Description

Apollo 13 Patch

Space fans and collectors!  Enjoy the beautifully embroidered Apollo 13 Patch.  It is the perfect tribute to this legacy of space flight!

• 4 inches
• Embroidered/Hook and Loop
• US Veteran-Owned Business

Apollo 13, launched on April 11, 1970, was the seventh crewed mission in the Apollo space program and the third intended to land on the Moon. Let’s delve into the details:

• Mission Overview:
  • Objective: Originally planned for a lunar landing, Apollo 13 aimed to explore the Moon’s surface.
  • Astronauts: The crew consisted of:
    • Jim Lovell (Commander)
    • Jack Swigert (Command Module Pilot)
    • Fred Haise (Lunar Module Pilot)
  • Launch: The spacecraft lifted off from Kennedy Space Center.
  • Lunar Landing Aborted: Unfortunately, two days into the mission, an oxygen tank in the service module (SM) ruptured, rendering its electrical and life-support systems inoperative. As a result, the planned lunar landing had to be abandoned.
  • Circumlunar Trajectory: Instead of landing on the Moon, the crew executed a circumlunar trajectory, looping around the Moon and returning safely to Earth.
  • Emergency Improvisation: Mission controllers worked tirelessly to bring the crew home alive. The lunar module (LM) was repurposed as a lifeboat, even though it was designed for two astronauts on the lunar surface. They successfully adapted procedures to support three men for four days.
  • Challenges Faced:
    • Limited power
    • A chilly and wet cabin
    • Shortage of potable water
    • Critical adaptation of the CM’s cartridges for the carbon dioxide scrubber system to work in the LM
  • Outcome: Despite the crisis, the crew returned safely to Earth on April 17, 1970.

Apollo 13 is often referred to as a “successful failure” due to the valuable experience gained during the rescue operation. The mission’s spent upper stage also impacted the Moon