Probably almost everyone has heard the expression, "Houston, we're in trouble." Or perhaps even used that expression. But few people know who owns this phrase and how it gained wide popularity and popularity. And this story is fascinating and rather tragic. So where does the phrase "Houston, we have a problem" come from? And what does it mean?
How did the phrase "Houston, we're in trouble" come about?
Space is something mysterious and attractive, scary and beautiful at the same time. Man has always been attracted by the stars and unattainable horizons, and he was looking for ways to them. And then one day, Apollo 11 did reach the surface of the moon. The event itself is on the verge of fantasy. Now every child and adult knows about it. After this flight there were other expeditions. "Apollo 12" also coped with the mission and made the second landing on the lunar surface in history. But another ship from this series became famous for a different reason, a very tragic one. Apollo 13 had the same goal as its predecessors - an expedition toMoon.
But during the flight there was a sudden serious accident on board. An oxygen tank exploded and several fuel cell batteries failed.
But where does the phrase "Houston, we're in trouble" come from, and what does it mean? In the city of Houston, there was a space center that directed the flight. The crew commander was James Lovell, an experienced astronaut. He reported to the center about the accident. He began his report with a phrase that can be translated into Russian as "Houston, we have problems." This accident crossed out all plans and became an obstacle to landing on the moon. Moreover, it jeopardized a normal return to Earth. The crew did a great job. I had to change the flight path. The ship had to go around the Moon, thereby setting the record for the longest distance from the Earth by an aircraft. Of course, such a record was not planned, but still. The crew was able to safely return to the ground, which was a huge success.
This flight also helped to reveal the weaknesses of the ship, so the next expedition was postponed due to the need to make some modifications.
Apollo 13 in cinemas
This accident was a big, exciting event. Many people with bated breath watched the development of events and hoped for a safe return of the astronauts. It all sounds incredible, like the plot of a movie. The events of this story really later formed the basis of the film. The film was titledthe honor of the ship, and when asked where the phrase “Houston, we have problems” comes from, he is quite capable of answering. The picture turned out to be quite detailed and believable, it also contains a dialogue between the ship commander and the Space Center and a well-known phrase sounds. The main role in the film was played by the famous actor Tom Hanks. The film made a great impression on the audience, and the phrase uttered by the commander of the ship became so popular that almost everyone knows it.
Using a quote as a stable expression
Having figured out where the phrase "Houston, we have a problem" comes from, we can consider how it is used now. It has become a stable expression, one might say, a phraseological unit, and is used in everyday communication when it is necessary to say that some unexpected problems or malfunctions have suddenly arisen. Also, these words can often be found on the Internet in the context of various jokes. However, it is worth remembering that behind these words lies the history of brave people.
