Join the CELEBRATION of an amazing career, wishing them well as we EXPLORE their accomplishments. 🥳
James “Jim” Lovell (born March 25, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio) became a naval aviator and astronaut who flew on four space missions – Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, and Apollo 13.
He was part of NASA’s second group of astronauts, selected in 1962. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Lovell became a test pilot before joining NASA. He flew a variety of aircraft, including the F-4 Phantom. Before his time with NASA, he was a safety engineer and held the rank of Captain in the Navy.
Lovell is widely known for his role as commander of the Apollo 13 mission. This mission experienced an in-flight oxygen tank explosion, which forced the crew to abandon their lunar landing. The crew used the lunar module as a lifeboat to return safely to Earth. Lovell also flew on the Apollo 8 mission, the first crewed flight to orbit the Moon. He considered this the highlight of his space career.
After retiring from NASA and the Navy in 1973, he worked in executive roles for different companies. He co-authored the book Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13 in 1994. The book was the basis for the movie Apollo 13, in which Lovell had a cameo.
Lovell received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. He was married to his wife, Marilyn, for 71 years.
Jim Lovell passed away on August 7, 2025, at the age of 97 in Lake Forest, Illinois.
Get to know Jim Lovell better. Here are some key facts about his life, career, and personal details.
Not sure how to LOVE the day? We’ve got a few interesting ideas to consider that may help you get started.
Here are some activities that you can do on JIM LOVELL’s Birthday.
Watch the film Apollo 13, which is based on Lovell’s experiences as the commander of the mission. The movie stars Tom Hanks, and Lovell himself makes a brief cameo appearance.
Read Lovell’s book Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13. He co-authored this detailed account of the mission with Jeffrey Kluger. It gives a firsthand perspective of the events.
Visit a museum with a connection to his career. The Discovery World in Milwaukee was renamed The James Lovell Museum of Science, Economics, and Technology in his honor. The Adler Planetarium in Chicago is also a good option with many of his personal effects from his career on display.
Lovell was a member of the Apollo 8 crew, the first humans to orbit the Moon. Look at pictures of the “Earthrise” photo he helped capture.
Use social media posts with the hashtags #JimLovell, #JimLovellBirthday, #Astronaut, #GoneTooSoon, #InMemoriam, #RestInPeace, #Birthdays, #MarchHolidays, #Holiday, #FindADayToLOVE, #iHEARTdays to support the importance of celebrating, promoting, and sharing with the world why you ❤️ JIM LOVELL’s Birthday.
JIM LOVELL Quotes on looking at Earth from space
“Houston, we’ve had a problem”
“You arrive on a planet that has the proper mass, has the gravity to contain water, and an atmosphere, which are the very essentials for life. And you arrive on this planet that’s orbiting a star just at the right distance—not too far to be too cold, or too close to be too hot—and just at the right distance to absorb that star’s energy and then, with that energy, cause life to evolve here in the first place. You go to heaven when you are born.”
| Year | Date | Day of the Week |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | March 25 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | March 25 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | March 25 | Thursday |
| 2028 | March 25 | Saturday |
| 2029 | March 25 | Sunday |
We appreciate James Lovell not just for his technical skill as an astronaut but also for his character. He’s a symbol of American resolve and innovation in the face of crisis. The public was captivated by his story, and he became a hero for his calm leadership and resilience during the Apollo 13 mission.
As commander of the Apollo 13 mission, Jim demonstrated calm under pressure and problem-solving skills to bring his crew safely back to Earth after a major malfunction.
As a veteran of four space missions, including being one of the first humans to orbit the Moon on Apollo 8, Lovell played a key role in the early NASA space program.
His long marriage and family life made him a grounded public figure, in addition to his professional accomplishments.
Last update on 2026-01-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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