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Houston, we have a problem is a popular but erroneous quote from a phrase uttered by astronaut Jack Swigert during the failed Apollo 13 mission, just after observing a warning light accompanied by an explosion, at 21:08 of April 13, 1970.
The true sentence spoken by Swigert was "Ok, Houston, we've had a problem here." Jim Lovell, Swigert's crew mate, followed that with "Uh, Houston, we've had a problem."
After these phrases were spoken, warning lights blinked indicating the loss of two of the three energy sources.
Since then, the phrase has become popular, being used to account, informally, the emergence of an unforeseen problem.
The message
The dialogue occurred between the base and the astronaut was as follows:
Jack Swigert (CMP): "Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here."
CAPCOM Jack R. Lousma (CC):"This is Houston. Say again, please."
James A. Lovell (CDR):"Uh, Houston, we've had a problem."
James A. Lovell (CDR):"We've had a MAIN BP BUS undervolt."
CAPCOM Jack Lousma (CC):"Roger, MAIN BP undervolt."
CAPCOM Jack Lousma (CC):"Okay, stand by Thirteen, we're looking at it."
