Apollo 13, "Houston, We've Had A Problem" Spacecraft Films Film Question

[glen4cindy]

Let me clear something up front. I am NOT a hoax believer. I fully believe that we went to the moon in the '60's, landed there, walked there, did experiments, took video and pictures, and returned safely to the Earth. I don't subscribe to ANY of the claims of the conspiracy theory people.

Okay. Now that I've said this, let me ask my question. I am asking this out of sheer curiosity. It is something that has made me go Hmmm.

I've been watching NASA TV today since about 1:30 or so when Eugene Cernan was on there and answering questions. Right after that, they played a piece that I have rented and watched from Netflix called 'Houston, We've Had a Problem", I think it was put out by Spacecraft Films like many of the Apollo mission films, even if it wasn't Spacecraft Films, the question is still valid.

There are two or three times during the film where they are showing video that was recorded on-board the LEM during the Apollo 13 mission. This is not video that has been re-created like for the movie Apollo 13, but, this is actual footage that was recorded on-board during the mission. One section shows Fred Haise in the middle of the shot, and behind him, one of the small triangular windows of the LEM. In this shot, they are talking about the CO-2 problem and how they adapted the CSM cartridges for LEM use. Over his shoulder, it looks like they are in earth orbit. You can see what looks like blue sky and white clouds in the window.

Now, one thought I have is that this video might not have actually been shot when they were making this adapter, or just after they had made the adapter, and may not actually be time-correct as to what the documentary is showing. This may just be video that they used in the documentary that nobody knows just WHEN it was shot, so it may have been actually shot while they were in Earth orbit and just before they moved from the LEM to the CSM.

It still made me go Hmmmmm. I know the HB'ers use this example to state that the Apollo 13 mission never left low earth orbit, which I don't believe. I believe the NASA published story about how grave the mission actually was.

So, what's with this video? What is the blue and white that can be seen thru the windows? I have Tivo, so I ran this back and forth several times and it sure looks like the video had to be shot while they were in low earth orbit, but, the point in the documentary has this video footage is when they are still over 200,000 miles from earth. I know that just because the documentary put the video there, that does not mean that is where the crew actually filmed the video.

Anyone else notice this? I don't know how I would actually link what I saw, I just know that I was watching and that is the name of the documentary film that NASA was showing.

Appreciate anyone helping me understand this.

[LaurelHS]

Here's an old thread that discussed the "blue sky."
http://www.bautforum.com/conspiracy-...o-windows.html

[R.A.F.]

...one thought I have is that this video might not have actually been shot when they were making this adapter...

From my quick reviewing of Houston, we've got a problem, that seems like a reasonable explanation to me.

[captain swoop]

Like all those WW2 Documentaries, they don't have enough actual film of a given battle so they use footage shot elsewhere to pad out the running time.

[glen4cindy]

Here's an old thread that discussed the "blue sky."
http://www.bautforum.com/conspiracy-...o-windows.html

Thanks for that link. I did a search, but, not for "blue sky". That was an awesome explanation of why I can see blue out the window.

That is one point, however, that the HB'ers jump on, obvious to me now, without knowing what they are talking about.

[Sam5]

One section shows Fred Haise in the middle of the shot, and behind him, one of the small triangular windows of the LEM. In this shot, they are talking about the CO-2 problem and how they adapted the CSM cartridges for LEM use. Over his shoulder, it looks like they are in earth orbit. You can see what looks like blue sky and white clouds in the window.

See about :44 seconds into this clip... is this what you are talking about?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfftKXh12IM

Or maybe later in the clip?

[glen4cindy]

That's not the exact shot I was thinking of, but, it looks very similar in the window to the shot I was talking about.

There were about 3 different places in the film where the windows have this blue/white appearance.

I'm not saying that Apollo 13 didn't happen the way NASA says it did. I'm just curious about the blue in the windows. I read all of the thread posted above and it gives great info about why there is a blue look to the windows. I've never noticed this before, and since becoming familar with the crazy hoax theories, then seeing one of them in the NASA footage, made me go Hmmmm. Not enough to doubt NASA and side with the HB'ers, just something I could not explain and had not seen an explanation of.

I was only 3 at the time, but, there seems to be more info about it now that there was then, so maybe it's better to be looking at it from where I am because of the internet much more info is available to the general public than were at that time.

I really love all the Apollo stuff. If I were a billionaire and they were still doing it, I'd pay the Russians to take me to the ISS.

[Dave J]

When I think of this "blue window" scenario, I think of movies scenes I've seen...A shot from an illuminated interior, and someone in the dark outside (either a badguy or law enforcement) shines a spotlight or bright flashlight on the house/window. Invariable the window assumes a lighter, blue color apart from the dark outside.

It seems to be a bright light/glass thing, as discussed earlier.

[classic]

Speaking of Apollo 13, I've always wondered why they didn't put on their spacesuits with the life support backpacks to conserve oxygen, and stay warm.

[stutefish]

Speaking of Apollo 13, I've always wondered why they didn't put on their spacesuits with the life support backpacks to conserve oxygen, and stay warm.

I'm guessing that the ability to conduct operational, repair, and jury-rig procedures while moving freely in a shirt-sleeve enivironment was seen as too valuable to give up unless absolutely necessary. The suits were bulky and clumsy, and would have gotten in the way of any other mission-critical activities.

[JayUtah]

Speaking of Apollo 13, I've always wondered why they didn't put on their spacesuits with the life support backpacks to conserve oxygen, and stay warm.

First, the backpacks only work in vacuum. When the suits are worn in the spacecraft, they are plugged into the suit loop of the environmental control system, which consumes more electricity than the normal cabin ECS conditioning. If you omit airtight integrity and just wear the suits, they don't "breathe" and therefore force the astronauts to perspire. Then when the suits are removed, the crew is far worse off because they're sweaty in a cold atmosphere.

[LaurelHS]

In the DVD bonus feature "Lost Moon: The Making of Apollo 13," Jim Lovell says they didn't put their spacesuits on for precisely this reason, not wanting to be "sweaty in a cold atmosphere." Also the Apollo 13 astronauts were somewhat dehydrated because they were rationing their water; I'm not a medical expert, but if you're dehydrated you don't want to be doing something that will make you perspire.