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Jim Lovell, Commander Who Saved Apollo 13, Dies at 97

His passing in Lake Forest, Illinois, prompted NASA statements followed by film and cultural tributes reflecting on his pioneering leadership

Jim Lovell poses for his formal Apollo 13 portrait four months before the April 1970 mission. The mission’s destination target — the lunar crater Fra Mauro — sits near the center of the Moon globe. Credit: NASA
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Overview

  • Jim Lovell died on August 7, 2025, at age 97 in Lake Forest, Illinois, NASA announced
  • Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy praised Lovell’s steadfast courage in guiding Apollo 13 to a safe return after an oxygen tank explosion
  • Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard took to social media to honor Lovell’s real-life crisis command and iconic portrayal in the 1995 film
  • Lovell flew four space missions—Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 (the first to orbit the Moon) and Apollo 13—and was set to be the fifth man to walk on the lunar surface
  • His achievements include a then-record 715 hours in space, the popularization of “Houston, we have a problem” and awards such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom