Topic: 13 Things That Saved Apollo 13, Part 8: The Command Module Wasn't Severed

[sam]

When the Apollo 13 crew jettisoned the crippled Service Module as they approached Earth, they saw the extent of the damage from the explosion of an oxygen tank. "There's one whole side of that spacecraft missing!" Jim Lovell radioed to Mission Control, his voice reflecting his incredulousness at seeing the damage of a 13-ft panel blown off the spacecraft. However, the situation could have been more dire. The heat shield on the Command Module could have been damaged. What's more, NASA engineer Jerry Woodfill said that instead of the panel blowing out, the explosion could have — and maybe should have –severed the Command Module from the Service Module.

http://www.universetoday.com/2010/04/19/13-things-that-saved-apollo-13-part-8-the-command-module-wasnt-severed/

[Clive]

It's amazing that this has taken such a long time to come out. 

[Rik]

If it had happened here, Clive, it still wouldn't have. ':|

[Clive]

With Government leaks? Rubbish! 

[Rik]