Paul Graf @paulginva.bsky.social

3 days ago

Rest in peace to Captain Jim Lovell, one of the finest Americans our nation has ever produced.

▶️ Naval Academy graduate and military test pilot

▶️ First person to fly into space four times

▶️ 14 days in orbit as part of Gemini 7

▶️ Captain of Gemini 12 (Buzz Aldrin served as pilot)

The image shows James A. Lovell Jr., the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, who recently passed away at the age of 97.
Apollo 13 Mission:
Lovell led the three-man crew of Apollo 13, which faced a near-catastrophic explosion in space in 1970 but successfully returned to Earth due to the crew's ingenuity and ground control's support.
Other Missions:
He was one of NASA's most traveled astronauts in the agency's early years, flying four times on Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, and Apollo 13.
Apollo 8 Significance:
Lovell considered Apollo 8, the first crewed mission to orbit the moon, to be the highlight of his NASA career, where he helped pilot the spacecraft and spot the iconic "Earthrise" photograph.
Post-NASA Career:
After retiring from NASA in 1973, Lovell pursued a career in private business, including years in the telecommunications industry and running a restaurant.
Legacy and Portrayal:
His story, particularly the Apollo 13 mission, was immortalized in the 1995 film "Apollo 13," where he was portrayed by Tom Hanks.

Paul Graf @paulginva.bsky.social

3 days ago

▶️ Command module pilot for Apollo 8, the first manned mission to ever orbit the moon; read from the book of Genesis during a live radio broadcast on Christmas Eve

▶️ Commander of Apollo 13 mission; rationed water, endured freezing temperatures, improvised a CO2 scrubber using cardboard and duct

Replies

Paul Graf @paulginva.bsky.social
3 days ago

tape, and hand-calculated course corrections with a slide rule to get the crew back to Earth safely

A hero of a man, and a legend of an American. May our nation be forever grateful.

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