Apollo 13 Legend Jim Lovell Passes Away at 97

Jim Lovell, one of the most respected names in space exploration history and commander of the historic Apollo 13 mission, has passed away at the age of 97. He died at his home in Lake Forest, Illinois.

NASA confirmed his death in a statement on Saturday (August 9) and expressed deep sorrow over the loss.

Lovell led NASA’s third manned lunar mission, Apollo 13, in 1970. During the mission to the Moon, an oxygen tank on board the spacecraft exploded, turning the mission into a life-threatening crisis nearly 200,000 miles from Earth. In the face of uncertainty, Lovell’s calm declaration—“Houston, we’ve had a problem”—became one of the most iconic phrases in space history.

Although Apollo 13 never made it to the Moon, Lovell’s exceptional leadership and the crew’s teamwork ensured that all three astronauts returned safely to Earth. The mission later became known as a “successful failure,” symbolizing resilience and problem-solving under extreme conditions.

The dramatic events of Apollo 13 inspired the 1995 Hollywood film Apollo 13, starring Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell. Lovell himself made a cameo appearance in the movie.

Over the course of his career, Jim Lovell flew on four space missions and spent nearly 715 hours in space. He was among the first astronauts to orbit the Moon, although he never set foot on its surface.

Despite that, Lovell’s courage, leadership, and unwavering dedication to human spaceflight have left an indelible mark on the history of space exploration. He will forever be remembered as a hero of the space age.