Question 1

What rocket is launching Apollo 13?

Accepted Answer

Apollo 13 is launching on the Saturn V.

Question 2

Who is launching Apollo 13?

Accepted Answer

Apollo 13 is being launched by National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a government launch provider founded in 1958.

Question 3

Where is Apollo 13 launching from?

Accepted Answer

Apollo 13 is launching from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.

Question 4

What orbit is Apollo 13 heading to?

Accepted Answer

Apollo 13 is heading to Lunar Orbit (LO).

Question 5

Is the Saturn V reusable?

Accepted Answer

No — the Saturn V is an expendable launch vehicle.

Question 6

How many times has the Saturn V flown?

Accepted Answer

The Saturn V has launched 13 times to date, with 12 successful flights.

Question 7

What is the Apollo 13 mission?

Accepted Answer

Apollo 13 was the famous mission that never made it to the moon's surface because of a catastrophic malfunction on board, but the astronauts did return safely to the Earth. The mission was commanded by Jim Lovell, the Command Module Pilot was Jack Swigert, and the Lunar Module Pilot was Fred Haise. The mission launched on April 11th, 1970 and the Capsule safely landed in the ocean on April 17th, 1970.

Question 8

Where is the Kennedy Space Center?

Accepted Answer

NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center is on Merritt Island, Florida, immediately north of Cape Canaveral. Named for President Kennedy in 1963, it has been the United States' primary human-spaceflight launch site since the 1960s.

Question 9

Which rockets launch from the Kennedy Space Center?

Accepted Answer

SpaceX leases Launch Complex 39A for Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and crewed Dragon missions, while NASA launches the Space Launch System for the Artemis Moon programme from Launch Complex 39B.

Question 10

Did Apollo and the Space Shuttle launch from Kennedy?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Launch Complex 39 pads sent every Apollo Moon mission and every Space Shuttle crew on their way, including Apollo 11 in 1969 and the first shuttle flight, STS-1, in 1981.

Question 11

What's the difference between the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

They are separate, neighbouring sites. Kennedy is NASA's centre on Merritt Island; Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, just to the south, is run by the U.S. Space Force. Together they make up Florida's Space Coast.

Question 12

Can you watch a launch from the Kennedy Space Center?

Accepted Answer

The closest public viewing is from the ticketed Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which runs launch-day bus packages. Free off-site views are best from Playalinda Beach and the Titusville riverfront.

Apollo 13

Overview

Mission details

Launch Window

Launch Complex 39A

Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Frequently asked questions