James Arthur Lovell Jr. (born March 25, 1928) is an American former astronaut and naval aviator. He is most famous for his role as the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, which was disrupted by a malfunction that threatened the lives of the crew. Lovell is one of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon and is the first person to fly in space four times.
Lovell was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended the United States Naval Academy and later served as a fighter pilot in the Korean War. After completing his military service, Lovell joined NASA’s astronaut corps and was selected to fly on the Gemini program, a precursor to the Apollo program.
Lovell’s first spaceflight was as the pilot of Gemini 7, which set a new record for the longest spaceflight at the time. He later commanded Gemini 12, the final mission of the Gemini program. Lovell is also known for his role as the commander of Apollo 8, the first manned mission to orbit the Moon.
Lovell’s most famous mission was Apollo 13, which was launched in April 1970. The mission was disrupted by an explosion on the spacecraft, which damaged the ship’s oxygen tanks and left the crew stranded in space. Despite facing significant challenges, Lovell and his crew were able to safely return to Earth, thanks in large part to their training and resourcefulness.
After retiring from NASA, Lovell worked in the private sector and served as a consultant and public speaker. He has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the space program, including the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.