Apollo 14 Proved Spaceflight Challenges Are Solvable

January 31, 2021

‘America to the Moon’ Part 12: Exploring the Fra Mauro Highlands

By Bob Granath

“It’s been a long way, but we’re here,” said Apollo 14 commander Alan Shepard as he stepped from the lunar module, or LM, onto the regolith of the Moon’s Fra Mauro highlands.

On Nov. 9, 1970, the Apollo 14 vehicle leaves the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Saturn V stack and its mobile launch tower, atop a huge crawler-transporter, were rolled out to launch Pad 39A. — On Nov. 9, 1970, the Apollo 14 vehicle leaves the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The Saturn V stack and its mobile launch tower, atop a huge crawler-transporter, were rolled out to launch Pad 39A. Photo credit: NASA

When Apollo 14 touched down on Feb. 5, 1971, it was more than a 240,000-mile trip – it was a hard-fought return to flight – for NASA’s Apollo Program and America’s first person in space.

Fra Mauro had been the intended landing site for Apollo 13 in April 1970. However, that mission became a struggle to safely return the crew when an oxygen tank explosion crippled their Apollo spacecraft.

Two days after the April 11, 1970 launch of Apollo 13, with the spacecraft approximately 205,000 miles from Earth, the astronauts heard a “loud bang.” One of two electricity producing fuel cell oxygen tanks in the service module had exploded. Damaged Teflon insulation on the wires to the stirring fan inside oxygen tank No. 2 allowed the wires to short-circuit and ignite the insulation.

The lessons learned from the lunar landing program now are helping the agency pave the way for the journey back to the Moon and later to Mars. As was the case during Apollo 14, NASA experts already are at work solving the challenges for long-term human expeditions to lunar surface and to the Red Planet.

Edgar Mitchell, left, and Alan Shepard participate in lunar surface simulation training at the Kennedy Space Center. They are deploying components of the Apollo lunar surface experiments package. Photo credit: NASA

In the nine months following Apollo 13, several modifications were made to the service module electrical power system, including redesign of the oxygen tanks and addition of a third tank.

After becoming the first NASA astronaut to travel in space on May 5, 1961, Shepard was grounded in 1964 by Ménière’s disease, a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance. But, like NASA solving the problems posed by Apollo 13, Shepard found a way back.

A U.S. Navy aviator and one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, Shepard’s condition prevented him from flying one of the Gemini missions. After surgery, however, he was returned to flight status. At age 47, Shepard would be the oldest space flyer to date and the only Mercury astronaut to walk on the Moon.

Speaking about Shepard before the Apollo 14 flight, Kennedy Space Center Director Kurt Debus praised America’s first astronaut for his efforts to return to flight status.

The 363-foot tall Apollo 14 launch vehicle lifts off from Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 31, 1971. Aboard the spacecraft were astronauts Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa and Edgar Mitchell. Photo credit: NASA

“He’s an expert pilot and flyer and he’s working very hard preparing for this mission,” he said. “I’m happy he’s getting the opportunity to go to the Moon. I envy him.”

Joining Shepard were two first-time flyers from NASA’s fifth groups of astronauts, U.S. Air Force pilot Stuart Roosa, serving as command module pilot, and Naval aviator Edgar Mitchell, lunar module pilot.

Apollo 14 launched on a nine-day mission on Jan. 31, 1971, 50 years ago. Once in Earth orbit, Roosa commented that the crew was “thoroughly impressed” by the performance of the Apollo Saturn V vehicle that was assembled and launching from the Florida spaceport.

Soon after liftoff, though, the mission hit its first “bump in the road.”

After one and a half orbits of the Earth, the Saturn V third stage was fired a second time to boost Apollo 14 on its path to the Moon. Roosa separated the command-service module, or CSM, – named Kitty Hawk — from the upper stage to turn around and dock with the lunar module, Antares.

Solving Spaceflight Challenges

A front view of the Apollo 14 lunar module, Antares, reflects a circular flare caused by the brilliant sun. It was photographed during the first moonwalk. At the extreme left, the lower slope of Cone Crater can be seen. Photo credit: NASA

The CSM had difficulty docking with the LM. Several attempts to dock took place for 1 hour and 42 minutes. At that point Mission Control recommended Roosa hold Kitty Hawk against Antares using its thrusters, then the docking probe would be retracted, thus triggering the docking latches. This approach worked.

Apollo 14 arrived in lunar orbit on Feb. 4. The next day, Shepard and Mitchell boarded Antares and separated from Kitty Hawk in preparation for the landing. Soon after, the LM developed a problem.

First, the lander’s computer received an “abort” signal from a faulty switch. If the problem recurred after the descent engine began firing, the computer would respond as if the signal was real and initiate an automated abort. The ascent stage would separate from the descent stage and the LM would return to orbit.

NASA and the software experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology scrambled to find a work-around. They decided that the solution would involve reprogramming the Antares computer flight software to ignore the erroneous signal. The software modifications were radioed up to the crew. Mitchell entered the changes just in time, allowing the crew to be given a “go” to begin the powered descent.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Apollo 14 commander Alan Shepard stands by the deployed American flag on the lunar surface on Feb. 5, 1971. The shadow of lunar module pilot Edgar Mitchell is in the foreground. Note the red stripes making his spacesuit easily distinguished form his counterpart. Photo credit: NASA/Edgar Mitchell

“It’s a beautiful day to land at Fra Mauro,” Shepard said in response.

But, a second problem soon occurred. The LM landing radar failed to automatically lock onto the lunar surface, preventing the computer from being updated with crucial information on altitude and vertical descent speed.

Mission Control told Shepard and Mitchell to cycle the landing radar breakers.

“OK, cycled,” Shepard said and he was told to check the radar again.

“Breakers, go, great, great,” he said as the unit began receiving a signal at about 18,000 feet, again, just in time.

As Antares pitched over and the two astronauts could see the lunar surface, landmarks and the landing point appeared precisely as planned.

“There it is,” Shepard said

“Right on the money,” Mitchell added.

Shepard then manually landed the LM with Mitchell giving a quick description.

“It’s really a wild looking place here,” he said.

Apollo 14’s Alan Shepard, foreground, and Edgar Mitchell set up the Apollo lunar surface experiments package at the Fra Mauro landing site. The image was taken from a frame shot by a 16-mm movie camera mounted on the modular equipment transporter. Photo credit: NASA

After landing at Fra Mauro, Shepard and Mitchell took two Moonwalks. During the first, an Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package was set up and they used a modular equipment transporter, a pull cart for carrying equipment and rock samples they collected.

During the second traverse on the surface, the pair planned to reach the rim of the 1,000-foot wide Cone Crater. Mitchell noted that the terrain made walking more difficult.

“We’re starting uphill now,” he said. “It’s definitely uphill.”

Edgar Mitchell moves across the lunar surface as he looks over a traverse map during exploration of the Fra Mauro highlands. Lunar dust can be seen clinging to the boots and legs of the space suit. Photo credit: NASA/Alan Shepard

Stopping 150 feet from the rim of the Cone crater, they collected more rocks and soil. Scientists believed the samples could have originated from deep beneath the Moon’s surface, ejected from the impact that created the crater.

As they walked along, Shepard referenced the powder-like soil that was kicked up from the Moon’s soil and regolith.

“Nothing like being up to your arms in lunar dust,” he said.

For Apollo 14, Shepard’s spacesuit was the first to use red stripes on the arms and legs and on the top of his helmet’s sunshade. This made it easier to distinguish between the commander and LM pilot on the surface. In some photographs from Apollo 12, it was difficult to differentiate between the two astronauts. This identifier was used for the remaining Apollo missions, spacewalks during Space Shuttle missions, and now are used on the International Space Station.

A Sand Trap Shot

Alan Shepard assembles a double core tube as he stands beside the portable workbench or modular equipment transporter unique to this mission during the second moon walk on Feb. 6, 1971. Photo credit: NASA/Edgar Mitchell

During Apollo 14, Shepard also set another space first. Toward the end of the second session on the surface, he stopped in front of the television camera and produced a makeshift golf club.

“Houston, you might recognize what I have in my hand as the handle for the contingency sample return,” he said. “It just so happens to have a genuine six iron on the bottom of it. In my left hand, I have a little white pellet that’s familiar to millions of Americans.”

An avid golfer, Shepard dropped a golf ball and took a swing.

“Unfortunately, the suit is so stiff, I can’t do this with two hands,” he said, “but I’m going to try a little sand trap shot here.”

Lunar dust flew.

“Hey, you got more dirt than ball,” Mitchel said.

During Apollo 14, Alan Shepard produced a makeshift golf club and made two golf shots. On the first shot, Edgar Mitchell said it looked like Shepard got more dirt than ball. Shepard said the second went “miles, and miles and miles.” Photo credit: NASA TV

“That looked like a slice to me, Al,” added spacecraft communicator Fred Haise, lunar module pilot on Apollo 13.

“Here we go again,” Shepard said as he took another swing. “Straight as a dime. Miles and miles and miles.”

During the two Moonwalks, about 94 pounds of rocks were collected, and several scientific experiments were performed. Shepard and Mitchell spent 33.5 hours on the Moon, with almost 9.5 hours walking on the lunar surface.

While Shepard and Mitchell worked at the landing site, Roosa orbited the Moon aboard the Kitty Hawk. He performed scientific experiments and photographed the lunar surface, including the landing site of the upcoming Apollo 16 mission.

On Feb. 9, 1971, the Apollo 14 command module. Kitty Hawk, splashes down as two of the three main parachutes can be seen collapsing and the mission comes to a safe and successful end. The spacecraft landed approximately 760 miles southeast of American Samoa. Photo credit: NASA

Apollo 14 returned to Earth on Feb 9, 1971, splashing down approximately 760 miles south of American Samoa in the South Pacific Ocean. The astronauts were soon picked up by the crew of the USS New Orleans recovery ship.

On March 23, 1971, the Apollo 14 crew spoke to Kennedy employees in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building where their Apollo Saturn V rocket was stacked and checked out prior to rollout to the Launch Pad 39A.

“We had a fantastic, resounding success on Apollo 14,” Shepard said.

It was a triumphant return for both Shepard and Apollo.

During post-mission analysis, scientists determined that the Apollo 14 rock samples were found to be generally richer in aluminum and sometimes richer in potassium than other lunar basalts. The Apollo 14 basalts were formed 4 to 4.3 billion years ago, older than the volcanism observed at any of the other locations studied during the Apollo program.

“We’re extremely proud of Apollo 14, and each of you played a vital part in it,” Mitchell said. “As we watch the results come in from the scientists, we are more and more gratified.”

Stuart Roosa, in the photo on the left, was the command module pilot for Apollo 14. The sycamore "Moon Tree,“ on the right, grows at the Cradle of Forestry educational site located in the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, North Carolina. The facility provides a look back at the history of America’s first school of forestry. — Stuart Roosa, in the photo on the left, was the command module pilot for Apollo 14. The sycamore “Moon Tree,“ on the right, grows at the Cradle of Forestry educational site located in the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, North Carolina. The facility provides a look back at the history of America’s first school of forestry. Photo credit: Left image: NASA – Right image: NASA/Bob Granath

Roosa’s ‘Moon Trees’ Stand as a Monument to Apollo

By Bob Granath

When Apollo 14 command module pilot Stuart Roosa flew to the Moon in 1971, he took along an unusual payload: tree seeds.

A native of Durango, Colorado, Roosa worked for the U.S. Forest Service in the early 1950’s as a smoke jumper helping fight fires. He later joined the U.S. Air Force, becoming a test pilot. In 1966, Roosa was one of 19 selected as NASA astronauts.

For the sixth mission to the Moon and the third to land, Roosa packed small containers in his personal preference kit with 500 tree seeds, part of a joint NASA-U.S. Forest Service project. Seeds were chosen from five different types of trees: Loblolly Pine, Sycamore, Sweetgum, Redwood and Douglas Fir. The seeds were classified and sorted, and control seeds were kept on Earth for later comparison to those that had been exposed to the microgravity environment of space.

While mission commander Alan Shepard and lunar module pilot Edgar Mitchell landed on the moon, Roosa remained aboard the command module, Kitty Hawk, photographing the lunar surface, including future landing sites.

After return to Earth, the seeds were germinated. Known as “Moon Trees,” the resulting seedlings were planted throughout the United States, many as part of the nation’s 1976 bicentennial celebration, and around the world.

After Apollo, Roosa worked on the Space Shuttle Program until his retirement from NASA and the Air Force in 1976, the time when many of his trees were being planted.

Roosa died in December 1994. The Moon Trees continue to flourish, a living monument to America’s first visits to the lunar sruface and a fitting memorial to Stuart Roosa.

No copyright is claimed for this feature that appeared in its original form on NASA.gov on Feb. 5, 2016 at:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/apollo-14-demonstrated-spaceflight-challenges-are-solvable

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the 12th in a series of feature articles marking the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo missions to the Moon. During the 1960s and early 1970s, the space agency and its contractors sent astronauts from Earth beginning a period of exploration that will lead to pioneering flights planned for the 21st century. Next, read about driving on the lunar surface.