Jim Lovell, the NASA astronaut best known for commanding the near-disastrous Apollo 13 mission, has died at the age of 97. A veteran of four spaceflights, Lovell played a crucial role in one of the most dramatic rescues in space history.
Lovell began his NASA career as a test pilot before flying on Gemini 7, Gemini 12, and Apollo 8 — the first mission to orbit the Moon. But it was Apollo 13 in 1970 that defined his legacy. When an oxygen tank exploded en route to the Moon, Lovell and his crew worked with mission control to improvise a return plan, ultimately making it safely back to Earth.
Though the mission never landed on the Moon, it became a landmark in NASA’s history of problem-solving under pressure. Lovell’s calm leadership and steady presence under extreme conditions earned him lasting respect in both the space community and the public.
After retiring from NASA and the Navy, Lovell continued to speak about space exploration and wrote about his experiences, including co-authoring Lost Moon, which inspired the film Apollo 13, where he was portrayed by Tom Hanks.
Lovell is survived by his wife Marilyn and their children. His contributions to human spaceflight remain a testament to courage, leadership, and ingenuity.
