But going home presents its problems. He must steer the ship without a computer. Carbon dioxide levels become too high. Food is frozen and the three astronauts are freezing. A typhoon forms near the splash-down site and the heat shield may be damaged.
As the men prepare for re-entry, Lovell congratulates his men on what they have been able to do. “Gentlemen, it’s been a privilege flying with you.”
Lovell is a brave gentleman himself without tears and without gimmicks who has understood that his responsibility as commander requires that he set a good example for his crew.
On the ground Flight Commander Gene Kranz (played by Ed Harris) shows the same leadership qualities. He has an absolute commitment to the crew and an absolute faith in his engineers to do the impossible, like “putting a square peg in a round hole.”
Kranz sets goals and organizes his ground crew to achieve them. He asks for opinions, listens carefully, and makes calculated choices. He is competent. Most importantly, he knows the value of life and is determined “not to lose those men on [my] watch.”
The film also illustrates what leadership isn’t through the characters of the lunar module (LEM) contractor and the media. They represent the “fear factor” with its accompanying paralysis as well as the greed that accompanies selfish concerns.
For example, the contractor could only aver that the LEM was not designed to be anything other than a moon taxi to and from the command module. He limits his imagination because he is more concerned about losing his own job.
Kranz pushes him back and reminds him that the mission has changed and requires new definitions. The LEM becomes a “lifeboat.”
The media looks equally bad in the film. Uninterested in an “old news story” of landing on the moon, reporters ignore the Apollo 13 flight until it gets into trouble. Then, like a pack of starving dogs going after a slab of meat, the reporters discover a “new story” and intrude on the astronauts’ families in a brash, voyeuristic and just plain rude way.
Only Walter Cronkite, the most trusted newsman of that time, shows a human side to his work. He worries about the astronauts during the flight and then shares his tears of relief and joy when they return to earth.
America needs to recognize that it has reduced itself to the level of the LEM contractor and the media and we need to change.
In this year’s presidential election we need to call forth a new kind of leader who is willing to confront not only our country’s problems but those of “spaceship earth” (i.e., global warming, poverty, health care, unemployment, resource depletion).
And we need someone who will inspire us to tackle these problems courageously and confidently with determination and focus.
I think Barak Obama might be the one we’re looking for.(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
