The phrase "Houston, we've had a problem" is a slightly altered version of the actual communication between the Apollo 13 spacecraft and Mission Control in Houston. The full phrase is, "Houston, we've had a problem here." It was spoken by astronaut John "Jack" Swigert on April 13, 1970, while he was aboard the Apollo 13 spacecraft.<br /><br />The incident occurred during the Apollo 13 mission to the Moon. A few days into the mission, an oxygen tank in the service module of the spacecraft exploded, causing a critical failure. The explosion led to the loss of electrical power and the mission's main objective of landing on the Moon had to be aborted.<br /><br />The full communication went like this:<br /><br />Astronaut Jack Swigert: "Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here."<br />Mission Control (Houston): "This is Houston. Say again, please."<br />Astronaut Jim Lovell: "Houston, we've had a problem. We've had a Main B Bus undervolt."<br /><br />This event is famous not only for the phrase itself but for the successful improvisation, teamwork, and problem-solving skills demonstrated by both the astronauts and the ground control team in bringing the Apollo 13 crew safely back to Earth. It was a testament to the training, expertise, and dedication of everyone involved in the Apollo program.
