MSC-07631 16. Landing and recovery
- Cernan
We hit with a pretty good thud. As soon as we recovered from the thud, the LMP went for the main parachute release breakers and I hit the switch. The parachutes, apparently from the lack of a great deal of wind, just rose petaled in an almost 120° position around the spacecraft. We had no tendency of ever going stable II, partly because of the seas and the wind and also because we released the parachutes in a hurry. We proceeded to go through the postlanding checklist. In addition to what we said about the temperature and humidity, I think the postlanding vents certainly did help. We had that running. We had communications with Recovery all the way down on the parachutes. We monitored the recovery all the way through by communicating with the recovery chopper. Spacecraft status was excellent. We followed through the checklist; and, although it was not needed, the checklist calls out to inflate the bags after you've been on the surface 10 minutes. We inflated the bags for 7 minutes after we'd been on the surface for 10. It is a good idea in spite of the fact that they were not needed because it does give you that added protection of staying in in stable I in case you might end up going over. There was no seasickness.
- Schmitt
We did not put the postlanding vent ducts up although they were available. There was plenty of air moving in the cabin from the normal ventilation. You could feel it. You could feel it move. I don't know about you fellows, but I had plenty of air.
- Evans
I had plenty of air coming across on the left couch, too.
- Cernan
The CDR climbed out of the center couch, went down to the LEE and got the cosmic ray prepared and available. We stood by for hatch opening. When the hatch opened, we received the bag with the lifevests, the cosmic ray protector box, and the temperature gage. We put the temperature gage on, the cosmic ray was stowed in the waterproof package, and we put on our vests. When we were ready to open the hatch for the final time, we powered down the spacecraft via the checklist and panel 250.
- Schmitt
I would call the touchdown a very sharp crack rather than a thud. It is an obvious sensation. It's not one that seriously jarred you or hurt you in any way. It was a sharp and abrupt stop. I think it might have taken me 2 or 3 seconds to start making a motion towards the breakers. There was enough jar to say, "Okay, I better recover from it," and then I reached for the breakers. The windows fogged up inside almost immediately and there was also material on them on the outside. It looked like something other than moisture on the outside. It was sort of a brownish yellow. I had no motion sickness at all, but I didn't really care whether I got up out of the couch or not for a while. I didn't have the desire and that's about all I can say as far as any change of feeling from zero-g to one-g. I noticed that my neck muscles seemed to be really working to hold up my head up. It was much more than normal and this persisted for about 24 hours. It gradually went away until about 24 hours later I felt perfectly normal raising my head.
- Evans
I guess I didn't even notice the transition from zero-g to one-g. I didn't pay that much attention to it.
- Cernan
I didn't really notice any difference either. I particularly got up on the LEB to see if I would but I didn't.
- Schmitt
On the egress, my lifevest did not inflate automatically. That might be worth looking into, because apparently they were a new set sent out specifically because the first set sent out had not gone through inspection. These presumably had and they still did not inflate. Only one out of the three inflated all right.
- Evans
Another point I want to make is that if we're going to put that temperature gage in I would recommend that you send in a roll of tape, a bungee, or something so you can strap it to the strut. We just happened to have a piece of tape in the LEB so we could tape it to the strut.
- Schmitt
Crew pickup for the LMP was exactly as I'd been told it would be. We practiced on Apollo 15.
- Cernan
I don't think there is any other comment on crew pickup other than to say that it was done in an outstanding manner.
- Evans
I concur. It was good.
Edits and errors by Eric Hartwell are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 license. The original NASA material is copyright-free.