As Artemis II astronauts orbited the moon, they were greeted by one of NASA’s most revered pioneers, longtime Lake Forest resident Jim Lovell.
“Hello, Artemis II. This is Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell,” the message began.
The recording was played to the crew as they became the first humans in more than 50 years to fly around the moon. It marked a highlight of the 10-day mission given the iconic status of Lovell, who commanded Apollo 13 in 1970 and previously orbited the moon on Apollo 8 in December 1968.
“Welcome to my old neighborhood,” Lovell’s message continued. “When Frank Borman and Bill Anders and I orbited the moon on Apollo 8, we got humanity’s first up-close look at the moon and a view of our home planet that inspired and united people around the world. I’m proud to pass that torch on to you as you swing around the moon and lay the groundwork for missions to Mars, for the benefit of all. It’s a historic day. I know how busy you’ll be, but don’t forget to enjoy the view. So, Reid and Victor and Christina and Jeremy — and all the great teams supporting you — good luck and Godspeed from all of us here on the good Earth.”
Lovell, who lived in Lake Forest for many years, recorded the message for Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen two months before he died in August 2025.
NASA officials approached Lovell about recording the message, as he had remained in steady contact with the agency throughout his retirement.
“He was really excited to do this for the crew,” his daughter, Susan Lovell, recalled.
With NASA providing broad guidance, Lovell, also of Lake Forest, helped her father draft the script, enlarging the text on a computer screen so he could read it comfortably. They recorded three versions on an iPhone and sent them to NASA, which selected the one it ultimately played for the astronauts.
“We were so honored and excited,” she said.
The family did not know exactly when the message would be played until the morning of April 6, when NASA informed them it would air that day. What they didn’t realize was that it would serve as the crew’s wake-up call.
“It was very emotional for us to hear Dad again and to know this was happening during such a historic moment,” Lovell said. “It was a beautiful connection of explorers.”
Her brother, Jay Lovell, who operates a restaurant in Highwood, shared a similar reaction.
“It was cool. I enjoyed it. It was great to hear my dad’s voice,” he said.
Susan Lovell said her father understood the weight the Artemis crew carried — not just returning to the moon, but helping lay the foundation for sustained lunar missions and possibly going to Mars one day. NASA is planning a crewed moon landing in 2028 as part of the Artemis program.
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“He really believed it was not just about returning to the moon, but learning how to live and work there and prepare for journeys to Mars and beyond,” she said. “That’s why he used that phrase, ‘I pass the torch on to you.’”
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During the mission, the Artemis II crew also surpassed the Apollo 13 record for the farthest distance traveled into space by astronauts, flying more than 250,000 miles from Earth.
Susan Lovell believes her father would have appreciated that milestone.
“Without breaking a record, you don’t have progress,” she said.
Still, the achievement carried a touch of melancholy for Lovell.
“I wish he had been alive that day to hear them talk as they broke that record,” she said.
She believes he would have welcomed the renewed push to explore the moon.
“He probably would have had a smile on his face and said, ‘Thank God — it’s about time we’re going back to the moon,’” she added.
The Artemis II crew splashed down safely on April 10 off the coast of San Diego, completing a 10-day mission that marked a major milestone in America’s return to deep space exploration. Lovell said she felt both relieved and excited when the astronauts returned to Earth, describing it as a historic moment.
Lovell noted she has met Koch, who became the first woman to fly around the moon, and hopes to meet the other Artemis II astronauts as well. Their journey, she said, once again brought her father’s name into the ongoing story of space exploration.
“It’s very heartfelt and emotional,” she said. “It’s an honor to know that my father was able to play a role in the arc of this mission.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.