Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell Dies at Age 97

• Aug 09, 2025

NASA astronaut Jim Lovell, best known as the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, has died at the age of 97. Lovell’s career with NASA made him one of the most respected figures in space exploration history, with achievements that inspired generations.

Lovell was part of the crew of Apollo 8 in 1968, the first mission to leave Earth’s orbit and travel to the moon. This groundbreaking mission successfully orbited the moon and returned to Earth, proving that a lunar landing was possible. Lovell and his crewmates became the first humans to witness the far side of the moon with their own eyes.

In 1970, Lovell commanded Apollo 13, a mission that was originally intended to land on the moon. Just two days into the flight, an oxygen tank exploded, crippling the spacecraft and forcing the crew to abort their landing. The incident triggered one of the most dramatic rescue efforts in NASA’s history. Working with mission control in Houston, Lovell and his crewmates improvised solutions to conserve power, maintain life support, and safely navigate back to Earth.

The Apollo 13 crisis was later immortalized in books and films, most famously the 1995 movie Apollo 13, in which actor Tom Hanks portrayed Lovell. The mission’s successful return, despite near-impossible odds, became a symbol of teamwork, ingenuity, and perseverance under extreme pressure.

Lovell’s space career spanned four missions, including two Gemini flights before Apollo. In total, he spent over 29 days in space, paving the way for future lunar and deep-space exploration.

Beyond his time as an astronaut, Lovell continued to advocate for space exploration and science education. He often spoke about the importance of innovation and problem-solving, sharing lessons from Apollo 13 with audiences worldwide.

Jim Lovell’s legacy will forever be tied to humanity’s boldest steps into space. From orbiting the moon to surviving one of NASA’s greatest challenges, he demonstrated the courage, skill, and calm leadership that defined the early era of space travel. His passing marks the loss of a pioneer whose life’s work expanded the boundaries of human achievement.