LOVELL, JAMES. (b. 1928). American astronaut who as an Apollo 8 pilot was among the first three astronauts to fly to and orbit the Moon. ALS. (“James Lovell”). 1p. 8vo. Horseshoe Bay, June 4, 1994. To American documentary filmmaker ELLIOTT HAIMOFF (b. 1955).

“I have just received your express mail package (Saturday June 4) and have reviewed the material. Let me elaborate on the voice message I left for you yesterday (June 3) deciding against participating in your project.

Aside from having another commitment on June 6, it occurred to me that the true story of Apollo 13 is already being accurately portrayed by the book I have just written, by the movie being produced by Ron Howard and in a documentary from WFBH. Another video presentation on the subject, in my opinion, is overkill.

If you decided to proceed with the project there are in existence tapes of me being interviewed by various organizations about Apollo 13 which are available to you...”

Trained at the United States Naval Academy, Lovell became a test pilot and flight instructor but was passed over for the Mercury Seven project due to a minor health issue. In 1962, he joined NASA’s second group of astronauts where he piloted Gemini 7, the fourth crewed Gemini flight, in 1965, spending 14 days in space. The following year he commanded Gemini 12 with Buzz Aldrin. Lovell then participated in several Apollo missions, most notably, as commander of Apollo 13, a manned mission to the moon. However, after departure, the mission’s moon landing was aborted due to a malfunction of the electrical and life-support systems caused by a ruptured oxygen tank. The incident forced all four astronauts aboard to spend two days in the lunar module meant for only two people while mission control worked to return them to earth. The dramatic events were the subject of the 1995 film Apollo 13, referred to in our letter. Apollo 13 astronauts hold the record for the furthest any human beings have ever traveled from Earth.

A biologist and primatologist, Haimoff filmed endangered primates before founding his independent documentary company Global Science Productions in 1990. The company produced such documentaries as Moonwalkers: The Men of Apollo, The Rise and Fall of the Russian Space Program, Cosmic Travelers: Comets and Asteroids, and Apollo 13: The Untold Story.

Folded into thirds. Accompanied by the original envelope. In fine condition.