Unit II Essay Think Piece Apollo 13
Waldorf University
Critical thinking
Apollo 13 major problem was an on-board explosion that deprived their spacecraft of much of its
oxygen supply and electrical power. Utilizing the 5 steps of critical thinking. What was the
problem? There was an explosion onboard when they did a system check on their O2 tanks. They
had to abort the Lunar mission and figure out a way for them to get home safely. What are the
alternatives? They died out in space. What are the advantages and or disadvantages of each
alternative? Well, the advantage is living, and the disadvantage is dying. They were low on
oxygen, limited power, and freezing to death. What is the solution? There was a meeting and
debate on how to get them home safely. One way was to have them go on a free trajectory and
use the gravity of the moon to turn around and head home. It was the safest way with the fewest
problems. But some argued that the power and oxygen would not support three persons getting
home because they would run out of time. Another way was to have them do a direct abort. It
would be the fastest way for them to get home, but some argued that they did not even know that
the engines were even working on the Odyssey. Doing a direct abort could also cause the
Odyssey to explode. Their main argument was time and the crew had little of it. Their argument
fell apart because the only engine that could support a direct about was probably damaged so
they could not do it. Besides, it would blow the Odyssey up and the director did not want to take
that chance. Which means that the only option they had was to use the smaller lem engine to get
them home. They would do this by once they orbit the moon and turn around, they would fire up
Waldorf University
Critical thinking
Apollo 13 major problem was an on-board explosion that deprived their spacecraft of much of its
oxygen supply and electrical power. Utilizing the 5 steps of critical thinking. What was the
problem? There was an explosion onboard when they did a system check on their O2 tanks. They
had to abort the Lunar mission and figure out a way for them to get home safely. What are the
alternatives? They died out in space. What are the advantages and or disadvantages of each
alternative? Well, the advantage is living, and the disadvantage is dying. They were low on
oxygen, limited power, and freezing to death. What is the solution? There was a meeting and
debate on how to get them home safely. One way was to have them go on a free trajectory and
use the gravity of the moon to turn around and head home. It was the safest way with the fewest
problems. But some argued that the power and oxygen would not support three persons getting
home because they would run out of time. Another way was to have them do a direct abort. It
would be the fastest way for them to get home, but some argued that they did not even know that
the engines were even working on the Odyssey. Doing a direct abort could also cause the
Odyssey to explode. Their main argument was time and the crew had little of it. Their argument
fell apart because the only engine that could support a direct about was probably damaged so
they could not do it. Besides, it would blow the Odyssey up and the director did not want to take
that chance. Which means that the only option they had was to use the smaller lem engine to get
them home. They would do this by once they orbit the moon and turn around, they would fire up
