For re-entry Cooper would not only have to establish the capsule’s angle of attack by hand, using the horizon as his point of reference, he would also have to hold the capsule steady on all three axes, pitch, roll, and yaw, with the hand controller and fire the retro-rockets by hand. Meantime, the electrical malfunction had done something to the oxygen balance. Carbon dioxide started building up in the capsule and inside Cooper’s suit and helmet as well. “Well … things are beginning to stack up a little,” said Gordo.
