Tom Hanks took to Instagram to remember Jim Lovell, the astronaut he portrayed in the 1995 Ron Howard–directed film "Apollo 13."
Lovell, best known for commanding the near-disastrous Apollo 13 mission, died Thursday, Aug. 7, at age 97.
In a statement posted to Instagram, the Oscar-winning actor reflected on Lovell’s extraordinary life. "There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own," Hanks wrote. "Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy."
Hanks praised Lovell’s dedication to exploration, noting that his missions were not motivated by fame or fortune but by "the challenges that fuel the course of being alive."
The actor closed his tribute with a nod to the timing of Lovell’s passing: "On this night of a full moon, he passes on -- to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. God speed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell."
Howard also praised the late astronaut, saying "simply knowing" the astronaut was an honor.
Sharing archival images and side-by-side comparisons from the film, the filmmaker called Lovell "one of the most remarkable individuals I’ve ever met."
"His combination of intellect, courage and commitment to duty made him extraordinary," Howard wrote. "His support of our movie-making efforts inspired authenticity and elevated our process in so many ways. Thank you, sir, for your service to our country and to humankind."
Lovell's career spanned decades of groundbreaking achievements in space exploration, including flights on Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 -- the first mission to orbit the moon --and Apollo 13.
