US astronaut Jim Lovell, commander of Apollo 13, lifeless at 97

US astronaut Jim Lovell, the commander of the Apollo 13 Moon mission which almost led to catastrophe in 1970 after a mid-flight explosion, has died on the age of 97, NASA introduced Friday.

The previous Navy pilot, who was portrayed by actor Tom Hanks within the 1995 film “Apollo 13,” died in a Chicago suburb on Thursday, the US area company stated in an announcement.

The astronaut’s “life and work impressed hundreds of thousands of individuals throughout the a long time,” NASA stated, praising his “character and steadfast braveness.”

Lovell traveled to the Moon twice however by no means walked on the lunar floor.

But he’s thought of one of many greats of the US area program after rescuing a mission that teetered on the point of catastrophe because the world watched in suspense far under.

“There are individuals who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the locations we might not go on our personal,” Hanks stated in an Instagram put up.

“Jim Lovell, who for an extended whereas had gone farther into area and for longer than some other individual of our planet, was that form of man.”

‘Houston, we have had an issue’

Launched on April 11, 1970—9 months after Neil Armstrong turned the primary individual to stroll on the Moon—Apollo 13 was meant to be humanity’s third lunar touchdown.

The plan was that Lovell would stroll on the Moon.

The mission, which was additionally crewed by astronauts Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, was already thought of pretty routine.

Then an oxygen tank exploded on the best way there.

The catastrophe prompted Swigert to famously inform mission management: “Houston, we have had an issue.”

Lovell then repeated the phrase, which is barely totally different to the one used within the Ron Howard film, based on NASA.

The three astronauts and crew on the bottom scrambled to discover a answer.

The USA adopted the chaotic odyssey from the bottom, fearing that the nation may lose its first astronauts in area.

Round 200,000 miles from Earth, the crew was pressured to shelter of their Lunar Module, slingshot across the Moon and quickly return to Earth.

The composed management of Lovell—who was nicknamed “Smilin’ Jim”—and the ingenuity of the NASA group on the bottom managed to get the crew safely again residence.

Lovell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, however by no means returned to area.

‘Our Hero’

Born on March 25, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio, Lovell labored as a Navy pilot earlier than becoming a member of NASA.

He was one in all three astronauts who turned the primary folks to orbit the Moon throughout the Apollo 8 mission in 1968.

The mission additionally took the well-known picture “Earthrise,” through which the blue planet peeks out from past the Moon.

Lovell’s household stated they have been “enormously happy with his wonderful life and profession,” based on an announcement launched by NASA.

“However, to all of us, he was Dad, Granddad, and the Chief of our household. Most significantly, he was our Hero,” the assertion added.

“We are going to miss his unshakeable optimism, his humorousness, and the best way he made every of us really feel we may do the unimaginable.”

© 2025 AFP