Mission Moon

Take a very personal journey into space with NASA’s Captain James A. Lovell, Jr. and other trailblazing scientists who helped get us to the Moon.

In the Adler Planetarium’s Mission Moon exhibit, you’ll find out how the United States became the first nation to put a man on the Moon, what it’s really like to be an astronaut (directly from Captain Lovell himself), and why it takes a team to explore uncharted worlds.

Honoring The Life And Legacy Of Astronaut Jim Lovell

It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we share that Captain James A. Lovell Jr. passed away. NASA astronaut and lifelong friend of the Adler, Captain Lovell was one of our heroes. His work on the Apollo missions, his extraordinary leadership, and his grace under pressure inspired the whole world. His passion for space exploration—and the work he did to share it with generations of kids and adults—continues to inspire us every day. The Adler has had the great privilege of working closely with Capt. Lovell for more than a decade, caring for many of his personal artifacts, and sharing his story with all of you. Today, our thoughts are with the Lovell family. Tomorrow, and every day after, we shoot for the Moon.

Statement from Interim President and CEO Audris Wong:

“On behalf of the Adler Planetarium, I express our heartfelt condolences to the entire Lovell family. A true American hero, James A. Lovell Jr.’s life story demonstrates perseverance, commitment, and hard work. For more than a decade, the Adler has been honored to work closely with Jim. In addition to being a Trustee, he generously contributed his space artifacts and passionately advocated for improving science engagement. Jim’s personal stories of space exploration have inspired millions of visitors. Captain Lovell was a naval hero, space pioneer, and successful business leader, but it is his role as a champion for science education and his commitment to motivating the next generation of explorers that will be his enduring legacy at the Adler Planetarium.”

Give to the James A. Lovell Legacy Fund

Exhibition Highlights

Launch a stomp rocket through the atmosphere.
Read the historical timelines and objectives for all Gemini and Apollo missions.
Look inside the actual Gemini 12 spacecraft that in 1966 carried astronauts Captain Lovell and Buzz Aldrin into space.
Learn all about Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, Miriam Mann, and so many more hidden figures who helped get the United States to the Moon.
Take a selfie as if you were on the Moon.
Test your skills under pressure and see if you can turn on the Command Module systems in the right order to help conserve power in order to save life support systems—just like the astronauts had to on Apollo 13.
See a real rock from the Moon.
View Apollo-era objects, including Captain Lovell’s lunar surface EVA helmet, the Apollo 13 mission lunar plaque (that was to be put on the lunar surface), and more.
Pick up calls on real Mission Control telephone panels that were used to help coordinate and carry out successful missions.
Explore the surface of the Moon through the interactive digital Moon Wall.

Captain Lovell’s Story In His Own Words

Captain Lovell’s story is full of twists and turns, setbacks and successes. It’s the story of a national hero, but it’s also the story of a kid from Wisconsin who loved rockets. It’s the story of a husband and father whose supportive family helped him become extraordinary.

Letters To Lovell

For Captain Lovell’s 90th birthday in 2018, we honored him through the “Letters To Lovell” campaign, where people young and old throughout the world wrote to express how Captain Lovell inspired them. The heartwarming letters were featured in the Mission Moon exhibit, and presented to him when he was given a lifetime achievement award later that year at our annual fundraising event, Celestial Bash.

In celebration of Captain Lovell’s life, we invite you to share how he inspired you by visiting our Mission Moon gallery and writing him a letter, or submitting one to [email protected].

Letters will be shared with Captain Lovell’s family.

Deeper Exploration

Featured Online Exhibition: 13 Stories With Captain James Lovell

Listen to Captain Lovell narrate his memories and stories from the Apollo 13 and Gemini missions.

Featured Online Exhibition: Voices of Apollo

On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission landed on the Moon, just eight years after President John F. Kennedy promised, “We choose to go to the Moon.” Here we feature stories of those individuals who made the Moon landing possible, in their own words. Learn more about the individuals who made the Moon landing possible!