The Incredible True Story of Apollo 13

Apollo 13 was supposed to be a research mission to the moon—part of NASA’s legendary Apollo program, which had already successfully landed astronauts on the lunar surface twice the year before. Instead, the mission was about to become the ultimate fight for survival hundreds of thousands of miles from Earth. 

Apollo 13 was supposed to be a research mission to the moon. It was part of NASA’s legendary Apollo program, which had already successfully landed astronauts on the moon’s surface twice the year before. But this mission was about to become the ultimate fight for survival, hundreds of thousands of miles from Earth.

Only 15 years before the launch of Apollo 13, the idea of humans traveling through space was the stuff of science fiction. Then, in 1957, the Soviet Union shocked the world by successfully launching a satellite into Earth’s orbit (see “Key Moments,” above). 

Many historians point to this accomplishment as the beginning of the space race—a rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to be the first to achieve space milestones. That struggle was part of the Cold War, a larger battle between the two countries for political and military dominance (see “What You Need to Know,” below). 

Only 15 years before the launch of Apollo 13, the idea of humans traveling through space was the stuff of science fiction. Then, in 1957, the Soviet Union shocked the world by successfully launching a satellite into Earth’s orbit. (See “Key Moments,” above.)

Many historians point to that accomplishment as the start of the space race. The space race was a rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to be the first to achieve space milestones. It was part of the Cold War, a larger battle between the two countries for political and military dominance. (See “What You Need to Know,” below.)

The U.S. soon caught up with the Soviets, launching its own satellite in 1958. That same year, it created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a new government agency focused on sending humans to space. NASA hired hundreds of scientists who perfected rockets powerful enough to blast out of Earth’s orbit. They designed new spacecraft, and they began training astronauts to journey into the vast frontier of space. 

NASA started several space exploration initiatives, including the Apollo program in 1961. Over the next decade, NASA sent a number of astronauts to space on Apollo missions. There were tragic accidents, including the deaths of the entire Apollo 1 crew in a launchpad fire in 1967, but most astronauts completed their missions safely. The world had no reason to believe Apollo 13 would be any different. 

The U.S. soon caught up with the Soviets. In 1958, the U.S. launched its own satellite. That same year, it created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA was a new government agency focused on sending humans to space. It hired hundreds of scientists who perfected rockets strong enough to blast out of Earth’s orbit. They designed new spacecraft. They also began training astronauts to travel into the vast frontier of space.

NASA started several space exploration initiatives, including the Apollo program in 1961. Over the next decade, NASA sent a number of astronauts to space on Apollo missions. There were tragic accidents. For example, the entire Apollo 1 crew died in a launchpad fire in 1967. But most astronauts completed their missions safely. The world had no reason to believe Apollo 13 would be any different.

On April 13, 1970, Lovell, Haise, and Swigert were preparing for their moon landing, which was about a day away. To get to the moon’s surface, they would use a second spacecraft: the lunar excursion module (LEM). The LEM and Odyssey were linked together like blocks. While Odyssey orbited the moon, the LEM would detach and act as a shuttle to and from the moon’s surface. 

The astronauts had just finished an inspection of the LEM when Mission Control asked them to perform a routine task: Turn on the fans inside the oxygen tanks. With a flip of a switch, Swigert completed the job.

On April 13, 1970, Lovell, Haise, and Swigert were preparing for their moon landing. It was about a day away. To get to the moon’s surface, they would use a second spacecraft. It was called the lunar excursion module (LEM). The LEM and Odyssey were linked together like blocks. While Odyssey orbited the moon, the LEM would separate from it and act as a shuttle to and from the moon’s surface.

The astronauts had just finished an inspection of the LEM when Mission Control asked them to perform a routine task: Turn on the fans inside the oxygen tanks. Swigert did that with a flip of a switch.

Seconds later, there was a loud bang. The spacecraft shuddered. “Houston, we’ve had a problem,” Swigert said. 

Actually, it was a catastrophe. Faulty wiring in an oxygen tank had triggered an explosion. The blast drained the spacecraft’s power and caused the oxygen supply to leak. Within hours, Odyssey would be useless, and there would be no air left to breathe.

News of the disaster quickly spread around the world. Few people believed the men of Apollo 13 would survive. But aboard the spacecraft, there was no time for worry. The astronauts had spent thousands of hours training for this trip. They knew that rule number one in an emergency is to focus on the problem, so they got to work. 

Seconds later, there was a loud bang. The spacecraft shuddered. “Houston, we’ve had a problem,” Swigert said.

Actually, it was a disaster. Faulty wiring in an oxygen tank had triggered an explosion. The blast drained the spacecraft’s power and made the oxygen supply leak. Within hours, Odyssey would be useless. There would be no air left to breathe.

News of the disaster quickly spread around the world. Few people believed the men of Apollo 13 would survive. But aboard the spacecraft, there was no time for worry. The astronauts had spent thousands of hours training for this trip. They knew that rule number one in an emergency is to focus on the problem. They got to work.

At Mission Control in Houston, flight director Gene Kranz gathered his engineers. These men knew the spacecraft’s systems better than anyone. With Apollo 13’s original mission to the moon now forgotten, they would do everything in their power to bring the astronauts home safely. 

Before long, both Kranz’s team and the astronauts in space came up with the same idea: Use the LEM as a lifeboat. 

The LEM had its own supply of power, oxygen, and water. The astronauts could climb through a hatch into the LEM and stay there until they approached Earth. Then they could climb back into Odyssey for the final plunge through Earth’s atmosphere, during which the exterior of the ship would reach up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickening air. (Unlike Odyssey, the LEM was not equipped with a heat shield. If the astronauts attempted to enter Earth’s atmosphere in the LEM, they would be incinerated.) 

But the astronauts had barely settled into the LEM when a new problem cropped up. The LEM didn’t have enough power or water to last the entire journey home. So the astronauts turned off all but the most critical systems, including the heat. Outside, the temperature was 280 degrees below zero. Soon the men were shivering. But the cold was the least of their worries. 

Every minute, it seemed, new problems arose. The ship kept drifting off course. The LEM’s air filters stopped working, and the air became toxic with carbon dioxide.

With many systems damaged or powered down, the engineers at Mission Control had to find creative solutions. To correct the spacecraft’s position, they instructed the astronauts to fire the engine in short bursts. To clean the toxic air, the engineers came up with a fix for the air filters using materials on board—cardboard from the flight manual, duct tape, and tubing from extra spacesuits.

The next four days crawled by as the spacecraft made its way back to Earth. The astronauts barely slept. Neither did the NASA engineers back in Houston. Meanwhile, people across the U.S. crowded into churches to offer prayers that the astronauts would make it home safely.

At Mission Control in Houston, flight director Gene Kranz gathered his engineers. These men knew the spacecraft’s systems better than anyone. Apollo 13’s original mission to the moon was now forgotten. The engineers would do everything in their power to bring the astronauts home safely.

Both Kranz’s team and the astronauts in space soon came up with the same idea: Use the LEM as a lifeboat.

The LEM had its own supply of power, oxygen, and water. The astronauts could climb through a hatch into the LEM and stay there until they approached Earth. Then they could climb back into Odyssey for the final plunge through Earth’s atmosphere. During that plunge, the outside of the ship would reach up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickening air. (Unlike Odyssey, the LEM did not have a heat shield. If the astronauts tried to enter Earth’s atmosphere in the LEM, they would burn to ashes.)

But the astronauts had barely settled into the LEM when a new problem came up. The LEM did not have enough power or water to last the entire journey home. So the astronauts turned off all but the most necessary systems, including the heat. Outside, the temperature was 280 degrees below zero. Soon the men were shivering. But the cold was the least of their worries.

Every minute, it seemed, new problems arose. The ship kept drifting off course. The LEM’s air filters stopped working, and the air became poisoned with carbon dioxide.

Many systems were damaged or powered down. So the engineers at Mission Control had to find creative solutions. To correct the spacecraft’s position, they told the astronauts to fire the engine in short bursts. To clean the air, the engineers came up with a fix for the air filters using cardboard from the flight manual, duct tape, and tubing from extra spacesuits.

The next four days crawled by as the spacecraft made its way back to Earth. The astronauts barely slept. Neither did the NASA engineers back in Houston. Meanwhile, people across the U.S. crowded into churches to pray that the astronauts would make it home safely.

Apollo 13 approached Earth on the morning of Friday, April 17. Now the astronauts were about to face the most perilous part of their ordeal.

What if Odyssey’s electrical system couldn’t be powered up? What if Odyssey’s heat shield had been damaged in the explosion? What if the parachutes had turned to blocks of ice and couldn’t open? 

Incredibly, the astronauts had no trouble powering up Odyssey. Even with frozen wires, the electrical systems were soon humming.

Apollo 13 approached Earth on the morning of Friday, April 17. Now the astronauts were about to face the most dangerous part of their ordeal.

What if Odyssey’s electrical system could not be powered up? What if Odyssey’s heat shield had been damaged in the explosion? What if the parachutes had turned to blocks of ice and could not open?

Incredibly, the astronauts had no trouble powering up Odyssey. Even with frozen wires, the electrical systems were soon humming.

About four minutes after the spacecraft reentered Earth’s atmosphere, the world would know the fate of Apollo 13. That’s how long communication with Odyssey would be blacked out as it fell to Earth.

“Gentlemen,” Lovell said to his fellow astronauts, “we’re about to reenter. I suggest you get ready for a ride.” 

The men tightened their seat belts as Odyssey began its 25,000-mile-per-hour free fall to Earth. Through the small windows, all they could see was fiery red. 

At Mission Control, the command room was packed with engineers. Nobody spoke as the minutes ticked by with agonizing slowness. 

One minute. Two minutes. Three minutes. Four minutes . . .

NASA’s Joe Kerwin tried to make contact with the astronauts. “Odyssey, Houston standing by, over.” 

Nothing. 

“Try again,” flight director Kranz barked.

“Odyssey, Houston standing by, over.”  

Still nothing. 

Five minutes . . .

Some engineers fought back tears. 

Then a voice crackled over the radio. 

“OK, Joe,” said Swigert.

At Mission Control, joy and relief flooded the room. Kranz pumped his fist. 

Inside Odyssey, Lovell, Haise, and Swigert watched the sky outside the windows turn from an angry red to a soft pink and finally to blue. Their speed slowed as they entered Earth’s denser atmosphere.

Odyssey’s parachutes opened. The ship floated down to Earth and came to rest on the waters of the Pacific Ocean. 

The Apollo 13 mission was over—a failed mission that would go down in history as one of NASA’s greatest successes.

Lovell looked at Haise and Swigert. “Fellows,” he said, “we’re home.” 

The world would know the fate of Apollo 13 about four minutes after the spacecraft reentered Earth’s atmosphere. That is how long communication with Odyssey would be blacked out as the spacecraft fell to Earth.

“Gentlemen,” Lovell said to his fellow astronauts, “we’re about to reenter. I suggest you get ready for a ride.”

The men tightened their seat belts as Odyssey began its 25,000-mile-per-hour free fall to Earth. Through the small windows, all they could see was fiery red.

At Mission Control, the command room was packed with engineers. Nobody spoke as the minutes ticked by with agonizing slowness.

One minute. Two minutes. Three minutes. Four minutes . . .

NASA’s Joe Kerwin tried to make contact with the astronauts. “Odyssey, Houston standing by, over.”

Nothing.

“Try again,” flight director Kranz barked.

“Odyssey, Houston standing by, over.”

Still nothing.

Five minutes . . .

Some engineers fought back tears.

Then a voice crackled over the radio.

“OK, Joe,” said Swigert.

At Mission Control, joy and relief flooded the room. Kranz pumped his fist.

Inside Odyssey, Lovell, Haise, and Swigert watched the sky outside the windows turn from angry red to soft pink and finally to blue. Their speed slowed as they entered Earth’s denser atmosphere.

Odyssey’s parachutes opened. The ship floated down to Earth and came to rest on the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

The Apollo 13 mission was over. It was a failed mission that would go down in history as one of NASA’s greatest successes.

Lovell looked at Haise and Swigert. “Fellows,” he said, “we’re home.”