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1News
13 hours ago
- Science
- 1News
Apollo 13 moon mission leader James Lovell dies at 97
James Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13 who helped turn a failed moon mission into a triumph of on-the-fly can-do engineering, has died. He was 97. Lovell died Thursday in Lake Forest, Illinois, NASA said in a statement. '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,' NASA said. "We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements.' One of NASA's most travelled astronauts in the agency's first decade, Lovell flew four times — Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and Apollo 13 — with the two Apollo flights riveting the folks back on Earth. In 1968, the Apollo 8 crew of Lovell, Frank Borman and William Anders was the first to leave Earth's orbit and the first to fly to and circle the moon. They could not land, but they put the US ahead of the Soviets in the space race. Letter writers told the crew that their stunning pale blue dot photo of Earth from the moon, a world first, and the crew's Christmas Eve reading from Genesis, saved America from a tumultuous 1968. ADVERTISEMENT The Apollo 13 mission had a lifelong impact on Lovell The safe return of the Apollo 13 astronauts after their lunar landing mission encountered technical difficulties, 17th April 1970. From left to right, Lunar Module pilot Fred W. Haise, Mission Commander James A. Lovell and Command Module pilot John L. Swigert. (Source: Getty) But the big rescue mission was still to come. That was during the harrowing Apollo 13 flight in April 1970. Lovell was supposed to be the fifth man to walk on the moon. But Apollo 13's service module, carrying Lovell and two others, experienced a sudden oxygen tank explosion on its way to the moon. The astronauts barely survived, spending four cold and clammy days in the cramped lunar module as a lifeboat. ''The thing that I want most people to remember is (that) in some sense it was very much of a success,'' Lovell said during a 1994 interview. ''Not that we accomplished anything, but a success in that we demonstrated the capability of (NASA) personnel.'' A retired Navy captain known for his calm demeanour, Lovell told a NASA historian that his brush with death did affect him. 'I don't worry about crises any longer,' he said in 1999. Whenever he has a problem, 'I say, 'I could have been gone back in 1970. I'm still here. I'm still breathing'. So, I don't worry about crises.' And the mission's retelling in the popular 1995 movie Apollo 13 brought Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert renewed fame — thanks in part to Lovell's movie persona reporting "Houston, we have a problem", a phrase he didn't exactly utter. ADVERTISEMENT Lovell had ice water in his veins like other astronauts, but he didn't display the swagger some had, just quiet confidence, said Smithsonian Institution historian Roger Launius. He called Lovell 'a very personable, very down-to-earth type of person, who says 'This is what I do. Yes, there's risk involved. I measure risk'.' Lovell spent about 30 days in space across four missions Apollo 13 commander James A. Lovell speaks during a televised news conference at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas, April 21, 1970, pointing to the spot on the service module where an explosion ripped a panel loose. (Source: Associated Press) In all, Lovell flew four space missions — and until the Skylab flights of the mid-1970s, he held the world record for the longest time in space with 715 hours, 4 minutes and 57 seconds. Aboard Apollo 8, Lovell described the oceans and land masses of Earth. "What I keep imagining is if I am some lonely traveller from another planet, what I would think about the Earth at this altitude, whether I think it would be inhabited or not," he remarked. That mission may be as important as the historic Apollo 11 moon landing, a flight made possible by Apollo 8, Launius said. "I think in the history of space flight, I would say that Jim was one of the pillars of the early space flight program," Gene Kranz, NASA's legendary flight director, once said. ADVERTISEMENT Lovell was immortalised by Tom Hanks' portrayal Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton in zero gravity in a scene from the film Apollo 13, 1995. (Source: Getty) But if historians consider Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 the most significant of the Apollo missions, it was during Lovell's last mission — immortalised by the popular film starring Tom Hanks as Lovell — that he came to embody for the public the image of the cool, decisive astronaut. The Apollo 13 crew of Lovell, Haise and Swigert was on the way to the moon in April 1970, when an oxygen tank from the spaceship exploded 200,000 miles from Earth. That, Lovell recalled, was 'the most frightening moment in this whole thing'. Then oxygen began escaping, and 'we didn't have solutions to get home'. 'We knew we were in deep, deep trouble,' he told NASA's historian. Four-fifths of the way to the moon, NASA scrapped the mission. Suddenly, their only goal was to survive. ADVERTISEMENT Lovell's "Houston, we've had a problem", a variation of a comment Swigert had radioed moments before, became famous. In Hanks' version, it became "Houston, we have a problem". President Clinton stands with movie star Tom Hanks and astronaut James A. Lovell during their visit to the White House. Tom Hanks plays the role of James Lovell, who was the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, in Ron Howard's 1995 drama, Apollo 13. (Source: Getty) What unfolded over the next four days captured the imagination of the nation and the world, which until then had largely been indifferent about what seemed a routine mission. With Lovell commanding the spacecraft, Kranz led hundreds of flight controllers and engineers in a furious rescue plan. The plan involved the astronauts moving from the service module, which was haemorrhaging oxygen, into the cramped, dark and frigid lunar lander while they rationed their dwindling oxygen, water and electricity. Using the lunar module as a lifeboat, they swung around the moon, aimed for Earth and raced home. By coolly solving the problems under the most intense pressure imaginable, the astronauts and the crew on the ground became heroes. In the process of turning what seemed routine into a life-and-death struggle, the entire flight team had created one of NASA's finest moments that ranks with Neil Armstrong's and Buzz Aldrin's walks on the moon nine months earlier. "They demonstrated to the world they could handle truly horrific problems and bring them back alive," said Launius. ADVERTISEMENT He regretted never being able to walk on the moon Capt. James A. Lovell, Jr., attends the 45th Anniversary of Apollo 8 "Christmas Eve Broadcast to Earth" event at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago (Source: Associated Press) The loss of the opportunity to walk on the moon "is my one regret", Lovell said in a 1995 interview with The Associated Press for a story on the 25th anniversary of the mission. President Bill Clinton agreed when he awarded Lovell the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1995. "While you may have lost the moon ... you gained something that is far more important perhaps: the abiding respect and gratitude of the American people," he said. Lovell once said that while he was disappointed he never walked on the moon, "The mission itself and the fact that we triumphed over certain catastrophe does give me a deep sense of satisfaction". And Lovell clearly understood why this failed mission afforded him far more fame than had Apollo 13 accomplished its goal. "Going to the moon, if everything works right, it's like following a cookbook. It's not that big a deal," he told the AP in 2004. "If something goes wrong, that's what separates the men from the boys." ADVERTISEMENT James A Lovell was born March 25, 1928, in Cleveland. He attended the University of Wisconsin before transferring to the US Naval Academy, in Annapolis, Maryland. On the day he graduated in 1952, he and his wife, Marilyn, were married. A test pilot at the Navy Test Centre in Patuxent River, Maryland, Lovell was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1962. He was the last of that second group of astronauts -- called 'the Next Nine' — alive and thus had been an astronaut longer than any other person alive. Lovell retired from the Navy and from the space program in 1973, and went into private business. In 1994, he and Jeff Kluger wrote Lost Moon, the story of the Apollo 13 mission and the basis for the film Apollo 13. In one of the final scenes, Lovell appeared as a Navy captain, the rank he actually had. He and his family ran a now-closed restaurant in suburban Chicago, Lovell's of Lake Forest. His wife, Marilynn, died in 2023. Survivors include four children. In a statement, his family hailed him as their 'hero'. 'We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his sense of humour, and the way he made each of us feel we could do the impossible,' his family said. 'He was truly one of a kind.'
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Tom Hanks pays tribute to Apollo 13 mission commander
Tom Hanks has paid tribute to late astronaut James Lovell. The 69-year-old actor portrayed the former NASA commander in 1995's Apollo 13 - which told the story of the ill-fated 1970 lunar mission which endured critical failures before safely returning to Earth - and following his death on Thursday at the age of 97, Hanks praised his work and legacy. "There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own," Hanks wrote on Instagram. "Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy. "His many voyages around Earth and on to so-very-close to the moon were not made for riches or celebrity, but because such challenges as those are what fuels the course of being alive — and who better than Jim Lovell to make those voyages. "On this night of a full moon, he passes on — to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. God speed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell." Ron Howard, who directed Apollo 13, also paid tribute to the former Navy test pilot, as he admitted it had been a "tremendous honour" to know such a "remarkable" man, who took part in four space missions during his life. Sharing a carousel of photos and videos of the astronaut, including side-by-side photos from his film and the real life events, he wrote: "RIP #CommanderLovell. Navy test pilot, Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and, of course, Apollo 13. "Simply knowing Jim has been a tremendous honor. His combination of intellect, courage and commitment to duty made him one of the most remarkable individuals I've ever met. His support of our movie-making efforts inspired authenticity and elevated our process in so many ways. "Thank you, sir, for your service to our country and to humankind." Hanks previously admitted he would like to go to the moon and thinks he could play a particular role. He joked to the Daily Telegraph in 2023: "I would like to be the guy in charge of serving food and making jokes to and from the moon. "If there was room, I would be the guy that cleans up, makes jokes, tells stories and keeps everybody entertained." Tom Hanks has paid tribute to late astronaut James Lovell. The 69-year-old actor portrayed the former NASA commander in 1995's Apollo 13 - which told the story of the ill-fated 1970 lunar mission which endured critical failures before safely returning to Earth - and following his death on Thursday at the age of 97, Hanks praised his work and legacy. "There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own," Hanks wrote on Instagram. "Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy. "His many voyages around Earth and on to so-very-close to the moon were not made for riches or celebrity, but because such challenges as those are what fuels the course of being alive — and who better than Jim Lovell to make those voyages. "On this night of a full moon, he passes on — to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. God speed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell." Ron Howard, who directed Apollo 13, also paid tribute to the former Navy test pilot, as he admitted it had been a "tremendous honour" to know such a "remarkable" man, who took part in four space missions during his life. Sharing a carousel of photos and videos of the astronaut, including side-by-side photos from his film and the real life events, he wrote: "RIP #CommanderLovell. Navy test pilot, Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and, of course, Apollo 13. "Simply knowing Jim has been a tremendous honor. His combination of intellect, courage and commitment to duty made him one of the most remarkable individuals I've ever met. His support of our movie-making efforts inspired authenticity and elevated our process in so many ways. "Thank you, sir, for your service to our country and to humankind." Hanks previously admitted he would like to go to the moon and thinks he could play a particular role. He joked to the Daily Telegraph in 2023: "I would like to be the guy in charge of serving food and making jokes to and from the moon. "If there was room, I would be the guy that cleans up, makes jokes, tells stories and keeps everybody entertained." Tom Hanks has paid tribute to late astronaut James Lovell. The 69-year-old actor portrayed the former NASA commander in 1995's Apollo 13 - which told the story of the ill-fated 1970 lunar mission which endured critical failures before safely returning to Earth - and following his death on Thursday at the age of 97, Hanks praised his work and legacy. "There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own," Hanks wrote on Instagram. "Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy. "His many voyages around Earth and on to so-very-close to the moon were not made for riches or celebrity, but because such challenges as those are what fuels the course of being alive — and who better than Jim Lovell to make those voyages. "On this night of a full moon, he passes on — to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. God speed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell." Ron Howard, who directed Apollo 13, also paid tribute to the former Navy test pilot, as he admitted it had been a "tremendous honour" to know such a "remarkable" man, who took part in four space missions during his life. Sharing a carousel of photos and videos of the astronaut, including side-by-side photos from his film and the real life events, he wrote: "RIP #CommanderLovell. Navy test pilot, Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and, of course, Apollo 13. "Simply knowing Jim has been a tremendous honor. His combination of intellect, courage and commitment to duty made him one of the most remarkable individuals I've ever met. His support of our movie-making efforts inspired authenticity and elevated our process in so many ways. "Thank you, sir, for your service to our country and to humankind." Hanks previously admitted he would like to go to the moon and thinks he could play a particular role. He joked to the Daily Telegraph in 2023: "I would like to be the guy in charge of serving food and making jokes to and from the moon. "If there was room, I would be the guy that cleans up, makes jokes, tells stories and keeps everybody entertained." Tom Hanks has paid tribute to late astronaut James Lovell. The 69-year-old actor portrayed the former NASA commander in 1995's Apollo 13 - which told the story of the ill-fated 1970 lunar mission which endured critical failures before safely returning to Earth - and following his death on Thursday at the age of 97, Hanks praised his work and legacy. "There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own," Hanks wrote on Instagram. "Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy. "His many voyages around Earth and on to so-very-close to the moon were not made for riches or celebrity, but because such challenges as those are what fuels the course of being alive — and who better than Jim Lovell to make those voyages. "On this night of a full moon, he passes on — to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. God speed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell." Ron Howard, who directed Apollo 13, also paid tribute to the former Navy test pilot, as he admitted it had been a "tremendous honour" to know such a "remarkable" man, who took part in four space missions during his life. Sharing a carousel of photos and videos of the astronaut, including side-by-side photos from his film and the real life events, he wrote: "RIP #CommanderLovell. Navy test pilot, Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and, of course, Apollo 13. "Simply knowing Jim has been a tremendous honor. His combination of intellect, courage and commitment to duty made him one of the most remarkable individuals I've ever met. His support of our movie-making efforts inspired authenticity and elevated our process in so many ways. "Thank you, sir, for your service to our country and to humankind." Hanks previously admitted he would like to go to the moon and thinks he could play a particular role. He joked to the Daily Telegraph in 2023: "I would like to be the guy in charge of serving food and making jokes to and from the moon. "If there was room, I would be the guy that cleans up, makes jokes, tells stories and keeps everybody entertained."
2 days ago
- Entertainment
Tom Hanks pays tribute to Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell
"God speed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell.' 0:39 Tom Hanks took to Instagram to remember Jim Lovell, the astronaut he portrayed in the 1995 Ron Howard–directed film "Apollo 13." Lovell, best known for commanding the near-disastrous Apollo 13 mission, died Thursday, Aug. 7, at age 97. In a statement posted to Instagram, the Oscar-winning actor reflected on Lovell's extraordinary life. "There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own," Hanks wrote. "Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy." Hanks praised Lovell's dedication to exploration, noting that his missions were not motivated by fame or fortune but by "the challenges that fuel the course of being alive." The actor closed his tribute with a nod to the timing of Lovell's passing: "On this night of a full moon, he passes on -- to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. God speed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell." Howard also praised the late astronaut, saying "simply knowing" the astronaut was an honor. Sharing archival images and side-by-side comparisons from the film, the filmmaker called Lovell "one of the most remarkable individuals I've ever met." "His combination of intellect, courage and commitment to duty made him extraordinary," Howard wrote. "His support of our movie-making efforts inspired authenticity and elevated our process in so many ways. Thank you, sir, for your service to our country and to humankind." Lovell's career spanned decades of groundbreaking achievements in space exploration, including flights on Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 -- the first mission to orbit the moon --and Apollo 13.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Tom Hanks remembers Apollo 13 hero Jim Lovell after death at 97
Tom Hanks has paid an emotional tribute to James 'Jim' Lovell, the Apollo 13 commander whose daring space missions made history. Lovell, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 97, famously led the near-catastrophic 1970 lunar mission that inspired the Oscar-winning 1995 film Apollo 13, in which Hanks portrayed him. In a heartfelt Instagram post, the 69-year-old actor described Lovell as 'the kind of guy' who dared to go where others wouldn't. 'Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy,' Hanks wrote. 'His many voyages around Earth and on to so-very-close to the moon were not made for riches or celebrity, but because such challenges as those are what fuels the course of being alive.' Hanks added a poetic farewell: 'On this night of a full moon, he passes on, to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. God speed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell.' Director Ron Howard, who brought Apollo 13 to the screen, also paid his respects. Sharing archival images and behind-the-scenes shots, Howard called Lovell 'one of the most remarkable individuals I've ever met' and praised his 'intellect, courage and commitment to duty.' The former Navy test pilot took part in four historic spaceflights, Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, and Apollo 13 and became a symbol of resilience in the face of crisis. Hanks has previously joked about wanting to join a lunar mission, imagining himself as the crew member responsible for keeping spirits high with food, humour and stories. But for millions, his portrayal of Lovell remains the definitive cinematic tribute to the man whose calm leadership brought his crew safely home. Lovell leaves behind a legacy not only of space exploration, but of inspiring generations to look to the stars with courage and curiosity.
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Tom Hanks Bids Emotional Farewell To Apollo 13 Astronaut Jim Lovell
Tom Hanks portrayed Jim Lovell in the 1995 film Apollo 13. Jim Lovell, the celebrated astronaut and commander of the Apollo 13 mission, passed away on Thursday, August 7, at the age of 97. His family confirmed the news. Lovell's incredible journey inspired many, including actor Tom Hanks, who portrayed him in the 1995 film Apollo 13. Hanks shared a heartfelt message on Instagram honouring Lovell's life and legacy. He described him as someone who dared to dream and led others to places most would not venture. He said, 'There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own. Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person on our planet, was that kind of guy." Hanks went on to say, 'His many voyages around Earth and on to so-very-close to the moon were not made for riches or celebrity, but because such challenges as those are what fuel the course of being alive — and who better than Jim Lovell to make those voyages." Closing his tribute, the 69-year-old actor wrote, 'On this night of a full moon, he passes on — to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. God speed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) Director Ron Howard Remembers Jim Lovell Ron Howard, who directed Apollo 13, also honoured Lovell with a tribute on Instagram. Sharing photos and clips of Lovell alongside scenes from the film, Howard wrote, 'RIP #CommanderLovell. Navy test pilot, Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and, of course, Apollo 13." View this post on Instagram A post shared by RealRonHoward (@realronhoward) Howard expressed how much he valued knowing Lovell, calling him 'one of the most remarkable individuals I've ever met." 'His support of our movie-making efforts inspired authenticity and elevated our process in so many ways. Thank you, sir, for your service to our country and to humankind," he added. A Hero Of Space Exploration Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Lovell was not only a NASA commander but also a former Navy test pilot. He flew on four space missions during his career. The Apollo 13 mission which he commanded in 1970 became famous for its near-disaster and successful safe return. Apollo 13 Movie And Legacy To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Apollo 13 movie, it will be re-released in IMAX theatres starting September 19. The film also features Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris and Kathleen Quinlan. The movie was adapted from Lost Moon, a 1994 book co-written by Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger. First Published: August 09, 2025, 15:51 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
