Apollo 13

“Houston, we’ve had a problem”

Crew: James A. Lovell Jr. (Commander); Fred W. Haise Jr. (Lunar Module Pilot); John L. Swigert Jr. (Command Module Pilot)

Launch Vehicle: Saturn V

Spacecraft: Odyssey (CM-109), Aquarius (LM-7)

Launch Date: April 11, 1970

Return Date: April 17, 1970

Apollo 13 was the third lunar landing attempt. However, the mission was aborted after the service module oxygen tank ruptured, threatening the lives of the astronauts and their ability to return to Earth. Still, it was classified as a “successful failure” because of the experience gained in rescuing the crew and became one of the most memorable Apollo missions. The mission’s spent upper stage successfully impacted the moon.