Spacelog Apollo 8

Houston, Apollo 8.

Apollo 8, Houston. Go.

You might give me a call every now and then, Jerry, just to let me know you're still there, as we're switching antennas, or play some music or something.

Say again, Bill. You're kind of garbled.

I say you might just give me a call every now and then as we switch antennas, just to let me know you're still there, or play some music or something, just to make sure we haven't lost COMM.

Okay, Bill. Your antennas are looking good now.

Hey, Bill. If you want music, I'll have Mike sing.

Apollo 8, Houston.

Roger.

On your secondary coolant loop, looks like your back-pressure valve might be slightly open. I suggest you go to secondary coolant loop EVAP switch to the RESET position for 58 seconds. Over.

Roger. I did that again; I'll try it a third time.

Okay.

That didn't do it any good, Houston.

Roger, Bill.

Keep an eye on it, in case it starts dropping. It stabilized there right after I shut the evaporator off.

Roger. We will watch it.

What might have happened, Jim might have gotten the water control valve off before we completely had the back-pressure valve closed.

Roger. Understand Jim turned the water control valve off.

Roger. We have the secondary water EVAP control valve off, but he might have gotten it off on that return pump chart check prior to the time the evaporator back-pressure valve had completely closed, which might explain its lower-than-nominal state pressure.

Apollo 8, Houston. Over.

Go ahead.

Roger, Bill. We see your secondary steam pressure coming back up slowly, and we would like to just sit and watch it for a while before doing anything else.

Apollo 8, Houston.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Over.

Go ahead, Houston. Apollo 8.

Roger. I just wanted to let you know we still have voice contact, and we have the morning news for you. We can give it to you now or some time later, your choice.

How about right now?

Very good. This is the 23rd of December edition of the Interstellar Times a la Paul Haney. We would like to let you know that there are only 2 more shopping days until Christmas. He says your TV transmission was a real big hit yesterday. Mickey Herskowitz is doing double duty for the Post. He's written a couple of columns on your launch in addition to his other sports columns, and, Jim, your mom certainly appreciated that birthday greeting. Twenty-one convicts broke out of a prison in New Orleans yesterday, and President Johnson went home last night from Bethesda Naval Hospital after his bout with the flu. He sends you guys a special message—not what to do for the flu—but congratulations on the flight. Are you reading me so far okay?

You're very clear, Mike.

Good. Well, we had a big blizzard down here in the midwest; I don't know if you can see that from up there or not. And in Houston, as a matter of fact, it's getting pretty chilly, about 35 degrees. And we would like to know who you like next Sunday, Baltimore or Cleveland? Baltimore defense looked pretty tremendous yesterday. They put on great pass rush, and it sounds to CAP COM like Haney is trying to con you guys into a bet. Over.

I like Baltimore.

Are you giving points?

Negative. I don't bet.

I guess you don't if you don't give points.

Not with you anyway.

Okay. That's about the size of the news. Houston, standing by.

How are the families doing, Mike?

They are doing just great, Bill; just talking to Valerie a few minutes ago.

Roger.

Mike, this is Frank again. Would you tell the doctors I got about 5 hours of good sleep yesterday?

Roger. Thank you, Frank; we were wondering about that, about 5 hours of good sleep.

Right.

How is everything going up there, Frank; all three of you guys feeling okay this morning?

Feel fine. Jim went back to sleep. Bill and I are having breakfast and everything seems fine.