Neil Armstrong Played Key Role In Apollo 13 Investigation In 1970

In 1970, the Apollo 13 mission faced a critical failure when an explosion occurred aboard the spacecraft, leading to the mission's abrupt termination and the cancellation of its lunar landing. In the aftermath, NASA commissioned an investigation led by Edgar Cortright, with astronaut Neil Armstrong playing a significant role. Armstrong meticulously compiled a detailed chronology of the flight, which was crucial in understanding the sequence of events that led to the explosion. His investigation revealed that a 28-volt thermostat switch in one of the oxygen tanks was the root cause of the incident. This switch was supposed to have been replaced with a more robust 65-volt version, but the oversight led to catastrophic failure. Cortright's report ultimately recommended a complete redesign of the oxygen tanks, estimating the cost at $40 million. However, many NASA managers, including Armstrong, argued against this recommendation, asserting that the issue was isolated to the thermostat switch and did not warrant a full redesign. Despite their objections, the decision was made to proceed with the redesign of the tanks, highlighting the complexities and challenges faced in ensuring the safety and reliability of space missions. #mooflife #mof #MomentOfLife #Apollo13 #Nasa #NeilArmstrong #SpaceExploration #MissionInvestigation