Jim Lovell, Apollo 13 commander, has died

Legacy and Personal Character

• Widely remembered as calm, professional, and exemplary under extreme pressure, especially during Apollo 13.
• Multiple commenters who met him (at schools, his restaurant, universities) describe him as kind, humble, “down to Earth,” and generous with credit to his team.
• Many express a sense of personal loss and call him an inspiration and a true “hero,” with repeated “Godspeed” / “ad astra” sentiments.

Apollo 13, Apollo 8, and NASA’s Peak

• Apollo 13 is seen as the pinnacle of NASA’s engineering and operational capability: crisis management, teamwork, and cool-headed decision-making.
• Commenters highlight the ground teams’ problem‑solving as crucial, citing books that focus on the engineering and management side.
• Apollo 8 is also called out as an audacious mission; Lovell’s role on both flights reinforces his status in the program.
• Some lament that he never walked on the Moon, calling it an “utter shame.”

Film Portrayal and Cultural Impact

• The 1995 film Apollo 13 is credited with making him one of the most famous astronauts in popular culture.
• Commenters note differences between the film and reality: the real crew remained remarkably calm; the on‑board argument and the famous “Houston, we have a problem” phrasing are dramatizations.
• The parachute‑opening scene is often cited as deeply emotional; music and editing are praised.
• People enjoy trivia such as his cameo as the ship’s captain in the film.

Astronaut Health, Longevity, and Trivia

• Discussion of Lovell as the only person to travel to the Moon twice without landing.
• Thread explores how many Moon‑orbiters and Moon‑walkers are still alive and whether walking on the Moon correlates with longevity.
• Most conclude health outcomes are driven by stringent selection, age differences, and personality factors, not lunar walking itself; sample sizes are acknowledged as tiny.
• Linked data suggests astronauts in general live longer than the broader population.

Future of Human Spaceflight

• Several hope humans return to the Moon while at least one Apollo astronaut is still alive.
• Others question the practical value of Moon/Mars bases versus Earth and low‑Earth orbit research, citing cost, danger, and limited direct scientific payoff.
• Counterarguments emphasize inspiration, technological spinoffs, and long‑term species survival as justification for ambitious missions.