operations buildingconducting the spacecraft portion of the countdown. Theastronauts on board of course also have been alerted. Theyjust came back with a roger reply. This information we havebeen receiving concerning our cloud cover has been providedby a research flight facility aircraft of the nationaloceanic and atmospheric administration. This aircraft hasbeen flying in the area as support for the Apollo 14 mission.8 minutes 2 seconds and holding, this is Kennedy LaunchControl.END OF TAPE.


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 14:53 26/1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control.

Still in our HOLD at 8 minutes and 2 seconds by the clock.Test Supervisor, Chuck Henschel has just pulled some ofthe key elements involved in the countdown. The question ofGO status to pick up the count in about a minute and a halffrom this time. They all report READY and we are standingby. Expecting now to resume the count in a little less thanone and a half minutes, this is Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 14:55 CST 27/1PAO This is Kennedy Launch Control. Mark,

we have resumed our countdown T minus 8 minutes and countingon Apollo 14. We're still keeping a close eye on our weatherconditions at this time but launch director Walter Kapryanhas made the determination to resume the count. This shouldput us with a lift off at 3 minutes past the hour if allcontinues to go well. We are now starting the chill downof the engine chambers on the third and second stages ofthe Saturn 5 launch vehicle. This is one of the criticalelements, and has to do with hold time. The chill downhas to last a precise period. We feed in extremely coldhelium into the engine chambers of both the second stage andthird stage to condition them for the very cold liquidoxygen and liquid hydrogen that will be flowing into thechamber when they're due to ignite later during the poweredportion of the flight. Ail is still going well as far aslaunch vehicle, spacecraft and the three astronauts onboard. Coming up to the 7 minute mark, mark. Seven minutesand counting. This is Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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T minus 6 minutes and counting. T minus 6. We're stillproceeding at this time. We'll be standing by for thespacecraft ready lights to come on shortly from the space-craft test conductor to show that both the command module,Kittyhawk and the lunar module, Antares are Go for launch.A status report will be coming up shortly to get a Go fromall elements in the countdown. At the 3 minute, 7 secondmark in the count we will go on an automatic sequence withthe computer that will lead up to the ignition sequence ofthe 5 engines in the first stage of the Saturn 5 beginningat the 8.9 second mark in the count. Ail engines shouldbe running at the 2 second mark and we should get a commitand a lift off at the 0 mark in the count. We're comingup now on the 5 minute mark in the count. The launchdirector has Just given a Go to continue the countdown.Mark T minus 5 minutes and counting. We are Go with Apollo 14.This is Kennedy Launch Control.END OF TAPE


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minus 4 minutes and counting on Apollo 14. We are go withthe mission at this time. Spacecraft conductor Skip Chauvin,polled the key elements, as far as spacecraft operations areconcerned, and received a go all the way down, including3 strong goes from the 3 pilots onboard the spacecraft.The aboard engine lights now have come on as cue lights forAstronaut Alan Shepard, on the lefthand side as we comeup on 3 minutes and 30 seconds, 3 minutes 30 seconds andcounting, and the Launch Operations Manager now has toldAlan Shepard, we are go and on behalf of the launch team,wishes him Gods speed. Alan Shepard came back and said"Thank you very much, we'll give it a good ride." 3 minutes15 seconds and counting. We'll be coming up on the automaticsequence shortly. Mark, we have 1 sequence start, theautomatic sequence is in coming up on 3 minutes, T minus3 minutes and counting. We are still Go at this time withApollo 14. Skip Chauvin has Just asked Lunar Module Pilot,Ed Mitchell to bring the tape recorder onboard the space-craft. We're at 2 minutes 46 seconds and counting. Aswe' re on the automatic sequence, the various tanks in theSaturn V launch vehicle, those propellant tanks in all 3stages, begin pressurizing so that the propellants can beforced in the engine chambers at the appropriate time.Coming up 2 minutes 30 seconds and counting. Shepard hasbeen alerted that he will be making his final guidance checkshortly. Second stage launch tank beginning to pressurizein 2 minutes and 20 seconds and counting. Still go at thistime. 2 minutes 10 seconds. We are still Go. We have takenthe environmental control system off external. We have goneinternal with the environmental controls of spacecraft.2 minutes and counting. We are still Go. The tanks in theSaturn V still continuing to pressurize. The sequence forthe ignition of those 5 engines in the first stage of theSaturn V begin at 8.9 seconds. We're now 1 minute 45 secondsand counting. Still Go with Apollo 14. We'll go on internalpower in the Saturn V Launch Vehicle at the 50 second markin the count. At ignition and liftoff we'll have morethan 7-1/2 million pounds of tbrust pushing the spacevehicle off the launch pad. This is the heaviest Saturn Vspace vehicle to be launched thus far. Coming up from the1 minute 20 second mark. 1 minute 20 seconds and counting -still Go at this time. Third stage tanks now are pressurizedaccording to our status board here in the firing room. 1minute 10 seconds and counting. This is Kennedy LaunchControl, coming up in 60 seconds, mark T minusEND OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 1402 CST 30/2CAPCOM Pass through max skip.SC Load one, Charlie.CC Mark one Charlie now.SC Rear one EVS autos OFF.CAP COM Ro ge r.PAO Two minutes five seconds coming up oncenter engine shutdown.PAO Two minutes 12 seconds, 20 nauticalmiles in altitude.SC Inboard cut off.CAPCOM Roger. Inboard. Center engine shutdownon time. Two minutes, 25 seconds 25 nautical miles in

altitude, 30 nautical miles downrange. MARK 2 minutes,35 seconds coming up on staging.SC Shut off.

CAPCOM Roger.SC And separation.CAP COM Roger.SC Ignition on 5.CAP COM Roger.CAPCOM At staging on the Shepard crew now

riding on 5 good second stage engines.SC On 5 engines.CAPCOM Roger. We confirm good thrust and on

_ 5.

PAO The giant first stage falling away now.It's day's work done. Three minutes, 10 secondscoming up on skirt sep and tower Jettison.SC Skirt SEP.

CAPCOM Roger.SC There goes the tower.CAP COM Roger. We confirm.PAO The launch escape tower has ejectedon time.SC Depress press and water level.CAP COM Roger Ed.PAO Three minutes 35 seconds 14 now 33

feet shorter 9000 lbs. lighter moving out well beyondthe earth's atmosphere. We show an altitude of 16 nauticalmiles. Mark 3 minutes, 55 seconds 63 nautical miles inaltitude. 143 nautical miles downrange. Velocity now -

SC At 4 minutes trajectory and guidance looksgood.SC 14, Roger.CAPCOM 14, Houston. The CMC is GO.SC Roger, CMC GO.


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 1402 CST 30/3PAO Four minutes, 20 seconds, velocity now

reading 10 750 feet per second and accelerating. InMission Control, Apollo 14 trajectory data driving rightdown the middle of our block boards. Right now flight pathdata is GO.

PAO Coming up on five minutes, 78 nauticalmiles in altitude, 235 nautical miles downrange.

PAO Retrofire also reports there - 14 isclear of the Atlantic weather.

PAO Predicted time for S-2 shutdown 9 minutes16 seconds. Very close to normal. We're at five minutes,45 seconds.

SC Stand by for S-IVB to COI. Marks S-IVBto COI now.

SC S-IVB to COI.CAPCOM Roger, and your times are nominal. Level

sense on A plus 39 and S2 cut off at 9 plus 16.S C (GARB LE )PAO CAPCOM Gordon Fullerton reporting that

14 capable of reaching the minimum orbit. The combinationof a good third stage and service module engines. Meanwhilein Mission Control status check being taken. Coming upall green. We're at 6 minutes 20 seconds of 1491 nauticalmi les -

SC All my motors are running.CAPCOM Roger 14. Gimbal motors ON.PAO Six minutes 30 seconds 93 nautical in

altitude. 420 nautical miles downrange.SC Stand by for S-IVB to orbit. Mark

you have S-IVB to orbit now.SC Roger. IV-B orbit.PAO Shepard, Roosa and Mitchell now told

that they can reach orbit. They're on booster power onlyafter given a good third stage. Six minutes, 55 seconds95 nautical miles in altitude. Seven minutes, 5 secondsand 499 nautical miles downrange. Velocity now reading16 587 feet per second.

PAO Seven minutes, 30 seconds, 14 flyingalmost parallel over the ocean now with the Shepard crewin a hitched down position. Really moving out now fordownrange distance so we show downrange of 587 nauticalmiles .

SC Inboard cut off.CAP COM Roger. Inboard.


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_- APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 1402 CST 30/4PAO That was center engine shut down righton time. Good thrust on the other four.PAO Eight minutes, 10 seconds of 14 now

98 nautical miles in altitude, 700 nautical miles downrange.Velocity now reading at 19 881 feet per second. Stagingstatus

SC You go for staging.CAPCOM CMC is GO.SC Roger. CMC is GO.CAPCOM We have level sense on now.SC Roger. We will confirm.PAO Mark 9 minutes 100 nautical miles in

altitude, 830 nautical miles downrange.CAPCOM Stand by for Mode 4 capability. Mark

you have an out?SC Roger. Mode 4.PAO That Mode 4 call says a good -CAP COM Roger. Cut off.SC And staging.

END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 14: 12CST 31/1PAO Mark 9 minutes, 100 nautical miles

in altitude, 830 nautical miles downrange.CAPCOM Stand by for mode 4 capability.

Mark you have it now.SC Roger, mode 4.PAO That mode 4 call says a good deal - -CAPCOM Roger, cut off.SC And staging.CAP COM Roger.SC And good thrust on one.CAP COM Roger.PAO 9 minutes 30 seconds. Thrust looks

good on the S4B after staging.CAPCOM Looks good on the S4B.SC Thank you.PAO The Shepard crew has now used up

2/3 of their Saturn stages on their way to orbit. We'reat 9 minutes 45 seconds. 101 nautical miles in altitude.989 nautical miles downrange. Velocity now reading at22,300 - - 23,313 feet per second.

SC 14, Houston. Everything's lookingperfect here.CAP COM Roger.PAO 10 minutes, 25 seconds. 102 nautical

miles in al altitude. 11,443 nautical miles downrange.Velocity now reading 24,206 feet per second.

CAPCOM 14, Houston. Predicting cutoff isas planned, 11 plus 43.

SC Roger.PAO Predicted time of shutdown, 11 minutes,

43 seconds. We're now at 11 minutes, 10 seconds.CAPCOM - Houston. Predicted cutoff is11 plus 43 nominal. Over.

SC Rog. 11 plus 43.PAO Downrange distance now at 1322

nautical miles. 11 minutes 30 seconds. Standing by nowfor shutdown.SC We've got a good cutoff.CAP COM Roger.PAO Shutdown. We'll stand by now for

preliminary orbital readings both onboard and from theground.

CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston. The booster issafe and your orbit is Go.

SC Roger. Good show. Go orbit,booster is safe.SC Boosting - power 2 coming on now.CAPCOM 14, Houston. I have a Z torquing

angle when you're ready to cut.- SC Okay. We're showing about 99 over102.9 .


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 14:12 CST 31/2SC Okay.PAO This is Apollo Control, Houston.

We' re advised that the Vice President of the United Statesis now in the firing room. We'll switch to Cape Kennedy.

END OF TAPE


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The Vice President of the United States and their royalhighnesses, the Prince and Princess of Spain have nowarrived in the firing room and are being introduced at thistime to the Launch Director, Walter Kapryan. With him isMr. George Low, the acting Director of the NationalAeronautics and Space Administration.SPEAKER Ladies and Gentlemen we are honoredto have with us today, for the launch of Apollo 14 theVice President and his royal highness Jaun Carlos, Princeof Spain. May I now present the Vice President of theUnited States.

AGNEW Thank you, thank you very much.Again I suppose that it is almost a routine performance forme to be here to congratulate the men and women of NASA onan incredibly successful launch and insertion into orbit. Imust say, that I never fail to be tremendously impressedand moved by this occurrence. Today is especiallypleasurable because I had the opportunity to be with theirroyal highnesses, Prince Juan Carlos, Princess Sophia ofSpain, and I can tell you this much, if I have ever seentwo fans and converts to the American space undertakingwe have them right here in these wonderful foreign dignitarieswith me today. I think that this flight, as an especiallymeaningful and critical mission in the American spaceprogram, I don't have to enlarge upon that to the men andwomen here. Our dedication to our space program remainsundiminished. I think that we're going to continue topress forward for what needs to be done in this respect,and I want to congratulate the people of NASA who, throughout all of the pullings and tuggings, the fears and theexhilirations that undertake a high risk venture such asthe American space program, have been so consistent, soconstant, and certainly, so restrained in their reactionto what may have been considered to be, in some areas somevery discouraging occurrences. Those days are past us andwe're going forward together, not Just to the moon, but I'mcertain that the American program will continue to pressforward into the reaches of interplanetary space, andnow it's a great pleasure for me to ask, our royal guest,his royal highness Prince Juan Carlos, who incidentallyknows a lot more about flying than I do because he pilotshis own helicopter, to greet the men and women of NASA, andto give us, in some measure his reaction to this historico cc as ion.CARLOS Thank you. Thank you very muchMr. Vice President. You said that we were fans, we arefans. We came here in 1962 on our honeymoon. We met someof you that we saw today, we are very happy to see them again.


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 14:16 CST 32/2CARLOS We saw the installations and the

facilities of NASA in Houston, when Doctor Low was therethen, at the time, and we are very much interested. PersonallyI followed a few of the tracking stations you have in mycountry. I know the people there, and I know how well theyare doing. Here I don't have any words because you are themen who put up those three men that now go to the moon, andyou are doing so much for progress, and for the wholehumanity, that I'm very proud to be a part of you today.Congratulations and thank you very much.

SPEAKER Thank you very much your royalhighness. It is now my pleasure to introduce DoctorKurt Debus, Director of the Kennedy Space Center.

DEBUS Thank you Charles. Your royalhighness, as old timers in the manned program and specificallyin the lunar program when you visited us it was just thebeginning. Now we have proceeded with several missions tothe moon and we will continue to do so. As a momento, asa rememberance to your visit I want you to have this littlepicture.CARLOS Thank you very much.

END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY, 1/31/71 1554 CST 34/1

PAO This is Apollo Control Houston at 51 minutesnow into the flight of Apollo 14. We have just acquiredthe Apollo 14 spacecraft through Carnarvon. We'll quicklypass on to you heart rates during liftoff on the commandmodule pilot and lunar module pilot. Stu Roosa's -

CAPCOM - through Carnarvon. How do you read?SC Read you loud and clear.CAPCOM Roger. We're reading you a lot of background

static.SC Houston, are you ready for a IMU REFSMAT

realign check, P52 numbers?CAPCOM Roger, Ed. Go ahead.SC That's NOUN 71, (garbled) 22 24 95 is all balls.

NOUN 93, is 00085 plus 00010 plus 00166. DET at 38:15 andwe just burst into sunlight, Gordo, it was quite a sunrise,

CAPCOM Roger, Ed. We copy that.PAO This is Apollo Control Houston. During this

lull in commuications we'll start again to pass along thoseheart rates at liftoff. That was a peak rate of 132 on com-mand module pilot Stu Roosa. He averaged in the 120's duringthe boost phase of flight. In the case of Ed Mithcell hispeak rate was 90 and ran in the 80's. Commander Alan Shepardwe received no data on. We suspect a loose sensor or connec-tor and this will be fixed sometime in orbit during the morequiet period. We presently show Apollo 14 in an orbit of104 nautical miles by 101 nautical miles. We're at 54 minutesnow into the flight. We'll stand by and continue to monitor.

PAO This is Apollo Control llouston now at 58 minutesinto the flight of Apollo 14, continuing here with a lull inground conversation. At this time I'll pass along the shut-down times on the Saturn as it achieved its orbit: S-ICshutdown or cutoff was 2 minute 44 seconds; S-II shutdown wascopied at 9 minutes 19 seconds, this 3 seconds longer thannominal, and the S-IVB shutdown or cutoff was at 11 minutes40 seconds instead of a preflight 11 minutes 43 seconds. We'reat 59 minutes now into the flight of Apollo 14 and continuingto monitor, this is Apollo Control in Houston.

PAO Apollo Control Houston, 1 hour now into theflight of Apollo 14. We've had LOS with Carnarvon, we expectto acquire Honeysuckle momentarily. At ] hour into the flight,this is Apollo Control Houston.

CAPCOM Apollo 14, through Honeysuckle. Over.CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston, through Honeysuckle. If

you read, go OMNI CHARLIE.PAO This is Apollo Control Houston, 1 hour 6 min-utes now into the flight. We've had loss of signal with Honey-

suckle. We presently show 14 in an orbit of 106 nautical milesby 100 nautical miles at a velocity reading of 25 583 feet persecond. At this time we'll switch to the Cape for the post-flight press conf,_rence. Switchia_ _o,, i _ ti_ si ".

-- J_-,"Y_ A_e t_a ]i_sLt _ _._? Okay, I guess -END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY, 1/31/71, 1623 CST 35/1PAO This is Apollo Control Houston at i hour

30 minutes now since the liftoff of Apollo 14. We presentlyshow 14 less than a minute now away from acquisition withan orbit of 106 by 101 nautical miles. The preliminary lookat our translunar injection time puts it at a time of 2 hours28 minutes 27 seconds.

SC Houston, we've completed our checklist of(garbled) .

CAPCOM 14, Houston. Say ahead. Pretty bad staticright in the middle of that transmission. Will you sayagain?

SC Roger, Houston. We have completed our Lto 18.

CAPCOM Roger.SC Houston, we're starting to extend the docking

probe now.CAPCOM Roger, Ed, and I have a TLI plus 90 pad any

time you' re ready to copy.SC Roger. One second and we'll be ready for you.SC Okay, Houston, the probe's extended.SC Houston, I'm ready to copy.CAPCOM Okay Ed. One question from Dr. Gilruth.

They are wondering how you all like zero-g.SC Say again, Houston.CAPCOM Dr. Gilruth was wondering how you like to

fly - how you like flight in zero-g -SC I think I got that one, Gordon. You're ask-

ing about zero-g and it's really great. Everybody's ingreat shape, we're having a ball, way ahead of the time line.

CAPCOM Roger. I'll go ahead with TLI plus 90, Ed,if you' re ready.

SC Go ahead.CAPCOM Okay, it's a TLI plus 90, SPS/G&N. NOUN 47

64470 minus 145 plus 130. TIG is 003 59 5113. NOUN 81minus 05158 plus all balls plus 84206. Attitude 181 256001. HA is NA. HP plus 00171 84364 901 84049. Sextant 152214 399. Boresight star is NA. NOUN 61 minus 3014 minus02500 11544 33721 GET for 05G 012 - correction. 010 5729.GDC aline set stars are Sirius and Rigel 333 083 013 noullage. Go ahead.

SC Roger, Houston. That COMM wasn't too good.I missed burn time, trunnion angle, and - will you repeatthose two.

CAPCOM Roger. Your burn time is 901 and trunnionangle, 399. Over.

SC Roger, and say again the burn time.CAPCOM Burn time 901, 901. Over.SC Roger, 901. TLI plus 90, SPS G&N 64470 minus

145 plus 130 at 003 59 5113. 5158 plus ali zeros plus 84206_- 181 256 001 NA plus 00171 84364 901 84049 152214 299 NA

NOUN 61 minus 3014 minus 02500 11544 33721 GET of 05g: 0105729 Sirius Rigel 332082013 no ullage.


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY, 1/31/71, 1623 CST 35/2CAPCOM Okay, Ed. I have about 4 corrections. The

first is on DELTA-V X on NOUN 81. I missed your readbackon that. It should be minus 05158. Is that what you got?

SC That's affirm,05158.CAPCOM Okay, and a couple of readbacks were incor-

rect. Trunnion angle is 399, 399. Over.SC Roger, trunnion 399.CAPCOM And our alines, or the GDC aline, that is 333

and pitch is 083. Yaw you read back correctly, 013. Over.SC Roger, 333 083 and you're coming in very

loud and clear now, Gordon.CAPCOM Okay, Ed. You've been loud and clear. I'll

give you the P37 for liftoff plus 8, if you're ready.SC Go ahead.CAPCOM Okay, GET of ignition is 00800 3283 minus

165 and GET for 400 K, 04538. Go ahead.SC That's 00800 3283 minus 165 and 04538.CAPCOM Roger, your readback is correct and I have

the TLI pad.SC Okay, these pads are sure wrecking my viewing,

but all right.SC Okay, Houston, go ahead with the TLI pad.CAPCOM 14, Houston. Before the pad would you give

us PO0 and ACCEPT for a new state vector.SC Okay, you have it.CAPCOM And I'm ready with the TLI pad.SC Go ahead.CAPCOM Roger, time base 6 predict 21851. Attitudefor TLI 179 136 000. Burn time 552 103630 35549. SEP

attitude 359168 319. Extension attitude 301 348-END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 16:44CST 36/1CAPCOM extraction altitude 301, 348, 041.

Ejection time is 35600. Go ahead_SC Okay. I have 021851. I missed the

angles. Run time 5 plus 52. 10363035549, 359, 168, 319,301, 348, 041. Ejection 35600. And would you give methe angles again, please?

CAPCOM Roger, Al. Your readback was correct.The TLI attitude is 179, 136, 000. Go ahead.

SC I have 179, 136, 000.CAPCOM Roger. Read back correct.CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston. The computer is

yours. We're through with the uplink.SC Okay. Thank you. Okay, Houston.

We're going to stand by for your Go for pyro arm.CAPCOM Roger, Al. Stand by. You're Go

for pyro arm.SC Okay, Houston. Your logic switches on?CAPCOM Roger. Now you're go for pyro arm.SC Thank you.CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston.SC Go ahead.CAPCOM We have about 4 minutes to LOS

vanguard, Ed. And due to the launch delay, the Canaryplans will be pretty low elevation marginal, at the mostabout 2 minutes long.

SC Okay. Thank you.CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston.S C Go ahead.CAPCOM We're reading the CDR's EKG loud and

clear now. We're wondering if you did anything to fix itup there.

SC No.CAP COM Roger.

It looks good.PAO Apollo Control, Houston. One hour,

47 minutes now into the flight. You heard the translunarinjection pad being passed to the crew. We're presentlylooking at a time of ignition of 2 hours and 28 minutes,29 seconds. A Delta-V on the burn of 10,367 feet per second.Burn duration of 5 minutes, 52 seconds. Velocity at timeof shutdown 35,549 feet per second. As you heard CAPCOMFullerton pass along, apparently we are receiving medicaldata from the commander at this time. We're at one hour48 minutes into the flight of Apollo 14. This is ApolloControl, Houston. Apollo Control, Houston. One hour, 50minutes now into the flight. We

CAP COM Hous t on ?SC Go ahead.CAPCOM We're real close to LOS, so I'll go


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 16:44CST 36/3PAO One hour and 55 minutes. We had

loss of signal with Canary's. Meanwhile the countdownclocks in Mission Control show a LOS time of 11 minutes forthe command module. This is ARIA or an Apollo Range andInstrumentation Aircraft acquisition and we're countingdown now for time of ignition. Presently showing 32 minutes,40 seconds away from time of ignition. We're at one hour,56 minutes into the flight continuing to monitor. Thisis Apollo Control, Houston.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 17:19CST 38/1PAO This is Apollo Control, Houston,

at 2 hours 16 minutes now into the flight of Apollo 14.We'll stand by for any communications with the ARIAaircraft. We're 12 minutes 25 seconds away from time ofi gni tion.CAPCOM Apollo 14, this is Houston throughARIA 4, how do you read?

SC Houston, this is Apollo 14,loud and clear, how read?

CAPCOM You're readable, a little backgroundnoise, but not unreadable.

SC Roger, Houston.PA0 That was Ed Mitchell responding

aboard the spacecraft.SC Houston, 14, how do you read now?CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston, you're readable.SC Okay, I was just checking the com out.

Hey, you're just beautiful, ARIA is really putting out forUS

PAO 2 minutes 18 seconds, that wasStu Roosa coming in with a comment.

PA0 We're ten minutes away now, fromtime of ignition.

SC (garble) . (garble)PAO Nine minutes away now.CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston, over.SC Go ahead.CAPCOM Roger we missed if you did call

time base 6 starting, and we'd like to know how the tankpressures look, over.SC Okay it looked to us like time baseCharlie we didn't want a second nominal time, and the oxidizertank is currently - auietly at 3 7 and the (garbled) tank iscurrently setting quietly at 2 6.

CAP C0M Roger that.PAO That was Alan Shepard responding

to that call. We're at 2 hours 22 minutes now. 6 minutes25 seconds away from time of ignition.

CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston, over.PAO Four minutes away now from time of

ignition.CAPCOM 14, Houston, How do you read?PAO We now are receiving Carnarvon

data, and very shortly flight director Pete Frank willpoll this flight control team as to our status for TLI.

SC Okay, Houston, 14. How do youread us ?

CAPCOM Roger 14, this is Houston, throughCarnarvon, and you're loud and clear.

SC You're 5 square.


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 17:19 CST 38/2PAO 2 minutes 20 - 2 hours 26 minutes.

Pete Frank now taking a status check with his flightcontrol team. Coming up all green.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 17:29CST 39/1FAO 2 minutes, 2 - or 2 hours, 26 minutes.

Pete Frank now taking a status check with his flightcontrol team. Coming up all greens.

CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston.SC Go ahead.CAPCOM You're GO for the Moon. Go for TLI.SC Roger. Go for TLI.PAO That was A1 Shepard responding to

that GO for TLI. We're at 2 hours, 27 minutes now into theflight. One minute, 32 seconds from time of ignition. Lessthan 30 seconds now from time of ignition. Our displaysshow a predicted apogee resulting from this burn of a250,263.7 nautical miles. We're at 2 hours, 28 minutes nowinto the flight. Standing by.

SC We have ignition.CAP COM Roger, ignition.SC Smooth start. Steering is good.CAPCOM Roger. We show good thrust on theS4B.FAO That's A1 Shepard, spacecraft

commander giving that report. Booster says we look goodat 1 minute 3 seconds into the burn. Flight dynamics ispleased with the agreement between his data. We show avelocity buildup on one of our displays presently reading27,390 feet per second. Coming up now on 2 minutes.

SC Houston. Tank pressures are steadyin 40 and 30.CAP COM 14, Houston. Roger.PAO A1 Shepard again aboard the space-

craft. Thrust data looks good. Still receiving data showingthe velocity of 29,212 feet per second. 3 minutes, 10 secondsnow into the burn. Coming up now on 4 minutes, 4 minutes.We've had LOS with Canarvon. Our network reports we'rereceiving IU data through Guam. Looks good. Apollo 14tracking right down the middle of our plot boards in MissionControl. 5 minutes, 10 seconds.

CAPCOM 14, Houston. Through (garble) 2.Over.PAO Booster says 20 seconds to GO.SC - - are cut off.CAPCOM Roger, 14. Cut off.FAO That was Allen Shepard reportingshutdown. It looks like - -SC - - coming down through 35 now. The

(garble) coming down through 30.CAPCOM Apollo 14, roger.PAO Apollo Control, Houston. That

shutdown time appeared to be right on time.CAPCOM 14, Houston. Go ahead.SC Reading a VI plus 35542. Delta-V C

minus 8.8. (garble) 4399. (garble).


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 17:29CST 39/2CAPCOM 14, this is Houston. We copy

VI plus 35542, Delta-V C of minus 8.8, and what's thelast two? Would you repeat?

SC Okay. (garble) plus 04399. Altitudeplus 01747.CAPCOM Roger. Plus 04399 and plus 01747.SC Okay. I'm not sure I got your(garble) plus 04399.CAP COM Roger. 04399.PAO With that report, flight dynamics

officer Dave Reed says that it looks like a good burn.We're at 2 hours 37 minutes uow into the flight. We'llstand by and continue to monitor.

SC Houston. On the (garble)CAPCOM Roger. I understand, 18 and 17 on

the tank pressures.CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston through Guam.Over.SC Go ahead, Houston. Say again.CAPCOM You're loud and clear, Ed. And we

should have continuous voice and data from here on out.You're loud and clear from Guam.

SC Okay, Gordon. We have your signals- have good signals strength from you now and I mightsay here that the earth is starting to drop away rapidlyat this point.

CAP COM Roge r.SC Stu and A1 have started to change

seats. We're going into our pre-sep checklist.CAPCOM Roger.CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston. I have an update

to your high gain and gimbal angles as shown on page 3-3when you' re ready.SC Okay. Go ahead.CAPCOM Okay, about 5 lines from the bottom

this is the high gain angles after pitch around for docking,it should be a pitch plus 11 and yaw plus 306.

SC Understand pitch plus 11 and yawplus 3- plus 306.CAP COM Roger. That's right.PAO This is Apollo Control, Houston at

2 hours, 43 minutes into the flight of Apollo 14. Thebooster has advised the Flight Director that the maneuverto separation attitude should begin at 2 hours - -END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 17:46 CST 40/1PAO Minutes into the flight of Apollo 14.

The booster has advised our flight director that the maneuverto separation attitude should begin at 2 hours 49 minutes23 seconds. About 3 minutes, the time duration for themaneuver separation, we're now looking at 2 hours 59 minutes23 seconds. We'll stand by and continue to monitor. Thisis Apollo control Houston.

CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston. I have someupdate for your, for you now, over.SC What type of updates?

CAPCOM I've got the S4B maneuver time andSEP time that goes on 3 dash 1, and then a new S4B viewingattitude.

SC Roger, I'm ready to copy.CAPCOM The S4B maneuver time, 2 4 9 23,

maneuver will be complete in 3 minutes, and the nominalSEP time is 25923.

SC Understand S4B maneuver 24923 andit'll maneuver for 3 minutes. SEP is 25925, and 23.

CAPCOM That's correct, Ed. And then on page3-7, stand by 1. 14, Houston.

SC Go ahead.CAPCOM Terminate the cabin repressurization.

We show you over 6 psi.SC We beat you to it.CAPCOM Okay, now you have a 3.7 in front

of you. I'll give you the new S4B zero attitude now 22an gle.

SC Okay, go ahead.CAPCOM Okay, it's about a quarter of the

way down where it reads 93 39.6 and 355.8. Change them toread, roll is the same, 090 pitch plus 349.0, and yaw plus 356.0.

SC Roger, you said, Roll is the same,pitch is 349.0, yaw is 356.0.

CAPCOM Roger, read back is correct.CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston. Give us on

the Charlie please.SC Houston, do you have Charlie?CAP COM Ro ge r.PAO Apollo 14 now 27 hundred 44 nautical

miles away from the earth. We're up to 2 hours 53 minutesinto the flight. 2 hours 54 minutes, our booster reportsmaneuvering to seperation attitude has been completed. 2 hours55 minutes, and Mission Control Flight Director, Pete Franktaking a status check for transposition docking.

SC Houston, 14, the S4B tank pressuresoxidizer 24 and fuel 9.

CAPCOM Roger, oxidizer at 24, fuel 9.PAO We now show 14 at an altitude of 3126


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 17:46CST 40/2PAO nautical miles. Apollo Control Houston,

14 now 33 hundred 69 nautical miles, 34 hundred and 4 nauticalmiles at 2 hours 57 minutes.CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston.SC Go ahead Houston, 14.CAPCOM Roger, you are go for transposition

and docking, and we're to have a sight handover fromGuam to Goldstone at 3 hours even, over.

SC Okay, understand, we're going toGoldstone at 3, and we have a go for T and D.CAP COM That's affirmative.

PAO We presently show 14 at a distanceof 38 hundred and 58 nautical miles over earth. 3 hours -

SC ... go for power arm.CAPCOM 14 Houston, you're go for power arm.S C Ok ay.PAO Standing by for a report of separation.

Our data shows that we have separation. We're at 3 hours3 minutes.SC Okay, Houston, we have separated, turnedaround and started.CAPCOM Roger.SC Houston, 14.CAPCOM Go ahead, Ed.SC You should have the television in a

minute, there it comes.CAPCOM Roger, we're not seeing it yet.PAO Ed Mitchell reporting, the television

should be coming through. We're receiving an image now.CAPCOM We're getting a gray picture now.S C Ok ay.CAPCOM We can see the drogue down toward the

bottom of the picture and slightly -END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 1808 41/1S C Ok ay.CAPCOM Drogue down toward the bottom of the

picture and slightly left, you might move the camera alittle bit left and then down about a half a frame.CAPCOM That's real good. Right there.SC Houston. How's the television look toyou now. Do you think I (garble) the picture?CAPCOM No. I wouldn't change a thing, Ed. Looks

really good.CAPCOM It's right in the middle and steady.S C Ok ay.PAO 14 now 51 068 nautical miles away fromearth.CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston.SC Go ahead.CAPCOM Just for your information, we've lost

data with the LVDC. We don't have any procedures for you.What have you got for that?SC Say again, Houston.CAPCOM We've lost data with - all data from

the LVDC but we have no change in the figures. Go aheadwith normal procedures.S C Ok ay .PAO That's the launch vehicle digital computer,

the LVDC. We're at 3 hours, 9 minutes now into the flight.PAO We're at 3 hours, 9 minutes on 14.Presently 5441 nautical miles away from earth.

PAO You see Kitty Hawk moving in beforedocking now. We're at 3 hours, 10 minutes into the flight.We show an altitude of 5577 nautical miles.

SC Houston, 14. Do you need any commentaryto help you identify what you see on TV?CAPCOM We're picking out things pretty well

here. If you have anything for the rest of the countryyou might go ahead and talk. It won't interfere with theoperation we're at.

SC Okay. I' 11 chat for a minute. TheS-IVB is surrounded here by typical (garble) of millions ofparticles that came off when we separated and look likelittle old twinkling stars floating around in very rampantpattern. The sunlight is shining very strongly off thetop of the lunar module as we drift into it. (garble)Excellent Job of sliding in here very slowly. As you cansee that are - approach the (garble) few tips of a foot per


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 1808 CST 41/2SC second probably. And the LM is starting

to get very large in our field of view. Hard to cover thewidth though up there plus that window. And the LM, theS-IVB are focused right out our X-axis. I couldn't tellyou all of the -

SC Bright red.SC Orange, yellow. Thermal protection

around the LM. The parts that are black, silver and white.The colors stand out very nicely. And I can look across -across Stewart.

CAPCOM Hi Ed. This is Houston. About howfar out in range and distance estimate.SC About five feet.

CAPCOM Roger.SC I'll stand by with the commentary here

for a moment.SC Go ahead, Houston. We're about to dock.CAPCOM Roger.PAO That was Ed Mitchell reporting they'regetting ready to dock and we're at 3 hours 13 minutes now

into the flight.SC We're probably a foot - 18 inches to2 foot out now.CAP COM Ro ge r.PAO We're at 3 hours 14 minutes into the

flight. We show Apollo 14 at a distance of 6184 nauticalmiles.

SC And we docked.CAPCOM Roger. We could see a slight oscillation.PAO Ed Mitchell reporting that Apollo 14

Command Module, Kitty Hawk has docked in with the lunarmodule.

PAO We're at 3 hours, 14 minutes now intothe flight. Apollo 14 presently at 6318 nautical milesaway from earth.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 18:18 CST 42/1SC Okay, Houston. We viewed it twice

and sure looks like we're closing fast enough. I'm goingto back back out here and try it again.

CC Roger.SC We'd better back off and thinkabout this one, Houston.

SC Roger, Ed.SC We're unable to get a capture.SC Roger, Ed.PAO That's Stu Roosa and Ed Mitchell

reporting that, at least at this point, that they're unableto get a capture. We'll stand by.

SC Houston, we're starting to driftback in now.

CC Roger, Ed.CC Working, Houstoncc I would suggest that at the initial

contact that you hold contacf_s for 3 seconds or so at least.SC Okay, Houston. We tried it before,

but not quite 3 seconds.CC Okay.SC That's better. A good rate comingin there.SC And here we come in again.CC Roger.SC Okay, Houston. I hit it pretty

good and held 4 seconds on contact and we did not latch.CC Roger. We're seeing it all on TVhere.PAO You heard Stu Roosa. Still no

latch. The crew has a period of time that they can continuewith this attempt. The restricting item would be as longas we have attitude holding on the S4B.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 18:28 CST 43/1PAO We're at 4 hours 25 minutes.CC Apollo 14, Houston.SC Go ahead, Houston.CC The information is 3 plus 34 24,

a nonpropulsive vent on the booster orbiting sequence, Don.We don't expect to see much on it.

SC Say that again please.CC At 3 plus 34 24, a non propulsive

vent in the booster orbiting sequence to open. Over.SC Okay, we get it.SC Okay, Houston, 14. I can look in

the drogue and I can see 3 marks 120 degrees apart like thecapture latches are scratching the drogue. They're about, ohI don't know, 1-1/2 long going into the hole in the drogueabout - space about 120.

CC Roger.CC 14, Houston. Can you describe the

scratches? Are they sharp scratches or rounded off?SC Well, I didn't really see that good.

I can move back in, I guess. We can take a look at them.They look like fairly distinct scratches coming into thehole, but- let's move up, I'll take another look.

CC Roger.PAO We're at 3 hours 29 minutes now

into the flight. We show 1486 nautical miles into the flight.SC Houston, 14.CC Go ahead.SC I,m sure you're all thinking along

the same lines, but, you know if the capture latches weredepressing as they slide into the drogue, I don't see whythey would have made those marks.

CC Yes, that's been discussed here,and we think probably something is holding them out. Onepossibility is a sort of a hairpin that gets pulled outwhen the tower is Jettisoned and first look at it we'rethinking maybe that may not be - may not allow the capturelatches to depress. I guess we'll Just have to tell you tostand by while we talk it over here more.

SC Okay, we're nice and comfortable.And I'm just going to drift around here about this range andtry not to use any more fuel then I have to.

CC Roger. A reminder, you have about3 minutes till that vent will come open. Keep an eye onthat booster when that happens.

SC 0kay_. how about you give me a markon that duty?CC Will do.PAO This is Apollo Control Houston.

They're 3 hours 32 minutes. That was Stu Roosa troubleshoot-ing with the ground. As you have heard, 14 at this point


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 18:28 CST 43/2PAO has been unable to effect a capture

in the docking procedure with the lunar module. We're at3 hours 32 minutes continuing to monitor. We show Apollo 14presently 91 050 nautical miles from earth.

PAO We're less then a minute now awayfrom the time of non propulsive venting of the S4B.CC 14, this is Houston. That vent isdue in 40 seconds.

SC Ok ay.SC 10 secondsEND OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 18:38CST MC-44/1SC 10 seconds.CAPCOM Ready mark, it should be on now.SC Man, it's beautiful.CAPCOM We can see one half of it from here.SC Okay, I'll back down a little bit

and let you watch this. There lightening up the whole sky.Of course it's the source of another 10 million particlesfloating out in front of us.

CAPCOM Roger.SC I was going to say when we were

kind of busy there a little while ago to look out our leftwindow across Stewart we could see the earth receding.CAP COM Roger.PAO This is Apollo Control, Houston, at'

3 hours 39 minutes now into the flight of Apollo 14. Discussionscontinuing to take place here in Mission Control attemptingto come up with a solution to -

SC Houston, we observe that theS4B is slowly rotating.

CAP COM Ro ge r.PAO Apollo Control, Houston. 3 hours

40 minutes into the flight. Discussions are continuing inMission Control concerning our docking problem. The -

CAPCOM I'm sorry, what happened.SC Okay, I'm not sure what we might

be doing to the windows, it gives us a minor problem at thispoint, but is everybody happy with us sitting here in thisvent ?

CAPCOM I don't think that point has beenraised. Let me ask around here.

S C Ok ay.PAO Apollo Control, Houston, the pacingitem would be the attitude control on the S4B. The battery

power is the major constraining item on that, however itdoes allow us a fair amount of time, approximately 6 to 8hours. Continuing to monitor the trouble shooting operationhere at Mission Control, this is Apollo Control, Houston.We presently show Apollo 14 at an altitude of 10 thousand,6 hundred 33 nautical miles, and we're at a ground elapsedtime of 3 hours 42 minutes.

PAO This is Apollo Control Houston. 3 hours43 minutes into the flight. Trouble shooting continuingin Mission Control. To quickly repeat, we have been unableto latch with the lunar module. We have quite a while toconsider an approach to this problem. The battery power onthe S4B is perhaps a major constraining item, allowing usperhaps 6 to 8 hours of time. However, if we're not ableto extract the lunar module, of course the Lunar LandingMission would not be possible. We're at 3 hours 44 minutescontinuing to monitor.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 18:47CST 45/1PAO minutes, continuing to monitor.CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston.SC Go ahead.CAPCOM While we're working on the problem

here, we suggest that you go to a 5 degree deadband in theDAP, that will be a DAP load 11112 to save RCS and nobody'scome up with a good suggestion on what to do about thewindows, so I guess we Just won't worry about it now.

SC Okay. Like I say, I think it's aminor problem.

PAO This is Apollo Control, Houstonat 3 hours, 53 minutes now into the flight. We presentlyshow 14 at al altitude of 12_310 nautical miles away fromearth. To again go over our problem, the capture latcheshave not been working. One of the plans being consideredhere and will very probably be passed on to the crew is toretrack the probe and attempt to bypass the capture latcheshoping to get the - to the docking latches. There are 12 dock-ing latches and to successfully dock we would need 3 towork. If we are not able to extract the Lunar Module -I repeat our -END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 18:57 CST 46/1PAO extract the Lunar Module - I repeat

our Lunar Landing Mission would not be possible. It iscertainly a serious problem in terms of the mission itself,however, it is not that consideration in terms of crewsafety at this time. We're at 3 hours, 54 minutes continu-ing to monitor. We show Apollo 14 at 12,481 nautical milesaway from Earth and this is Apollo Control, Houston.

CAPCOM Apollo 14, Houston.SC Go ahead.CAPCOM I'd like you to try one thing. Takethe - retract switch to retract and tell us what the talk

back reads in retract cause you have in others before.SC Okay, Gordon. You want the switch

in retract and a readout of the talk back.CAPCOM That's affirmative while the switch

is in retract.SC Rog. It's in retract now and the

talk backs are great.CAPCOM Roger.CAPCOM Okay. That tells us right therethat the capture latches are indeed cocked and that kind of

says that there's something in there that's keeping us fromreleasing them when we go ahead and dock. And it says thatwe cannot firebottle. It Just would not fire, is that thetrue indication? It would not fire. Right.

PAO This is Apollo Control, Houston,4 hours now into the flight. We in Mission Control continu-ing to trouble-shoot our docking problem. The discussionsstill underway, both in the Mission Control room operationfloor proper and with the span or the backroom experts. Thecapture latch has not been working. It is a problem whichcan be considered and discussed and played with for awhile.The constraining item would be the attitude on the thirdstage, the S4B and perhaps the most critical point thereis the battery power and this approximate lifetime of some6 to 8 hours. Again if we are not able to extract theLunar Module the basic Lunar Landing Mission would not bepossible and of course, an alteration - consideration ofalternate missions would have to be made at that time. We'reat 4 hours 2 minutes into the flight. We show 14 at al alti-tude of 13,523 nautical miles. This is Apollo Control,Houston.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 19:07 CST 47/1CAPCOM 14, Houston.SC Go ahead.CAPCOM Another question. Can you remember back

to the inital probe inspection, did you hear a thud as thoughit did extend out?SC That affirmative, Gordon. I guess I

should have mentioned that sooner. Yeah. We got the talkbacks to our barberpole, then immediately back to gray. Butwe did feel the thud.CAP COM Roger, Stu.PAO This is Apollo Control, Houston. 4 hours,

8 minutes into the flight. We show 14 at an altitude of14 294 nautical miles away from earth. Discussions arecontinuing in the Mission Control Center concerning ourdocking problem. A probe and drogue model if it hasnot yet been brought in, will be brought in shortly to aidin the discussions. We show 4 hours 9 minutes into theflight continuing to monitor. This is Apollo Control, Houston.

SC Houston, 14.CAPCOM 14, _Houston. Go ahead.SC Can we leave the television runningor shall I take it down now?CAP COM Stand by.CAPCOM Like to leave it running, Ed. We're

not seeing that booster right now. It's in the lower lefthand corner, Just barely. But we'd like to keep it runningfor a future use.

SC Ok ay.SC Houston, 14. And turning the PYROs and

SEP logic OFF.CAPCOM Roger.PAO Apollo Control Houston. For - -

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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 19:17 CST 48/1PAO Apollo Control Houston. 4 hours

14 minutes. The color converter is off the line at themoment, being recycled. We're showing black and white atthis time.

CC Apollo 14, Houston. Over.SC Go ahead.CC Okay, we'd like to essentially try

the docking again with the normal procedures rather thengo into more drastic alternate procedures. We'd like youto rec0nfigure the dap. Ri should be 11102 for docking.We'd like you to go to extend release and hold it for atleast 5 seconds and then return to retract and proceed withone more try at a normal docking. Over.

SC Okay, we'll put a narrow deadbandin and we'll go extend for 5 seconds at least and back toretract and bang it again.

CC Ro ge r.PAO As you heard, Cap Corn Fullerton

passed along to Stu Roosa and other crew members of 14 thatwe're going to make another docking attempt with the estab-lished procedures prior to reconsidering alternate plans.We're at 4 hours 16 minutes now into the flight. We showApollo -

CC Houston, make your closing rateon this try, not fast - not slow, Just a normal closing rate.

SC Okay. We'll try it. I thought that'swhat I had the first time, but we'll give it a GO.

CC Roger. The first time looked thatway to us. We _ust want to try it again.

S C Ok ay.CC Apollo 14, Houston. When you do

that extend release, for the ... at least 5 seconds so youcan read the (garble) beck to us.S C Ok ay SC And Houston, we'd like to bring

logics on and get another GO for Pyro arm.CC Stand by. We're ready for logicon.SC Logic is on.CC 14, Houston. Your GO for pyroON.SC Roger. GO for pyro arm.PAO Apollo Control, Houston.

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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 19:22 CST 49/1PAO Apollo Control Houston, 4 hours

19 minutes now into the flight. Apollo 14 pressing on nowwith another attempt at docking. We show the spacecraft nowat a distance of 15 thousand 821 nautical miles away from earth.We'll stand by and continue to minitor 4 hours 18 minutes nowinto the flight.SC Houston, 14, are you ready for theextend release position of the switch.

CAPCOM That's affirmative, go ahead Al.SC Okay (garble) and retract and extend

release on my mark in 5 seconds. Mark. Barberpole stayedgray back to off. Barberpole still gray.

CAP COM Rog, understand.SC Back to retract barberpole still gray.CAPCOM Roger, I understand the (garble)

stayed gray all the way through.S C Af fi rmat ire.

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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 10:27CST 50/1PAO This is Apollo Contzol, Houston,

4 hours, 27 minutes now into the flight. We show Apollo 14at a distance of 16,B89 nautical miles away from the moon -away from the earth. There has been no voice communicationwith the Apollo 14 crew for sometime as the 14 crew ispressing on for another attempt at docking and in MissionControl a probe and drogue assembly is on hand discussionsare continuing here at the possible alternatives. We'reat 4 hours, 28 minutes into the flight, continuing tomonitor. This is Apollo Control, Houston.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 19:32CST 51/1SC Okay, Houston, we're starting to

close in again.PAO That's Ed Mitchell making the

report at 4 hours, 31 minutes that they're starting toclose in again at - on another attempt to dock with theLunar Module. We presently show Apollo 14 at a distanceof 17,453 nautical miles away from Earth.SC Got 4 feet on it, Houston.

CAP COM Roger, Ed.SC Here it comes. No latch.SC No latch, Houston.CAPCOM Roger.PAO This is Apollo Control, Houston,

4 hours, 33 minutes. You heard that report of no latch.In the control center we have a probe and drogue assembly.Looking very closely over it are backup commander GeneCernan along with John Young and Chet Lee the mission director,and John Llewellyn who's on one of the flight control teams.We're at 4 hours, 34 minutes and we show Apollo 14 at adistance of 17,729 nautical miles.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 1942 CST 53/1CAPCOM Hey Stu. This is Gene. Do you read?SC Yeah, loud and clear.CAPCOM Okay. We got one more idea down here

before doing any hardsuit work and let me throw anidea in and you come back with your impression.

SC All right.CAPCOM We're thinking of attempting to dockactually without the aid of the probe which requires some

pretty fine alignment. We're thinking that maybe you couldgo ahead and go through a normal plus X and put the probein a drogue and while your holding AGS this will help youwith your alignment and while you're holding a plus X goahead and blow a bottle and try and retract the probe.Now if the probe retracts, it should retract well out ofyour way so that the actual docking latches with any luckon the alignment should mate. Now if you get one latch,we feel we'll be fat and we can get them off. There'sone hooker. The configuration that we think you might bein electrically there may be a series path broken whichdoesn't allow us actually to retract the probe throughblowing one of those bottles but we feel it sure is wortha chance - it's worth a try before we do any hard suit work.

SC Ail right. Gene, let me see if weunderstand you on that. Your thought is to blow one ofthe bottles to retract the probe after we're lined up andJust before contact or wait until we contact and thenthrusting and then retract the probe.

CAPCOM Okay A1 we're thinking that actuallyif you use the - leave the probe extended until youactually contact that any small, minute aligmment at leastin translation left right up or down will be taken outas the probe centers in the hold of the drogue. If youcan keep a plus X going at that time and then retractthe probe hopefully your alignment will stay fairly closeand we may pick up a couple of the docking latches. Nowas I said, we got some reservations. We're not sure actuallythe probe is going to retract so you might keep that in mindbut again, if it doesn't retract we haven't lost a modeland if it does retract and you do get a docking latchwe've accomplished what we wanted to.

SC Okay. Stand by 1.PAO This is Apollo Control Houston at

4 hours, 43 minutes now into the flight - -END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 19:51CST 55/1PAO Apollo Control, Houston, 4 hours,

50 minutes now into the flight. The booster systemsengineer has Just advised Pete Frank our flight directorthat his perdieted lifetime on the booster is 13 hours,18 minutes. The first part of the hardware to degradewould be the batteries and that's a predicted lifetime now,of 13 hours 18 minutes on the third stage. We're at 4 hours,51 minutes into the flight. We show Apollo 14 presentlyat an altitude of 19,930 nautical miles. This is ApolloControl, Houston.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 19:56 CST 56/1SC We got some Houston.CC Roger.SC We had a hard dock, Houston.SC We noticed no response for perhaps 2 or

3 seconds after iniating- prime retract 1, we then got barberpole on both, went grey on both at the hard dock.CC Roger, Al. That's great. SuperJob , Stu.SC Thank you.CC It didn't even wiggle when you hitit.PAO This is Apollo Control Houston.

You heard that report. There was a cheer in Mission Controlwhen that report came from A1 Shepard. We're at 4 hours 58minutes, standing by. We show 14 at 20 700 nautical milesaway from earth.

CC 14, Houston.SC Go ahead, Houston.CC We'd like you to proceed now on with the

normal hatch and tunnel procedures.SC That's in work, Houston. We'll

keep you advised.SC Okay Houston. We're turning theTV off.

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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 20:02 CST 57/1SC You do watch the cabin pressure prettyclosely you know.CAPCOM 14, Houston.SC Go ahead.CAPCOM Can you just give us a qualitative

feeling of what it sounded like when those docking lightsjust did go. Did you get a sort of ripple bang or youconvinced you've got quite a few of them?

SC Yeah. It was a ripple fire Gene.I'm convinced we did quite a few.

CAPCOM Yeah. That sounds pretty familar Al.It sounds like you're really probably - I wouldn't be a bitsurprised to see if you got them off.

SC Yeah. I think we got quite a few, Geno.It was a good hard dock.CAPCOM Beautiful. Tell Stu that session he

had this morning paid off.SC I believe it.SC Yeah. And we're going to buy him hispresent from here.

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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 20:07CST 58/1CAP COM 14, Houston.SC Go ahead, Houston.CAPCOM Okay, we'd like you to proceed on

now with the normal hatch and tunnel procedures.SC That didn't work, Houston. We'll

keep you advised.SC And Houston, I'm turning the TV on

now .CAP COM Roger, Ed.CAP COM 14, Houston.SC Go ahead, Houston.CAPCOM We want to Just verify that you're

still all hard suited before proceeding with the tunnelprocedures, not hard suited, but completely suited up beforethe tunnel procedures.

SC Roger. We will - roger, Houston.Why don't you review the procedures again on the checklisthere and we' 11 check with you again when we get to thatpoint. We do watch the cabin pressure pretty closely,you know.

CAPCOM Roger.END OF TAPE


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APOLLO 14 MISSION COMMENTARY 1/31/71 20:09 CST 59/1SC Houston, Apollo 14. We have lost

1/10 of 1 pound per square inch by the nu

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Apollo 14 PAO Mission Commentary Transcript