IN its first cover story on space exploration in December 1952, TIME quoted Dr. Wernher von Braun as saying that manned space flight was "as sure as the rising of the sun." Dr. Von Braun's conviction was greeted with great skepticism. But his prophecy proved 100% right, and at each step along the way TIME has recorded the many triumphs--and occasional tragedies--of mankind's journey to the stars. Each flight has produced its moments of breathtaking suspense, culminating in Apollo 11's moon landing and Neil Armstrong's first step on the lunar surface. Yet for sustained tension and high drama, nothing could equal the abortive flight of Apollo 13, which TIME reports in this week's cover story and related articles.

The stunning news of Apollo 13's trouble first came from TIME'S Veteran NASA Reporter Jim Schefter, who had been called to Mission Control shortly after the initial explosion. That word, flashed to the editors in New York and other world-wide news organizations, set off comprehensive coverage of man's most perilous week in space. In Houston, observing an apparently routine mission, Science Writer Fred Golden immediately headed back to New York to prepare for a far different story. Science Correspondent Alan Anderson, also in Houston, quickly joined Bureau Chief Leo Janos and Schefter. Soon, Los Angeles Bureau Chief Don Neff, who recently wound up a two-year tour in Houston, flew in to add his expertise. Sydney Bureau Chief Ernest Shirley caught the first plane to Pago Pago to report on the astronauts' arrival.

For the next four days, Janos focused on the ordeal of the three astronauts. Neff reported on how decisions were being reached at Mission Control, while Schefter and Anderson provided commentary on the technical problems of the rescue. Throughout, says Janos, "NASA remained calm, candid and cooperative. Busy Administrator Tom Paine found a quiet corner to talk at length with us about the problems confronting NASA after the accident. Chris Kraft gave Don and me steaming mugs of coffee during one interview, lent us a tape recorder when ours suffered battery problems."

Armed with Houston's voluminous files, Golden wrote and Sydnor Vanderschmidt researched the main narrative story, "Four Days of Peril Between Earth and Moon," while Peter Stoler and Mary Kelley were responsible for the box on "The Brave Men of Apollo." Those stories were edited by Senior Editor Leon Jaroff. Laurence Barrett, with Ann Constable as researcher, wrote the introduction, "Apollo's Return: Triumph Over Failure." Says Golden: "People forget that earlier shots had their problems too. But they were short-lived, and the happy ending quickly obscured the drama." No one is likely to forget Apollo 13 for some time to come.

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