Download Exploration Apollo 13 – Project Management Course Note

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1ère – Tale
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Apollo 13 – Project Management
actors
astronauts
JOB on Apollo 13
Bill Paxton
Fred Haise
Lunar Module Pilot
Note :
Course
Exploration
Tom Hanks
Jim Lovell
Commander
Kevin Bacon
Jack Swigert
Command Module Pilot
crew compartment
engine
heatshield
nozzle
oxygen tanks
L.E.M. = Lunar Module
Command
a.k.a ‘Aquarius’
Module
extension
Service Module
DISCUSSION
Look at this diagram representing the Apollo 13 spacecraft.
NASA’s plan was for Jack Swigert to stay on the Command Module during Jim Lovell’s& Fred Haise’s visit to the moon
on the Lunar Module.
 In your opinion, why was it necessary for Jack Swigert to stay on the Command Module?
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Exploration
Apollo 13 – Project Management
PROBLEM 1
Course
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1ère – Tale
Page 2 on 6
00.00 > 01.10
Now watch the video.
 Which parts of the spacecraft illustrated in the diagram are mentioned?
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 What is the cause of the problem?
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DISCUSSION 2
The astronauts were obliged to move temporarily to the Lunar Module.
 In your opinion, why was this necessary?
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VOCABULARY: SHAPES
 Complete the tables below.
NOM
ADJECTIF
NOM
ADJECTIF
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Apollo 13 – Project Management
PROBLEM 2
Note :
01.11 >01.46
Watch again and answer the questions below.
Three men in Houston are anxious about certain ‘gauges’ (see photo)
in the Lunar Module.
1. What do the gauges the men are anxious about measure?
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2. What is the risk for the astronauts?
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3. Which shapes are mentioned?
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4. Which 3components from the grey box are mentioned by the 3 anxious men & flight director Gene Krantz?
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antennae
filters
refrigerators
fuel cells
radiators
scrubbers
cartridges
N.B. the 2 names in fact describe the same component
Use the screenshots & text from the next page to help you if you have difficulty for questions 5 and 6.
5. In your own words, explain the first technical solution suggested by Gene Krantz.
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6. Why was this solution impossible?
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7. What was the reason for the problem detected by the 3 anxious men?
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Apollo 13 – Project Management
THE SOLUTION
Note :
01.46 >02.11
8. Explain the second technical solution suggested by Gene Krantz.
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SCREENSHOTS  to help with PROBLEM 2questions 5) and 6).
N° 1
N° 2
N° 3
N° 4
N° 5
N° 6
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Apollo 13 – Project Management
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“Even though the accident which crippled1 the ship took out the two main oxygen tanks in the Service Module, having
enough oxygen really wasn’t an issue2 for the crew. A big problem was having too much carbon dioxide (CO2), which
came from the astronauts’ own exhalations. The Lunar Module had lithium hydroxide canisters to remove the CO2 for
two men for two days [have been in the Lunar Module for a few hours before the alarm started ; We assume the
astronauts indicate there was a problem], but on board were three men trying to survive in the LM for four days.”
http://www.universetoday.com/63673/13-things-that-saved-apollo-13-part-10-duct-tape/
FOCUS ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT
01.11 > end
In the table below, this mission is analyzed using notions from project management.There are some errors
in the table. Watch again and correct them.
initiation
objectives / goals
technical solution
constraints
budget
personnel
deadline
planning & design
scheduling> different phases
to repair 5 CO2 filters on the Command
Module
replace Command Module filters with
cartridges from the Lunar Module
square cartridges are incompatible with
round holes of the filters
materials only what is present on the
spacecraft
0$
a) astronauts
b) Mission control team in Houston
c) Engineering team in Houston
Before the gauges reach 50, maximum = 3
days
Phase 1 > Mission control team selects
engineering team
attributing tasks to team
Phase 2 >someone makes some tea
Phase 3>team designs filter adaptor
Phase 4 > team builds prototype
execution&
construction
Phase 5> someone writes a poem
Phase 6> Mission control explains the
poem to the astronauts in presence of the
engineers
monitoring
&controllingsystems
completion
DISCUSSION 3
1
2
to cripple : handicapper
an issue = a problem
testing
projectreviews
delivery
Phase 7 > The astronauts build the filter
adaptor
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What will happen if the team are not on schedule / are behind schedule/ don’t meet the deadline?
Whatcriticism of the Apollo 13 design do you imagine Gene Krantz will make to his NASA bosses?
What recommendations will he make for the design of future spacecraft?
FINAL TASK
Imagine you are Gene Krantz. The mission control team has just explained the oxygen filter problem to you. You
have to do a ‘project review’ of the Apollo 13 mission for the head of NASA in five minutes. Prepare your
presentation. Respect the structure below and use the information included in the text to help you to describe the
function of the cartridges.
1. EXPLAIN THE ACCIDENT
2. IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES (where the astronauts are now and why & the medical implications of PROBLEM
2)
3. DESCRIBE THE TECHNICAL SOLUTION
4. DESCRIBE THE OBJECTS concerned in the solution (SHAPE, FUNCTION) CONSTRAINTS
5. DESCRIBE THE ACTION YOU PERSONALLY HAVE TAKEN TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM
6. ENVISAGE THE LARGER CONSEQUENCES FOR THE MISSION (will they go to the Moon?)
7. CRITICISE THE DESIGN OF APOLLO 13