Spacelog Apollo 8

Apollo 8, Houston, We'd like to go back to high bit rate in order to get this P23 data recorded. Over.

Our checklist says low bit rate, Houston. If you want high, you can have it.

Roger. We're going high bit rate.

Apollo 8, Houston.

Go ahead, Houston.

Apollo 8, Houston. Do you want us to turn off your DSE for you? It's probably about half full. We're getting good high bit rate down.

Do you want to get the rest of this data?

We're getting good high bit rate down.

Roger. Go ahead.

Okay. And, also, we're—your state vector is now based on about 5 hours of tracking. We have you on a pericynthian of 69.7 miles with a free return. Your entry flight path angle looks like about minus 14. You will need only a few feet per second to get you back on a nominal entry angle.

Apollo 8, Houston. Did you get the words on the state vector?

Houston, did you read? Apollo 8. We got a lot of noise.

Apollo 8, Houston. Go ahead.

Houston, Apollo 8.

Apollo 8, Houston. Go.

Apollo 8, this is Houston reading you fairly weak. I'll repeat the state vector information. Your state vector is now based on 5 hours, more than 5 hours of tracking. We show you on a pericynthian of 69.7 miles with a free return with entry path flight angle of minus 14 degrees. Will only need a few feet per second at the lunar distance to get you back on a nominal entry angle. Over.

Roger. Copy.

Houston, Apollo 8.

Apollo 8, Houston. Go. Reading you weak, but clear.

Roger. Our sighting schedule is complete, and I'm maneuvering to PTC attitude.

Houston, Apollo 8. Over.

Apollo 8, Houston. Go.

Roger. I'm at the PTC maneuver now. Like a distance status from you—how the battery looks and how the fuel cells look and et cetera. Over.

Roger.

Apollo 8, Houston.

Go ahead.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. We figure battery B will be charged in about 2 to 3 hours. All your systems look GO; your RCS usage so far is about 60 pounds, six-zero pounds over nominal. Over.

Roger. How about fuel cell 2; is that looking all right now?

Okay. We're going to have two of us hit the hay now and one man minding the store so you might have everybody keep an extra sharp eye on …

Roger, Bill. You think you're going to be able to sleep okay?

Yes. I think we kinda warmed up to a good sleep here by now.

Houston. Apollo 8.

Go ahead.

Onboard navigation indicates a pericynthian altitude of 38.4 miles.

Understand; 38.4 miles.

That's affirmative. It's on the DSKY right now, if you're reading it.

Apollo 8, Houston.

Go ahead, Houston.

Apollo 8, this is Houston with some comments on navigation.

Go ahead, Houston.

Good morning, Frank. Apollo 8, this is Houston. We're wondering about your GDC backup align; we'd like your opinion on the possibility of doing this align using Sirius and Rigel rather than Navi, as it's in the north set at this time. Over.

Stand by one.

Roger.

Houston, this is Apollo 8. We concur. Sirius and Rigel would be two stars that would be much better than Navi and Polaris. However, I did Cassiopeia after I became adapted, but I'm afraid that the time required to do that type of alignment would be extensive if we ever had to go to that alignment.