Background Information

Meet the Crew

The Three Men in the Lifeboat

Apollo 13 crew: Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise
Left to right: Jim Lovell (Commander), Jack Swigert (CMP), Fred Haise (LMP)

The explosion is behind them. The long ride home is ahead. While Mission Control works the problem, meet the three men huddled in the lifeboat — one seasoned veteran and two rookies on their first spaceflight.

👨‍🚀 Commander: Jim Lovell

Age: 42 | Rank: Navy Captain | Experience: Fourth spaceflight

Previous Missions:

  • Gemini 7 (1965) - 14-day endurance record
  • Gemini 12 (1966) - Final Gemini mission
  • Apollo 8 (1968) - First humans to orbit the Moon

Apollo 13 Role:

  • Overall mission commander
  • Final decision-making authority
  • Navigation specialist
  • Most experienced astronaut flying

Fun Facts:

  • Held record for most time in space (before Apollo 13)
  • Had already orbited the Moon on Apollo 8
  • Was backup commander for Apollo 11
  • Known for staying calm under extreme pressure
"Houston, we've had a problem." — Jim Lovell's calm report after the explosion
👨‍🚀 Command Module Pilot: Jack Swigert

Age: 38 | Background: Civilian test pilot | Experience: First spaceflight (rookie)

The Late Addition:

  • Backup crew member called up at the last minute
  • Replaced Ken Mattingly two days before launch
  • Mattingly had been exposed to German measles (rubella) — blood tests showed he wasn't immune, so NASA grounded him. Ironically, he never got sick
  • Swigert proved he was ready in marathon simulator sessions and got the seat

Apollo 13 Role:

  • Command Module systems expert
  • Backup pilot for spacecraft operations
  • Systems troubleshooting specialist
  • Would have orbited Moon while others landed
The Moment: Swigert flipped the switch to stir the oxygen tanks when the explosion occurred. He worried people would blame him, but he was not at fault - Mission Control had requested the stir, a routine procedure done dozens of times before. He stayed focused despite the stress.

Fun Facts:

  • The only bachelor in the astronaut corps at the time
  • Earned a master's in aerospace science and an MBA while working as a test pilot
  • Known for great sense of humor under pressure
"Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here." — Jack Swigert, first to report the explosion
👨‍🚀 Lunar Module Pilot: Fred Haise

Age: 36 | Background: Former Marine Corps fighter pilot, NASA civilian test pilot | Experience: First spaceflight (rookie)

The Dream:

  • Would have been the 6th person to walk on the Moon
  • Trained extensively for Fra Mauro landing
  • Lunar Module expert - knew every system intimately
  • Ended up living in the LM instead of landing in it

Apollo 13 Role:

  • Lunar Module systems expert
  • Would have piloted Moon landing (never happened)
  • Critical for LM-as-lifeboat operations
  • Engineering troubleshooting specialist
The Suffering: Haise developed a severe kidney/urinary infection during the mission, made worse by the cold, cramped conditions and the tiny water ration. He was in significant pain but kept working. He was seriously ill by splashdown and took weeks to fully recover.

After Apollo 13:

  • Never flew to the Moon again
  • Commanded Space Shuttle approach and landing tests
  • His LM expertise saved the mission

The Team

One veteran. Two rookies.

One last-minute replacement.

One impossible situation.

Three lives saved through teamwork and determination.