Houston, we have a problem
Spacecraft crisis announcement
A phrase announcing that something has gone wrong, often said with understatement or dry humor.
The line comes from the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, when astronauts reported a serious malfunction to NASA's Houston control center.
Now used for any unexpected difficulty: Houston, we have a problem—the printer's jammed again.
- ApolloSun deity, moonshot namesake
- missionPurpose-driven task
- mission controlEarth-based space operations hub
- NASAFederal space exploration bureau
- astronautSpacecraft crew member
Apollo 13 · flight crew · outer space · space · failure · crisis · malfunction · oxygen · life support · capsule · moon · radio · transmission · calm · keep calm · understatement · emergency · spacecraft
Houston, we have a problemall systems go
Complete operational preparedness
nominal · all clear · smooth sailing · business as usual · on track
Houston, we have a problemmission accomplished
Task finished, goal met
Houston, problem, ourselves, problematic, problematical, problematically, problems