Author of phrase "Houston, we have a problem" - NASA Apollo 13 mission commander James Lovell died in USA

In the state of Illinois, USA, in the city of Lake Forest on August 7, at the age of 97, the American astronaut-pioneer James Lovell - the author of the legendary phrase "Houston, we have a problem" during an explosion on board, died. The astronaut's death is reported in the NASA obituary.

James Lovell flew into space four times, including twice to the Moon. During Lovell's Apollo 13 mission in 1970, an explosion occurred on board, but the ship and its crew were able to return safely. In 2002, Lovell called it "a triumph of human capabilities" in an interview. In 1995, a Hollywood blockbuster was filmed based on the events during the Apollo 13 mission.

James Lovell. Photo: NASA

James Lovell was born on March 25, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from high school, he entered the Naval Academy and later served as a fighter pilot, and then as a test pilot. Thus, Jim Lovell got into the astronaut corps only on his second attempt. In 1958, he was not enrolled in the first manned US space program "Mercury" due to liver problems.

On the third day of the flight, at a distance of more than 300,000 km from Earth, an oxygen tank exploded on the ship and two batteries that provided electricity failed. It was then that the ship's commander reported to the mission control center: "Houston, we have a problem."

James Lovell, who returned to Earth, reads newspaper that tells about rescue of Apollo 13 crew. Source: NASA

In April 1970, Lovell was appointed commander of the Apollo 13 spacecraft, but he never managed to reach the Moon. He was supposed to land in the area of the Fra Mauro crater. However, during the flight, a serious accident occurred, which made it impossible to land on the Moon and put the crew on the verge of death. Thanks to the coordinated work of the astronauts and NASA, the damaged Apollo 13 managed to reach Earth and its crew returned home safely. Lovell was one of three people who flew to the Moon twice and the only one who never landed on it.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, the former NASA astronaut, who spent 337 days in space, does not regret leaving flying for an office job.

To request a correction, please send an email.