{"id":330696,"date":"2025-08-09T13:57:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T13:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/330696\/"},"modified":"2025-08-09T13:57:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T13:57:13","slug":"tom-hanks-honours-apollo-13-astronaut-james-lovell-godspeed-you-on-this-next-voyage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/330696\/","title":{"rendered":"Tom Hanks honours Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell: \u2018Godspeed you, on this next voyage\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Tom Hanks<\/a> has paid tribute to James \u201cJim\u201d Lovell<\/a>, the Nasa<\/a> astronaut he famously portrayed in the 1995 film Apollo 13,<\/a> following his death at the age of 97.<\/p>\n

Lovell, best known for delivering the infamous \u201cHouston, we\u2019ve had a problem\u201d line during the ill-fated 1970 Apollo 13 mission<\/a>, passed away Thursday in Lake Forest, Illinois.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Hanks shared a message on Instagram<\/a> honouring Lovell\u2019s legacy. <\/p>\n

The Oscar-winning actor wrote: \u201cThere are people who dare, who dream and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own. Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hanks continued: \u201cHis many voyages around Earth and on to so-very-close to the moon were not made for riches or celebrity, but because such challenges as those are what fuels the course of being alive \u2013 and who better than Jim Lovell to make those voyages.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 69-year-old concluded his note by adding: \u201cOn this night of a full moon, he passes on \u2013 to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. Godspeed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Hanks<\/p>\n

open image in gallery<\/p>\n

Hanks with Lovell after the latter accepted the Lincoln Leadership prize in 2010 (Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Ron Howard<\/a>, who directed Hanks in the film adaptation of the failed space mission, also honoured Lovell\u2019s memory. <\/p>\n

In his own Instagram<\/a> post, Howard said: \u201cRest in peace, Commander Lovell. Navy test pilot, Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and, of course, Apollo 13. Simply knowing Jim has been a tremendous honour. <\/p>\n

\u201cHis combination of intellect, courage and commitment to duty made him one of the most remarkable individuals I\u2019ve ever met. His support of our movie-making efforts inspired authenticity and elevated our process in so many ways. Thank you, sir, for your service to our country and to humankind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLovell’s life and work inspired millions,\u201d Nasa said in a statement on Friday (August 8). \u201cHis courage under pressure helped forge our path to the Moon and beyond \u2013 a journey that continues today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Nasa<\/p>\n

open image in gallery<\/p>\n

Nasa astronaut Jim Lovell died Thursday at age 97 in Lake Forest, Illinois (Nasa)<\/p>\n

The Apollo 13 mission was meant to be Nasa\u2019s third Moon landing, but it quickly turned into a tense rescue mission after an oxygen tank explosion damaged the spacecraft. <\/p>\n

Lovell and his crew, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, worked closely with Nasa\u2019s mission control to safely return to Earth, demonstrating extraordinary calm and leadership under pressure. <\/p>\n

The failed mission had a lasting impact on Lovell, who, according to the Associated Press, said in 1999, \u201cI don\u2019t worry about crises any longer.\u201d Whenever he had a problem, he was reported to have said: \u201cI could have been gone back in 1970. I\u2019m still here. I\u2019m still breathing.\u201d<\/p>\n

After retiring from Nasa and the Navy in 1973, Lovell transitioned to a successful business career and co-authored the book Lost Moon, which detailed the Apollo 13 mission and inspired the movie adaptation.<\/p>\n

The Apollo 13 movie, which also starred Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise and Ed Harris, was a huge success, earning more than $300m at the global box office. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning the gongs for Best Sound and Best Film Editing.<\/p>\n