What’s the sequence they use? Why do you think is so important to follow the sequence?
- It takes time to start up the CM... it took about 2 1/2 - 3 hours in real time. That means, a system that draws power might be on for 2 hours before it's ever needed - which is a mistake. The importance of bringing up what they needed *when* the absolutely needed it became very important - they couldn't afford to waste any power in their situation.
For what was the water used? Why are they worried about water condensation? What will it happen?
- For drinking... The fuel cells had two functions - they burned hydrogen to produce electrical power for the CSM. As a byproduct - it produced water. Water was used as coolant for some systems, and it was pure water - suitable for drinking. With the fuel cells shut down, what water they had was all they'd ever have - no additional water was going to be manufactured.
Condensation: For the most part, the switches on the instrument panel were water *resistant*. But, since water is a conductor of electricity - if any were in between contacts on the instrument panel, it's possible to have shorted out some switches or equipment. Fortunately - this didn't happen.
Why is it worried Jack Swigert for the speed they reach with the impulse they got when they passed near the moon?
- This didn't really happen... I think that was for drama. Mission Control fired the LM three times - the first to get them on a free-return trajectory (that was prior to passing behind the moon). Another time they fired it because the spacecraft were drifting off course. The third time they fired it to increase their speed - to lessen their trip time home. It *did* make them very fast, compared to other Apollo missions, but it was still within the limits of safety. They are primarily worried about the angle with which they hit the Earth's atmosphere - it *has* to be within two degrees of optimum for a survivable re-entry.