Jim Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13, has died aged 97. A legend of NASA’s space program and United States Navy Captain, Mr Lovell was celebrated for leading the ill-fated Apollo 13 lunar mission safely back to Earth after an on board explosion. The drama not only captivated the world in 1970, it reached a whole new audience when Tom Hanks played Mr Lovell in the Ron Howard film ‘Apollo 13’.
But his legacy is far greater than Apollo 13. Captain Lovell was also the veteran of the Gemini VII, Gemini XII, and Apollo 8 missions for a record, at the time, of 715 hours in space. Although Mr Lovell went to the moon twice, he never set foot on it.
“NASA sends its condolences to the family of Capt. Jim Lovell, whose life and work inspired millions of people across the decades,” said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy .
“Jim’s character and steadfast courage helped our nation reach the Moon and turned a potential tragedy into a success from which we learned an enormous amount. We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements.
“From a pair of pioneering Gemini missions to the successes of Apollo, Jim helped our nation forge a historic path in space that carries us forward to upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond.
“As the Command Module Pilot for Apollo 8, Jim and his crewmates became the first to lift off on a Saturn V rocket and orbit the Moon, proving that the lunar landing was within our reach. As commander of the Apollo 13 mission, his calm strength under pressure helped return the crew safely to Earth and demonstrated the quick thinking and innovation that informed future NASA missions.
“Known for his wit, this unforgettable astronaut was nicknamed Smilin’ Jim by his fellow astronauts because he was quick with a grin when he had a particularly funny comeback.
“Jim also served our country in the military, and the Navy has lost a proud academy graduate and test pilot. Jim Lovell embodied the bold resolve and optimism of both past and future explorers, and we will remember him always.”
The family of Jim Lovell released this statement:
“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. He was 97.
We are enormously proud of his amazing life and career accomplishments, highlighted by his legendary leadership in pioneering human space flight. But, to all of us, he was Dad, Granddad, and the Leader of our family. Most importantly, he was our Hero. We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his sense of humor, and the way he made each of us feel we could do the impossible. He was truly one of a kind.”
Mr Lovell was a great man who showed even our the darkest hour, humans can prevail.
Vale Captain Jim Lovell 1928-2025.
