It is not often when one finds a piece of history that almost seems like something straight out of a Hollywood movie; however, the Apollo 13 mission from 1970, condensed into a book by Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger, is one of those rare instances. Apollo 13 launched astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert on a mission to explore the Moon. However, just two days in, an oxygen tank exploded, crippling the spacecraft and making the lunar landing impossible. The book novelizes the stressful days that followed, focusing not only on the crew’s efforts to survive, but also on the coordinated efforts of NASA’s Mission Control, engineers, and support staff to bring the astronauts safely home.
While reading Apollo 13, I noticed plenty of peculiar events that occurred throughout the mission that I had not seen before. For example, the mentioning of Jack Swigert taping a large “NO” on the lunar module jettison switch was particularly interesting, as it showed me the ingenuity and proactivity of the crew despite the stressful situation at hand. Another surprising detail I saw was the quote by Lovell predicting that Apollo 13 would be the last mission to the moon for a long time, which contrasted the long-standing belief that the crew members were optimistic about their return for the majority of the mission.
I would highly recommend Apollo 13 to anyone interested in space exploration or history. While filled with technical details about the mission, these provide insight into the dynamics of 1960s-era astronauts and NASA. Lovell and Kluger skillfully weave together the personal experiences of the astronauts and ground crew to create a novel-like experience: whether you’re a space enthusiast or simply someone looking for an inspiring story of teamwork and survival, Apollo 13 is an excellent read.
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