Houston, we have a problem

I have heard - and said - "Houston, we have a problem", and always assumed that this was the ACTUAL quote from the Apollo 13 team.

But apparently, that is not quite what the astronauts - Jim Lovell and John Swigert - were recorded as having said. The "actual words, recorded at 9:08 p.m. on April 13, 1970, came from astronaut Jack Swigert, who calmly reported: 'Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here'" and then, "Jim Lovell repeated it, adding clarity: 'Houston, we’ve had a problem'" (NASA, 2020, 0.00; Welcome to Houston, Texas, 2024). Not we have a problem; but we've HAD a problem. Past tense.

So the Apollo 13 motion picture version "Houston, we have a problem" (Howard & Graze, 1995, 50:52) was a slight rewrite for pacing, delivery and immediacy. Starring Tom Hanks as Commander Jim Lovell, this was a great delivery. Which is fine: pretty much the same as the original. And I get that "Houston, we have a problem" is a bit more grabby than "Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here". Clearer. Sharper.

Except... I remember saying "Houston, we have a problem" as if it was in present tense for WAY longer than only 1995. Our family were rabid SciFi & Fact addicts, and a phrase like that was embedded in the family lexicon in the 1970s and 80s. I went digging, and it turns out there is also another published and slightly incorrect version. In 1974 there was another movie made, called "Houston, We've Got a Problem" (Nelson & Doheny, 1974). And I suspect that is where our family saying came from.

Further, prior to the Tom Hanks bon mot, I suspect we may have all said "Houston, we've got a problem", not "Houston, we have a problem" (Howard & Graze, 1995, 50:52). It has almost the same immediacy of the Ron Howard rewrite. And following the movie, we morphed it slightly because the new one was better.

Of course, memory is often faulty, but that feels accurate to me.

Interesting how we can tweak things as we go.

Sam

References:

Howard, R. (Director), & Grazer, B. (Producer). (1995). Apollo 13 [motion picture]. Universal Studios.

Margaritoff, M. (2020, April 17). The True Story Of ‘Houston, We Have A Problem’ And What Went Wrong Aboard The Apollo 13 Craft. All that's Interesting [ATI]. https://allthatsinteresting.com/houston-we-have-a-problem

NASA. (2020, April 14). Apollo 13: ‘Houston, We’ve Had a Problem’ [video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/MdvoA-sjs0A

Nelson, J. (Writer), Doheny, L. (Director). (1974). Houston, We've Got a Problem [TV drama]. Silverton Productions; Universal Television.

Welcome to Houston, Texas. (2024, October 30). Houston, We Have a Problem: From Apollo 13 to a City That Solves Them. https://welcometohoustontx.us/houston-we-have-a-problem/