Houston, we’ve got a loss. Jim Lovell, the man who brought Apollo 13 home, passed away at age 97 in Lake Forest, Illinois. The man who famously told NASA, “Houston, we’ve had a problem,” and then just freaking solved it—in space—has now embarked on his final voyage.
Captain James Arthur Lovell Jr. was born March 25, 1927, in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew to become a naval aviator, a test pilot, and, of course, a NASA astronaut. He was known for being steady, unflappable, and quite accomplished at not panicking in space when things went wrong. He carefully lived outside of the spotlight beyond his professional accomplishments, pouring his time and energy into cultivating a rich and grounded life with his beloved family.
If you’ve never learned more about Jim Lovell beyond what was portrayed in the Apollo 13 movie, allow me to be your educator today. He was heavily involved in the Gemini Program and was on board the first flight in Gemini 7 in 1965, where he spent 14 days in space. He was on board Apollo 8 and was part of the first crew to orbit the Moon, making space history when he witnessed “Earthrise” in 1968. And, of course, he was on board Apollo 13. The “successful failure” became one of NASA’s finest moments specifically because of him. Due to his cool head and quick thinking after the oxygen tank exploded, he was able to improvise fixes and bring everyone home safely. He went on four spaceflights and spent more than 715 hours in outer space.
The human embodiment of “keep calm and carry on,” Captain Lovell’s leadership saved the Apollo 13 mission and crew from certain death. His teamwork with Mission Control, and “MacGyvering” a CO₂ filter with duct tape and spare parts, is how they were able to come home safely. Only the best of humans get to be portrayed by Hollywood’s golden retriever, Tom Hanks, and that’s exactly who played Lovell in the 1995 blockbuster Apollo 13.
Jim Lovell proved that space missions can be salvaged, even under the most catastrophic conditions. His work helped shape modern astronaut training and crisis management for decades and inspired future generations of kids who “wanted to be astronauts until they realized you have to do math.” His death marks the loss of a true American hero, and it will be an age before there is another head as calm and collected as his under duress. Captain Lovell, may your new mission be smooth sailing among the stars, as you never again have to worry about oxygen tank problems. Rest in peace, you lion of a man.
