How accurate was the Apollo 13 movie?

[willpittenger]

* Did the spacecraft look correct inside and out? Did they have the right amount of room inside?<br /><br />* I know Jim Lovell claimed that much of the drama displayed in the movie was fictional in that there were no fights in the LM. Any other plot inaccuracies?<br /><br />* Do people feel the movements of objects and actors replicated real microgravity? I felt there was too many high velocity objects in the cabin. This might have been due to the amount of time that the Vomit Comet can maintian such an evironment. CGI was probably too expensive, especially when you want to reproduce actors.<br /><br />* How was the video of an Apollo commander walking on the moon done? That wasn't real film from the moon was it? It also could not have been Lovell imagining himself on the moon as the astronaut shown had the red stripe that was added with Apollo 15.<br /><br />* How much of the video and audio was from period footage? I figure anything to do with Walter Chronkite would have to be original. No one else except him could reproduce that voice. Even he might not be able to after 25 years. He sure looked different that he would have when the movie ended.<br /><br />* At the end of the movie, we hear a voice talking about what happened after Apollo 13 splashed down. Was that Lovell's voice? Or Tom Hank's? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[davf]

For the most part, the spacecraft was very accurate. In fact, IIRC, they even borrowed some flown parts for the CM mock-up. The CM mock-up they filmed in is down at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, if you want to have a look at it.<br /><br />I think a more accurate interpretation of Lovell's words is that the dramatics between the crew was fictional. There was more than enough drama during the mission otherwise. They also made a few simplifications and consolodations regarding the course correction burns.<br /><br />Considering they shot in all of the microgravity scenes in the vomit comet while in actual microgravity conditions, I'd say all movement was as realistic as it can possibly get for a movie. Moreso than for any movie prior or since.<br /><br />The video was done on a soundstage. As for the red stripes, Lovell's suit was indeed striped. Take a look at these two photo's taken during suit-up prior to launch. While the EVA visor assembly isn't seen in these shots (they are packed in the LEM), you can certainly see the red stripes on Lovell's arms and legs... and that Haise does not have them.<br />Lovell's Suit:<br />http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/a13/ap13-70-HC-429HR.jpg<br />Lovell suiting up: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/a13/ap13-s70-34848.jpg<br />Haise suiting up:<br />http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/a13/ap13-S70-34851.jpg<br /><br />Incidentally, in this picture of Al Shepard on Apollo 14, his EVA visor assembly is clearly striped and the stripes on his arms and legs match those on Lovell's suit. (Apollo 14 flew Apollo 13's mission)<br />http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/a14</safety_wrapper

 

[qso1]

A magazine called "Final Frontier" came out with all the inacurracies found in Apollo 13. Most minor, a few for artistic lisense. Two artistic lisense examples, when you hear the clang sound as the Saturn stage S-II I think, is mated to the S-1C, well, suffice it to say that sounds like that during a flight hardware mate will give the task leader a coronary figuratively, maybe even literally speaking.<br /><br />The other has to do with the direction the LUT is facing as it comes out of the VAB. A Saturn-V on the LUT comes out of the VAB tower first, not rocket first as shown in Apollo 13. But Howard and company wanted the Saturn-V to be the attention getter.<br /><br />The micrograv scenes were real because they were mostly shot in the vomit comet and micro gravity can be sustained for 30 or so seconds and if you watch the edit cuts in Apollo 13. The weightless scenes are less than 30 seconds. CGI was still relatively new, especially complex CGI. Humans are still difficult to emulate today although I sometimes think thats because of actors Unions and such. They did after all, CGI dinosaurs quite believably 2 or more years before Apollo 13 came out.<br /><br />The maneuvers shown in space were exagerrated for dramatic effect. But one of the most impressive scenes was the one where the Apollo CSM receded into the distant with space, maybe the moon as a backdrop.<br /><br />The spacecraft were accurate in the extreme. Probably a few minor discreps but overall, the attention to detail in Apollo 13, and the Tom Hanks produced "From The Earth To The Moon" is unprecedented as far as historically accurate space flight flics go.<br /><br />Next up would IMO be "The Right Stuff" which was sort of the start of modern historically accurate space movies.<br /><br />Unfortunately, there are very few big screen motion pics covering human space flight. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[davf]

Absolutely correct about FTETTM. Virtually all mission related lines by the astronauts are accurate to transcripts.<br /><br />The Right Stuff did a great job of capturing the energy of the moment, but except for some of the generalities, contained huge inaccuracies.

 

[davf]

One other inaccuracy that I just thought of was the portrayal of the Grumman rep as a weasel. In reality, Grumman were just as supportive as any of the other contractors. They had actually built that capability into the design of the LM.

 

[qso1]

FTETTM would get my vote as the most accurate portrayal of how manned spaceflight actually was, and still is for the most part. Apollo 13 right behind FTETTM.<br /><br />The Right Stuff was more drama with a fairly accurate backdrop. And as it was one of the first big screen movies, at least in the last two decades. IMO, the producers felt the need to spice it up with extreme heroics on the astronaut portrayal parts.<br /><br />But I still thought it well done, especially the pre Mercury day scenes which seemed to capture the way things were in the 1950s early 60s. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

I remember that, but one of the enduring themes in space movies about actual spaceflight is that someone must represent a big corp or gov weasel. And the LM was the hardware focus of the story as the lifeboat. In the Right Stuff, one scene to that effect was the guy who apparently oversaw the astronauts when he wanted John Glenn to talk to his wife. After Glenn refuses and the astronauts walk off, Sheppard (Scott Glenn) pushes the manager aside...a no no at NASA, but it made Sheppard look more heroic.<br /><br />But on that point, one of the reasons I favored FTETTM as realistic was the way they handled the Apollo fire. There was really no bad guy, just the kind of drama that can actually occur in a situation like that. The specific one I point to was the scene in which Harrison Storms is crying in his house and later arguing with Joseph Oshea at one of the pre hearing disussions. Then still later, they became friends sort of.<br /><br />FTETTM avoided as much as possible (The Apollo 12 segment being the only one approaching stereotype), the stereotypes of astronauts and support personnel normally seen in well, the two other movies about historical spaceflight that I know of. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"The micrograv scenes were real because they were mostly shot in the vomit comet and micro gravity can be sustained for 30 or so seconds and if you watch the edit cuts in Apollo 13. The weightless scenes are less than 30 seconds. "<br /><br />Also, because of the transient nature of the VC, you get a lot more bounce (i.e., when you go to zero, any motion you have pushes you up very fast, so then you over shoot to the ceiling and then you reach out and stop and shoot back). It is very hard on the VC to hold really still. So if you look carefully you will see them moving more than a real crew would. But it is very subtle.<br /><br />The flight control aspect was very well done. In fact, all new flight controllers watch the movie as part of the training. Now, the idea of moving into the LM came from the ground, not Lovell.

 

[willpittenger]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Also, because of the transient nature of the VC, you get a lot more bounce (i.e., when you go to zero, any motion you have pushes you up very fast, so then you over shoot to the ceiling and then you reach out and stop and shoot back). It is very hard on the VC to hold really still. So if you look carefully you will see them moving more than a real crew would.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br />That's what I was talking about. Everything seemed move more. Tape recorders, astronauts, whatever. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[qso1]

They may have flown slightly different profiles which resulted in some of the motion you saw during the movie shoot, but I don't know for sure. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[Leovinus]

I think in the movie Lovell said "Houston we have a problem" but in reality it was Swigert. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[steve82]

Check Nitpickers.com They have a pretty complete list:<br />http://www.nitpickers.com/movies/repository.cgi?pg=t&sp=i&tt=100884

 

[erioladastra]

"They may have flown slightly different profiles which resulted in some of the motion you saw during the movie shoot, but I don't know for sure. "<br /><br />I don't think so. The VC is highly constrained. You can do g levels between 0-1. But there is always an aburt tranisiton.

 

[qso1]

That was one reason I had mentioned not knowing for sure. The other was that I couldn't recall how much different the Apollo 13 shots appeared from shots of actual astronauts in training. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[davf]

Swigert said it first and then Lovell repeated.

 

[willpittenger]

I am not laughing. Would you like to be on the Tonight Show or the David Letterman Show? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[bdewoody]

That's funny. I watched them all take off. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>

 

[qso1]

Thats your opinion and I respect your right to your opinion.<br /><br />But if your going to make such a statement, you should back it up with evidence as to why you say Apollo 13 never was. I would recommend you go to the "was the moon landing a hoax???" thread in the phenomenon forum and do a point by point account of your reasons for faking the moon landings.<br /><br />You will encounter some hostility or ridicule which comes with the territory but you won't get that from me. What I will do is try to see why you have the opinion you do. Is it well informed opinion? Is it poorly informed? Etc. I don't intend to change your view. But maybe try and see if there is something you might have overlooked or are unaware of that might make you re-examine this view. You may want to look at my debate with zarniwoop on this very subect in that thread.<br /><br />Otherwise, having the right to your opinion is one thing, credibility is another and I'm looking at credibility as are others here whenever the well worn faked moon landing thing comes around, especially so directly. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

He was pulling our leg. 1207 is no moon hoaxer.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[viper101]

But why is the flag waving if there is no AIR on the moon????<br /><br /><br />/I want to pull my hair out when someone asks that stupid question...

 

[JonClarke]

That's about the dumbest of the common questions for sure!<br /><br />I got into this argument last year with a total stranger at the local deep space tracking station who said out loud after looking at various bits of space memrobilia (including a Moon rock) that she did not believe that people had gone to the Moon. Grrr!!!!!<br /><br />Since then they have actually put up a panel dealing with the more common Apollo hoax arguments. It is good they have done it but very sad that they had to.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Tidbinbilla's pretty cool eh? We're fortunate having such a display. I just wish we were allow to take a nosey out on the telescopes (do they have an open day?). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[ozspace]

"But why is the flag waving if there is no AIR on the moon????"<br /><br />Of course, it's the solar wind, Apollo 11 even had an experiment on it..............<img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" />

 

[qso1]

JonClarke:<br />He was pulling our leg. 1207 is no moon hoaxer.<br /><br />Me:<br />He got my leg, LOL. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

I like the one where the flag blows because someone forgot to close the studio door. One would think for $26B dollars...NASA could afford a security guard to insure the door stays closed during fakery. And if that fails, get a good movie editor to snip that flag waving footage before airing.<br /><br />All of which totally ignores that the flag did not move except when it was handled by the astronauts. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>