“Apollo 13: The Mission Control Story” 50th Anniversary Celebration Set for April 11 at the San Diego Air & Space Museum

“Apollo 13: The Mission Control Story” honors NASA’s greatest rescue exactly 50 years to the day of the launch!

Perhaps the most memorable mission in the storied annals of American manned spaceflight history and one of NASA’s finest moments – takes center stage at a special celebration at the San Diego Air & Space Museum Saturday, April 11.

San Diego, Calif. –  The 50^th Anniversary of “Apollo 13: The Mission Control Story” – Perhaps the most memorable mission in the storied annals of American manned spaceflight history and one of NASA’s finest moments – takes center stage at a special celebration at the San Diego Air & Space Museum Saturday, April 11, the Museum announced today. Tickets are going fast!

As of this press release, Lead Flight Director Milt Windler, Flight Directors Gerry Griffin and Glynn Lunney, Astronaut and Apollo 13 Capsule Communicator Vance Brand and other Apollo luminaries are planning to attend the celebration exactly 50 years to the day of the Apollo 13 launch. See and talk to first-hand the famed Mission Control team developed by Christopher Kraft, the father of Mission Control.

“Thanks to the actions of the dedicated and brilliant young ‘guns’ in Mission Control, instead of being one of the NASA’s darkest moments, Apollo 13 was one of the crowning technological achievements in manned spaceflight history,” said Jim Kidrick, President & CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum. “The men of Mission Control worked together as one of the world’s most amazing and talented teams to rescue the crew of Apollo 13 and guarantee a safe return to Earth. Apollo 13 is an inspiring story and an evening you’ll remember forever! I guarantee it!”

THE actual team in the Mission Control Center whose efforts saved Apollo 13 will be on hand to share inside stories and show rarely seen video of the young, brilliant and dedicated trailblazers who led America’s space exploration efforts. The now famous words “Houston, we’ve had a problem” set off a series of events turning a near catastrophe into NASA’s finest moment. The only options for the men in Mission Control were to figure it out, solve it and get the Apollo 13 crew home. For them, “Failure was not an option!”

Don’t miss this historic example of the right team at the right time, celebrated on the very evening Apollo 13 launched 50 years ago with astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert on their way to the Moon and a date with destiny.

The evening begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner and the program to follow at 6:30 p.m. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit http://sandiegoairandspace.org/calendar/event/apollo-13-50th

The San Diego Air & Space Museum is California’s official air and space museum and education center. The Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and was the first aero-themed Museum to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Now Open: “SPACE: Our Greatest Adventure,” an informative, educational, interactive -- and most of all FUN! -- experience for the whole family, with selfie stations on the Moon and Mars, and hands-on learning experiences for explorers of all ages. The Museum is located at 2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101. The Museum and gift store are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with admissions until 4:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.