Mission Timeline

🚀 Launch & Outbound Journey

April 11, 1970 - GET 00:00:00

• → Launch & Mission Overview
• → Info: Spacecraft Configuration

🛟 Lifeboat & Moon Flyby

April 14, 1970

Life aboard the lifeboat Aquarius as the spacecraft nears the Moon.

• → Decision #4: Stars or Sun/Earth Navigation?
• → Lifeboat & Moon Flyby
• → Decision #5: Speed Up or Coast?

❄️ Survival Phase

April 14-16, 1970

Cold, cramped conditions in the Lunar Module lifeboat. Critical calls about water, air, and communication.

• → Decision #6: Water Conservation Strategy
• → Decision #7: Build the CO2 Mailbox?
• → The Long Cold Journey Home
• → Info: Passive Thermal Control (Barbecue Roll)
• → Decision #8: Comm Power: Loud or Lean?

🔧 Final Preparations

April 16-17, 1970 - Hours Before Re-Entry

Powering up Odyssey and getting ready for the final descent.

• → Decision #9: Recharge for Re-Entry?
• → Decision #10: Service Module Jettison Timing
• → Info: Restarting the Computer
• → Preparing for Re-Entry
• → Saying Goodbye to Aquarius

🔥 Re-Entry & Splashdown

April 17, 1970 - GET 142:40:46

The final critical phase - hitting Earth's atmosphere at 25,000 mph.

• → Info: Re-Entry Corridor Physics
• → The Re-Entry Blackout
• → Parachute Deployment
• → Splashdown
• → Recovery Operations

🌟 The People Behind the Mission

Lessons & Heroes

The flight controllers and engineers on the ground - and the engineer at your table.

• → The Unsung Heroes
• → John Aaron: Steely-Eyed Missile Man
• → Meet Your Presenter: The Engineer at Your Table (Ed Gruhl)
• → Finish: A Successful Failure - see your score (make your decisions first!)