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Two Years, Six Lives, and the Long Journey Home: The Story of the Apollo 13 Astronauts

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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Free: Two Years, Six Lives, and the Long Journey Home

by Lauren Kessler

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2920 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	293 pages

On April 11, 1970, the Apollo 13 mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew consisted of Commander James Lovell, Command Module Pilot John Swigert, and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise. The mission was intended to be the third lunar landing mission, but it was aborted after an explosion in the oxygen tanks of the service module.

The explosion occurred about 56 hours into the mission, while the spacecraft was en route to the Moon. The crew was able to use the lunar module as a lifeboat, and they performed a dramatic mid-course correction to get back to Earth safely. The Apollo 13 mission was a success, and it is considered one of the greatest feats of human exploration.

The Crew

The Apollo 13 crew was composed of three experienced astronauts.

Commander James Lovell was a veteran of two previous spaceflights, including the Apollo 8 mission, which was the first crewed flight to orbit the Moon.
Command Module Pilot John Swigert was a rookie astronaut who was making his first spaceflight.
Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise was a veteran of the Apollo 10 mission, which was the first crewed flight to land on the Moon.

The Mission

The Apollo 13 mission was intended to be the third lunar landing mission. The crew was to land on the Moon in the Fra Mauro highlands, and they were to conduct a series of scientific experiments.

The mission began smoothly, and the crew reached lunar orbit on April 14, 1970. However, about 56 hours into the mission, an explosion occurred in the oxygen tanks of the service module. The explosion crippled the service module, and it left the crew with limited oxygen and power.

The Abort

After the explosion, the crew knew that they would not be able to land on the Moon. They decided to abort the mission and return to Earth. However, returning to Earth would not be easy. The crew had to use the lunar module as a lifeboat, and they had to perform a dramatic mid-course correction to get back to Earth safely.

The mid-course correction was one of the most difficult maneuvers in the history of spaceflight. The crew had to use the lunar module's engines to slow down the spacecraft and change its course. The maneuver was successful, and the Apollo 13 spacecraft re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on April 17, 1970.

The Splashdown

The Apollo 13 spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 17, 1970. The crew was rescued by the aircraft carrier USS Iwo Jima. The crew was safe and sound, and they were hailed as heroes.

The Legacy

The Apollo 13 mission was a success, despite the explosion that crippled the service module. The crew's courage and determination inspired people all over the world. The mission also taught NASA valuable lessons about the dangers of spaceflight.

The Apollo 13 mission is considered one of the greatest feats of human exploration. It is a story of courage, determination, and teamwork. The mission is a reminder that even when things go wrong, we can always find a way to overcome adversity.

Image Captions

* **Figure 1:** The Apollo 13 spacecraft launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Image credit: NASA) * **Figure 2:** The Apollo 13 crew poses for a photo before their mission. (Image credit: NASA) * **Figure 3:** The Apollo 13 spacecraft explodes in lunar orbit. (Image credit: NASA) * **Figure 4:** The Apollo 13 crew performs a mid-course correction to get back to Earth. (Image credit: NASA) * **Figure 5:** The Apollo 13 spacecraft splashes down in the Pacific Ocean. (Image credit: NASA)

Free: Two Years, Six Lives, and the Long Journey Home

by Lauren Kessler

4.5 out of 5