James Lovell, Jr., is a former NASA astronaut and a retired captain in the United States Navy, most famous as the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, which suffered a critical failure en route to the Moon but was brought back safely to Earth by the efforts of the crew and mission control. This historic feat was made into the film Apollo 13, starring Tom Hanks.

Captain Lovell was also the command module pilot of Apollo 8, the first Apollo mission to enter lunar orbit. He is a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is among the leading pioneers of America’s space program: one of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon; the first of only three people to fly to the Moon twice; the only one to have flown there twice without making a landing; and also the first person to fly in space four times.

Captain Lovell accrued over 715 hours, and had seen a total of 269 sunrises from space on his Gemini and Apollo flights. It is also probable that Apollo 13's flight trajectory gives Lovell, Haise, and Swigert the record for the farthest distance that humans have ever traveled from Earth.

Mosaic Mask Design by Renee Montgomery

“Because James Lovell has flown in space four times, I created the surface of the moon and a crescent moon in hand-cut glass tile mosaics. I have worked in mosaics for ten years, using mostly hand-cut glass because of its beauty and ability to add depth, whether a whimsical mosaic or an amazing art piece.”

For more information about this mask or artist, email reneedkm@gmail.com.