“Houston, we have problems” - this phrase can be found in a book, heard in a film or song, and in colloquial speech it is firmly established. However, not everyone knows the origin of this now famous expression.
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
Traveling to other planets has been exciting the minds of people for a long time. Films about the adventures of astronauts began to be filmed back in the 20th century, although the technologies of that time did not yet allow, as today, to show a colorful and reliable picture of another world. But the beginning of space exploration has fueled interest in science fiction and has given filmmakers a powerful incentive to develop this theme in their works. The film "Robinson Crusoe on Mars" was created back in 1964. He talks about the flight of two astronauts to Mars. In the course of an unsuccessful landing, one of the explorers of the Red Planet dies, and Commander Chris Draper remains in the desert world only in the company of a small monkey that flew with them. But the person does not despair and begins his struggle for survival. It was in this film that the phrase "Houston, we have problems", which later became widely known, was first heard.
Lost
1969 saw the release of another film about space travel, Lost. It tells the story of American astronauts who, after completing a mission, were stuck in oxygen-limited orbit as a result of an accident. While people in space were trying to survive, NASA hastily developed methods to save them. As a result, with the involvement of the USSR spacecraft, two astronauts are saved. Lost also featured "Houston, we have a problem!"
Apollo 13
However, the truly famous appeal to Houston became after the astronauts of the manned spacecraft Apollo 13 returned to Earth. Due to the explosion of the oxygen tank and a series of subsequent breakdowns, the astronauts were stuck on a ship with a limited supply of oxygen and drinking water. NASA did not have a clear plan for their rescue, and all emerging emergency situations were solved by the space agency specialists in real time. The phrase "Houston, we have a problem" was said by one of the crew members, reporting to Earth about the breakdown. The flight of Apollo 13 took place several months after the release of Lost, so the astronaut may have repeated what his “colleague” said when he found himself in a similar situation. The nearly disastrous mission of Apollo 13 served as the basis for the film of the same name, which tells about the courage of astronauts, the professionalism and dedication of NASA employees. The phrase-appeal to Houston, which has already begun its march across the planet, was also noted in this picture.
