James Lovell death: Apollo 13 commander known for saving doomed moon mission dies at age 97
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said in a lengthy statement Friday, 'NASA sends its condolences to the family of Capt. Jim Lovell, whose life and work inspired millions of people across the decades. Jim's character and steadfast courage helped our nation reach the Moon and turned a potential tragedy into a success from which we learned an enormous amount. We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements.
'From a pair of pioneering Gemini missions to the successes of Apollo, Jim helped our nation forge a historic path in space that carries us forward to upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond.
'As the Command Module Pilot for Apollo 8, Jim and his crewmates became the first to lift off on a Saturn V rocket and orbit the Moon, proving that the lunar landing was within our reach. As commander of the Apollo 13 mission, his calm strength under pressure helped return the crew safely to Earth and demonstrated the quick thinking and innovation that informed future NASA missions.
'Known for his wit, this unforgettable astronaut was nicknamed Smilin' Jim by his fellow astronauts because he was quick with a grin when he had a particularly funny comeback.
'Jim also served our country in the military, and the Navy has lost a proud academy graduate and test pilot. Jim Lovell embodied the bold resolve and optimism of both past and future explorers, and we will remember him always.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Ball of light was meteorite older than Earth itself
A meteorite that tore through a Georgia home has revealed a stunning secret: it is older than the Earth itself. The space rock blazed across the sky in broad daylight on June 26, sparking hundreds of reports from witnesses across Georgia and South Carolina. The meteorite, now known as the 'McDonough Meteorite,' exploded with a loud boom, shaking the ground and capturing the attention of residents. Researchers at the University of Georgia examined 23 grams of a meteorite fragment that smashed through a Georgia man's home. It went through the roof, HAVC duct, and left a hole in the floor the size of a cherry tomato. Planetary geologist Scott Harris concluded the space rock formed 4.56 billion years ago, roughly 20 million years before Earth. 'It belongs to a group of asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that we now think we can tie to a breakup of a much larger asteroid about 470 million years ago,' Harris said. The homeowner said he continues to find specks of space dust scattered around his living room from the impact. 'A mysterious extraterrestrial visitor now has a permanent home and identity, thanks to University of Georgia (UGA) researchers,' the team shared in a press release. 'Multiple fragments, which tore through a residential roof in Henry County, were turned over to a UGA planetary geologist and impact expert to determine.' Before breaking into fragments small enough to analyze, the meteor, known as a bolide, was recorded entering Earth's atmosphere at an incredible cosmic velocity. This massive space rock hurtled toward McDonough at speeds exceeding the speed of sound. 'When they encounter Earth, our atmosphere is very good at slowing them down,' Harris said. 'But you're talking about something that is double the size of a 50-caliber shell, going at least 2,236 miles per second. That's like running 10 football fields in one second.' Using optical and electron microscopy to examine the fragments, Harris identified the meteorite as a Low Metal (L) ordinary Chondrite. This classification indicates the meteorite likely formed 4.56 billion years ago in an oxygen-rich environment. This is the 27th meteorite recovered in Georgia in history, and the sixth witnessed fall. Harris said the fragment broke the sound barrier when it entered the Earth's atmosphere. 'This is something that used to be expected once every few decades and not multiple times within 20 years,' Harris said. 'Modern technology, in addition to an attentive public, is going to help us recover more and more meteorites.' Harris explained that although a fragment this small posed no danger, scientists study meteorite impacts to better understand their dynamics. The ultimate goal is to assess the risks and prepare for potential threats that could cause catastrophic damage,' he added.
Belfast Telegraph
22 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland set for spectacular Perseid meteor shower display tonight
The annual meteor shower occurs each summer as Earth passes through a trail of debris left by a comet that also orbits the Sun. Small dust particles flare up under the pressure of the planet's atmosphere to create shooting stars, and a dazzling display which attracts both amateur astronomers and casual sky-watchers. The meteor shower has been running for a few weeks and will continue until around August 24. Professor Alan Fitzsimmons, an asteroid and cometary science expert at Queen's University Belfast, explained: 'The Perseid Meteor shower occurs when the Earth passes through a stream of comet dust created by Comet Swift-Tuttle. "The small dust particles enter our atmosphere at 59 km per second, vaporising and producing the streak of light we call a meteor or shooting star. 'The comet itself, Swift–Tuttle, takes 133 years to orbit the Sun and leaves behind a dense trail of dust and small fragments. "When our planet passes through this trail, the results are visible from the ground in the form of bright, fast-moving meteors.' If the skies remain clear, Professor Fitzsimmons said the meteor shower's peak tonight will bring the best viewing conditions. 'It started several days ago and will continue for a few more days, but the best night is tonight (Tuesday), when the Earth will pass closest to the centre of the stream and we'll see more meteors,' said Professor Fitzsimmons. For those who are keen to see the meteor shower, rural areas away from city or street lights are best to get the full impact of the lights. Open countryside, and elevated locations such as the Mourne Mountains, the Sperrins, or the Causeway Coast offer the darkest skies and the clearest views. Professor Fitzsimmons added: 'People should go away from streetlights and other light pollution. "You are best looking out from about 10pm until 11pm when the Moon is well above the horizon, you might see a meteor every few minutes. "After 11pm, you will still see bright meteors, but fainter ones will be drowned out by moonlight.' No specialist equipment is required; the shooting stars are best viewed with the naked eye, as meteors can appear anywhere in the sky. Shooting stars will be visible across the UK for the duration of the annual meteor shower. Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer Dr Ed Bloomer said that around 150 meteors will cross the sky per hour, but that amount will not be visible because the horizon blocks a full view of the sky. However, an estimated 100 meteors could be seen per hour in certain locations that are particularly flat and dark. Belfast History Explained: Who was Sheila the Elephant? Dr Bloomer recommended stargazers wait half an hour to let their eyes get used to it, adding: 'Take a camping chair or something — if you had one, you would just sit down, and you would just relax, and you would just wait. People struggling to see the meteors can turn and watch through their peripheral vision as it is 'a little bit better with low light conditions', he said. Shooting stars generally only last a second or two and sometimes appear in flurries, the astronomer said. Rarer meteors the size of a fist or a basketball will produce longer tails and are known as fireballs, he added. These can last five to 10 seconds, but Dr Bloomer said he has only ever seen one. The level up is a bolide but 'that's a sort of national emergency type thing', he added.
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Eryri the UK's best spot to watch Perseid meteor shower
The Perseid meteor shower is one of the brightest and fastest meteor showers of the year. The shower lights up the night sky each summer and is known for its fast-moving meteors - often dubbed "shooting stars". "The Perseid (Per-see-id) meteor shower is one of the most dramatic things to see in the night sky between July and August, and is a highlight of many meteor hunters' calendars due to its high hourly rate and bright meteors," Royal Museums Greenwich adds. The Perseids come from a comet called Swift–Tuttle, which orbits the Sun once every 133 years. The rocks collide with Earth's atmosphere at high speeds (between seven and 45 miles per second, causing the meteors to vaporise and leave behind a bright trail of light, also known as shooting stars. The average speed for a Perseid meteor is around 36 miles per second, according to Royal Museums Greenwich. The Perseid meteor shower has been active since July 17 and is expected to last until August 24. However, tonight (Tuesday, August 12) will be the best time to see them as the shower reaches its peak, with around 150 meteors per hour expected, Royal Museums Greenwich reports. The best time to see the meteor shower will be between 12am and 5:30am. 🌠 The Perseid meteor shower peaks overnight on 12 August! However, the almost-full Moon will unfortunately drown out a lot of the fainter meteors. Learn more, including when and where to see them, here: 📷 Meteor Shower Over the Lighthouse © Yoshiki Abe For those hoping to catch a glimpse of the Perseid meteor shower, Royal Museums Greenwich has provided a few tips to help: The UK's best spots for stargazing and catching a glimpse of the Perseid meteor shower, according to Planet Cruise, are: Recommended Reading: How can you take a photo of the Northern Lights? (A guide for beginners) WATCH: Family captures 'bright shooting star' on doorbell camera BBC and Met Office to join forces to deliver UK's 'most-trusted' weather service Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park was named the UK's best stargazing spot by Planet Cruise, making it the ideal location for watching the Perseid meteor shower. The experts explained: "With an elevation of 700 metres and extremely low light pollution, it offers breathtaking views of the Milky Way, constellations, and even meteor showers. "The vast national park provides numerous vantage points, ensuring an unforgettable stargazing experience."
