Jim Lovell, the legendary NASA astronaut best known for commanding the Apollo 13 mission, has passed away at the age of 97. Lovell died on August 7 in Lake Forest, Illinois, according to a NASA news release. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Lovell’s family mourned the loss, describing him as “a Navy pilot and officer, astronaut, leader, and space explorer,” highlighting his “legendary leadership” and unshakeable optimism that inspired those around him. They fondly remembered his humor and character, calling him “truly one of a kind.”
Before his historic role as the commander of Apollo 13, Lovell had already made significant contributions to space exploration, having flown on Gemini 7, Gemini 12, and Apollo 8. Apollo 13, launched in 1970, was initially intended to be NASA’s third crewed moon landing. However, after an oxygen tank exploded in the service module, Lovell and his crew had to abort the mission. With critical systems failing, Lovell famously relayed the words, “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” Despite the adversity, the crew used the moon’s gravity to slingshot back to Earth, eventually splashing down safely in the South Pacific Ocean three days later. The mission, often called a “successful failure,” became a symbol of NASA’s resilience and the astronauts’ perseverance.
Lovell was a member of NASA’s second astronaut class, the “New Nine,” and went on to become the first person to fly four space missions. His Apollo 8 flight was a milestone, as it marked the first crewed mission to orbit the moon.
Tributes poured in following his death. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy praised Lovell’s “calm strength under pressure,” which was vital to the success of Apollo 13. Retired astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who followed Neil Armstrong as the second person to walk on the moon, honored Lovell’s legacy, calling him “one of my best friends” and celebrating his remarkable achievements in space exploration.
After Apollo 13, Lovell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1970 and later served as deputy director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He retired from both the Navy and NASA in 1973 and was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1993. In 1995, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Lovell was also instrumental in discussions over the ownership of mission artifacts, which led to the passage of a 2012 law allowing astronauts to claim ownership of items they collected during their missions.