Jim Lovell was a memebr of the "New Nine" astronaut class selected by NASA in 1962. He has a distinguished record of several space flights: aboard Gemini VII as Pilot with his CommanderFrank Borman, and then as Commander aboard Gemini XII with his Pilot Buzz Aldrin. In the Apollo program, Lovell flew two historic missions, his first being Apollo VIII which circumnavigated the Moon in 1968 with fellow crewmembers Frank Borman (CDR) & Bill Anders (CMP). Later, as the result of a change in the scheduled mission rotation, Lovell was re-assigned as Commander of Apollo XIV to Apollo XIII. His crew on that fateful mission consisted of Fred Haise (LMP) & Jack Swigert (CMP). As is widely known, the spacecraft suffered a crippling explosion almost 3/4 of the way to the Moon thus not only thwarting an opportunity to explore the Lunar surface, but also creating an unparalleled challenge for the men of Mission Control to return the crew safely to Earth. Lovell, along with the rest of his crew, personifies courage in the face of extreme adversity - A true American hero for the ages!
Alan's Astronaut Autograph Gallery
