NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Collection

Damage to Apollo 13

In April of 1970 [ http://www.hq.nasa.…ch-13-1.html ], after an oxygen tank exploded and crippled their service module, the Apollo 13 [ http://nssdc.gsfc.n…] astronauts were forced to abandon plans to make the third human lunar landing [ http://www.hq.nasa.…]. The extent of the damage [ http://nssdc.gsfc.n…ap13chrono.html ] is revealed in this grainy, grim photo [ http://images.jsc.n…10075514.htm ], taken as the service module was [ http://www.qsl.net/…] drifting away -- jettisoned only hours prior to the command module's reentry and eventual safe splashdown. An entire panel on the side of the service module [ http://nssdc.gsfc.n…] has been blown away and extensive internal damage is apparent. Visible below the gutted compartment is a radio antenna and the large, bell-shaped nozzle of the service module's rocket engine.

//www.ksc.nasa.gov/h istory/apollo/apollo -13/ apollo-13.html">Apol lo 13 Crew, NASA [ http://www.nasa.gov]

spacecraft

damage

service module

apollo 13

1970

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Apollo 13

1970

http://antwrp.gsfc.…

SPD-APOD-ap010519