NASA astronaut Jim Lovell, commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, has died at the age of 97. Lovell passed away in Lake Forest, Illinois, on Thursday. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Lovell was a pioneering figure in human spaceflight, flying on four missions: Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, and Apollo 13. He was the first person to see the moon up close twice, having been a part of the Apollo 8 mission which was the first to orbit the moon, and then as the commander of Apollo 13.
The Apollo 13 mission, which was intended to be a lunar landing, was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded approximately 200,000 miles from Earth. Lovell and his crew, Fred Haise and John Swigert Jr., famously informed mission control, "Houston, we've had a problem." The crew, with the help of ground control, used the lunar module as a lifeboat and were able to safely return to Earth. The mission is often referred to as a "successful failure." Lovell's experience was later depicted in the 1995 film "Apollo 13," where he was played by Tom Hanks.
In a statement, Lovell's family said they were "saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father," and that they were "enormously proud of his amazing life and career accomplishments." Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy praised Lovell's legacy, stating that his "calm strength under pressure helped return the crew safely to Earth."
