Minute 134: When Will We be Going Back?

GUEST: NASA ENGINEER STUART MCCLUNG

Jim Lovell, narrating from the present day, talks about how Jack Swigert ran for Congress from the state of Colorado, “but he died of cancer before he was able to take office.”

On board the Iwo Jima, the Apollo 13 crew walks among the applauding Navy crew.

The Mission Control team applauds and smokes cigars. Ken Mattingly is in the center of the support team.

Lovell narrates: “Ken Mattingly orbited the Moon as Command Module Pilot of Apollo 16, and flew the space shuttle, having never gotten the measles. Gene Kranz retired as director of flight operations just not long ago. And many other members of Mission Control have gone onto other things, but some are still there.”

The Captain of the Iwo Jima salutes Jim Lovell. Lovell returns the salute, and shakes the Captain’s hand.

Lovell narrates: “And as for me, the seven extraordinary days of Apollo 13 were my last in space.”

The Apollo 13 crew bows its head in prayer along with the crew of the Iwo Jima.

Lovell narrates: “I watched other men walk on the Moon and return safely, all from the confines of Mission Control and our house in Houston. I sometimes catch myself looking up at the Moon, remembering the changes of fortune in our long voyage, thinking of the thousands of people who worked to bring the three of us home. I look up at the Moon, and wonder: when will we be going back, and who will that be?”

IN THIS MINUTE:

Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert

Jim Lovell as Navy Captain

Gary Sinise as Ken Mattingly

Ed Harris as Gene Kranz