"If Apollo 13 Had Happened TODAY...."

It was exactly 50 years ago today, Monday, April 13th, 1970, that the Apollo 13 mission to the moon was derailed.  An oxygen tank in the cockpit exploded, and instead of LANDING on the moon, three brave men had to loop AROUND the moon before heading home safely. They received the "Presidential Medal of Freedom" from then-President Nixon (pictured above) shortly after they landed back on earth. And, 25 years ago, on the 25th anniversary of this event, a TERRIFIC movie was released to document their "inspiring failure" as some have called it.


It's interesting to think what would have happened if this historic event occurred TODAY, in the age of Social Media.


       How many would have IMMEDIATELY, without any evidence, voiced Conspiracy Theories as to why and how the mission got derailed?? Too many CONSPIRACY THEORISTS on Social Media.

       How many false preachers and teachers would have seen this as a SIGN that the END is near...that Jesus was going to return by the end of 1970?? Too many FALSE PROPHETS on Social Media.

       How many SUPERSTITIOUS people would have jumped on Facebook or Twitter and said "13 is an unlucky number, that's why this happened" even noting that THAT VERY DAY was the 13th?? (Gasp!!) Too many SUPERSTITIOUS, SILLY SECOND-GUESSERS on Social Media.

       This list doesn't take into account those who'd hear the word "explosion" and would immediately report that the astronauts were DEAD.  Too many FAKE-NEWSWERS on Social Media.


Such people have ALWAYS been around, it's just that we now have the Internet which provides a 24 / 7 / 365 platform for them.



I was only 15 when Apollo 13 actually took place....like most 15 year olds, I could care less about it at the time.

But when I saw the movie "Apollo 13" in 1995, I seem to recall there was a scary period of radio silence, and no one knew if the three brave astronauts were alive or dead.

I wish we could have some "radio silence"from the ones I've mentioned (and others), those who clog up GOOD communication on Social Media.  For if Apollo 13 had happened TODAY, they'd all be out in full, farcical force.  These folks haven't just LANDED on the moon, they seem STRANDED on the moon and want to take those of us who are at least a little bit "down to earth" WITH them.