Other than Apollo 11, where the first humans landed on the moon, Apollo 13 might be the most recognized and important mission of NASA’s lunar landing program. Though the crew failed to achieve their original goal, they were able to strive under pressure and life-threatening circumstances to bring the astronauts home once their oxygen tank exploded and damaged the spacecraft.

This film was able to show the teamwork and innovation necessary to achieve the ‘impossible’. The leadership that the astronauts, scientists, and engineers showed by remaining calm despite the danger and scrutiny from the public helped everyone to focus on how to crew instead of abandoning hope and leaving them out to die. The rapid innovation under pressure enabled the development of breakthrough products that led the astronauts to survive, despite not having enough oxygen in the shuttle to support their journey.

There skills were the basis to having a ‘successful failure’ and reflect some of the skills that are being taught at Cornell so that under adversity, we may also succeed.