In article <[log in to unmask]>
, Wirt Atmar <[log in to unmask]> writes
>I seem to be condemned to posting wildly off-topic material, but nonetheless,
>I'll bite the bullet and do it again.
>
>Thirty years ago today, on April 13th, 1970, a liquid oxygen (LOX) bottle on
>the side of the Apollo 13 Service Propulsion Stage exploded when the
>spacecraft was 2/3rds the way to the Moon and almost killed the three
>astronauts on board.
>
>If you've had a chance to see the move, Apollo 13, you already know the
>story. "Apollo 13" may be one of the most technically accurate movies ever
>made. It is an excellent recounting of the history of an event that began
>today.
>
>Wirt Atmar
>
<Snip interesting recounting>

There was also a great emotional response to this event, epitomised by
the Atkin/James song 'Canoe', URL quoted below.

Clive James, noted UK TV critic and media personality, wrote the words,
and Pete Atkin, musician and producer of the radio series 'This Sceptred
Isle', was responsible for the perfect musical setting.

Clive contrasts the astronauts, in their frail craft, with the early
Polynesians, in theirs, and the dangers they both faced. The song segues
so imperceptibly from the one to the other that the shock of recognition
fairly takes your breath away....

http://www.rwt.co.uk/i19.htm

This takes you to the lyrics; for those who can, a further link there
will let your experience it in Real Audio....

--
Roy Brown        'Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be
Kelmscott Ltd     useful, or believe to be beautiful'  William Morris