Science & Nature

Astronaut Jim Lovell Talks Tom Hanks, ‘Apollo 13’ in 1995 ‘Chicago Tonight’ Interview

Jim Lovell was an American hero.

The naval aviator and test pilot-turned astronaut is perhaps most famous for almost making it to the moon. He was the commander of the Apollo 13 mission. The dramatic story of those astronauts returning to earth after major mechanical problems in space was made into a hit movie starring Tom Hanks as Lovell.

Lovell, who lived in Lake Forest, died last week at 97. He was a guest on “Chicago Tonight” many times. Here he is in 1995, right after the “Apollo 13” movie came out, with an introduction from Phil Ponce.

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