I wanted him to live forever.

We sat in the TV room as much as possible to follow this. Harrowing. Heroic.

There was something going on re the space program one afternoon when we had people over. Our exchange student, with very little English was excited and conveyed a story about the people in her village taking action when they heard the Apollo 13 mission suffered an accident, putting the astronauts in grave danger.

Seems, the village priest rang the hell out of his church bell, calling everyone to a special mass to pray for the American heroes in peril. Our guest was so proud of how EVERYONE in her little town turned out to offer prayers and send good energy to the astronauts and NASA scientists working to bring the men home safely. When the crew was safe, her town had another special mass of thanksgiving.

It made an impression on me that these people, with so little, dropped everything and did what they could. Now, I am not a big fan of prayer as an answer, but if that is the only arrow in a people's quiver, I don't see the problem with sending up an ask for help, and sending positive thoughts in hopes of bending things toward a better outcome. The people of that town dropped what they were doing to try to help. And it mattered to them that the outcome was good.

Of course, our summer guest was pretty sure it was the attention her neighbors gave to the tense situation that put NASA's efforts over the top. Who am I to say it didn't help? But her town put up pictures of those astronauts and feted them in absentia when they were home safe. The town had adopted Lovell and his crew. They became their brothers and sons.

Always hoped Lovell knew just how many people everywhere stopped what they were doing, in hopes their collective positive energy could help get him and his crew home.

It pains me to know so many of my fellow US citizens are too busy hating to take time to appreciate good works, good science, and peaceful people who just want everyone to be safe. It pains me that so few want our nation to achieve good works, good science, or even give a damn about others.

Lovell will fly forever in hearts and minds, if we just nurture good ambitions.

for sharing it with us.

It demonstrated NASA's abilities to the highest order.

Commander Lovell was not only an accomplished astronaut but he was a successful navy pilot. He made over 100 aircraft carrier landings. On one mission, as he was returning to his ship, all his instruments went out. Although the jet could fly, Lovell had no way of navigating back to his carrier. Somehow, in the dark. he saw the phosphorus stimulated by the carrier''s propellers and that led him to safety!

Lovell's flight on Gemini 7 rendezvoused with Gemini 6A and demonstrated long-duration space flight. Gemini 12, the final flight of the Gemini program, achieved multiple docking with an Agena target vehicle and Lovell's flight partner, Buzz Aldrin, made 3 EVAs during their mission. His flight on Apollo 8 was the first time humans orbited the Moon. This was the Christmas flight when the astronauts read the first verses of Genesis. (NASA would be sued for violating church/state!). It's also the mission where the famous "Earth Rise" photo was taken depicting the beautiful blue and green Earth rising over the Moon's barren surface. Of course, Apollo 13 is infamous and Lovell, Fred Haise and Ken Mattingly along with the entirety of NASA made miraculous efforts to rescue the crew and craft after the oxygen tank explosion.

Commander Lovell serve his nation proudly, honorably and fearlessly. RIP. sir.

I loved following the missions!

I remember it well.

May your realm include the great beyond and a peaceful, beautiful existence.

He's 95. RIP Jim Lovell

May he rest in peace. Those guys were true heroes. Anyone who lived through that era understands what it was like to watch them stare death in the face and still walk into it.

The movie was to frenetic and chaotic for my tastes.

I really liked the documentary though.

A Patriot and one great astronaut.



Gemini VII: “Two weeks in a Volkswagen”