Damage to Apollo 13
Credit
Apollo 13 Crew,
NASA
In April of 1970,
after an oxygen tank exploded and crippled their service module, the
Apollo 13
astronauts were forced to abandon plans to make the third human
lunar landing.
The extent of
the damage is revealed in
this grainy, grim photo, taken as the service
module was
drifting away -- jettisoned only hours
prior to the command module's reentry and eventual safe splashdown.
An entire panel on the side of the
service
module has been blown away and extensive internal damage is apparent.
Visible below the gutted compartment is a radio antenna and the large,
bell-shaped nozzle of the service module's rocket engine.