Sep 29, 20261 min read
Walter Cronkite's relief as Apollo 13 splashed down safely
In April 1970, Walter Cronkite covered the tense return of Apollo 13 alongside astronaut Wally Schirra, unable to hide his relief when the crew splashed down safely.
In April 1970, Apollo 13 nearly didn't make it home. The mission had become a desperate fight for survival after an oxygen tank explosion crippled the spacecraft.
Covering the crisis
Walter Cronkite covered the splashdown with astronaut Wally Schirra. Together they waited to see if the crew would make it back alive. The tension was unbearable as the world watched.
The safe return
Apollo 13 splashed down safely in the Pacific. When the capsule hit the water, Cronkite couldn't hide his relief on live TV. His emotional reaction captured what millions of viewers were feeling at that moment.
