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| Preparations for Launch | Journal Home Page | In Earth Orbit |
Corrected Transcript and Commentary Copyright © 2008-2009 David Woods and Andrew Vignaux. All rights reserved.
[It is 10:00 am EST [15:00 GMT] on March 3, 1969.]
[At launch pad 39A, the Saturn V launch vehicle AS-504 has been fully loaded with propellants. The Apollo 9 crew entered their spacecraft at around 8:30am [13:30 GMT] and the countdown to launch at 11:00 am EST [16:00 GMT] is proceeding smoothly.]
[For detailed explanations of the launch of a Saturn V see the descriptions of the Apollo 15 launch in the Apollo 15 Flight Journal.]
Public Affairs Officer - "This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control at T minus 59 minutes and counting, T minus 59 on the Apollo 9 count. We are go for the mission at this time. Just a matter of some 2 or 3 minutes ago, the Vice-President of the United States, Mr. Agnew, arrived here in the Launch Control Center. The Vice-President, who is of course the chairman of the Space Council, here to observe the final 60 minutes or so of the count for Apollo 9. When the Vice-President arrived, he did meet some of the crews for the upcoming launches, the complete crew for Apollo 10, astronauts Tom Stafford, John Young, and Gene Cernan, and two of the members of the Apollo 11 crew, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Mike Collins. In the meantime, the three astronauts in the Apollo 9 spacecraft, Jim McDivitt, Dave Scott, Rusty Schweickart are continuing to work on their final checks for this flight. McDivitt and Schweickart at this time are performing some final checks of the stabilization and control system. In the meantime, we are starting to bring up radio frequency and telemetry checks with the launch vehicle. All still going well at 58 minutes and counting. Our countdown picked up following a 6-hour built in hold at 2 a.m. Eastern Standard Time this morning and has run very smoothly since that time. We've now been in progress a little more than 8 hours with the count. The first 5 hours or so of our final phases of the countdown list are devoted to the propellant loading of the three stages of the Saturn V launch vehicle. During this period, we brought in close to ¾ of a million gallons [3 million liters] of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into the stages of the Saturn V. We now have all our propellants aboard, we have a vehicle on the pad that weighs some 6.4 million pounds [2.9 million kg]. The propellants are all aboard at this time, and the flight crew going through their final checks in the spacecraft. During these 8 hours or so that we've been in the final count, all aspects of the mission have gone very well. We had one questionable item, that was a regulator for helium pressure in the third stage of the Saturn V. We ran several verification tests and were able to determine that a pneumatic control module in the third stage is capable of performing its intended functions and we are able to proceed. This module plays a part in preparations for the second burn, particularly on the S-IVB, the third stage of the Saturn V. Other than that one minor aspect, which was verified by some tests during the count, all other aspects of the mission have gone very well. The flight crew in Apollo 9 was alerted in their countdown, as planned, at 5:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time this morning. They then went down the hall from their crew quarters at the Kennedy Space Center and had a final physical. They were declared in good physical condition and flight ready by Dr. Charles A. Berry and a team of physicians giving the final examination. Dr. Berry commented that the throats of the astronauts really looked good this morning. Astronaut Rusty Schweickart, the Lunar Module Pilot, did request to take a motion sickness pill and he did take that while he was suiting up a little later in the morning. Following their medical examinations, the astronauts sat down for breakfast in the crew quarters, the usual astronaut menu on launch day of scrambled eggs, steak, toast, orange juice, and coffee. They had some seven guests with them at breakfast. The crew then went to the suit room where they donned their space suits and then were called to the pad some 10 minutes late, as we were a little bit behind on bringing the propellants on board. The crew departed from the crew quarters at 8:05 a.m. Eastern Standard Time this morning and started to board the spacecraft at 8:29. The first member of the crew across the sill was the Commander, astronaut Jim McDivitt. He came across at 8:29 a.m. He was followed by the Lunar Module Pilot, Rusty Schweickart, who sits in the right-hand seat, some 5 minutes later, at 8:34, and the final member, Command Module Dave Scott, who sits in the center seat, came aboard at 8:40 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The backup Command Module Pilot, astronaut Richard Gordon, was in the spacecraft during this period aiding all three astronauts in coming aboard. Our countdown continuing at this time, T minus 54 minutes 20 seconds. The Vice-President now being briefed here in the Control Center by Dr. Kurt Debus, who is director of the Kennedy Space Center. The Vice-President is accompanied by Dr. Thomas Payne, the administrator, the acting administrator of NASA, Dr. Robert C. Seamans, the Secretary of the Air Force and former deputy administrator of the space agency, and astronaut Frank Borman, who was the Commander for the Apollo 8 mission. Those are some of the key people in the Vice-President's party. Our countdown proceeding at this time, all going well. Weather is go for the mission also. We have a forecast of overcast in the Cape Kennedy, the complex 39 area, but it is acceptable for launch. The hatch was closed on the Apollo 9 spacecraft at about 9:20 a.m. this morning, and our count has proceeded well since that time. We will go on automatic sequence in the countdown at about 3 minutes and 6 seconds, and from that point on down, all phases of the count will be automatic, leading up to ignition of the five engines and the first stage of the Saturn V vehicle at the 8.9 second mark in the count. This will be ignition sequence start, it will take some 8 seconds or so to build up the proper thrust in those five engines to give us our planned 7.7 million pounds [34 million N] of thrust at liftoff. All engines should be running at the 2 second and we should get commit and liftoff at zero in the count. We are now at T minus 52 minutes 40 seconds in counting, this is Launch Control."
Public Affairs Officer - "This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control, T minus 49 minutes and counting. T minus 49; we are proceeding satisfactorily at this time. At this point the Apollo access arm, sling arm number 9 is being removed from the spacecraft, being taken to its stand by position some 8 or 10 feet away; it will remain in this position until we get to the 5 minute mark in the count. In the meantime we are arming the pyrotechnic devices aboard the spacecraft at this time, particularly the launch escape tower, which could be used these final moments of the count once the swing-arm is taken away. All aspects of the mission still going well at this time and into a planned liftoff time on the hour. T minus 48 minutes, 18 seconds and counting; this is Launch Control."
Public Affairs Officer - "This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control at T minus 44 minutes and counting, T minus 44, we are go with the Apollo 9 mission at this time. Vice-President Agnew now has taken his seat here in the control center and is monitoring the countdown with a crew of some 450 people here in the Launch Control Center, another 50 or so are back in the Spacecraft Operations here at KSC and continue to work the countdown at this time. Standing by in Houston, of course, and participating in the count are the various teams there at the Mission Control Center under the flight director. Our countdown now, some - running a little ahead, especially on the spacecraft portion, and with the launch vehicle they are coming up on one of our final major checks - final checks of the destruct system aboard the three stages of the Saturn V launch vehicle. These are checks with the Air Force Eastern Test Range to assure that the destruct system aboard the vehicle would be operable if it were required in flight. Of course, before taking destruct action, the astronauts would go through an abort sequence with their Apollo spacecraft to separate from the vehicle. Our countdown proceeding satisfactorily, T minus 42 minutes 50 seconds, and counting. This is Launch Control."
Public Affairs Officer - "This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control T minus 39 minutes in counting. T minus 39 all aspects of the mission still go at this time. A Capsule Communicator here in the launch control center at firing room 2 - Jack Lousma who is a member of the support crew - the astronaut support crew for the Apollo 9 mission - now in some communication checks from his console with the pilots onboard the spacecraft. Coming up shortly - spacecraft wise, in about 5 minutes or so, will be pressurization of the reaction control system for the Service Module of the spacecraft. These are those quad thrusters - 100 pound [450 N] thrusters in four quadrants around the Service Module that are used for maneuvers in space - orbital maneuvers in the case of this particular flight. On the launch vehicle side we're gearing up for some final checks of the power system aboard the three stages an instrument unit of the Saturn V - a power transfer test where we check the flight batteries that then return to internal power - correction - return to external power in order to conserve those batteries down to the final moments of the count. T minus 37 minutes 51 seconds in counting - this is Launch Control."
Public Affairs Officer - "This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control, T minus 34 minutes and counting. T minus 34; still proceeding satisfactorily with the count at this time. We now have just completed our pyro-transfer test; this is a test of the flight batteries in the 3 stages of the Saturn V and the instrument unit. Early indications are that the test went well. We will now remain on external power till the 50 second mark of the count when we finally go internal for good in the countdown. The astronauts still preparing for the pressurization of their reaction control system aboard the Apollo 9 spacecraft. We have the access arm, the swing arm that enables entry to the spacecraft located some 12 degrees from the spacecraft in a standby position. For safety purposes, we have 2 high speed elevators locked at the 320 foot [97 m] level; that swing arm could be brought back in rapid fashion if required. It will remain in this position and not go back to its fully retracted position until the 5 minute mark in the count. We have now passed the 33 minute mark; we are at 32 minutes, 54 seconds and counting. This is Launch Control."
Public Affairs Officer - "This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control T minus 29 minutes and counting, T minus 29. We are go for a planned liftoff for Apollo 9 at this time. The Lunar Module, which will be tested for the first time with a crew aboard in orbit on this flight, now has gone on internal power. It is on the power of its own flight batteries at this time and will remain in this mode through the remainder of the countdown. The crew here in the Control Center is continuing to monitor the status of the propellants aboard in the Saturn V. We have now close to a million gallons [3.8 million liters] of propellants, the vehicle weighing some 6.4 million pounds [2.9 million kg] on the launch pad. The astronauts aboard the spacecraft are going through the pressurization sequences concerned with their reaction control system, those are the thrusters on the Service Module that will be used for maneuvers in orbit. Participating, primarily, Jim McDivitt and the Lunar Module Pilot, Rusty Schweickart. We're still go and we approach the 28 minute mark. Mark, T minus 28 minutes and counting, this is Launch Control."
Public Affairs Officer - "This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control at T minus 24 minutes and counting. T minus 24; the crew a little ahead with their work on the spacecraft at the 320 foot [97 m] level. At this time, Rusty Schweickart, the Lunar Module Pilot, decided he had time to ask on how the Lunar Module was doing, the Lunar Module located beneath them now in the stack. The spacecraft test conductors came on the circuit and reported that the Lunar Module also is go and on internal power. The astronauts have completed their pressurization and checks of the reaction control system on the spacecraft Service Module; our countdown proceeding smoothly at this time. 23 minutes, 20 seconds and counting; this is Launch Control."
Public Affairs Officer - "This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control T minus 19 minutes and counting, T minus 19. We are bringing up our water supply now for the launch pad in preparation for the ignition, which will come some 18 minutes 47 seconds from this time. We have also completed readouts on the C-Band tracking beacons which are located in the instrument unit and our checkout still continues to go satisfactorily at this time. Despite the overcast that we have, the visibility is good, the ceiling is acceptable, we are go as far as weather is concerned on our launch attempt for Apollo 9. We now have 2 complete follow-on crews also observing the launch, the complete crew for Apollo 10 and now Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 11, has joined his two fellow pilots, so we have both complete crews here along with the Vice-president and the dignitaries accompanying him. We are coming up toward the 18 minute mark, a go for Apollo 9, this is Launch Control."
Public Affairs Officer - "This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control T minus 14 minutes and counting, We are still proceeding - all aspects of the mission go at this time. The Apollo Command Module now has gone on a full internal power - this is on the full power of the fuel cells aboard. Actually the Command and Service Module, of course, the complete spacecraft now on the power of its fuel cells. Up to this time it had been sharing the load with an external power source. Also at this time, the crew in the spacecraft giving some readouts on the various power systems - checking some final switch settings and arming those rotational hand controllers that enable them to drive the vehicle in orbit in the space mission itself. All aspects of the mission still go. Thirteen minutes 15 seconds and counting - this is Launch Control."
Public Affairs Officer - "This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control, T minus 9 minutes and counting, T minus 9; we are still go for our planned liftoff on Apollo 9. In progress at the present time - there have been some final communication checks by some key individuals here at the control center, as well as the flight director, Gene Kranz and the Capsule Communicator Astronaut Stu Roosa in Houston. We have made some final checks on what is known as the astro-launch circuit; this is a special circuit which is several key people talk to the flight crew aboard the spacecraft over the final few minutes of the count. The crew switches to astro-launch at the 4 minute mark in the count. Just a handful of people and key people talking to them from that time on for the remainder of the count; it will be the spacecraft conductor, his name is Skip Sheldon, the launch operations manager, Paul Donley, and the Capsule Communicator here in the Control Center, the backup support astronaut, a member of the support team, Astronaut Jack Lousma. The flight director in Houston also has the capability to talk to the astronauts, We are now past the 8 minute mark in the count; spacecraft test conductor Skip Sheldon going through a final status check of all of his systems, the report coming back go at this time. As we proceed, T minus 7 minutes 45 seconds and counting; this is Launch Control."
Public Affairs Officer - "This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control T minus 5 minutes and counting, T minus 5, and the order has been given for the Apollo Access Arm to come to its fullest retracted position and now swing arm number 9 coming back to its fully retracted position. Just before this order was given, we went through a final status check. This spacecraft is go, we also got a go for launch from Mission Director George Hage in Houston, and finally Launch Director Rocco Petrone, here in firing room 2. Our status board shows launch support preparations are complete, and the ready lights are on for the instrument unit, the spacecraft, and the emergency detection system. We are go at T minus 4 minutes, 21 seconds and counting. This is Launch Control."
Public Affairs Officer - "This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control coming up on 3 minutes 50 seconds, Mark, T minus 3 minutes 50 seconds and counting, we are go for launch. The countdown now turned over to the control of the launch vehicle conductor for the last 4 minutes of the count. We will go on an automatic sequence starting at 3 minutes 7 seconds. Final communications checks now in progress between the spacecraft test conductor and the crew aboard the spacecraft. Some final checks in progress at this time. We have the report that we are clear for firing command, that is the automatic sequencer that should come in in about 15 seconds. From that time on down, all aspects of the mission will be automatically monitored by the computers here at the control center and at the pad. At 3 minutes 10 seconds, we have firing command. Launch sequence started, the computer is in, the sequence is in at this time. Mark, T minus 3 minutes, T minus 3 minutes and counting. Our preparations are now complete, our ready lights are on here in the Control Center. During this period the various propellant tanks aboard the three stages of the Saturn V will be pressurizing. Primarily we use helium on the ground to pressurize these tanks. The various vent valves will close, as the countdown proceeds. We are now past 2 minutes 35 seconds, and counting, all still going well. 2 minutes 30 seconds, we should be getting an indication on pressurization of the third stage. We have it, here in the Control Center 2 minutes 20 seconds and counting, the third stage now is pressurized. We will be looking toward those 5 engines in the first stage of the Saturn V, the ignition sequence to start at the 8.9 second mark in the countdown. We are now coming up on the 2 minute mark, Mark T minus 2, all aspects of the mission still go at this time. The Apollo 9 crew standing by in the spacecraft. 1 minute 50 seconds and counting. Once the ignition sequence does begin with the 5 engines it will take some 9 seconds or so to build up the proper thrust. The computers will automatically sample those engines and assure ourselves that we have 95 percent of the thrust. We will get a commitment at that time, and the 4 hold-on arms will come back. We are now 90 seconds and counting, 90 seconds and counting. Vice-president Agnew now has come up to the window of the Launch Control Center, along with members of the party to view the launch. 1 minute 20 seconds and counting. All indications are we are still go at this time. Third stage propellant tanks have been pressurized. Final check of several panels by Lunar Module Pilot Rusty Schweickart, second stage tanks now pressurized. Schweickart confirms that he has the proper readings. 1 minute and counting."
Public Affairs Officer - "T minus 55 seconds and counting. All still going well, we are coming up on the power transfer. Mark 50 seconds and counting, we're now on internal power with the three stages and instrument unit of the Saturn V. All propellant tanks in the second stage now pressurized. 35 seconds and counting, the vehicle now completely pressurized, the vents closed, we are go, 30 seconds and counting. T minus 25 seconds and counting, all aspects still go at this time as the computer monitors. Twenty seconds, guidance release, ..."
Public Affairs Officer - "15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, we have ignition sequence start ..."
Public Affairs Officer - "6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, zero. All engines running. ..."
Public Affairs Officer - "Commit. Liftoff. We have liftoff at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time."
000:00:03 Roosa: Roger. Clock's going.
000:00:04 McDivitt (onboard): Feeling good.
000:00:12 Lousma: Clear the tower!
000:00:14 Roosa: Roger. Tower clear.
000:00:15 McDivitt: Roger. I have a roll program, and I do read you loud and clear.
000:00:19 Roosa: Roger. Roll program.
Public Affairs Officer - "Plus 17 seconds, the roll and pitch program are in now to put Apollo 9 on the proper flight azimuth and attitude. Half a [nautical] mile high [0.9 km], roll is complete."
000:00:24 McDivitt (onboard): A nice afterburner.
000:00:30 Schweickart (onboard): Our SPS helium pressure's dropped to zero.
000:00:34 Scott (onboard): Still okay.
000:00:35 McDivitt (onboard): Yes.
000:00:36 Scott (onboard): Pretty close to the curve, Jim.
000:00:38 McDivitt (onboard): Okay.
000:00:41 Roosa: Apollo 9.
000:00:43 Roosa: Mark. Mode 1 Bravo.
000:00:45 McDivitt: Roger, 1 Bravo. [Comm Break.]
000:00:46 Scott (onboard): RCS Command.
000:00:50 McDivitt (onboard): Now we're getting a little noise.
000:00:52 Scott (onboard): Yes. About 48 or so.
000:00:57 Scott (onboard): Okay, there goes the cabin relief.
000:00:59 McDivitt (onboard): Okay. Primary Evap's nice and low.
Public Affairs Officer - "Apollo 9 a [nautical] mile and a half [3 km] high now. Velocity 1,597 feet per second [487 m/s]. One minute, cabin release relieving. One [nautical] mile [1.8 km] downrange, 4½ [nautical] miles [8 km] high, velocity 2,500 feet per second [760 m/s] in the region of maximum dynamic pressure."
000:01:08 Scott (onboard): Looks good, Jim, on the curve.
[Mach 1 achieved at 000:01:08.2 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
000:01:10 McDivitt (onboard): Roger, Dave. A couple g's.
000:01:14 McDivitt (onboard): We're at 01:14; Max Q is about 01:21.
000:01:25 Scott (onboard): It's a tad high; but it's okay.
[Maximum Dynamic Pressure (Max Q) occurred at 000:01:25.5 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
000:01:27 McDivitt (onboard): Okay.
000:01:43 Scott (onboard): It looks good, Jim, on the curve.
000:01:46 McDivitt (onboard): Thank you, Dave. We're through Max Q; now it's no sweat.
Public Affairs Officer - "Flight Director Gene Kranz taking his status check now."
000:01:57 McDivitt (onboard): Mode 1-C here --
Public Affairs Officer - "Apollo 9 is go for staging."
000:01:58 Roosa: Apollo 9, you are go for staging. And you are Mode 1 Charlie.
000:02:00 McDivitt (onboard): Roger; 1 Charlie.
000:02:04 Scott: EDS Auto's off. [Long pause.]
[The technical transcription has this transmission by McDivitt.]
000:02:09 McDivitt (onboard): Okay, stand by for inboard; they should come - at about now; there's inboard. Huh!
[Start of Time Base 2 (T2) occurred at 000:02:14.28 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
[S-IC Center Engine Cutoff (CECO) occurred at 000:02:14.34 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
Public Affairs Officer - "Plus 2 minutes 15 seconds and go. Inboards out."
000:02:27 Scott (onboard): It's a little low, Jim.
000:02:29 McDivitt (onboard): A little low? Okay.
000:02:36 McDivitt (onboard): Okay, we should have outboard in about 5 seconds.
000:02:39 Scott (onboard): Okay.
[S-IC Outboard Engine Cutoff (OECO) occurred at 000:02:42.76 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
[Start of Time Base 3 (T3) occurred at 000:02:42.80 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
[S-IC/S-II Separation Command occurred at 000:02:43.45 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
Public Affairs Officer - "Outboards out."
[S-II Engine Ignition occurred at 000:02:45.16 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
Public Affairs Officer - "S-II ignition, thrust is go on the second stage."
Public Affairs Officer - "Down range 70 [nautical] miles [130 km] now, 42 [nautical] miles [78 km] high, 9,300 feet per second [2,800 m/s] velocity."
000:02:54 McDivitt (onboard): (garbled), Rusty?
000:02:55 Schweickart (onboard): It's on.
000:02:56 McDivitt (onboard): Okay, on.
000:02:57 Roosa: Apollo 9, Houston, your thrust looks good.
000:03:00 McDivitt: Thank you.
000:03:01 Scott (onboard): Okay, you've got 44; looks good.
000:03:02 Roosa: Apollo 9, you are go for tower jett[ison].
000:03:04 McDivitt: Roger. [Pause.]
Public Affairs Officer - "Standing by for tower jettison now, the launch escape tower."
000:03:11 Schweickart (onboard): We've got a lot of S-band noise.
[S-II Second Plane Separation (Jettison S-II Aft Interstage) occurred at 000:03:13.5 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
000:03:14 Scott (onboard): (garbled)
000:03:15 McDivitt: There's sep.
000:03:16 Scott (onboard): Here we go, gang.
000:03:17 McDivitt (onboard): Okay.
000:03:18 Scott: Tower jett --
000:03:19 Schweickart (onboard): Look at it; look at it!
000:03:20 Scott (onboard): It's go! Black out there, isn't it?
000:03:25 McDivitt: Everything's looking neat here, and we've got the tower off. [Pause.]
[The technical transcription has this transmission by Scott.]
Public Affairs Officer - "Tower jet confirmed. Guidance has been initiated on the second stage. Gene Kranz taking another status check with the controllers now."
000:03:28 Schweickart (onboard): Great show, man.
000:03:29 Scott (onboard): 243 psf is a little low, Jim.
000:03:31 McDivitt (onboard): Okay.
000:03:32 Roosa: Apollo 9, we're still in guidance initiate; everything looks good.
000:03:34 Schweickart (onboard): Should we tell him about that helium?
000:03:35 McDivitt (onboard): Yes, (garbled)
000:03:37 Schweickart (onboard): Yes; right at lift-off, we had an indicated SPS helium pressure go to zero.
000:03:40 Roosa: Apollo 9, you are go all the way; everything looks good.
000:03:43 McDivitt: Roger. [Long pause.]
000:03:53 Scott (onboard): I don't know if he read that.
000:03:56 McDivitt: Houston, did you read our comment that our SPS helium pressure went to zero? Indicated zero at lift-off?
Public Affairs Officer - "The cabin is stable at 6.1 pounds per square inch [42 kPa]."
000:04:07 Roosa: Apollo 9, this is Houston. I did not copy.
000:04:10 McDivitt: Roger; be advised our SPS helium pressure went to zero at lift-off.
000:04:15 Roosa: Roger; copy.
000:04:16 Scott (onboard): I see you're riding low and parallel, Jim.
000:04:19 McDivitt (onboard): Okay.
000:04:20 McDivitt: If you've got any good words on that, why don't you give them to me when you can?
000:04:22 Roosa: Roger. It is go here, Apollo 9.
000:04:24 McDivitt: Very good. [Long pause.]
Public Affairs Officer - "Jim McDivitt reports the SPS helium pressure on board went to zero at liftoff; however, we are reporting go here at the Mission Control Center. 225 [nautical] miles [417 km] downrange, 75 [nautical] miles [139 km] high, 11,700 feet per second [3,570 m/s]."
000:04:28 Schweickart (onboard): That might be a circuit breaker, Jim.
000:04:30 McDivitt (onboard): Yes, okay.
000:04:31 Schweickart (onboard): I'll check it later. The systems look good.
000:04:34 McDivitt (onboard): Yes, everything looks hunky-dory! If we just got --
000:04:36 Schweickart (onboard): The boiler's working.
000:04:38 Scott (onboard): RCS is good, Jim.
000:04:40 McDivitt (onboard): Fine.
000:04:45 Scott (onboard): Holding low and parallel.
000:04:46 McDivitt (onboard): Okay.
000:04:52 Schweickart (onboard): Boy, that cut-off - That's a hell of a cut-off, isn't it?
000:04:54 McDivitt (onboard): Yes, not bad. There's that horizon. Boy, is that pretty! Wow!
000:05:00 Scott (onboard): You're not supposed to say that, you've been here before.
000:05:01 McDivitt (onboard): Beautiful!
000:05:02 Roosa: And, Apollo 9, it's 5 minutes, and everybody is as happy as a clam here. Looking good.
000:05:05 McDivitt: So are we. [Long pause.]
000:05:06 McDivitt (onboard): Whooee!
000:05:07 Scott (onboard): Coming up on the big word, Jim.
000:05:09 McDivitt (onboard): Okay.
000:05:12 Schweickart (onboard): Boy, that S-band is really noisy.
000:05:15 McDivitt (onboard): Is it?
000:05:16 Schweickart (onboard): Yes.
000:05:21 Scott (onboard): I'll give you a standby, buddy.
000:05:22 McDivitt (onboard): Okay. Align all - all the pieces all the way.
000:05:38 Scott (onboard): We're coming right back in, Jim.
000:05:39 McDivitt (onboard): Very good! Looks good!
000:05:41 Scott (onboard): Very good.
000:05:42 Schweickart (onboard): Shoot!
000:05:44 McDivitt (onboard): God, that's pretty!
000:05:45 Schweickart (onboard): That's terrible!
000:05:46 McDivitt (onboard): That's so pretty, I can't believe it!
000:05:51 Schweickart (onboard): If it keeps making that noise, I'm going to turn it off.
000:05:55 McDivitt (onboard): Looks bad, Rusty?
000:05:57 Schweickart (onboard): Well, it - it's stopped now.
000:05:58 McDivitt (onboard): Okay, we're coming up on 6 minutes, so you can get ready for your antenna shift.
000:06:03 Schweickart (onboard): Yes, I'm all set for it.
000:06:09 Schweickart (onboard): Okay, 16 Omni (garbled) --
000:06:11 Scott (onboard): Okay. Give a yes (garbled) --
000:06:12 Roosa: Apollo 9, you have S-IVB to orbit capability.
000:06:15 McDivitt: Roger here. Roger here.
Public Affairs Officer - "Mark S-IVB to orbit capability. If the second stage shuts down prematurely, we do have the capability to put the spacecraft into orbit with the S-IVB."
000:06:17 Roosa: Your level sense arm time is 08 plus 21; predicted S-II cutoff 08 plus 56.
000:06:22 McDivitt: 08:21 and 08:56.
000:06:25 Schweickart: Roger; and we got S-Band Omni to Delta.
[The technical transcription has this transmission by McDivitt.]
000:06:27 Roosa: Copy. Omni Delta. Thank you. [Long pause.]
Public Affairs Officer - "We are estimating cut-off of the S-II stage at 8 minutes 55 seconds. We are at 6:30 now, still go, 430 [nautical] miles [800 km] downrange, 90½ [nautical] miles [168 km] high, and 15,300 feet per second [4,660 m/s] velocity."
000:06:41 Schweickart (onboard): Systems look good. Just boiling away. Look at that (garbled)
[Onboard transcription break.]
000:06:55 Schweickart: And the rookie says that looks beautiful.
[Communications have been switched to Bermuda.]
000:07:01 Roosa: And rookie, at 7 minutes, everything is going real great.
000:07:05 Schweickart: Roger. [Long pause.]
Public Affairs Officer - "A little word from rookie Schweickart there."
Public Affairs Officer - "18,000 feet per second [5,500 m/s] velocity now, 590 [nautical] miles [1,090 km] downrange, 96 [nautical] miles [178 km] high."
000:08:04 Roosa: Apollo 9, at 8 minutes everything is go.
000:08:08 McDivitt: Roger, Everything looks fine here, too.
000:08:10 Roosa: Very good. The comm is beautiful, Jim. You are really coming through clear, I read you nice and -
000:08:15 McDivitt: Roger. Your comm is nice and clear and loud too, Smokey. We had no trouble with comm on launch at all.
000:08:25 Roosa: Roger. Copy that, Apollo 9, and you are go for staging.
000:08:29 McDivitt: Roger, getting a little vibration. About eight - [Long pause.]
Public Affairs Officer - "Apollo 9 has a go for staging now. Looking for S-II cutoff about 8 plus 55. Retro reports were right on ground track."
[S-II Engine Cutoff (ECO) occurred at 000:08:56.22 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
[Start of Time Base 4 (T4) occurred at 000:08:56.25 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
[S-IC impact into the Atlantic Ocean at 30.183°N, 74.238°W occurred at 000:08:56.436 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
Public Affairs Officer - "S-II cutoff."
[S-II/S-IVB Separation Command occurred at 000:08:57.2 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
[S-IVB Engine Ignition occurred at 000:09:00.82 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
000:09:03 McDivitt: Staging complete, and S-IVB is running.
Public Affairs Officer - "Staging is complete, S-IVB ignition. Thrust is good on the S-IVB. 920 [nautical] miles [1,700 km] downrange, 101 [nautical] miles [187 km] high, 23,000 feet per second [7,000 m/s] velocity."
000:09:07 Roosa: Roger. We copy staging complete. We're showing good thrust on S-IVB. Everything is go.
000:09:18 McDivitt: Okay. We're guiding now. [Long pause.]
000:09:57 Roosa: Apollo 9, you have Mode 4 capability and everything is go. You are real solid.
000:10:03 McDivitt: Roger. What time do you think we can shut down?
000:10:05 Roosa: We will have that for you in a flash, Apollo 9.
000:10:10 McDivitt: Okay. [Long pause.]
Public Affairs Officer - "Guidance does not have a cutoff time yet. We expect it shortly."
000:10:29 McDivitt: My onboard FIDO here says we are doing okay.
000:10:33 Roosa: Yes. Everything is looking good here, Apollo 9.
000:10:35 McDivitt: Okay.
000:10:39 Roosa: We'll try to have your cutoff time shortly.
000:10:42 McDivitt: Better hurry. I'm going to cutoff first.
000:10:43 Roosa: Roger. [Long pause.]
Public Affairs Officer - "1,241 [nautical] miles [2,298 km] downrange, 102 [nautical] miles [189 km] high, 25,256 feet per second [7,698 m/s]. Plus 11 minutes, looking good."
[S-IVB Engine Cutoff (ECO) occurred at 000:11:04.66 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
[Start of Time Base 5 (T5) occurred at 000:11:04.87 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
000:11:08 McDivitt: Shutdown -
000:11:10 Roosa: Roger. Shutdown.
000:11:12 McDivitt: Okay.
[Earth orbit insertion occurred at 000:11:14.65 according to the Saturn V Evaluation Report.]
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