NASAApollo 13 - Aquarius & Odyssey - 1970-029A
Apollo 13
The successful failure - a lunar landing turned survival story
PHASE 01
Launch
Apr 11, 1970 ✓
PHASE 02
Oxygen tank explosion
Apr 13, 1970 ✓
PHASE 03
Lifeboat in Aquarius
Apr 13-17, 1970 ✓
PHASE 04
Free-return trajectory
Apr 14, 1970 ✓
PHASE 05
Re-entry & splashdown
Apr 17, 1970 ✓
- Telemetry
Apollo 13 at a glance.
Duration
5d 22h
Max distance
248,655mi
Crew
3
Outcome
Safe return
- Status
Houston, we've had a problem.
An oxygen tank explosion 56 hours into the mission forced the crew to abandon the lunar landing and use the Lunar Module as a lifeboat. Through improvisation and precise engineering, mission controllers guided the crew on a free-return trajectory around the Moon and back to Earth.
All three astronauts splashed down safely on April 17, 1970. Widely regarded as NASA's finest hour in crisis management.