A Successful Failure

"Our mission was called "a successful failure," in that we returned safely but never made it to the Moon. In the following months, it was determined that a damaged coil built inside the oxygen tank sparked during our cryo stir and caused the explosion that crippled the Odyssey. It was a minor defect that occured two years before I was even named the flight's commander. Fred Haise was going back to the moon on Apollo 18, but his mission was cancelled because of budget cuts; he never flew in space again. Nor did Jack Swigert, who left the astronaut corps and was elected to Congress from the state of Colorado. But he died of cancer before he was able to take office. Ken Mattingly orbited the moon as Command Module Pilot of Apollo 16, and flew the Space Shuttle, having never gotten the measles. Gene Kranz retired as Director of Flight Operations just not long ago. And many other members of Mission Control have gone on to other things, but some are still there. As for me, the seven extraordinary days of Apollo 13 were my last in space. I watched other men walk on the Moon, and return safely, all from the confines of Mission Control and our house in Houston. I sometimes catch myself looking up at the Moon, remembering the changes of fortune in our long voyage, thinking of the thousands of people who worked to bring the three of us home. I look up at the Moon and wonder, when will we be going back, and who will that be?"
-Commander Jim Lovell-
Apollo 13

A couple of minutes ago, I was watching the movie, Apollo 13. In fact, it was the second time I watched it. I know that this movie was made a long time ago but if I had to rate any movie for sheer quality, this would be amongst the top 10. What attracted me to this movie was the sheer intensity of the story line. Because, no matter how intense things got, there was always a moment to think about the human element of the movie. Every character, no matter how small, how powerful, how vulnerable, how heroic, all of them displayed real grit, courage, humanity, teamwork, calmness, all under pressure and if the movie was this powerful, I can only imagine what it must have been like for all those involved and for all those who witnessed this drama unfold right before their very eyes over thirty seven years ago. Amazing.

I always believed that they don't make movies like they used to anymore and this, this is a testament to my belief and I am sure that I am not alone in this belief.

To the men and women who helped bring the stranded astronauts back home and to the astronauts themselves for an amazing display of character.