Do you know what happened 50 years ago in the history of space exploration?
"Houston, we've had a problem here" is the well-known phrase uttered in space 50 years ago during the Apollo 13 mission, which has since then achieved legendary status in the annals of manned space exploration. Including Apollo 11's first successful moon landing in 1969, there were altogether seven missions that put 12 astronauts on the Moon and returned them safely to the Earth. On 11 April 1970, the Apollo 13 mission began with the launching of a Saturn V rocket with three astronauts and the Apollo spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center. While everyone expected the mission to be an uneventful one, an oxygen tank in the spacecraft exploded at around 55 hours after liftoff. The original landing-and-return mission instantly became a rescue operation. With ingenuity and cool heads, the crew members worked restlessly with the Mission Control to come up with makeshift modifications to the spacecraft and landing sequences so as to reduce electrical consumption and conserve enough oxygen for the spacecraft to loop around the Moon en route back to Earth At last, the crew members splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean on April 17, six days after launch. The ordeal of the three Apollo astronauts was a story of turning a near-tragedy into triumph. The saga was subsequently adapted to make the film Apollo 13 (1995), a smash hit that unfolds the incident in vivid details on large screen.
The Apollo 13 mission is often dubbed "a successful failure" by NASA. Although the lunar landing part was aborted, the experiences gained in the mission would help NASA to stipulate more stringent safety standards for future space exploration. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 13, NASA has launched a series of online activities (for details, please refer to: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-commemorates-50th-anniversary-of-apollo-13-a-successful-failure). Many resources are also available, including a commemorating video clip "Apollo 13: Home Safe" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM8kjDF0IJU).
The journey of manned space exploration is never a smooth one. There will always be obstacles to overcome and hardships to endure. Uncertainties and challenges abound. The story of Apollo 13 reminds us that even though things are not working our way, we can still learn from these experiences. With resilience, resolve and keen minds just like the Apollo astronauts, one can turn misfortune into a blessing.
