Failure is not an option: learning from Apollo 13

The 54^th anniversary of the Apollo 13 mission – which saw the successful return of its crew back to Earth after a disaster onboard the spacecraft – occurred in mid-April. It remains one of the great examples of the human spirit and ingenuity triumphing over seemingly insurmountable odds. It is also one of the great examples of American can-do innovation, grit, patience, determination and teamwork. Looking back, there are many important lessons we can learn from the Apollo 13 mission, as well as from the actions of the heroes both orbiting the moon and on the ground in NASA facilities.