Captain James Lovell - 1928- 2025. (Wikimedia Commons photo)
James A. Lovell Jr., the esteemed NASA astronaut best known for commanding the harrowing Apollo 13 mission, passed away on August 7, 2025, at his home in Lake Forest, Illinois. He was 97 years old.
Lovell's legacy is defined by his exceptional leadership during the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. When an oxygen tank explosion crippled the spacecraft over 200,000 miles from Earth, Lovell's calm demeanor and decisive actions turned a potential tragedy into a testament to human ingenuity and resilience. His iconic transmission, "Houston, we've had a problem," became a symbol of the mission's challenges and subsequent success.
MSI 50th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 8 mission. L to R, William Anders, James Lovell and Frank Borman. (Candace Jordan photo, 2018)
Born on March 25, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio, Lovell embarked on a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy before being selected as a NASA astronaut in 1962. He flew in four space missions: Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, the first mission to orbit the Moon, and Apollo 13. Although he never walked on the lunar surface, his contributions to space exploration were profound.
After retiring from NASA in 1973, Lovell transitioned to a successful business career and co-authored the book Lost Moon, which was later adapted into the 1995 film Apollo 13, starring Tom Hanks as Lovell. In the film, Lovell made a cameo appearance as a Navy captain, reflecting his enduring connection to the space program.
Lovell is survived by his four children, 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. His wife, Marilyn, passed away in 2023.
Marilyn Lovell and Captain James A. Lovell at the Museum of Science and Industry’s Celestial Ball, October 6, 2018, for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 8 mission. (Photo for Candace Jordan by Yvette Marie Dostatni)
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