Overview

• NASA confirmed on August 7 that Lovell died in Lake Forest, Illinois, at age 97 and sent official condolences highlighting his courage and pioneering role in space exploration.
• Lovell’s family issued a statement confirming his passing and requested privacy to grieve away from the public eye.
• Renowned tributes from Tom Hanks and Ron Howard have circulated, honoring his depiction in the 1995 film Apollo 13 and his broader cultural legacy.
• As one of three people to orbit the Moon twice and the only one never to land, Lovell flew four NASA missions—from Gemini 7 through Apollo 13—amassing unmatched early-program experience.
• His leadership during the 1970 Apollo 13 in-flight emergency reshaped NASA’s safety protocols and continues to inspire the agency’s Artemis lunar ambitions.