Will discuss “Apollo 13: A Successful Failure”
Capt. James A. Lovell, former NASA astronaut and Apollo 13 commander, will be the forum speaker at Brigham Young University Tuesday, March 23, at 11:05 a.m. in the Marriott Center. His address will be titled “Apollo 13: A Successful Failure.”
There will be a question-and-answer session after the forum. The forum will be broadcast live on KBYU-11, BYU Television and Classical 89 FM radio. Please note that there will be no rebroadcasts or distribution of the forum address on the Internet.
On Monday, March 22, Classical 89 will air an interview with Lovell during its "Thinking Aloud" program at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
In his forum address, Lovell will provide insights into the ill-fated Apollo 13 lunar mission. In April 1970, he and his crew had to abandon their mission to the moon due to an oxygen tank explosion. They worked closely for three days with ground controllers in Houston to ensure their safe return.
Lovell was selected to be an astronaut in 1962 after logging more than 7,000 hours of flying time and many aviator assignments. He earned a bachelor‘s degree from the U.S. Naval Academy.
Well-known for his Apollo 13 endeavor, most people don’t know that Lovell has journeyed to the moon twice. On Dec. 4, 1965, Lovell was on the Gemini 7 — the first two-man maneuverable spacecraft. He has logged more than 700 hours in space.
Since retiring from the Navy in 1973, Lovell has been CEO and president of multiple companies. He has also been awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award and later served as the president of the National Eagle Scout Association. He has also received the Silver Buffalo Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Lovell wrote a book with Jeffrey Kluger, “Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13,” which was the basis for Ron Howard’s movie “Apollo 13” starring Tom Hanks as Lovell.
For more information on the forum, contact Kirsten Thompson at (801) 422-4331.
Writer: Brandon Garrett
