What is CapCom in Apollo 13?

The Critical Role of the Capsule Communicator During NASA‘s Dramatic Moon Mission

The 1970 Apollo 13 mission is one of NASA‘s most famous space flights due to the explosion that occurred en route to the moon, forcing the crew to abandon the planned lunar landing. During this crisis, the astronauts relied heavily on their communication with NASA‘s Mission Control team back on Earth. The person in Mission Control responsible for talking directly to the Apollo 13 crew was known as the Capsule Communicator, or CapCom.

Let‘s dig into the critical history and role of the NASA CapCom during spaceflight emergencies like Apollo 13. As a fellow space nerd, I think you‘ll appreciate all these fascinating details!

What is a NASA CapCom?

CapCom stands for "Capsule Communicator." This critical role was established in NASA‘s earliest crewed space programs – Mercury and Gemini – when astronauts flew in small capsules.

The job of CapCom was to be the main voice communicating between the astronauts in space and the flight controllers guiding all aspects of the mission from Earth.

CapComs needed to have expert technical knowledge of every maneuver and system. But they also had to relate to the astronauts personally, especially during high-stress situations. That‘s why NASA always selected fellow astronauts to serve as CapComs. Having the voice of an astronaut in their ear brought reassurance.

Fun fact: The compact communication units used by NASA CapComs were actually inspired by revolutionary Japanese inventions! Engineers adapted durable miniaturized transistors from Japanese companies like Sony to create the lightweight headsets. This allowed for constant clear communication between CapComs and the capsule.

The Apollo 13 CapComs – NASA‘s Astronaut All Stars

For the ambitious Apollo 13 mission, aimed at landing the third humans ever on the Moon, NASA chose five veteran astronauts to serve as CapComs:

Joseph P. Kerwin – A former Navy pilot, he was among the 19 astronauts selected by NASA in 1965. He served as CapCom during the launch and trans-lunar injection phases.

Vance D. Brand – Joined NASA‘s astronaut corps in 1966 after flying as a Marine test pilot. He supported Apollo 13‘s perilous re-entry preparations as CapCom.

Jack R. Lousma – Flew on NASA‘s third Skylab mission before acting as CapCom during Apollo 13‘s lunar flyby and commanding of the lunar module.

John W. Young – A Navy test pilot before joining NASA in 1962. He walked on the Moon during Apollo 16 after serving the Apollo 13 crew as CapCom during their close lunar approach.

Thomas K. Mattingly II – Selected as an astronaut in 1966, he was the original Apollo 13 Command Module pilot before being pulled from the mission due to illness. He filled in as CapCom during translunar coast.

With multiple astronaut veterans covering each mission phase, the Apollo 13 crew had access to immense experience and technical expertise through their CapComs while in space.

CapComs Serve as Bridge Between Crew and Mission Control

The job of CapCom developed along with NASA‘s early space programs. During Project Mercury‘s first U.S. crewed orbital flights, there was usually a single CapCom per mission. They became more specialized on Gemini missions.

By Apollo, CapComs coordinated closely with Flight Directors in Mission Control to provide focused support. For example, Apollo 11 involved a CapCom specializing in the Lunar Module, backed by other CapComs monitoring Command Module and ground support.

Having an astronaut act as CapCom provided real empathy and understanding between the crew in space and the flight controllers. As astronaut Mike Massimino explains:

"The CapCom is an astronaut who works as the interface between the crew in space and the flight control team on the ground. We would understand sometimes better than the flight controllers what the crew was going through."

This bond was especially critical during crises like Apollo 13 when complex life-saving procedures had to be communicated clearly between CapCom, crew, and Mission Control.

Critical Role During Apollo 13 Crisis

The Apollo 13 astronauts were 56 hours into their journey to the Moon when an oxygen tank explosion in the Service Module caused massive damage. The crew of Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise worked closely with their CapComs as they scrambled to stabilize their crippled ship.

CapComs Kerwin, Lousma, and Young truly earned their reputation during this intense life-and-death struggle. As astronauts themselves, they intrinsically understood the challenges the crew was facing. They helped devise procedures to conserve power, manually control the spacecraft, and jury-rig CO2 filters from available materials.

There were tense exchanges as CapComs helped Apollo 13‘s crew troubleshoot issues step-by-step and relayed detailed procedures from Mission Control. Their calm communication and technical expertise kept the crew focused amidst the chaos.

Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell praised CapCom Jack Lousma:

“Jack did a super job in the lunar module trying to convince us we could do what they thought was necessary to get us back. He was the first one to convince us we had a fighting chance.”

The support from CAPCOMs Young, Lousma, and Kerwin proved critical in the safe return of Apollo 13’s crew.

Legacy of NASA‘s CapComs

The CapCom became an icon during NASA‘s early piloted space programs. Their voices provided calm, competence, and humanity amidst the dangers of early spaceflight.

Today, non-astronauts can serve as CapComs thanks to improved communications from Mission Control. But during critical moments, astronauts still often take the CapCom role to provide vital guidance based on their hands-on experience.

Clear communication between spacecraft crews and control teams on Earth remains just as essential today during missions to the International Space Station and beyond. Technology has progressed, but human spaceflight is still very much a collaborative effort with lives on the line.

The story of Apollo 13‘s CapComs shines a light on the key bridges human beings build between Earth and space during our greatest adventures. Their work epitomizes the finest tradition of NASA‘s Mission Control team – "Competence, Confidence, and Compassion."

So next time you watch an exciting rocket launch, listen closely! One of those steady voices from Mission Control may just be an astronaut CapCom, keeping watch over a new generation of explorers venturing into the cosmos.

Clearly the unsung heroes of Apollo 13‘s triumph were the incredible NASA astronauts who served as CapComs. Their technical expertise, empathy, and grace under pressure as the critical communicators between crew and Earth truly saved the mission. That‘s the power of the CapCom!

Let me know if you have any other questions about this amazing role in NASA history. I could talk spaceflight all day!