[Apollo 13]

CHEWING GUM FLOWN AROUND THE MOON ON APOLLO 13

Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise’s letter reads in full: 

“Displayed below is a ‘Chewing Gum’ packet that was carried around the moon on the flight of Apollo 13 during April 11 to 17, 1970. There are no labels on this particular gum packet. 

Several food items were never eaten during the flight due to the oxygen tank explosion in Service Module which in turn caused an electrical power loss to the Command Module. That power loss eliminated the ability to supply and heat water for food rehydration. James Lovell, Jack Swigert, and myself mainly consumed the ‘wet pack’ type of foods during the Apollo 13 mission. Those foods did not require rehydration to eat. There were several gum packets onboard and this particular packet was not consumed. 

This gum packet has been in my personal space artifact collection since 1970 which is now 35 years after the dramatic flight of Apollo 13. The flight was scheduled to be the third manned lunar landing mission, but those plans were aborted due to the above mentioned ‘problem.’ I have written ‘Flown around the moon on Apollo 13, Fred Hase, LMP’ on the front side of this packet. 

Sincerely,

Fred W. Haise / Apollo 13 Lunar Module Pilot.”