James Horner

Music from Apollo 13

            “Houston, we have a problem.”  These (slightly misquoted) words have become iconic for the laconic understatements of danger seemingly common to the impressively courageous folks who fly.  Apollo 13 was launched in April of 1970 for a third landing on the moon.  Of course, as we all know, an exploding oxygen tank put the crew in grave and imminent danger.  Their improbable, safe return was a legendary combination of steely courage on the part of the astronauts, and professional, technical brilliance and ingenuity on the part of the engineers charged with devising clever solutions that would avoid a disaster.  Indeed, “Failure was not an option.” The whole affair and its denouement was a glorious tribute to those who made the American space program one of the great achievemen