The remarkable story of the nearly catastrophic 1970 NASA mission is brought out by the compelling Apollo 13 documentary on Netflix,Apollo 13: Survival. The events of the expedition are mostly preserved in the documentary, though certain facts have been altered for cinematic effect. In documentary films, the distinction between realism and artistic license is sometimes unclear, and Apollo 13 is no exception. Beyond what the documentary provides, there is more to the story—from staged reinterpretations to historical accuracy.
The genuine narrative ofApollo 13: Survivalis filled with genuine instances of composure under duress, collaboration, and technical mastery.But in cinema, artistic decisions sometimes include rewriting or omitting details in order to preserve tension and emotional resonance. These choices result in a unique viewing experience, but they also mean that specific real-life details are sacrificed or changed. That’s also the case withApollo 13: Survival.
10The Famous “Houston, We Have a Problem” Line Was Misquoted
Misquoted Apollo 13 Line
“Houston, we have a problem” is one of the most well-known lines in movie history, but it’s also one of the most well-known misquotes.In fact, mission control was notified of the issue first by astronaut Jack Swigert, who said, “Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here.” Commander Jim Lovell then reaffirmed his warning, saying, “Houston, we’ve had a problem. We’ve had a main B bus undervolt.” Although the distinction between “we have” and “we’ve had” might not seem significant, it was made deliberately.
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Tom Hanks recommended that the statement be modified slightly to make it seem more urgent.The statement would have sounded less current in the past tense,but the addition of “we have” emphasizes the persisting situation, making it more impactful for audiences. The small change helped shape one of the film’s most iconic moments, even if it wasn’t entirely true to life.
9The Sun Wasn’t A Factor In The Landing
Sun’s Role in Apollo 13 Landing
In a standout sequence from the documentaryApollo 13: Survival, Jim Lovell imagines what it might have been like to set foot on the moon.The Lunar Module (LM) is bathed in brilliant sunshine while he daydreams, producing a dramatic and uplifting sight. This picture, however, does not accurately depict the actual lunar landings. In order to utilize the LM’s shadow as a reference point during descent, the Apollo missions really always touched down with the sun behind them.
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It’s important to remember that the sight is imagined by Lovell rather than actual, even when the illumination is off.Here, artistic license was used to heighten the emotional effect of Lovell’s loss—the chance to fulfill a lifelong ambition of walking on the moon, was slipping away. The documentary doesn’t highlight this cinematic embellishment, but the dramatic license adds emotional depth to the story.
8Inaccuracies During the Radio Blackout
Apollo 13 Radio Blackout Inaccuracies
A vital event inApollo 13takes place during the crew’s simulated re-entry, which includes the customary radio blackout. Under increasing strain, astronaut Jack Swigert announces that he is “going to manual,” while colleague astronaut Fred Haise notifies Houston that they are “switching to SCS.” “Roger 13,” Houston answers, even though they shouldn’t have been able to talk during the blackout.
Although the discussion heightens the tension, space buffs may find the inaccuracies distracting.Radio blackouts happen when ionized particles interfere with communication signals during re-entry, preventing the spacecraft and Mission Control from communicating at all. This error demonstrates how artistic license is employed to maintain the suspense in crucial situations, even in a movie renowned for its careful attention to technical detail.
7There Was No Blame Game Among The Crew
Crew Unity During Apollo 13 Crisis
The portrayal of tension between the Apollo 13 crew in the film is a prime example of how well conflict sells.In the film, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert get increasingly nervous, with Haise even accusing Swigert of causing the tragedy. Nevertheless, there is no evidence of this argument ever happening in the transcripts. According to Jim Lovell, there were no disagreements of this nature and the crew maintained their composure and professionalism throughout the entire voyage.
Although it deviates from reality, the choice to emphasize the astronauts' conflict gives the narrative more drama.These high-stakes conflict scenes are not discussed in the documentary; they were included for dramatic effect. In actuality, the crew’s composure and professionalism were crucial to their survival, but that type of of level-headedness doesn’t always translate as well to the screen.
6The Over-The-Top Cheers In Mission Control
Exaggerated Mission Control Jubilation
When contact is restored with the Apollo 13 crew during re-entry, it is one of the most moving scenes in the documentary.In the movie, the astronauts' survival is celebrated by mission control, which breaks into cheers and applause. Although this creates a touching scene, it’s not at all what truly transpired. Cheering was not part of the routine in the rather tight control room that flight director Gene Kranz administered.
In fact, knowing that the mission wouldn’t end until the astronauts were safely returned, flight controllers continued to concentrate on their duties even when contact was restored.The documentary chooses to go with the film’s more dramatic version of the event rather than presenting the disciplined atmosphere of mission control.Although the extra festivities provide an emotional finale, it’s a far cry from the calm professionalism that defined NASA’s real-life approach.
5The Moon Wasn’t Always In Front Of Them
Moon’s Position in Apollo 13 Mission
Throughout the film, the moon is often shown directly in front of the Apollo 13 spacecraft as they travel toward it.This visual imagery makes it easy for audiences to follow the crew’s journey. However, in reality, the astronauts had to aim ahead of the moon so that they would meet it in orbit when they arrived. Their trajectory wasn’t a direct path to the moon, but rather a carefully calculated one that required precise navigation.
The simplified visuals in the film help maintain audience engagement but don’t capture the complexity of space navigation.The documentary similarly glosses over these finer points, sticking to the more straightforward interpretation of the journey. The real science behind the mission was far more intricate, involving countless calculations to ensure the spacecraft met its target at exactly the right moment.
4Saturn V Launch – Beautiful But Not Perfectly Accurate
Saturn V Launch Portrayal Accuracy
The titanic Apollo 13 launch sequence reveals the capability of the Saturn V rocket, which is the biggest and most powerful rocket ever constructed.In the sequence, all five engines fire at the same time, producing an explosive liftoff moment. In actuality, though, not every Saturn V engine ignited concurrently.Rather, they ignited in a sequenced order to guarantee control and stability during launch.
Although the movie’s portrayal of the launch is aesthetically spectacular and produces a thrilling moment, realism is compromised for the sake of dramatic impact. Similar to the movie, the documentary concentrates on the spectacle of the launch rather than the specifics of how it was carried out technically. Although the selection improves the viewing experience, it omits some fascinating aspects of rocket science.
3Glynn Lunney’s Leadership Was Understated
Understated Leadership of Glynn Lunney
Even though Gene Kranz is frequently portrayed asApollo 13’shero, Flight Director Glynn Lunney was also pivotal in the crucial moments that followed the explosion.Astronaut Ken Mattingly has called Lunney a “hero” for his cool-headedness and decisiveness amid the crisis. His leadership was necessary.
The movie tended to highlight Kranz’s leadership more than Lunney’s involvement.Although Kranz was clearly instrumental in this, Lunney’s expertise in calming the commotion in the initial stages was just as significant. The documentary makes references to his story, though it never goes into great detail.
2"Failure Is Not an Option" Was Invented For The Apollo 13 Movie
Invented Apollo 13 Movie Quote
One ofApollo 13’smost famous lines, “Failure is not an option,” was never actually spoken by Gene Kranz during the real-life mission.The phrase originated during script research when Flight Dynamics Officer Jerry Bostick was asked if anyone panicked during the Apollo 13 crisis.Bostick responded, “No, when bad things happened, we just calmly laid out all the options, and failure was not one of them.” His words reflected the team’s level-headed approach, though he didn’t realize it would inspire a pivotal movie moment.
Screenwriter Bill Broyles immediately recognized the line’s potential.After leaving the interview, he reportedly exclaimed, “That’s it! That’s the tagline for the whole movie—‘Failure is not an option.’" The writers gave the line to Kranz’s character, solidifying his portrayal as the relentless leader. While Kranz never said it in real life, the line added dramatic intensity to the film, highlighting NASA’s commitment to solving the crisis and getting the astronauts home safely.
1The Pre-Mission Farewell to Families Never Happened
Fictionalized Apollo 13 Family Farewell
The night before the trip, the astronauts bid farewell to their families in one of the most emotional sequences in the documentary.They meet outside on opposite sides of a road. Jim Lovell and his wife Marilyn are able to have a sincere conversation at this point, highlighting the human costs that the astronauts and their families bear. But this parting scenario never happened.
Before the Apollo flights, astronauts did not, in fact, welcome their families outside in this manner.Years later, with the start of the Space Shuttle program, this method was finally adopted.Although the sequence gives the story greater psychological depth, it’s another example of how the filmmakers altered the timeline to suit the plot.
