Surviving Apollo 13 astronauts and several flight directors reunited on Monday to remember a failed moon mission 40 years ago this week that they managed to turn into one of the greatest triumphs in the history of space exploration. Those who gathered included Apollo 13 commander James Lovell, fellow crew member Fred Haise and NASA's legendary flight director, Gene Kranz. The Adler Planetarium, where the reunion took place, is holding a series of events this month commemorating the Apollo 13 flight. One exhibit includes a lunar helmet and gloves that Lovell was supposed to wear on the moon had the mission gone as planned. On April 13, 1970, an oxygen tank exploded as the spaceship was four-fifths of the way to the moon. Kranz led hundreds of flight controllers and engineers in a furious rescue plan which involved the crew members moving from the service module into the cramped, frigid lunar lander while they rationed their oxygen and electricity. Using the lunar module as a lifeboat, they swung around the moon and aimed for Earth.
