Jim Lovell, a legendary astronaut who commanded the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission in 1970, has passed away at the age of 97. Born on March 25, 1928, Lovell was a decorated Navy pilot and officer, astronaut, leader, and space explorer.
Lovell’s career took off after being selected to command Apollo 13, which would have marked NASA’s third successful crewed moon landing. However, an oxygen tank explosion occurred 200,000 miles away from Earth, forcing the crew to abandon their lunar landing attempt. The mission became known as the “successful failure” of the Apollo program.
Despite the setback, Lovell and his crew made a remarkable splashdown return in the South Pacific Ocean three days later. Their bravery and quick thinking earned them international recognition, and Lovell’s leadership was hailed as crucial to the successful outcome.
Lovell went on to have a storied career with NASA, serving as deputy director of the Johnson Space Center and receiving numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. He also became an advocate for space exploration and the environment, inspiring generations of astronauts and scientists.
Throughout his life, Lovell remained humble and optimistic, often saying that he never forgot the lessons learned from Apollo 13. “You can’t suddenly have a problem, and then just close your eyes and hope there’s a miracle coming on,” he told NASA in 2020. “The miracle is something you have to do yourself, or having people to help you.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/08/science/jim-lovell-dead-nasa-apollo