Answer:
Astronaut James Lovell, who in reality commanded the ill-fated Apollo 13 space mission in April 1970, appeared in the 1995 dramatic film, “Apollo 13.” Lovell’s wife, Marilyn, also had a part in the movie. *
Directed by Ron Howard,* the nail-biter captures the danger that confronted Apollo 13 astronauts after an oxygen tank onboard their spacecraft exploded during flight. It also captures the superhuman efforts of Earthbound Mission Control to return the trio home safely. **
The world drew a sigh of relief on April 17, 1970, when the crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near the island of Samoa.**
Interestingly, Lovell did not portray himself in the film. That was the job of Hanks. *
Instead, Lovell played the part of the captain of the ship, the USS Iwo Jima, * which in reality had plucked him and fellow astronauts John Swigert and Fred Haise, as well as the Apollo 13 command module, from ocean waters. **
Lovell’s wife was cast as one of the spectators who watched the launch of the Apollo 13 spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. In the movie, she was portrayed by actress Kathleen Quinlan. *
Tom Hanks’s interest in Space doesn’t end with “Apollo 13.”
