Minute 129: Standing By

GUEST: ACTOR BRETT CULLEN Blanche Lovell watches the television coverage of her son, with Neil Armstrong. Mary Haise sits on a couch and watches the coverage with her son. “We’re about to learn whether or not that heatshield which was damaged, if you remember, by the explosion three days ago has withstood the inferno of re-entry,” says Walter Cronkite. On board the USS Iwo Jima, the bridge scans the horizon. A packed Mission Control awaits any word from the spacecraft. “Odyssey, this is Houston,” says Mattingly.”Do you read me? Odyssey, Houston. Do you read me?” “Three minutes, thirty seconds,” says INCO. “Standing by.” Static-filled images from the Pacific are projected on the MOCR screen. “Odyssey, Houston,” says Mattingly. “Do you read me? Odyssey, this is Houston, do you read me?” “That’s four minutes,” says INCO. “Standing by.” The Lovell family holds back tears as they sit in front of their television. Jay Lovell looks at his classroom clock. It’s 11:56 AM. IN THIS MINUTE: Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton Loren Dean as John Aaron Ben Marley as John Young Todd Louiso as FAO – White Team Joe Spano as NASA Director Ed Harris as Gene Kranz Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney Clint Howard as Sy Liebergot Googy Gress as RETRO White Christian Clemenson as Flight Surgeon Dr. Chuck Ned Vaughn as CAPCOM 2 Max Grodénchik as FIDO Gold Walter von Huene as Technician Kenneth White as Grumman Rep Jean Speegle Howard as Blanch Lovell Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell Mark Wheeler as Neil Armstrong Walter Cronkite as Himself Tracy Reiner as Mary Haise Miko Hughes as Jeffrey Lovell Rance Howard as Priest Emily Ann Lloyd as Susan Lovell Mary Kate Schelhardt as Barbara Lovell Max Elliott Slade as Jay Lovell