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Apollo 13 astronauts James Lovell, John Swigert and Fred Haise returned safely to Earth after a forced trans-lunar flight. The astronauts are shown soon after their rescue still unshaven and wearing space overalls. Photo by SSPL/Getty Images
Apollo 13 astronauts James Lovell, John Swigert and Fred Haise returned safely to Earth after a forced trans-lunar flight. The astronauts are shown soon after their rescue still unshaven and wearing space overalls. Photo by SSPL/Getty Images
Film & TV

Apollo 13's most famous quotes originated in Hollywood

By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Apollo 13's best known quotes originated not in space or Mission Control, but in Hollywood.

Their moon-bound spacecraft wrecked by an oxygen tank explosion on April 13, 1970, the astronauts urgently radioed, "Houston, we've had a problem here."

Screenwriters for the 1995 film "Apollo 13" wanted to punch that up. Thus was born "Houston, we have a problem."

Even more artistic license was taken with NASA flight director Gene Kranz' mobilizing speech to his team in Houston.

Kranz never declared, "Failure is not an option."

Ask Kranz what he actually told flight controllers, and he rattles it off without a moment's hesitation a half-century later.

"I have never lost an American in space, sure as hell aren't going to lose one now. This crew is coming home. You got to believe it. Your team must believe it. And we must make it happen."

Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, and Tom Hanks looking out ship window in a scene from the film 'Apollo 13', 1995. (Photo by Universal/Getty Images)

Kranz said the moviemakers came up with "Failure is not an option."

Does he wish he'd said it? "No — I'm satisfied with what I said."

Kranz constantly finds himself setting the record straight — "in fact, every time I speak."

"I try not to plagiarize," he said with a laugh.

He did borrow the phrase for the title of his 2000 autobiography.

Director Ron Howard's film starring Ed Harris as Kranz and Tom Hanks as mission commander Jim Lovell was based on Lovell's 1994 autobiography, "Lost Moon." Actors Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon portrayed Apollo 13 astronauts Fred Haise and Jack Swigert.

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Marcia Dunn, Associated Press

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Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation

 Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund

Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund

 The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

 Kettering Foundation

Kettering Foundation
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