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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, May 14, 2010 · 2 UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT Oakville resident honoured for his role in saving lives of Apollo 13 astronauts By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Serving Oakville Since 1972 $ 45 Flat Rate to Pearson* *For a limited time 24 905.844.4300 s r r TM 10% Off b $ 00 Off 10% Off b $ 00 Off 5 3 b b 5 3 b b $ 00 Off $ 00 Off He never knew whether his calculations helped the Apollo 13 astronauts return home safely. Now he knows they did. Oakville resident John Barry French and several of his colleagues from the University of Toronto's Institute for Aerospace Studies were recently recognized with the Canadian Air & Space Pioneer Award from the Canadian Air & Space Museum for their work during the Apollo 13 incident. Like the rest of the world, French, a professor at the Institute of Aerospace Studies, had been following the Apollo 13 drama as it unfolded in April of 1970, not knowing that he would soon become a part of it. Four days into its journey to the moon, one of the Odyssey spacecraft's oxygen tanks exploded, causing widespread damage and leaving the three astronauts inside in a desperate situation. On April 16, 1970, a staff meeting at the Institute for Aerospace Studies was interrupted by a phone call. "It was Grumman Aerospace Corp., the people who designed the lunar excursion module," said French. "I got this phone call and they said, `Look would you be willing to help?' and I said, `Sure we will, I'll go tell the staff about it." The call was a surprise to say the least, but French quickly mobilized a team of six people to tackle the problem. NASA had devised a plan to use the lunar excursion module as a lifeboat, which would re-enter the Earth's atmosphere after being separated from the rest of the ship. The plan called for the detonation of a prima cord explosive ring to split the two spacecraft components, but there was concern about the amount of air present in a tunnel the astronauts used to move between them. Figuring out what the proper air pressure should be to safely push the two components apart is where French and his team came in. While determining how much air should be left in the spacecraft tunnel may seem DAVID COOPER / TORONTO STAR LIFESAVERS: Ben Etkin, Barry French, of Oakville, and Phil Sullivan were recently honoured for their work in saving the lives of the Apollo 13 astronauts. trivial, French pointed out, but "They used ours and there getting it wrong could have led weren't any others. We didn't to the deaths of all those know that at the time and it onboard. was probably a good thing we "If you left no air in there, didn't," said French. "We then there might not be any thought someone in NASA was push, in which case they would also looking into this or there have remained in close prox- were three groups and they imity until they re-entered and were going to have a democratthen there would have been all ic vote to see what was used. hell breaking loose," said No, it was just us." French. In addition to this most On the other hand, if too recent award, French has been much air was left in the tunnel, recognized for the role he the resulting shockwave from played in the Apollo 13 incithe explosion might further dent with the Order of Canada. damage the spacecraft. French and his team were With the Odyssey approach- also recognized last month by ing Earth, French and his team one of the astronauts they had only a few hours to give their helped save. best recommendation. "Let me join others in con"We had to make educated gratulations to the University guesses on some things. You of Toronto Institute for couldn't program anything Aerospace Studies as the recipinto a computer to get esti- ient of this year's Air & Space mates or anything like that, Pioneer Award. As the Lunar but we all knew the underlying Module pilot on Apollo 13 I physics and that was the point, would certainly vouch for their so we could make better-edu- credentials," said Fred Haise. cated guesses," said French. "I "Their study and calculadon't think we consciously dis- tions provided a safe means to cussed what would happen if utilize pressure in the tunnel we didn't get it right, although area between the Command & it was in our heads." Service Module (CSM) and the After much deliberation Lunar Module (LM) to assure French's team came up with safe separation of the LM withabout three pounds per square out damaging the hatch. This inch as the ideal air pressure was another one of the new for the situation, which they procedures that had to be relayed to NASA. implemented on Apollo 13 to The following morning assure our safe return. My sinFrench awoke to a news report cere thanks and congratulathat the spacecraft had landed tions again on your wellsafely. deserved award." French was never sure to French has taken all of this what extent or even if NASA in stride. had used his team's calcula"We were very, very happy tions, but has recently received we could do this, believe me, an answer, which he said has and honoured we were asked," come as a bit of a shock. he said.