Apollo 13 was the seventh crewed mission in the Apollo space program and the third meant to land on the Moon. The craft was launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 11, 1970, but the lunar landing was aborted after an oxygen tank in the service module failed two days into the mission. The crew instead looped around the Moon and returned safely to Earth on April 17. The mission was commanded by Jim Lovell, with Jack Swigert as command module pilot and Fred Haise as Lunar Module pilot. Swigert was a late replacement for Ken Mattingly, who was grounded after exposure to rubella. A routine stir of an oxygen tank ignited damaged wire insulation inside it, causing an explosion that vented the contents of both of the SM's oxygen tanks to space. Without oxygen, needed for breathing and for generating electric power, the SM's propulsion and life support systems could not operate.
About Apollo 13
The moon landing for astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert is called off when an oxygen tank explodes. The three astronauts and NASA control must work together to bring the astronauts back home.
Achievement of Apollo 13
Each spacesuit costed around $30,000. The film was nominated for nine Academy Awards.
Top Facts You Did Not Know About Apollo 13
Apollo 13 Category.
