Special episode with Nasa legend, flight controller John Aaron. This extended interview ranges from John first learning about the explosion, to his doubts and fears during Apollo 13¹s descent through the Earth¹s atmosphere. #13MinutestotheMoon Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg for Bleeding Fingers Music
Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to tell you about something else you might enjoy.
My name's Alison Hindl, and I commission audio drama and fiction for the BBC.
It's a great privilege because I get to unearth stories people love.
You should see the books and scripts covering my floor from new talent and established writers as well as classics.
The BBC has such a rich history of making great audio drama, we're still the largest producer in the world, and the popularity of podcasts means we can share what we do with even more people.
So if you like to lose yourself in a gripping audio drama or book, find your next listen on BBC sounds.
Hello, I'm Andrew Luck Baker, the series producer of 13 minutes to the Moon, standing in again for Kevin.
This is the second of our bonus episodes released in the week of Apollo Thirteen's 50th anniversary, and this one has dropped 50 years to the very day of Odyssey's return to Earth.
This is an edited interview with flight controller John Arran, which Kevin and I recorded at John's home in Texas Hill country.
If you need a reminder, John was one of the ecomms responsible for monitoring the command module's electrical power and life support systems, and Jean Krantz put him in charge of stretching out what remained of ODis's meager power reserves to get the crew to through the final couple of hours to splashdown.
Now, of course, no one person in mission control can be singled out or should be singled out as the one who brought the crew back home.
But we're featuring Jon Arryn in this bonus episode because he is a bit special.
Have a listen to fellow ECoM Si Liebergott and Apollo flight director Gerry Griffin.
John Aaron is an amazing story from a little university in Oklahoma.
Physics major, wanted to come to NASA long enough to make enough money, go buy some cows, go back to farming.
Ended up spending about 30 some odd years, I think, with the agency.
It could be said that John was probably the best flight controller that we ever had.
John was gifted with what is the perfect memory.
Didetic memory.
Didetic memory with good common sense.