Would you believe that it's been 50 years since the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the Apollo 13 mission? And for April, the agency will answer all your questions regarding the memorable moon mission to commemorate its 50th anniversary since its launch on April 11, 1970. Do you remember why it's called a "successful failure"?
No celebration for you says NASA to Apollo 13's 50th Anniversary
On April 11, NASA will begin celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 13 moon mission. For those people interested to know more about this historic mission, the agency will have a tribute episode of Apollo 13: Home Safe starting on April 10, at 8 P.M. EDT-- available on NASA TV and other digital platforms.
The Apollo 13 mission was one of the most extraordinary and memorable space expeditions that NASA has ever done -- not because it went well, but because it didn't.
The mission consisted of Commander James (Jim) Lovell Jr., Command Module Pilot John Swigert Jr., and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise Jr. They rode the famous Saturn V rocket. It launched at 2:13 P.M. EST on April 11, 1970, from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Saturn V rocket was launched successfully at the time. However, on its way to its destination, an oxygen tank in the Apollo service module ruptured. The moon landing did not go as planned. It was during this moment where the now infamous phrase, "Houston, we have a problem," was said by Commander James (Jim) Lovell Jr.
Space history: NASA's 'successful failure' moon mission
Moon Mission: Remember Apollo 13? NASA Celebrates 50th Anniversary of its 'Successful Failure'
With the entire mission now in danger, the team a to return to Earth. NASA's flight controllers and engineering experts in the Apollo Mission Control Center gathered together to devise a plan to bring the valiant men home alive.
Through the collaboration of all those within NASA, a plan was developed to rescue the astronauts by using a somewhat "lifeboat" to sustain the needs of the spacecraft and to return the crew safely back to Earth.
The moon flight mission lasted for only five days, 22 hours and 54 minutes before the crew successfully returned to Earth on April 17.
After that incident, Apollo 13 thus became known as the most successful failure in space travel history. NASA, however, reiterated that all things that happened with this mission have helped all succeeding mission and future space exploration programs of the agency.
"Our goal 50 years ago was to save our valiant crew after sending them around the Moon and return them safely to Earth," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "Our goal now is to return to the Moon to stay, in a sustainable way. We are working hard to ensure that we don't need to respond to this kind of emergency in Artemis, but to be ready to respond to any problems we don't anticipate."
