Apollo 13

As the euphoria of the Apollo 11 moon landing still reverberates through the US Space Agency, astronaut Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) decides to throw a jubilant party at his residence to commemorate this monumental achievement. Colleague Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon), known for his sharp wit, joins the revelry alongside other astronauts Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise) and Fred Haise (Bill Paxton). Little do they know that their lives are about to take a dramatic turn.

The space program, still reeling from the unexpected success of Apollo 11, faces a new challenge - budget constraints. However, this setback is short-lived as the primary crew for Apollo 13, led by Allen Shepard, is unexpectedly sidelined due to an ear infection. Lovell and his team, comprising Mattingly and Haise, are hastily reassigned six months earlier than planned, with their maiden voyage now set to be the ill-fated Apollo 13.

In a bid to prepare for this arduous mission, Lovell, Haise, and Mattingly spend countless hours in the simulator, honing their skills by practicing docking procedures with the lunar excursion module (LEM). In one particularly tense moment, technicians deliberately shut down some of the thrusters without warning, testing Mattingly's mettle. Despite being caught off guard for a fleeting instant, he successfully completes the procedure, showcasing his adaptability and composure under pressure.

Jim's wife, Marilyn, harbors concerns about the ominous Apollo 13 designation, but Lovell dismisses her fears with a resolute determination to fulfill his childhood dream of walking on the moon. Little does she know that fate has other plans in store for them.

As the launch date draws near, Lovell is summoned by Deke Slayton and the Flight Surgeon (Christian Clemenson), who reveal that backup crew member Charlie Duke has been diagnosed with measles. This development poses a significant risk to the entire astronaut corps, as they have all been exposed. With Lovell already having contracted the virus in his youth, the decision rests squarely on his shoulders - fly without Mattingly and Swigert or forfeit the mission altogether.

Lovell chooses to take the calculated risk, much to the dismay of Mattingly, who is adamant that he will not fall ill during the flight. This unexpected turn of events creates a rift within the crew, as Swigert struggles to find his footing in the simulator, repeatedly failing to execute re-entry procedures correctly. The once-tight crew synchronization begins to fray at the edges.

Finally, the day of reckoning arrives - April 11th - as the Apollo 13 spacecraft prepares for liftoff. Jack Swigert's nerves are stretched taut as he assumes his duties alongside Gene Kranz (Ed Harris), the lead Flight Director, donning his signature white vest adorned with the mission insignia at Mission Control in Houston.

As Kranz meticulously conducts the pre-flight checks and launch readiness procedures, the astronauts strapped into the Command Module Odyssey await the command to lift off. With a precision timing of 1:13, Apollo 13 blasts off into the atmosphere as the crowd erupts in applause. The mission's trajectory is initially smooth sailing until engine 5 experiences a malfunction, prompting Jim to consider aborting the mission. However, Mission Control gives the green light to continue, and the astronauts breathe a sigh of relief.

Swigert demonstrates his piloting skills by flawlessly docking the service module to the lunar module, earning Jim's approval. Later, during a routine mid-flight transmission, CapCom issues Swigert a series of "housekeeping procedures" to perform, including stirring the oxygen tanks. With no apparent concerns, Swigert complies with the task at hand. But in an instant, catastrophe strikes: an explosion rocks the spacecraft, triggered by Swigert's actions.

The sudden loss of oxygen creates chaos as alarms blare and the crew scrambles for answers. Lovell queries CapCom about the cause of the disaster, and Swigert reveals his innocent explanation - simply stirring the tanks. In Mission Control, EECOM and Guidance team members exchange worried glances as their computer screens flicker, foreshadowing the gravity of the situation.

CapCom's calm demeanor belies the urgency of the crisis when he asks Lovell to confirm the problem: "Houston, we have a problem." The explosion has catastrophic consequences, depleting oxygen tank 2 and rapidly siphoning off supplies from tank 1. Fuel cells 1 and 3 also fail, leaving the crew with multiple failures to contend with.

As Jim gazes out the window, he beholds the eerie sight of oxygen escaping from the damaged tanks. In Mission Control, Kranz's stoic expression gives way to alarm as he hastily summons support crews to respond to the emergency. He knows that bringing the crew safely back to Earth will be a daunting task, given the scarcity of oxygen.

Kranz receives expert advice to shut down the malfunctioning fuel cells to contain the damage. However, this drastic measure comes with a steep price: it renders the lunar module incapable of landing. The moon landing is effectively off the table, and the crew must reassess their mission objectives.

The gravity of the situation becomes apparent as Jim orders the lunar module to be powered up, while the command module's oxygen levels dwindle to just 15 minutes' worth. With time running out, Jim decrees that the command module will be shut down, and if the flight guidance data is not transferred to the lunar module before power-down, Apollo 13 will be left flying blind, doomed to drift helplessly in space.

With clockwork efficiency, Swigert and his team work feverishly to transfer the guidance data, ensuring the lunar module's systems are online. However, this hastily arranged arrangement poses a new challenge: the lunar module was never designed to carry the command module on its back, adding yet another layer of complexity to their desperate bid for survival.

As Kranz convenes an emergency meeting with his team to devise a plan for bringing the module back home, the harsh reality of their situation becomes starkly apparent. The CM engine lies inoperable, its shield potentially compromised after the catastrophic events that unfolded on Apollo 13. In this precarious state, the LM engine must be relied upon to slingshot the craft around the moon and chart a course for re-entry. However, this newfound reliance raises a pressing concern: the module's oxygen supply is already running perilously low, with the halfway mark looming ominously.

Meanwhile, Mattingly (Mattingly) is briefed on the Apollo 13 disaster and rushes to Mission Control to lend his expertise in resolving the crisis. His mission: to devise a plan for powering up the CM engine with an infinitesimally small 8-amp supply of power. As Kranz marshals the team to fabricate an air filter using only the meager resources available on board, the LM engine's limited power forces the shutdown of essential systems, including radar, cabin heating, instrument displays, and guidance computers.

As tensions mount within the cramped module, Swigert (Swigert) becomes convinced that the CM is hurtling towards Earth at an alarming rate, potentially skipping off into space. He believes Mission Control is concealing this truth from them, prompting a heated exchange with Jim (Jim). In the face of mortal danger, the astronauts' debate turns acrimonious, with Haise (Haise) practically blaming Swigert for their predicament. Meanwhile, the CO2 levels within the module continue to rise ominously.

Just as it seems things can't get any more dire, the engineers at Mission Control complete the air filter and transmit instructions to Jim, who promptly assembles the device. The immediate effect is a dramatic decline in CO2 levels, ensuring the astronauts won't succumb to suffocation.

Mattingly remains ensconced in the simulator, laboriously working through the power-up procedure. However, his efforts are foiled when he uses too much power, forcing him to start anew. Haise falls gravely ill in the CM, afflicted with a 104-degree fever as the module's freezing temperatures take their toll.

As Kranz receives word that the spacecraft's trajectory is perilously shallow, requiring an immediate course correction but with the CM engine still offline, the team must rely on a blind burn to adjust the craft's path. In this desperate situation, Jim conceives of using Earth as a reference point and manually steering the engines.

The stakes are raised further when Mattingly outlines his proposed re-entry sequence, only to be met with skepticism from Aaron (Aaron), who insists they lack sufficient power and must sacrifice some systems to achieve their goal. Mattingly remains adamant that all the mentioned systems are essential, prompting a contentious debate between the two before he vows to find additional power sources.

As Jim (no actor name provided) implores Mission Control to expedite the procedure, he emphasizes their precarious situation: "We can't cobble things together at the eleventh hour." His words are laced with desperation as he concedes, "We're all a little fatigued up here. The world's growing exponentially larger in our window." Mattingly suggests reversing the flow of power from the Lunar Module (LEM) to the Command Module (CM), acknowledging that this uncharted territory will require creative problem-solving. Young and Aaron agree to take the calculated risk, despite the uncertainty.

Mattingly and Aaron work tirelessly to develop a procedure for this unconventional approach, then hasten to the flight deck to brief Jim. Meanwhile, Swigert inspects the instrument panels, his gaze fixed on the condensation that worries him might short circuit the system. His words are laced with frustration: "It's like trying to navigate a toaster through a car wash." Undeterred, he successfully powers up the CM, declaring, "We've got her back online, Ken. I wish you were here to share in our triumph." Mattingly's dry response, "I'll bet you do," belies his own pride in their achievement.

As the crew prepares for re-entry, they jettison the Service Module, revealing the devastating extent of the explosion's damage. Lovell's voice is laced with incredulity as he exclaims, "One entire side of our spacecraft is missing!" He reports that a panel has been blown out right up to the heat shield.

Back on Earth, a television news anchor gravely warns viewers that re-entry temperatures can reach 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. If the heat shield is compromised, even slightly, it could be torn asunder by the extreme cold. Moreover, if the pyrotechnics controlling the parachutes are damaged, they may not deploy properly, causing the spacecraft to crash at a catastrophic speed of 300 miles per hour.

The crew transitions from the Lunar Module to the Command Module, bidding farewell to their trusty vessel, Aquarius. The aircraft carrier USS Iwo Jima is shown preparing for recovery operations.

In Mission Control, RETRO (no actor name provided) alerts Kranz that the trajectory remains slightly shallow and asks if they should inform the crew. Kranz responds by inquiring about any potential solutions; RETRO's pessimistic assessment leaves them with little choice but to keep the information from the astronauts.

As the Apollo 13 spacecraft hurtles towards its final destination on Earth's surface, Commander Lovell delivers a poignant farewell to his crew: "Gentlemen, it has been an honor flying alongside you." The Command Module (CM) soars through the atmosphere, engulfed in a fiery glow. Meanwhile, Mattingly continues to attempt communication with the astronauts, but the crew remains eerily silent and somber, their faces etched with solemnity.

The tense silence is finally broken as the CM appears on the Mission Control screens, its parachutes successfully deployed. The room falls still once more until Lovell's voice crackles through the speakers: "Houston, this is Odyssey. It's good to see you again." The response from Mission Control is immediate and jubilant - a thunderous applause erupts, a testament to the incredible feat just accomplished.

After splashing down safely on the ocean's surface, Lovell shares a moment of camaraderie with his fellow astronauts Haise and Swigert. Before departing the CM, Lovell radioes Mission Control once more: "Houston, we're at stable one, the ship is secure. This is Apollo 13, signing off." The room erupts in applause again, this time punctuated by a choked cry of approval from Gene Kranz, who raises both thumbs in a triumphant gesture.

In the aftermath of their heroic mission, it was determined that a faulty coil built into an oxygen tank sparked during the Cryo stir process, ultimately leading to the explosion that crippled the Odyssey. A seemingly minor defect, this oversight had been hiding in plain sight for two years prior, waiting to unleash its devastating consequences.