Houston, We Have a Problem: The Apollo 13 Disaster
Apollo 13 launched on April 11, 1970, with the goal of becoming the third crewed Moon landing. But two days into the mission, an oxygen tank exploded, crippling the spacecraft and turning a routine journey into a fight for survival. With power failing, oxygen leaking, and carbon dioxide levels rising, astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert relied on NASA engineers to guide them home using only the materials onboard.
The crew moved into the Lunar Module, designed for two men for two days, and stretched it to support three for nearly four. Engineers on the ground improvised a life-saving carbon dioxide filter with duct tape and plastic bags, while the astronauts manually navigated a slingshot around the Moon to get back on course. After four harrowing days, Apollo 13 splashed down safely on April 17, proving that even in disaster, ingenuity and teamwork can turn failure into triumph.
Join us as we break down the crisis, the people who saved the mission, and a themed cocktail to sip while listening. 🎙️ Listen now!
Sources:
Books:
Failure Is Not An Option - Gene Kranz
Articles:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/apollo-13/
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/apollo/apollo-13-mission-details/
