# Does NASA's Fear of 13 Influence Space Missions?
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Chapter 1: The Fear of 13 in Space Exploration
Have you ever pondered whether NASA has a fear of the number 13? Would you have taken a flight on Apollo 13, or do you find yourself susceptible to Triskaidekaphobia, the irrational dread of the number? This peculiar fear, pronounced TRIS-kye-DEK-a-FOH-bee-a, raises questions about its possible influence on the renaming of Shuttle missions.
Interestingly, after the STS-9 mission, the numbering for subsequent shuttle missions was altered. The thirteenth mission, known as the Space Shuttle Challenger, was reassigned to STS-41-G. This shift suggests that the trepidation surrounding the number 13 could have played a role in mission naming conventions.
Even if you are not personally afraid of 13, many Americans certainly are. This widespread anxiety has led to the omission of the 13th floor in various buildings and the absence of row 13 on some airlines. Furthermore, numerous individuals choose to avoid public outings on Friday the 13th. Perhaps launching Apollo 13 at 13:13 Military time was a clever strategy to attract public interest. Articles in newspapers suggested that the American public's attention had begun to wane regarding space exploration.
Section 1.1: The Shift in Public Interest
Had the enthusiasm for space exploration diminished? The United States had successfully landed astronauts on the moon not once but twice, leading to a gradual decline in public fascination. Citizens began questioning the significance of these missions in their everyday lives. Would further moon landings really change anything?
Apollo 13 scarcely made headlines, as the nation was preoccupied with other pressing issues such as the Supreme Court, the Vietnam conflict, and teacher strikes in Minneapolis. Although the Apollo missions received coverage, they struggled to compete for attention amidst numerous domestic and international matters. Budget cuts loomed over NASA, leaving the future of human spaceflight uncertain.
Section 1.2: The Jinx of Apollo 13
The public's focus seemed to lean more towards Triskaidekaphobia than the Apollo missions themselves, leading some to speculate that Apollo 13 was doomed from the start.
The Chicago Tribune on April 10th featured a caption: "Testing Teamwork — Backup astronaut John Swigert [left] converses with James Lovell and Fred Haise [right] after drills to assess their efficiency for the Apollo 13 mission."
Adding to the drama, one crew member had to be replaced at the last moment due to exposure to rubella. Ken Mattingly was disqualified, while Jim Lovell and Fred Haise remained immune. NASA opted for a mixed crew, leading to a headline in the Fort Myers News-Press stating, “Rookie Makes First Team and Apollo Hops Off Today.”
Subsection 1.2.1: Last-Minute Changes
The Apollo 13 mission, already facing challenges due to medical disqualifications, managed to secure a launch time of 2:13. In just a few days, Lovell and Haise would attempt to land on the moon in the lunar module (LM). The last-minute changes not only drew attention to the mission but also led to humorous coverage of astronaut Swigert’s tax returns.
On April 12th, the Miami Herald reported, “Astronaut’s Wife Not Superstitious,” highlighting the public fascination with the number 13. As Apollo 13 launched at 13:13 Military time, the spacecraft ascended from Kennedy Space Center. Shortly after liftoff, the crew reported a slight vibration. The center engine of the S-II stage shut down prematurely, but NASA determined that the mission could continue. The remaining engines compensated by burning longer, along with an extended S-IVB stage burn to keep Apollo 13 on course for the moon.
Chapter 2: Survival Mode on Apollo 13
On April 13, 1970, at 10:06 PM EST, disaster struck.
As America drifted off to sleep, unaware of the impending crisis, the front page of the Chicago Tribune soon blared the news: “MOON LANDING CANCELED AFTER FAILURE OF POWER.” A stir in an oxygen tank caused an explosion, venting the contents of two Service Module (SM) oxygen tanks into space. With oxygen critical for survival and power generation, the crew faced a dire situation.
They had to shut down all nonessential systems to conserve resources for reentry, relying on the lunar module as a makeshift lifeboat. With nothing left for NASA to do but devise a plan to bring the astronauts home safely, the crew shifted into survival mode, fighting for their lives.
Section 2.1: Fear Influencing Shuttle Mission Numbers
The NASA website states that the numbering changes in shuttle missions were implemented to simplify an increasingly complex launch schedule. However, former astronaut Paul Weitz recalled that NASA Administrator James Beggs’ fear of the number 13 directly influenced this decision.
“Beggs didn’t want any mission numbered 13, so we adopted this new system,” Weitz explained. The belief surrounding Beggs’ Triskaidekaphobia was so prevalent that the astronauts on STS-41C (formerly STS-13) created their own “Black Cat” mission patch. James “Ox” Van Hoften, a crewmember, fondly reminisced, “We flew around with our STS-13 patch on, and that was a lot of fun. We even landed on Friday the 13th, which was pretty cool.”
The U.S. Space Shuttle program, known as the Space Transportation System (STS), initially assigned sequential numbers to missions. However, after STS-9, each mission received a unique code based on fiscal year, launch site, and planned launch order.
So, do you have any apprehension regarding the number 13? Would you have flown on Apollo 13, knowing the challenges that awaited?
Additional Reading and Sources:
- www.hq.nasa.gov › alsj › A13_MissionReport
- www.newspapers.com (a valuable resource for historical newspaper articles)
- http://www.triskaidekaphobia.info/