BOULDER - Legendary astronaut and Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell has joined Golden Spike Co.'s board of advisers.

Boulder-based Golden Spike is planning to offer commercial flights to the moon by 2012.

Lovell is one of 24 people to have flown to the moon, was the first of three people to fly to the moon twice, and was the first person to fly in space four times.

Since leaving the space program, Lovell has been president and chief executive of Bay-Houston Towing Co. and president of Fisk Telephone Systems. He currently is president of Lovell Communications, which disseminates information about the United States' space program.

"Jim's background in human space flight operations and his success in the private sector is an awesome combination for Golden Spike," said Gerry Griffin, a former Apollo flight director and the chairman of Golden Spike's board of directors. "Having his unique perspective and advice available to the Golden Spike team will be invaluable."

"Finally there's a company, Golden Spike, that plans a purely commercial approach to returning to the moon," Lovell said in a press statement. "I am pleased to be part of this enthusiastic group of engineers and scientists working together with the aerospace industry to design and build cost-effective lunar flights."