Spacelog Apollo 8

How is the tracking?

Looking great.

How's the tracking data look, Ken?

Looking great.

Houston, Apollo 8 with a radio check.

Apollo 8, Houston. Loud and clear.

Good evening, Jerry.

Howdy. The Black Watch is watching.

How do you read on this—how do you read on this antenna?

Loud and clear on that one, Bill.

Houston, Apollo 8. Do you read on OMNI 3?

Apollo 8, Houston. Reading you loud with some background noise.

Apollo 8, Houston. COMM check.

Roger, Houston. This is Apollo 8. Loud and clear. How me?

Apollo 8, Houston with a preliminary LOI 1 PAD. Over.

Apollo 8, Houston. Over.

This is 8. Go ahead, Houston.

Apollo 8, Houston. This is a preliminary LOI 1 PAD. Over.

Roger. Standby one.

Roger. Standing by.

Houston, Apollo 8. Ready to copy.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Roger. LOI 1 SPS/G&N, 62844, minus 161, plus 129 069:08:18.41. Copy?

8 is copying.

Roger, 8. Minus 29837, plus 02390, plus 00994 000 200 005 01693, plus 00600 29949 402 29782. Copy?

8 is copying.

Roger, 8. 010 689 260 Persei Zeta, down 048, left 05. The remainder is not applicable. Sirius, Rigel, set of stars for GDC align, 129 155 010, negative ullage. We'll pass the horizon window data later. Over.

Roger. Preliminary LOI 1 PAD as follows: SPS/G&N; 62844, minus 161, plus 129. Are you copying?

Roger. Copying.

069:08:18.41, minus 29837, plus 02390, plus 00994 000 200 005 01693, plus 00600 29949 402 29782 010 689 260, Persei Zeta, down 048, left 05. The remainder not applicable. Sirius, Rigel, 129 155 010. No ullage. We'll pass up the remainder up later.

Roger, Jim. One question—we talked about a P40 gimbal check. Would you like to do that during this maneuver to LOI 1 attitude, or would you rather hold that off until a little closer to LOI? Over.

Let me check on that. Wait one, Houston.

Roger. Standing by.

Houston, Apollo 8.

Apollo 8, Houston. Go.

Roger. We could make this gimbal check as a maneuver to the LOI attitude.

Roger.

I understand that you'll load us up with the LOI 1 PAD and we'll run through P40 as far as the gimbal check.

Roger. That's what we heard you were going to do on it. Are you going to run both the manual gimbals as well as the automatic? Over.

Apollo 8, Houston. Standing by to monitor P52. Over.

Roger. Houston, Apollo 8. P52 complete.

Houston, how do you read? Apollo 8.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Loud and clear.

Okay, Jerry. At 67, we are going over to the LOI 1 attitude, do a sextant star check, and then we will have to go back to PTC. I want to know if you want us to go back to the same attitudes we are at now?

Apollo 8, Houston. That is affirmative, Frank. We are getting ready to ask you to do an erasable dump, VERB 47. We are ginning up to get ready for it now, and we will call you as soon as we are ready to copy.

Understand. VERB 47 when you call.

Negative; VERB 74.

Okay. VERB 74.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. We are setting up for the dump now. It will take about 3 minutes and 20 seconds once we start the dump. Over.

Houston, Apollo 8.

Apollo 8, Houston. Go.

Roger. Can you point out the position of this Zeta Persei to us a little better? We don't have it marked on our charts. We have got Mirfak, and we know Algol, but which one is Zeta Persei?

Roger, Frank. Persei Zeta is just about exactly between Aldebaran and Mirfak.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. We are ready for your CMC erasable dump. Key VERB 74 ENTER. Over.

Roger.

VERB 74 ENTER.

Did you get it?

Houston, Apollo 8. Are you getting the dump?

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Indications are that we are getting it; we are checking. You will have to leave the computer alone for 3 minutes and 20 seconds. Over.

Roger. We are.

Apollo 8, Houston. We are getting your dump low bit rate through Honeysuckle.

Roger.

Apollo 8, Houston. Persei Zeta is a third magnitude star same as Enif. Over.

Same magnitude as Enif.

Affirmative.

Jerry, when are you going to send us the TEI 1 and the rest of that block data?

Apollo 8, Houston. PC plus 2 does not need an update. We'll have your TEI 1 and 2 in about 10 minutes. Over.

Apollo 8, Houston.

Go ahead, Houston. Apollo 8.

Apollo 8, Houston. The dump is complete; you can have your computer back. The reason for the dump was to investigate further the P52 anomaly you had about 4 hours ago. We will try to have some words for you in about 20 or 30 minutes. Over.

You mean when it wouldn't come up with the proper star?

Affirmative.

Okay.

We are going to go ahead and start our maneuver to LOI 1 attitude.

Roger. Standing by to monitor.

Houston, Apollo 8.

Houston. Go ahead.

During the flight, I noticed that the AUTO optics wouldn't drive to the star pick-a-pair selected. Example, it picked Alpheratz at one time, wouldn't drive there, drove to a spot that had no star; and I went back and reselected the program and came back, and it worked okay.

Roger, Jim. Copy.

Jim, is this anomaly you are talking about—was that 4 hours ago when we did the REFSMMAT align?

This happened, I think, yesterday. When we—we were doing a regular REFSMMAT alignment. Alpheratz was the first star selected, and it didn't drive to Alpheratz; and I ran and reselected the program again, and it worked okay.

Okay, Jim. Thank you.

Jerry, this is Apollo 8.

Go ahead.

Apollo 8 here, Jerry.

Go ahead, Frank.

Our PAD here is—Roger. Our PAD here hasn't been correct. I understand the gimbal angles for LOI 1 are roll 0, pitch 200, and yaw 5. Is that correct?

Affirmative, Frank. That is correct.

Thank you.

Apollo 8, Houston with a map update. Over.

Okay. Stand by a minute.

Roger.

Go ahead.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Map update REV 1, slash 2: 68:58:04 69:05:05 69:31:41 70:14:48. Copy?

Copy.

70:56:36 71:00:59 71:10:42 71:39:40 [03:00:23:17|72:23:17]. Copy?

Copy.

Roger. Remarks: Charlie Poppa 1, 71:14:57, Charlie Poppa 2, 71:28:32, Charlie Poppa 3, 71:47:26, Bravo 1, 72:09:42. Over.

Roger. Standby. I'll get the antenna.

Map update as follows, Houston: 68:58:04 69:05:05 69:31:41 70:14:48 70:56:36 71:00:59 71:10:42 71:39:40 72:23:17; Charlie Poppa 1, 71:14:57, Charlie Poppa 2, 71:28:32, Charlie Poppa 3, 71:47:26, Bravo 1, 72:09:42.

Apollo 8, Houston. Try to lock up an OMNI for us. Over.

Roger.

How do you read now, Houston?

Apollo 8, Houston. Reading you loud and clear. No TM.

Understand. No TM.

Apollo 8, Houston.

Go ahead, Houston. Apollo 8.

Roger, Frank. How far are you from your gimbal drive check? Over.

We're just maneuvering to the attitude now.

Roger, Frank. Can you lock up the high gain at that attitude? We have a telemetry problem. Over.

We'll try to. I don't know if we can or not; have to wait until we get there.

Houston, this is Apollo 8. We cannot get the high gain at the burn attitude.

Roger, Frank. Thanks anyway.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. We have a handover from Honeysuckle to Guam in about two minutes.

Thank you.

Apollo 8, Houston.

Apollo 8, Houston.

Apollo 8, Houston. Over.

Apollo 8, Houston. Over.

Apollo 8, Houston.

Houston, Apollo 8.

Apollo 8, Houston. Loud and clear. How me?

Houston, Apollo 8.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Loud and clear. How me? Over.

Apollo 8, Houston. Over.

Apollo 8, Houston. Over.

Go ahead, Houston. Apollo 8 here.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. I have TEI 1 and TEI 2 PAD'S. We still have no telemetry; expect to get it soon. Over.

Roger. You think it's a ground problem?

Roger. It's a ground problem; we just got it back.

Houston, Apollo 8. Go ahead with your data.

Apollo 8, this is Houston with an LOI 1 PAD. Over.

Roger. Understand. LOI 1.

That is affirmative, LOI 1, SPS/G&N: 62844 1, correction, minus 161, plus 129 069:08:19.52, minus 29840, plus 02390, plus 01053. Copy?

Apollo 8, Houston. Over.

Roger. We broke lock; did not get the DELTA-V_X.

Apollo 8, Houston. Roger. Beginning with DELTA-V_X: minus 29840, plus 02390, plus 01053 000 200 005 01693, plus 00600 29954 402 29788. Copy?

Roger.

Roger. 01 0688 259, Persei Zeta, down 048, left 05. The remainder not applicable. Sirius, Rigel, 129 155 010; negative ullage. Horizon window, ignition minus 2 minutes, 40 degrees unlit, ignition 27 degrees unlit. Over.

Roger. LOI 1, SPS/G&N: 62844 minus 161, plus 129 069:08:19.52, minus 29840, plus 02390, plus 01053 000 200 005 01693, plus 00600 29954 402 29788 01 0688 259, Persei Zeta, down 048, left 05; Sirius, Rigel, 129 155 010: no ullage, horizon 2 minutes 40 degrees unlit, ignition 27 degrees unlit.

Apollo 8, Houston. Readback is correct. Ready to copy TEI 1. Over.

Roger, Houston.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Are you waiting for us before you start your gimbal check? Over.

We can start the gimbals check right here.

Roger. You want to copy while you're doing it or stand by on TEI 1?

Stand by for a minute.

Roger. standing by.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Shifting command back to Honeysuckle. Over.

Apollo 8, Houston. How did that gimbal drive check go?

It went fine.

Roger, Frank. We're ready with the TEI 1 and 2 maneuver PAD's. We've also got two state vectors and a target load to uplink and load if you'll configure for it. Over.

Roger. We're trying to get the high gain now. We're maneuvering to PTC attitude.

Roger.

Go ahead with your TEI PAD's.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. TEI 1, SPS/G&N: 462, correction, 46728, minus 053, plus 121 071:25:04.73, plus 37746, minus 03299, plus 00824. Copy?

We're copying.

Roger. 179 346 357, not applicable, plus 00176 37900 336 37705 42 1279 309. Copy?

Copying.

Roger. NA, NA, NA, plus 1350, minus 16500 13050 36389 122:10:45; Sirius, Rigel, 129 155 010, ullage two-jet, 20 seconds jet Bravo Delta, horizon window X-axis on horizon at ignition minus 3 minutes; assumes LOI 1. Over.

Houston, Apollo 8. TEI 1 as follows: SPS/G&N: 46728, minus 053, plus 121 071:25:04.73. Copy?

Roger. Copy.

Plus 37746, minus 03299, plus 00844 179 346 357, not applicable, plus 00176 37900 336 37705 42 1279 309, not applicable three times, plus 1350, minus 16500 13050 36389 122:10:45; Sirius, Rigel, 129 155 010, ullage two jets, 20 seconds, quads B and D, horizon window X-axis on horizon at TIG minus 3, assumes LOI 1.

Apollo 8, Houston. Roger. Correct.

Standing by for TEI 2, if you have it.

Apollo 8, Houston. Will be ready with the TEI 2 in about 1 minute.

Roger.

Apollo 8, Houston with a TEI 2 maneuver PAD.

Roger. Ready to copy.

Roger. TEI 2 SPS/G&N: 46728, minus 053, plus 121. Copy?

Roger. Copy.

Roger. 073:21:30.24, plus 28466, minus 00350, plus 02406 180 022 002, not applicable, plus 00188. Copy?

Roger. Copy.

Roger. 28570 250 28401 42 0641 296, not applicable three times, plus 0920, minus 16500 12953 36175 146:32:16. Copy?

Copy. Looks like you left out a digit …

Apollo 8, Houston. Request you switch your OMNI. It's getting pretty garbled now.

Roger. Stand by.

Houston, this is Apollo 8. I copied. I question the latitude and the range to go. It appears that you gave me one too few digits in both cases.

Roger. I repeat, latitude plus 0920, minus 16500 12953 36175 146:32:16. Copy?

I copied.

Roger. Your GDC align is no change, ullage no change, horizon on the minus 2-degree line at ignition minus 3 minutes, assumes LOI 1. Over.

Roger. TEI 2 maneuver PAD, SPS/G&N: 46728, minus 053, plus 121 073:21:30.24 plus 28466 minus 00352. I did not get the 502406 for a DELTA-V_Z. 180 022 002, not applicable, plus 00188 28570 250 28401 42 0641 296, not applicable three times, plus 0920 minus 16500 12953 36175 146:32:16. No change in the GDC align stars, no change in ullage, a rise on the minus P-degree line at TIG minus 3, assumes LOI 1.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Roger. Correct. I repeat DELTA-V_Z plus 02406. Over.

Roger. Plus 02406.

Roger.

Apollo 8, Houston. If you can go 00 and ACCEPT, we'll start the NAV loads.

Roger.

Apollo 8, Houston. The CM vector is in; working on the LM now. Over.

Roger.

Apollo 8, Houston. We'd like a cryo fan cycle when you can. Over.

Roger. We're starting that now.

Roger.

Apollo 8, Houston. The LM vector is loaded. Target load going in now.

Roger.

Apollo 8, Houston.

Go ahead, Houston.

Apollo 8, Houston. The update is complete. You can have the computer, TLM to BLOCK. Be advised the erasable dump checks out okay.

Roger. Thank you. We have the computer; we're in BLOCK.

Roger.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. We'd like to make at this time a down-voice backup COMM check. Set the S-band AUX tape to DOWN-VOICE BACKUP, TLM inputs PCM, LOW. Over.

Roger, Houston. And we'd like to have a check of our DSE on low bit rate for voicing.

Roger. Understand you want the DSE check on low bit rate for voice.

That's affirmative, and we'll give it about 10 minutes now or about 5 minutes, then you can check it out.

Roger.

Houston, Apollo 8.

Apollo 8, Houston. Go.

As a matter of interest, we have as yet to see the moon.

Roger.

Apollo 8, Houston. What else are you seeing?

Nothing. It's like being on the inside of a submarine.

Roger.

Houston, we just did a PROGRAM 21, and we show a pericynthian of plus 74.9 miles on the state vector you just uploaded.

Roger. Plus 74.9.

Roger.

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Reading your down-voice backup loud and clear. Request you keep those switches where they are for the remainder of the pass. Over.

Roger. And we're rewinding the tape recorder for a dump for a DSE voice check.

Roger, 8.

It's rewound; are you ready to dump?

We'd like to go to S-band AUX tape briefly so you can dump the tape while we're on the high gain. We've only got about 30 seconds worth.

Apollo 8, Houston. Roger. We'll do that from the ground. Over.

Roger. Switch configuration is down-voice backup and stop. You got it.

Roger. We will dump it.

You won't need to dump more than a minute's worth.

Roger.