Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell dies at 97… here’s what to know
Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell, whose calm leadership brought his crew safely home after a near-disastrous moon mission, has died at age 97.
Legendary Apollo 13 mission commander and pioneering astronaut Captain James A. “Jim” Lovell has died at the age of 97.
His family confirmed in a statement on Friday that Lovell passed away on Thursday in Lake Forest, Illinois.
“We are saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father, USN Captain James A. ‘Jim’ Lovell — a Navy pilot and officer, astronaut, leader, and space explorer,” the statement read. “We are enormously proud of his amazing life and career accomplishments, highlighted by his legendary leadership in pioneering human space flight. To us, he was Dad, Granddad, and the leader of our family. Most importantly, he was our hero. We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his humor, and the way he made us believe we could do the impossible.”
Lovell’s most famous mission came in 1970 when he commanded Apollo 13 — the moon mission that suffered a near-catastrophic oxygen tank explosion in space. Under immense pressure, Lovell and his crew, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, worked with NASA’s ground team to improvise a plan that brought the spacecraft safely back to Earth. The mission, intended to be the third moon landing, became instead a dramatic survival story that inspired millions worldwide.
NASA Acting Director Sean Duffy paid tribute to Lovell’s courage and legacy, saying, “Jim’s character and steadfast leadership turned a potential tragedy into a triumph. His contributions paved the way for future space exploration and will continue to inspire generations.”
Lovell’s career also included a pivotal role as Command Module Pilot of Apollo 8, the first mission to orbit the Moon. His work on Apollo 8 and Apollo 13 became defining chapters in the history of space travel.
Beyond his real-life heroics, Lovell’s story was immortalized on screen in the 1995 Ron Howard film Apollo 13, where he was portrayed by Tom Hanks.
The Lovell family has requested privacy during this time of mourning.
