[Apollo 13]

AN APOLLO COMMAND MODULE STOWAGE COMPARTMENT

Stowage compartment B4, located in the lower equipment bay of the Apollo Command Module, was designed to hold water purification materials such as chlorine ampules.

An example of the B4 stowage compartment's use is referenced in the Apollo 11 Mission transcript between Command Module Pilot (CMP) Michael Collins and Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) Charlie Duke in Mission Control:

137:30:19 Collins: "Roger, Charlie. Like to bring you up to date on our chlorination status. In compartment B4, we have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven - correction, we have eight pockets for chlorine and buffer ampules, of which - let me correct that. We have seven pockets, of which one is empty and always has been empty, leaving six remaining."

The present lot is signed and inscribed by Apollo 13 Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise. After the infamous explosion of an oxygen tank, the Apollo 13 crew had to move from the CSM Odyssey into the Lunar Module Aquarius, using it as a lifeboat in order to survive a four day journey around the moon and return back to Earth. With people on the ground from both NASA and the contractor team working around the clock, an alternate flight plan was developed, and various procedures were developed to return the crew to Earth safely despite seemingly insurmountable challenges. The mission stands out as a paragon of teamwork and first-class training. The inscription on the item, along with its intended use speak to the incredible challenges of human life and survival in space.

REFERENCES:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. "Apollo Operations Handbook, Block II Spacecraft," Spacecraft Systems Operation Branch, Flight Crew Support Division. Published 15 April 1969, changed 15 October 1969. p 56.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Apollo Flight Journal. Apollo 11. Day 6, Part 4: Trans-Earth Injection. Updated September 29, 2023.