Apollo 13

When an explosion occurred aboard the Apollo 13 spaceship in April 1970, a mission of lunar exploration quickly became a mission of survival. Ground control in Houston scrambled to develop an emergency plan as millions around the world watched and the lives of three astronauts hung in the balance: commander James A. Lovell Jr., lunar module pilot Fred W. Haise Jr. and command module pilot John L. Swigert.

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This Day in History

May 22

Lead Story

Great Emigration departs for Oregon, 1843

A massive wagon train, made up of 1,000 settlers and 1,000 head of cattle, sets off down the Oregon Trail from Independence, Missouri. Known as the "Great…

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Classroom Study Guides

  • Failure Is Not An Option (PDF)

    Curriculum guide to the program that tells the story of the men and women behind the space program.