By Kayla DeKraker
Actor Tom Hanks honored Jim Lovell, who he played in APOLLO 13, following the astronaut’s death on Aug. 7.
“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 of our planet, was that kind of guy,” Hanks said of Lovell on Instagram. “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 these voyages.”
He concluded, “On this night on a full Moon, he passes on — to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. God speed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell.”
Lovell died at age 97. His legendary career is most famous for the attempted third moon landing which failed when oxygen tanks onboard the craft exploded. He and his team worked with those at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to get the crew safety to earth. This mission is where the famous quote “Houston, we have a problem” comes from.
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy also honored Lovell.
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“NASA sends its condolences to the family of Capt. Jim Lovell, whose life and work inspired millions of people across the decades,” he said. “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. We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements.”
Lovell frequently referenced the APOLLO 13 film at his past appearances, telling crowds, “I know today when I came out many of you were expecting Tom Hanks, but you’re going to have to settle for little old me.”
Movieguide®’s review of the 1995 film reads, “Apollo 13 is a patriot can-do America movie that will probably hit a strong emotional nerve at the box office. It tells the familiar story to those of us who lived through that period of the ill-fated flight of Apollo 13 which blew out most of its oxygen in space halfway between the earth and the moon and barely made it back to earth.”
The review notes that the film “shows teamwork, courage, and determination can overcome the worst of situations,” which exemplifies what really happened in real life.
Lovell is a great example of an American hero whose legacy will continue to live on.
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