Crewed spacecraftFlown
Odyssey and Aquarius
Apollo command/service and lunar module spacecraft
Vehicle and mission dossier
Apollo 13
Apollo 13 was intended to land at Fra Mauro but became a life-preservation mission after an oxygen tank exploded in the . Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise powered down command module Odyssey and used lunar module Aquarius as a lifeboat. Flight controllers and crew improvised power, water, carbon-dioxide removal, navigation, and course-correction procedures that brought all three astronauts safely home.
Flight profile
- Launch
- April 11, 1970
- Landing
- April 17, 1970
- Mission duration
- 5 days, 22 hours, 54 minutes, 41 seconds
Places and recovery
Vehicle record
- Manufacturer
- North American Aviation, Grumman, or Apollo program contractors
- Launch system
- Saturn V
- Mission status
- Completed
- Mission type
- Aborted crewed lunar landing mission
- Launch vehicle
- Saturn V
- Program
- Apollo
- Crew complement
- 3
- Outcome
- Completed
- Archive classification
- Human spaceflight
- Primary objective
- Aborted lunar landing mission
Flight objectives
- Land at Fra Mauro and conduct a geology-focused lunar surface .
- Deploy a scientific experiment package and collect samples from the Fra Mauro formation.
- After the accident, preserve electrical power, water, oxygen, and a safe cabin environment for the return journey.
- Use Aquarius for life support and propulsion, then reactivate Odyssey for a safe .
Flight timeline
- April 11, 1970Apollo 13 beginsOdyssey and Aquarius began Apollo 13 to Land at Fra Mauro and conduct a geology-focused lunar surface .
- OperationsDeploy a scientific experiment package and collect samples from the Fra Mauro formationCommand module: Odyssey (CM-109); Lunar module: Aquarius (LM-7); : Saturn V SA-508
- Defining resultApollo 13: Land at Fra Mauro and conduct a geology-focused lunar surface expeditionApollo 13 was intended to land at Fra Mauro but became a life-preservation mission after an oxygen tank exploded in the .
- April 17, 1970Apollo 13: CompletedUse Aquarius for life support and propulsion, then reactivate Odyssey for a safe .
