NASA Engineer Ed Smylie, The “Duct Tape Hero” Who Saved Apollo 13, Passes Away at 95
The tech world mourns the loss of Ed Smylie, a NASA engineer whose quick thinking and ingenious use of duct tape helped save the lives of the Apollo 13 crew in 1970. Smylie passed away on April 21 in Crossville, Tennessee, at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy of innovation under pressure that continues to inspire engineers and space enthusiasts alike.
When an oxygen tank exploded on Apollo 13, crippling the command module, the astronauts were forced to take refuge in the lunar excursion module (LEM). However, the LEM was designed to support only two people, and the amount of lithium hydroxide it carried was insufficient to filter the air for three. The astronauts desperately needed a way to use the square lithium hydroxide canisters from the command module in the LEM's round receptacles.
Smylie and his team faced a seemingly impossible challenge: Create a working adapter using only the materials available on board the spacecraft. In a feat of engineering brilliance, they devised a solution using plastic bags, cardboard, duct tape, and other readily available items. This improvised adapter allowed the astronauts to scrub the carbon dioxide from the air, giving them the time they needed to return safely to Earth.
The story of Ed Smylie and the Apollo 13 mission has been immortalized in the 1995 film "Apollo 13," starring Tom Hanks. The film depicts the dramatic moment when engineers on Earth scramble to find a solution, ultimately delivering a makeshift adapter design to the astronauts.
“If you’re a Southern boy, if it moves and it’s not supposed to, you use duct tape,” Smylie said in the documentary “XIII” (2021), highlighting the resourcefulness and practical thinking that defined his approach. The adapter he designed became a symbol of human ingenuity and the power of collaboration in the face of adversity.
President Richard Nixon recognized the team's extraordinary efforts by awarding them the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Nixon said they had a “jerry-built operation which worked”. While Smylie always downplayed his role, his contribution to the Apollo 13 mission cannot be overstated.
Ed Smylie's legacy extends far beyond the Apollo 13 mission. He was a dedicated engineer who helped pave the way for future space exploration. His story reminds us that even the most complex problems can be solved with creativity, teamwork, and a healthy dose of duct tape.
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