Editing Apollo abort modes (section)

==Overview==

Of the five abort modes, the modes up to three (III) are variations of jettisoning the entire rocket followed by an immediate landing in the sea ([[Splashdown (spacecraft landing)|splashdown]]). Mode four (IV) and the Saturn V-specific modes are variations of jettisoning only the failing rocket stage, using the other stages to continue into Earth orbit. Once there, a backup Earth-orbit mission could be performed so that the flight was not entirely in vain. In all cases, the [[Apollo command and service module#Command module (CM)|Command Module]] (CM) with the astronauts performs a splashdown by: 
* Dumping the [[hypergolic]] fuel overboard since the toxic substance would be an unnecessary risk to recovery personnel.
* If high enough, deploying high-speed parachutes ([[drogue parachute]]).
* Jettisoning the drogues and deploying the main parachutes.
* Splashing down in the sea and waiting for recovery team to arrive