Lovell says leadership key to Apollo 13 rescue
And, he said, those traits are applicable in the business world.
Speaking at the IT Service Management Forum USA Conference & Expo, the commander of Apollo 13 said leadership, innovation, perseverance, motivation and teamwork both on board and at Mission Control in Houston brought the three-person crew home safely after a harrowing few days in space when their lives were in jeopardy.
"It was a case where those attributes, those human characteristics, were so necessary to turn an almost-certain catastrophe into a successful recovery," Lovell said.
Lovell, aided by a Hollywood movie trailer for "Apollo 13" and NASA film about the flight, recited the various problems the crew faced after a liquid oxygen fuel tank exploded, imperiling the men when the spacecraft was 200,000 miles and 90 hours away from Earth. Ditching a planned moon landing, Apollo 13 used its lunar module as a "lifeboat" to swing around the moon and return to Earth but not without many troubles along the way.
Leadership was one ingredient in dealing with the crisis, "and not just at the top of the organization," he said. "Leadership has to flow all the way through the organization, because that is the glue that forms teamwork."
Innovation and imagination came into play when the control center developed new procedures that had to be correct the first time and jury-rigged carbon dioxide filters that the crew needed in order to survive on the trip home.
Perseverance also was key, he said. "It's very necessary because a lot of times we have good plans, we're driving down the road and suddenly hit a brick wall and you have to fall back to Square Zero and start all over again. You've got to persevere to be successful."
Lovell provided a few other insights he said are applicable in both outer space and the private sector of business.
"Always expect the unexpected," he said. "If everything's going right, if product is selling, profits are up and you sit back, you know, just happy as can be, look ahead. Are there symptoms that indicate an impending crisis that you didn't recognize before? Is there a competitor behind you that might be coming up with a newer idea?"
He also recalled having to quickly learn new maneuvering procedures while flying the lunar module with a 60,000-pound dead mass of the other spacecraft modules attached something never before contemplated.
"I literally had to learn in a short period of time how to maneuver all over again how when I put an input in, I would know what the output was going to be. But you'd be surprised when you're in a tight spot how quickly you learn that," Lovell said.
Comments
- Attempted murder case refiled 1:58 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:38 a.m.
- This weekend on TV 1:38 a.m.
- Birthdays for Saturday, July 11 1:38 a.m.
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza 1:37 a.m.
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his 1:23 a.m.
- Girl critical after run-in with train 1:23 a.m.
- Probe of death treated as slaying 1:22 a.m.
- Taylorsville man arrested in robbery 1:21 a.m.
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love' 1:20 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Teacher faces new sex charges
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his
- Jazz down Oklahoma City
- LDS seminary principal arrested
160 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
99 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
By now you've probably read about the investigation that showed just how...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...
i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...
Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...
Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...
can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...
Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...
These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...
My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...
It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...
You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...




You can be the first to comment on this story.