Apollo 13 Movie Featured The Actual Commander of Iconic Moon Flight (He Even Wore His Real-Life Uniform)

Apollo 13 has long since become a classic and is considered one of the most realistic Hollywood movies about space – its plot is based on real events and its creators paid attention to technical details.

However, the filmmakers paid tribute not only to the attention to detail, but also to the involvement in the film of the participants of the events themselves.

An American spacecraft flies to the moon.

Suddenly, one of the oxygen tanks explodes and two of the command module's three fuel cells fails. "Houston, we have a problem," the commander reports to Mission Control.

After two successful manned flights to the moon, the third was supposed to be an easy, predictable spacewalk. But instead, April 1970 almost became the worst month in the history of American spaceflight.

When an oxygen tank exploded, the accident forced the cancellation of the lunar landing and jeopardized the return of three astronauts to Earth.

What happened next? An excellent biopic directed by Ron Howard, named after the ill-fated Apollo 13, was released in 1995.

It took Apollo 13 commander James Lovell nearly twenty years to find the time to write a book about his most famous flight.

And it became a Hollywood sensation even before finished. As soon as it became known that Lovell was writing Lost Moon, Hollywood immediately organized an auction for the film rights to a potential bestseller.

The most devoted fan of astronautics has won this battle. Producer Michael Bostic was born into the family of a member of the space program and grew up in Houston, where the American center for manned flight control is located.

Bostic persuaded director Ron Howard to buy the rights to Lost Moon. And Bostic did not fail. Apollo 13 turned out to be a successful movie. It was well received by critics and audiences alike.

The American Film Academy did not ignore this success either. In total, Apollo 13 received 9 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

Although one small detail was unnoticed by many. In Apollo 13 you can see a cameo of real participant in the events.

The aircraft carrier commander who greets the returning astronauts is Jim Lovell, a real-life commander of the nearly disastrous Apollo 13 flight.

When director Ron Howard offered Jim a cameo in the movie, he said, "You want a part? I'll make you the Admiral aboard the ship that brings your crew back from the water." Astronauts are proud people, so Lowell said, "No. I retired as a Captain."

So in the movie, there is not only the real Jim Lowell, but he is also in his Captain's white uniform.

Apollo 13 set a standard that still stands today. It remains an example of one of the most balanced space movie, combining Hollywood spectacle, drama and realism in just the right proportions.

And Easter eggs with participants in the events only add bonus points to the movie from sharp-eyed viewers.