Jim Lovell, the legendary astronaut who led the Apollo 13 crew safely back to Earth after a catastrophic in-flight explosion in 1970, has died aged 97.
NASA praised Lovell for “turning a potential tragedy into a success” when the Moon landing mission was aborted hundreds of thousands of miles from Earth. Millions watched live as Lovell, alongside crewmates Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean — an event that became one of the most iconic moments in space history.
Lovell, who also flew on Apollo 8 — the first mission to orbit the Moon — became the first person to travel to the Moon twice, though he never landed on its surface.
In a statement, his family remembered his “unshakeable optimism, his sense of humor, and the way he made each of us feel we could do the impossible.”
Actor Tom Hanks, who portrayed Lovell in the 1995 film Apollo 13, called him one of those rare people “who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own.”
Born in 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio, Lovell’s fascination with flight began early. Orphaned at five after his father’s death, he pursued his passion for aviation through the U.S. Navy, training as a pilot before becoming one of NASA’s elite “New Nine” astronauts in 1962 — alongside Neil Armstrong and John Young.
Lovell’s leadership, calm under pressure, and lifelong dedication to exploration made him an enduring symbol of courage in the space age.
