Historical accuracy of Apollo 13
Characters
Story
Setting
Historical accuracy of: Apollo 13
Characters
Story
Setting
Characters
Jim Lovell
Jim Lovell was a real astronaut and the commander of Apollo 13. The film accurately portrays his leadership and determination during the mission's crisis.
Fred Haise
Fred Haise was a real astronaut and lunar module pilot on Apollo 13. The film accurately depicts his role and the physical challenges he faced during the mission.
Jack Swigert
Jack Swigert was a real astronaut and command module pilot on Apollo 13. The film accurately portrays his role and the technical challenges he helped overcome.
Gene Kranz
Gene Kranz was a real flight director at NASA during the Apollo 13 mission. The film accurately depicts his leadership and the "failure is not an option" mentality that guided the mission's recovery.
Marilyn Lovell
Marilyn Lovell is Jim Lovell's real wife. The film accurately portrays her emotional experience during the mission and the support she provided to her family.
Story
Explosion caused by faulty wiring
The explosion was caused by a spark igniting damaged insulation on a wire inside the oxygen tank. While the wiring was a factor, the underlying cause was more complex, involving design flaws and testing failures. Thus, it's not entirely accurate to say it was solely due to 'faulty wiring.'
Ken Mattingly grounded due to measles
Astronaut Ken Mattingly was indeed removed from the Apollo 13 crew shortly before launch due to exposure to measles. He was replaced by Jack Swigert.
Use of the LEM as a lifeboat
The Apollo 13 crew did use the Lunar Module (LEM) as a lifeboat after the explosion in the Service Module. This was a crucial decision that ultimately saved their lives.
CO2 levels becoming dangerously high
The crew faced a critical problem with rising carbon dioxide levels in the LEM. This was accurately depicted in the film, including the engineers' efforts to devise a solution using materials available on board.
Power conservation a major concern
Conserving power was essential for the crew's survival during their journey back to Earth. The film accurately portrays their efforts to minimize power consumption to ensure they had enough to operate critical systems.
Navigational challenges during re-entry
The crew faced significant challenges in navigating the spacecraft for re-entry, including manual adjustments and concerns about their trajectory. The film captures these difficulties effectively.
Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean
Apollo 13 successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 17, 1970, as depicted in the film.
The phrase 'Houston, we have a problem'
While the exact wording was slightly different ('Houston, we've had a problem'), the film captures the essence of the communication and the crew's calm demeanor in reporting the emergency.
Level of tension and drama
The film effectively conveys the tension and drama of the situation, both in space and on the ground at Mission Control. It captures the sense of urgency and the immense challenges faced by everyone involved.
Portrayal of the astronauts' families
While the film provides glimpses into the astronauts' families and their experiences during the mission, it doesn't delve deeply into their emotional journeys. Some aspects of their personal lives may be fictionalized or compressed for narrative purposes.
Focus on technical details
The film is known for its attention to technical detail, particularly in its depiction of the spacecraft, Mission Control, and the procedures involved in spaceflight. This contributes to its realism and authenticity.
Emotional response of the astronauts
While the film portrays the astronauts' emotions and reactions, it's impossible to know the full extent of their inner thoughts and feelings during the crisis. Some aspects of their emotional response may be speculative or interpreted for the film.
Overall
Overall accuracy of the events
While there may be minor discrepancies or creative liberties taken for dramatic effect, the film is generally considered to be a faithful and accurate portrayal of the Apollo 13 mission.