Jim Lovell, RIP

Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell has passed away. He was 97. Lovell was the first Apollo astronaut I ever met, getting a signed copy of his book at Epcot on my honeymoon in 1994. What a great wedding present!  

Lovell is known for coining the epic phrase “Houston, we have a problem.”

Ad astra per aspera, Jim Lovell. You will be missed.

From NASA.Gov - 

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.”