Jim Lovell, Apollo 13 astronaut, dies aged 97

August 9, 2025

Jim Lovell, the astronaut who safely guided Apollo 13 back to Earth after an onboard explosion in 1970, has died at age 97. As a member of both Apollo 8 and Apollo 13 missions, Lovell became the first person to journey to the Moon twice, though he never actually landed on its surface. NASA acknowledged his critical role in transforming the potentially tragic Apollo 13 mission into a success story that became one of the most iconic moments in space exploration history.

Who is affected

Jim Lovell's family
The NASA community and space program
Fellow astronauts and colleagues
The American public who followed his historic missions
Space exploration enthusiasts and historians
Tom Hanks and others who worked on the Apollo 13 film

What action is being taken

NASA is publicly acknowledging Lovell's contributions to the space program
Lovell's family is sharing statements about his life and impact
Tom Hanks is paying tribute to Lovell through statements on Instagram
People are commemorating Lovell's historic role in the Apollo missions

Why it matters

Lovell was a pioneering astronaut who helped shape America's space program
The Apollo 13 mission he commanded demonstrated extraordinary problem-solving under life-threatening conditions
As the first person to travel to the Moon twice, he holds a unique place in space exploration history
His leadership during Apollo 13 turned a potential tragedy into what NASA called a success
The Apollo 8 mission provided humanity with the iconic "Earthrise" image that changed how people viewed our planet
His life story represents the determination and courage needed in early space exploration

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC