James Lovell Jr., commander of the perilous Apollo 13 mission in 1970, will speak at Cornell April 16 at 8 p.m. in Bailey Hall.

In his talk, "Apollo 13: A Successful Failure," Lovell will share a behind-the-scenes account of what was to be the fifth U.S. mission to the moon -- until a technical failure had the spacecraft crew battling for survival. The incident was recreated in the popular movie "Apollo 13," in which Lovell was portrayed by Tom Hanks.

The lecture, sponsored by the Cornell University Program Board, is open to the general public. Admission is $10 ($5 for Cornell students). Tickets can be purchased at the Willard Straight Hall ticket desk, fourth floor. For further details, call (607) 255-7132, or send e-mail to the programming board at cupb@cornell.edu.

Lovell was chosen for the space program in 1962 following extensive experience as a naval aviator and test pilot. His first mission experience was with the Gemini Program in which he served as a pilot on Gemini 7, which included the first rendezvous of two manned spacecraft. He then was chosen as the module pilot and navigator for Apollo 8, the first voyage to the moon in which he and his fellow astronauts became the first humans to leave the Earth's gravitational influence. He then served as backup commander to Neil Armstrong for the Apollo 11 lunar landing.

Lovell's fourth and final flight was as spacecraft commander on the fated Apollo 13 mission. Facing a critical oxygen failure after 55 hours into the flight, Lovell and his crew successfully modified their lunar landing module into an effective lifeboat, thus conserving electrical power and water to ensure their survival and their safe return to Earth four days later.

For his skill as a naval aviator and spaceship commander, Lovell has garnered an impressive share of honors, including the Harmon, Collier and Goddard Aerospace trophies, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, France's Legion d'Honneur, the NASA Distinguished and Exceptional Service Medals, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two Navy Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. He is a fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.