Movie: Apollo 13 (1995 PG)
Rating: PG
Length: 2h 20min
Story Line: A “routine” space flight becomes a desperate battle to survive in this breathtaking adventure of courage and faith starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise and Ed Harris.
Teaching With This Movie: The Apollo program was part of the space race between the U.S. and Soviet Union. How did the space race begin? Did someone win the space race? What is the legacy of the space race today? Compare NASA’s budget during the Apollo years to what it is today. How have the goals of NASA changed? Does NASA plan to return to the moon?
Idea #2: With the Apollo 13 mission, we were very lucky that no astronauts died, but there have been tragedies throughout NASA’s space program. Which NASA missions have resulted in astronaut deaths? How have NASA procedures changed due to Apollo 13 and missions where astronauts died? Is manned space exploration worth the danger?
Idea #3: In 2019, NASA’s budget was $21.5 BILLION. Some people believe that money should be spent on programs that directly benefit American people. Do you think the United States government should continue to fund manned and unmanned space flights? What benefits do they create? If you are pro-NASA funding, what type of projects would you prioritize?
