As NASA’s Artemis II astronauts traveled farther from Earth than any humans since 1970, they heard a familiar voice – one from Milwaukee.

Before the crew reached the historic milestone, NASA played a message recorded before his death by the late James “Jim” Lovell, welcoming the Artemis II astronauts to his old space travel stomping grounds, according to NASA.

“Hello, Artemis II, this is Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell. Welcome to my old neighborhood,” Lovell said.

“When Frank Borman, 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 the 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, and I know how busy you’ll be. But don’t forget to enjoy the view. So, Reid, Victor, Christina and Jeremy, and all the great teams supporting you − good luck and Godspeed from all of us here on the good Earth.”

Lovell, a Cleveland-born native who grew up in Milwaukee, died Aug. 7 at the age of 97.

His interest in space began at Milwaukee’s Juneau High School, according to a previous report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Lovell was a U.S. Navy pilot and NASA astronaut who flew four missions, including two to the moon, according to NASA.

Lovell became famous in 1968 as a crew member on Apollo 8, along with Frank Borman and William Anders, when they became the first humans to see and photograph the far side of the moon and an Earthrise during the Dec. 21-27 mission.

Lovell then commanded the ill-fated Apollo 13 lunar mission that launched April 11, 1970. The flight, which was planned to be the third moon landing, had the goal of exploring the Fra Mauro region of the moon. Astronauts John L. Swigert Jr. and Fred W. Haise Jr. accompanied Lovell on the mission.

The mission did not go as planned, when two days into the mission, an oxygen tank in the service module exploded − causing the electrical life-support system to disable and cripple the spacecraft.

“OK, Houston, we’ve had a problem here," said Swigert Jr. as he radioed Mission Control.

Instead of landing on the moon, Lovell and his crew were forced to abort the mission and rely on the lunar module as a lifeboat, while working with NASA engineers to safely return to Earth, which they did on April 17, splashing into the Pacific Ocean.

Although the mission to the moon failed, Apollo 13 set the record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth, reaching a maximum distance of 248,655 miles, which was broken on April 6 by the Artemis II space crew, according to NASA.

"I'm very proud of 13 even though I didn't land on the moon," he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an 2020 interview. "That was a disappointment for me, but then a lot of people landed on the moon. And if 13 was a very successful flight, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you today."

Lovell retired from the Navy and NASA on March 1, 1973.

He later wrote the bestselling book 'Lost Moon,” which was adapted into the 1995 film "Apollo 13" starring Tom Hanks and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Lovell remained a celebrated figure in Milwaukee, where the city honored him with a parade, named a street after him and welcomed him back for events throughout the years.

Lovell was married to Marilyn Lovell, whom he met at Milwaukee’s Juneau High School. The two married in 1952 and had four children. Marilyn Lovell died in 2023.

More than 50 years after Apollo 13, Lovell’s words are still echoing through space – a reminder of the path he helped shape in one of NASA’s most critical moments.

Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jim Lovell voice plays during Artemis II mission