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Aborted Apollo 13 Mission (WHAT HAPPENED (Insufficient resources to…
Aborted Apollo 13 Mission
WHAT HAPPENED
Insufficient resources
to continue mission
Fuel cells no longer operational
on Service Module
Blew a panel out of the Service Module
Pressure build up inside external portion of the Service Module (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1970a)
High pressure oxygen expelled
from oxygen tank 2
Ruptured oxygen tank
Pressure increased
within oxygen tank 2
Teflon wire coating ignited
2 more items...
damaged conduit carrying the
wiring in to the oxygen tank
Oxygen Tank not retrofitted
Oxygen tank damaged during removal for retrofitting
Testing methods damaged internal components of oxygen tank
WHY IT HAPPENED
Oxygen tank 2 exploded
The oxygen tank was faulty
Obsolete thermostatic switch protecting
the heating element (operating at 28V)
(Compton 1989).
Removed from Apollo 10
Service Module for retrofitting
The tank was not retrofitted
The tank was missed at
all stages during its
pre-flight life cycle
Poor record-keeping
Poor auditing process
Passed initial acceptance testing
Operational voltage of oxygen tank
thermostatic switches changed to 65 volt
(Compton 1989)
Match the voltage of the testing
equipment at Cape Canaveral
(Compton 1989)
Easier to run tests
Tank damaged
during removal
for retrofitting
Countdown Demonstration
Testing damaged tank
(Compton 1989)
Modified testing procedures
Unexpected test results
Suspected loose-fitting fill tube
Oxygen tank dropped 5cm during earlier
removal from Apollo 10 Service Module
(Compton 1989)
Oxygen tank did not empty enough
according to tried and tested procedures
Internal heaters turned on to boil
off oxygen in tank to pass test
Tank was dropped from
height of approximately 5cm
Lifting operator not aware of
pin secured at back of shelf
Didn't have a spotter
Wasn't supervised by engineer familiar with the design?
Didn't risk assess the task?
Did not adequately scope the task prior to lifting?
Oxygen tank not replaced prior to flight
(Compton 1989)
Take too long to replace it
(Compton 1989)
Didn't want to delay flight
(Compton 1989)
Didn't want to risk damaging other components
(Compton 1989)
Engineers believed tank filling normally would be OK during flight
(Compton 1989)
Tank could be filled as per normal
(Compton 1989)
Testing method adapted
(Compton 1989)
To test earlier failures
(National Air and Space Museum, n.d.)
Failed to expel 50% of contents
(as required) on three previous occasions
(Compton 1989)
Identify the fault with the oxygen tank
(Compton 1989)
Contained materials prone to
ignition at high temperatures
Teflon believed to not be flammable
under normal operational parameters
Known properties
Wiring materials changed to non-flammable
materials after Apollo 1 fire.