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A short circuit occurred in the electrical system when the oxygen tanks were stirred. This caused oxidation and pressure loss to occur in one tank, and then the other which critically disabled the craft and aborted the mission.

The cause of the shorting was later thought to be from a combination of switch design and pre-launch detanking procedures where a switch welded shut, although this was unknown at the time. Normally this switch would open when the temperature rose and turn the heater off. Prior to this, there was a redesign of the voltage system and all components of the tanks were upgraded to the new voltage except the heater thermostat switches. This incompatibility allowed the temperature to rise during testing and to damage the Teflon-coated wiring.

Later, during the mission when the tank was stirred, the exposed wires shorted and the Teflon caught fire. In the pure oxygen environment, the fire was intense, and the resultant heat caused the tank to rupture and also damage the adjacent tank. One cover on the service module was blown off, which later caused Lovell to exclaim when he saw it as it was jettisoned " There's one whole side of that spacecraft missing!" Because the service module burnt up in the earth's atmosphere, as was normal procedure, the findings were made from an investigation into pre-launch procedures and reconstructions of the likely cause of events. The above conditions were simulated in a hangar, and another explosion occurred.

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16y ago
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4mo ago

The fire on Apollo 13 was caused by an electrical fault in the liquid oxygen tank, which ignited the insulation material inside the tank. This led to a catastrophic explosion that severely damaged the spacecraft's systems and jeopardized the crew's mission.

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Q: On Apollo 13 what was the cause of the fire?
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Related questions

Cause for the oxygen tank to blow up on Apollo 13?

The oxygen tank on Apollo 13 exploded due to damaged wiring inside the tank, which caused a short circuit when the tank was stirred. This led to a fire and subsequent explosion that severely damaged the spacecraft.


How many Apollo mission were unsuccessful?

Two Apollo missions were unsuccessful: Apollo 1, which ended in a cabin fire during a pre-launch test in 1967, and Apollo 13, which experienced an oxygen tank explosion in 1970 but managed to return safely to Earth.


Why is Apollo 13 named after the god Apollo?

Apollo 13 was named after the Greek god Apollo as part of NASA's tradition to use the name "Apollo" for its manned space missions. The Apollo program was named after the god of the sun, Apollo, who drove his chariot of fire across the sky each day. The association with the sun was fitting for a space program aiming to reach the moon.


What was the cause of the fire of the Apollo 1?

A small spark from a wire beneath the crew's feet.


When was Apollo's Fire created?

Apollo's Fire was created in 1992.


Why is there an Apollo 13?

yes there was a Apollo 13 , it followed Apollo 12.


Which Apollo mission ended in tragedy?

Apollo 1 ended in tragedy when a cabin fire during a pre-launch test killed astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee.


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Apollo 11 did not explode. It successfully completed its mission to land the first humans on the moon in 1969.


When did Apollo 13 launch?

Apollo 13 launched April 13, >1952<1999


How did the Apollo 13 get 13?

Because it followed Apollo 12


How was involved in Apollo 13?

N.A.S.A was involved with Apollo 13.


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