This work investigates the technical failures and subsequent emergency procedures that defined the Apollo 13 lunar mission. Henry S. F. Cooper Jr. utilizes his background in science journalism to reconstruct the timeline of the mission's oxygen tank explosion and the ensuing struggle to return the crew safely to Earth. The text provides a detailed account of the interaction between the astronauts in space and the mission control teams on the ground, highlighting the reliance on improvised engineering solutions.

The text offers a precise, clinical examination of the Apollo 13 crisis, focusing on the mechanical and procedural realities of the mission. Its technical density and focus on the logistical challenges of space flight suggest a work intended for readers interested in the history of aerospace engineering.