1970 : An explosion caused by an exploding oxygen tank on Apollo 13 forced the astronauts to abandon their mission to the moon and head home, they were nearly at the moon when the problem occurred and they were forced to turn back.

ALSO

• 1860 1st Pony Express reaches Sacramento, California
• 1868 Abyssinian War ends as British and Indian troops capture Magdala and Ethiopian Emperor Tewodros II commits suicide

• 1964 36th Academy Awards: “Tom Jones” (Best Film), Patricia Neal(Hud) and Sidney Poitier (Lilies Of The Field) win; Poitier first Black actor in a leading role to win a competitive Oscar

• 2009 Actor Michael Biehn (52) weds actress Jennifer Blanc (35)
• 2017 “New Girl” actress Hannah Simone (36) weds musician Jesse Giddings in a secret ceremony