Apollo 13 Explosion
An oxygen tank exploded mid-mission, forcing a dramatic emergency return
April 13, 1970
The Mission That Failed — and Succeeded
On April 13, 1970, 56 hours into the Apollo 13 mission to the Moon, an oxygen tank in the service module exploded. Astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise heard a loud bang, saw warning lights flash across the dashboard, and radioed the now-famous words: "Houston, we've had a problem." The Moon landing was immediately cancelled. Getting the crew home alive became the only goal.
Surviving on Next to Nothing
The three astronauts moved into the lunar module — designed for two people for two days — and used it as a lifeboat for four days. They had to shut down almost all electrical systems to conserve power, leaving the cabin temperature near freezing. Carbon dioxide levels rose dangerously, forcing engineers on the ground to improvise a CO2 filter from materials available on the spacecraft using only what the astronauts had onboard.
What It Taught NASA
NASA called Apollo 13 a "successful failure." No lives were lost and the experience transformed mission planning, leading to better crew training, improved equipment, and emergency procedures that are still used today. The story was made into a famous 1995 film starring Tom Hanks. The mission's harrowing timeline — measured almost minute by minute — is a reminder of how much can change in just a few days.