Twas the night before Christmas 47 years past
There were hushed voices in the Houston MCC,
All were deliberate and none too fast
I sat at my console next the rest of the Flight Dynamics Team
There on the front row which we affectionately called the Trench
As I sat there studying things like propellant loads, number of jetts for ullage to settle the fuel, etc.,
I formulated the crew’s way home
I then gave my inputs to the computer operator 2 floors below amid the hum of IBM 360’s
After a bit the screens on my console glittered and gleamed with the all information I would need
Carefully reviewing the numbers I saw, and with assurances all was in order
I carefully prepared the Transearth Injection Maneuver PAD with red ink and all
I then gave the PAD to the Capcom to read to the crew
All of the digits, signs and comments too
The crew read the PAD back and you can see where the Capcom checked each number
If you look at the read back time on the PAD, you can tell
That the crew would start home in about an hour and a half
For the last time, Apollo 8 with Borman, Lovell and Anders disappeared behind the moon
The MCC was serious in anticipation of an event about to unfold
Rounding the moon and to everyone’s joy Jim Lovell exclaimed
“Please be informed there is a Santa Claus”
Happy Christmas to All and to All a Good Night
Chuck Deiterich
Apollo Retrofire Officer