Trivia

Currently lives in Lake Forest, Illinois, an affluent suburb of Chicago. His family operates an upscale restaurant in Lake Forest, called Lovell's; his son, Jay, is the head chef.

During the Apollo 8 mission, Lovell and the other crew members did a Christmas Eve broadcast in which they read some passages from the Bible and wished everyone on Earth a Merry Christmas. The following day, Lovell jokingly told Mission Control that he had seen Santa Claus.

Has a major street named in his honor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

United States Naval Officer who began his career in May 1946 after enlisting in the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1948, after two years of inactive reserve duty, was discharged from enlisted status to receive appointment to the Naval Academy. Graduated in June 1952 to receive commission as an Ensign, USN, under the service number 507205. Served as a Naval Aviator, Experimental Test Pilot, and later Command Astronaut until February 1973. Retired February 29, 1973 in the grade of Captain, United States Navy.

Was turned down for selection to become one of the original seven Mercury astronauts in 1959. He subsequently succeeded in becoming one of the nine new astronauts (aka "The Gemini Nine" or "The New Nine") selected for the upcoming Gemini and Apollo programs in September of 1962.

Commanded the ill-fated Apollo 13 with Jack" Swigert and Fred W. Haise re-energizing the world's interest in the Apollo program while trying to survive in their lifeboat Aquarius.

US astronaut on Gemini 7 and 12, and Apollo 8 (first to go around the moon) and 13 (aborted due to explosion but returned safely).

On Apollo 8 he again flew with Frank Borman and Bill Anders becoming the first men to leave earth orbit and circle the moon. They made a memorable Christmas Eve television broadcast showing the lunar surface and reading from the first chapter of Genesis.

One of the most experienced NASA astronauts from the Apollo era having flown two Genmini flights and two Apollo flights.

Children: Barbara L (b. 13 Oct 1953), James A, Jr. (b. 15 Feb 1955), Susan K (b. 14 Jul 1958), Jeffrey (b. 14 Jan 1966)

10 grandchildren

At the conclusion of the Gemini program, in November of 1966, he had spent a total of eighteen days in outer space (fourteen days as the co-pilot of Gemini VII, and four days as the Command Pilot of Gemini XII). That gave him the record of more time in space than any other American astronaut, or Russian cosmonaut. With the added time of his subsequent Apollo missions, it was a recond he held until May of 1973.

One of only three men to have visited the Moon twice - though Lovell is the only one of the three never to walk on it. The others are John Young and Eugene Cernan.

Retired from the Navy with the rank of Captain. He stressed this when given the cameo role in "Apollo 13".

Flew with Buzz Aldrin as commander on Gemini 12 rendezvousing with an Agena target vehicle and conducting a two hour EVA (Aldrin) to prove that man could work in space.

Appointed as Midshipman, United States Naval Academy, on July 3, 1948 by recommendation from Congressman John Brophy of Wisconsin

Flew with Frank Borman on Gemini 7 setting a duration record and rendezvousing with Gemini 6.

Inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 1993.

He is portrayed by Pablo Schreiber in First Man (2018).

He is portrayed by Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 (1995).

The James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center is a joint Department of Defense and Veteran's Administration hospital named in his honor. It's located on the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in North Chicago, Illinois.

Born at 2:10am-EST