Photos: Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
The astronauts of the ill-fated Apollo 13 returned safely to Earth 45 years ago on April 17, 1970.
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Apollo 13 astronauts Fred W. Haise, James A. Lovell and John L. Swigert, left to right, leave a helicopter to step aboard carrier Iwo Jima in the Pacific ocean after their successful recovery on Friday, April 17, 1970. (AP Photo)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Apollo 13 commander James A. Lovell Jr., uses a scale model to explain how the crew managed to survive the explosion that damaged the service module during the flight to the moon. Tense as they relive the terrifying moments, April 21, 1970 at the televised news conference at Manned Spacecraft Center Houston, Tex., at night are: John L. Swigert Jr., center, command module pilot, and Fred W. Haise Jr., lunar module pilot. (AP Photo)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Apollo 13 commander James A. Lovell gives a demonstration at a televised news conference at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas, April 21, 1970. Lovell describes the oxygen tank blast that occurred when the spaceship was 202,000 miles from earth. Lovell points to the spot on the service module where the explosion ripped the panel loose. (AP Photo)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Apollo 13 command module pilot John L. Swigert Jr., and another crewman, start to hook up the lithium hydroxide canister in the lunar module in an effort to get rid of carbon dioxide in the cabin as the spacecraft limped back to earth following the oxygen tank explosion that almost caused the flight to end in disaster. (AP Photo).
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Members of the Apollo 13 crew astronauts, James A Lovell command pilot, Thomas K. Mattingly command module pilot and Fred W. Haise, lunar module pilot walk down the ramp from the crew quarters to a van that will transport them to the Apollo 13 launch site, March 26, 1970 at Cape Kennedy in Florida. The Apollo 13 astronauts are in the final count down demonstration before they blast off to the moon on April 11th. (AP Photo)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Ground controllers at Mission control, Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Tex., join in prayer as the television screen flashes the prayer of thanksgiving aboard the USS Iwo Jima after the successful splashdown of the Apollo 13 spacecraft, April 17, 1970. (AP Photo)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
An original supplemental carbon dioxide removal system mock-up built 35 years ago is displayed during Globalspec's award ceremony presentation of Great Moments In Engineering Award at Space Center Houston, Tuesday, April 19, 2005. The award was presented to the Apollo 13 Crew Systems Division for their engineering efforts in bringing the crew back to earth safely. (AP Photo/Carlos Javier Sanchez)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
The three Astronauts of the Apollo 13 dramatic moonshot Friday arrived in the land of the mythical Greek God Apollo from which their space program derives its name. The space crew, James S. Lovell, John L. Swigert and Fred W. Haise, are on the third leg of a five nation European goodwill tour as representatives of President Nixon. They are accompanied by Mrs. Lovell and Mrs. Haise, Swigert is a bachelor. L/R: U.S. Ambassador to Athens Henry Tasca, James Lovell, Athens Mayor Dimitrios Ritsos, John Swigert and Fred Haise during ceremony after receiving the gold Key of the city of Athens, Oct. 10, 1970 in Athens. (AP Photo)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Safely aboard the prime recovery ship, USS Iwo Jima, astronauts James Lovell, squatting, and John Swigert, inspect the Apollo 13 command module that carried them to a safe splashdown in the South Pacific, Friday, April 17, 1970. The command module was carried to the hanger deck of the Iwo Jima after being hoisted aboard the vessel following the pick up of the three astronauts on Friday. (AP Photo)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Astronaut Thomas Stafford, left, and Donald Slayton, Director of Flight Crew Operations, puff on big cigars and applaud as the Apollo 13 made a successful splashdown, April 17, 1970, Houston, Tex. Other members of the Mission Control teams surround the console. (AP Photo)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
In this April 11, 1970 file photo, Apollo 13 commander James A. Lovell Jr., foreground, speaks during a news conference in Cape Kennedy, Fla. before the spacecraft launched on its ill-fated journey to the moon. At center is astronaut Fred Haise. NASA is questioning whether Lovell has the right to sell a 70-page checklist from the flight that includes his handwritten calculations crucial in guiding the damaged spacecraft back to Earth. The document sold at a November auction for $388,000. (AP Photo)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Apollo 13 astronauts are shown at Cape Kennedy, Fla., before embarking on their space flight that has turned into a desperate attempt to return home to earth. From left are: Flight Commander Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and John Swigert. Photo taken April 14, 1970. (AP Photo)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Navy Capt. James A. Lovell, the worldÃs most experienced spaceman and the commander of the near tragic Apollo 13 mission last year, is quitting the astronaut corps to take a space agency desk job. In this photo Lovell is shown in his Apollo 13 space suit. Lovell, 43, will become deputy for science and application at the manned space center in Houston, May 20, 1971. (AP Photo)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Apollo 13 Chief Crew Systems Divison Ed Smylie is presented with GlobalSpec's Great Moments In Engineering Award at Space Center Houston Tuesday, April 19, 2005. The award was presented to the Apollo 13 Crew Systems Division for their engineering efforts in bringing the crew back to earth safely 35 years ago Sunday. (AP Photo/Carlos Javier Sanchez)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Apollo 13 Command Module Pilot, T.K. Mattingly, center, speaks with guests during GlobalSpec's presentation of a Great Moments In Engineering Award at Space Center Houston Tuesday, April 19, 2005. The award was presented to the Apollo 13 Crew Systems Division for their engineering efforts in bringing the crew back to earth safely 35 years ago Sunday. (AP Photo/Carlos Javier Sanchez)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell, right, greets actor Tom Hanks at the 30th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 13 mission, Saturday, April 29, 2000, at the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica, Calif. Hanks, who serves alongside Lovell as one of the National Space Society's Board Governors, portrayed Lovell in Ron Howard's 1994 film about the mission, "Apollo 13." Hanks' hair is grown long for a movie currently in production. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Former astronaut Fred Haise, speaks to reporters after being honored by the Mississippi House and Senate on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. Haise, a Biloxi native, was the lunar module pilot on the Apollo 13 flight nearly 45 years ago. He was commended with a House Concurrent Resolution recognizing his career and leadership. Haise, 81, was at the Capitol for Stennis Space Center recognition day. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Apollo 13 crew member Commander James A. Lovell, Jr. talks about the Gemini 12 spacecraft he piloted during a 40th Anniversary reunion of the moon mission at the Adler Planetarium Monday, April 12, 2010, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Apollo 13 crew member Commander James A. Lovell, Jr. talks about his space suit during a 40th Anniversary reunion of the moon mission at the Adler Planetarium Monday, April 12, 2010, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Apollo 13 Commander Captain James A. Lovell, Jr. right, introduces Lunar Module Pilot Fred W. Haise left, and mission flight directors Milton Windler second from left, Eugene "Gene" F. Kranz middle, and Gerald "Gerry" D. Griffin during a 40th Anniversary reunion of the moon mission at the Adler Planetarium Monday, April 12, 2010, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Apollo 13 crew member Lunar Module Pilot Fred W. Haise talks with the media during a 40th Anniversary reunion of the moon mission at the Adler Planetarium Monday, April 12, 2010, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
Apollo 13 crew member Commander James A. Lovell, Jr. poses with his space suit during a 40th Anniversary reunion of the moon mission at the Adler Planetarium Monday, April 12, 2010, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Apollo 13 splashdown anniversary
President Clinton poses with actor Tom Hanks, left, and former astronaut James Lovell in the Oval Office of the White House Wednesday, July 26, 1995, after presenting Lovell with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. Hanks joined in after portraying Lovell in the recently released movie "Apollo 13." (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)