The Adler Planetarium Mourns the Loss of Astronaut and American Hero, Captain James A. Lovell Jr.

Chicago’s Adler Planetarium released the following statement in honor of American hero, former NASA Astronaut, and Adler Life-Trustee, Captain James A. Lovell Jr. who died on August 7, 2025, at the age of 97.  “On behalf of the Adler Planetarium, I express our heartfelt condolences to the entire Lovell family,” announced Interim Adler Planetarium President & CEO Audris Wong.   “A true American hero, James A. Lovell Jr.’s life story demonstrates perseverance, commitment, and hard work. For multiple decades, the Adler has been honored to work closely with Jim. In addition to being a Trustee, he generously contributed his space artifacts and passionately advocated for improving science engagement. Jim’s personal stories of space exploration have inspired millions of visitors. Captain Lovell was a naval hero, space pioneer, and successful business leader, but it is his role as a champion for science education and his commitment to motivating the next generation of explorers that will be his enduring legacy at the Adler Planetarium.”

Captain Lovell is best known for his courageous role as commander of the Apollo 13 mission, which suffered a critical failure en route to the Moon, but was brought back safely to Earth by efforts of the crew and mission control. He also piloted Apollo 8, the first Apollo mission to enter lunar orbit. Lovell is one of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon, and the only one to have flown there twice without making a landing. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Lillie Lovell, for 71 years before she preceded him in death. Together, they had four children, eleven grandchildren, and seven great grand-children. Captain Lovell attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduated from the United States Naval Academy, the University of Southern California Aviation Safety School, and Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. He was a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In 2005, Captain Lovell donated many of his personal effects from his storied career to the Adler’s collection, enabling guests a unique glimpse into the lives of those that took America’s first steps into space, which Jim was quick to point out, included the talented colleagues and supportive family members who were instrumental to every success. The Adler’s Mission Moon exhibition, which tells the story of the space race through Lovell’s eyes, is included with museum’s general admission and all admission packages.

In 2007, Lovell became an Adler Trustee and co-chaired the most successful fundraising campaign in museum’s history. The campaign raised funds for new exhibitions, theater experiences, public science education, and research. This unique association between Lovell and the Adler began over 80 years prior, in the early 1940s, when Captain Lovell was a young boy wandering the halls of the Adler Planetarium looking for parts for his new hobby of rocketry. Instead, what he found was a deep inspiration for the concepts of astronomy and space exploration. This passion led him to an extraordinary career with NASA as one of the first astronauts of the early crewed-space flights of Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, and the fateful Apollo 13. 

For Captain Lovell’s 90th birthday in 2018, the Adler honored him through a ‘Letters to Lovell’ campaign. People young and old throughout the world wrote to express how Captain Lovell inspired them. The heartwarming letters were featured in the Mission Moon gallery and presented to him when he was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the annual Celestial Ball gala.

In October of 2024, the Adler launched the James A. Lovell Legacy Fund. The new endowment, spearheaded by Captain Lovell and his family, aids with Adler support infrastructure needs, and continues to inspire the next generation of explorers into the future. More than $3.4 million has been committed to seed the fund. To learn more about the Lovell Legacy Fund, and to make a donation, visit: bit.ly/give-to-the-lovell-legacy-fund.

In celebration of Captain Lovell’s historic life, the Adler is relaunching ‘Letters to Lovell’. The museum invites guests to share how Lovell has inspired them by visiting the Mission Moon gallery and writing him a letter, or submitting one to: letters@adlerplanetarium.org. All letters received will be shared with the Lovell family to cherish forever.

Information on the Adler Planetarium can be found at adlerplanetarium.org.