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Barbara Lovell is upset because of the breakup of the Beatles, which occurred on April 10, 1970 (three days before the Apollo 13 explosion), when Paul McCartney announced that he was leaving the band. However, the music heard on Barbara's hi-fi is the Jimi Hendrix song, "Purple Haze." The Beatles' music could not be used for the film because it would be years before the Beatles would allow their music to be used for films and other media.
In a commentary track, Marilyn Lovell comments that Tom Hanks exactly portrays Jim Lovell's mannerisms and style of movement.
Bill Paxton, Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon were all very proud of the fact that they weren't sick on the so-called Vomit Comet - the plane used to simulate zero gravity. The cameramen weren't so lucky.
In some scenes where the Earth can be seen from the windows of Apollo 13, it is one of the photos taken by Jim Lovell and Bill Anders on the Apollo 8 mission.
Jim Lovell wore his old Navy Captain's uniform in the scene where he greets the astronauts aboard the U.S.S. Iwo Jima. When Ron Howard asked Lovell if he'd like to be in the film as the ship's Admiral, Lovell agreed, but pointed out, "I retired as a Captain; a Captain I will be."