318. [Apollo 13] THE CREW DEPARTS FOR THE MOON: a hazardous journey into the unknown NASA, 11 April 1970 Printed 1970. Vintage gelatin silver print on fibre-based paper [NASA image 70-H-495]. With NASA caption numbered "108-KSC-70P-168", "70-H-495" on the reverse (issued by NASA Kennedy Space Centre, Florida). 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.) Historical context The Apollo 13 astronauts head for launch on what would become the most perilous space mission in history. They are photographed walking out of the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building, heading toward the transfer van that will take them to Launch Complex 39A, where their Apollo/Saturn V rocket awaits. Dressed in their pressurized A7L space suits, Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise are moments away from embarking on what was intended to be humanity's third lunar landing mission—but would instead become one of the most dramatic survival stories in space exploration. James Lovell on the risks of spaceflight: "You have to remember the makeup of the people that are doing this work; all were test pilots. Every time we get in an airplane, to test it, especially in any new regime, going out to any point, any new type of thing, there's a case it might not work. There's a case that the wing might fall off." — James Lovell (Chaikin, Voices, p. 136)